Spirit of the Titanic by: Emma Byrne

The spirit of the titanic is focused on a young boy who while building the titanic fell off the scaffolding and died. He then haunts the titanic. Enjoying the finery and watching the people. Living the life he never would have. Enjoying the Titanic, his dream. And he gets attached to some of the passengers and crew and when the boat sinks he watches as the people decide between life and death. He floats around watching his favorite passengers hoping they survive. Watching the crew hoping everything will be fine. It was a very entertaining book but it was a little sad knowing that it didn’t end very well. But up till the I enjoyed it and even then it wasn't bad. It wasn’t a very long book. I hope you decide to read it and enjoy it. 

Caroline

Divergent by: Veronica Roth

The Divergent series is by far my favorite series ever. It's a dystopian book about a community of five groups of people called factions each one values and cherishes a different thing. Dauntless are the fearless, Erudite are the wise, Amity are the kind, Candor are the truthful, and Abnegation are the selfless. When you are 16 you get to choose which faction to dedicate your life to and to live in. Beatrice Prior is the heroine of the story. She faces the decision of her life (or of everyones life inside of the fence). Which faction to choose. It's a rollercoaster of action and one of the best love stories i've ever read. Which faction do you belong to?

Faction before Blood,

Caroline                                   

The Hunger Games By; Susanne Collins

 Well i'm sure you've heard of the Hunger Games. It's about a Dystopian World where the country is divided in to 12 Districts and the Capitol. The further down the line you go the more poverty stricken they are. Every year to remind the people of the war, each district sends two teenagers, a boy and a girl to fight to the death in the Hunger games. This year it's Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. The victors are sent to the capitol to train for the games and then to be sent off to the arena to fight to the death and be the last one standing. I flew through the Hunger Games. And I loved every second of it. It's a book that is depressing to think about and it's so much more than a love triangle. I highly recommend this book and,

May the odds be ever in your favor.

Caroline

Percy Jackson and the Lightning thief By; Rick Riordian

 Percy Jackson is a 12 year old boy who lives in NYC. He is dyslexic and has ADHD and gets thrown out of at least one school a year for things that usually weren't his fault. If they weren't, they were usually because of his blood. his mother getting desperate, sends him to Camp Half-Blood getting captured in the process. At camp Half-Blood, Percy is home. He discovers he is the child of one of the Greek Gods but to know which one his father has to accept him first. His Dyslexia and ADHD is just the Greek blood instincts which are common with Half-Bloods. He made friends with Annabeth Chase, one of the daughters of Athena and Grover whom he was best friends at his last school. The trio is sent on a quest to retrieve a stolen item for the Gods. I loved Percy Jackson and I hope that if you decide to read it you do too! Have you already read it? What did you think?

Caroline

The Book Thief By: Markus Zusak

 The Book Thief is a book set in Nazi Germany in a little town and is focused around a teenage girl who steals books. The book is narrated by death making it a little dark but it is a great and entertaining story. The story is about Liesel Meminger, a german girl who is sent to a foster home in a small town in Germany. Her foster family isn't rich but they care for her and she quickly makes friends with Rudy Steiner who lives close by. As she settles in to her new home the Nazi activity is rising quickly. The Story follows her life in Nazi Germany, and her adventures trying to survive. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone willing to take the time to read it as it is a bit long. I loved it all the way through. 

Caroline

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

The little prince is a short book about a little boy from a little planet, who leaves on a flock of birds tied together like balloons. He goes to many planets, sees adults in their work crazy, power-crazy forms, and then comes to earth and lands in the desert, where a pilot has crashed and is repairing his plane.  The pilot is the narrator of the book. and the story Is told from his perspective. The Little Prince awes the pilot with his perspective on life and his rose. The little prince was originally french and was published in English and french when it was first published. It is definitely one of my favorites. Is it yours? 

Caroline

the Tempest

The tempest is a book about a Lord Prospero and his daughter Miranda, who gets banished to an island by Prospero's brother and the king, where they live for many years. Years later, the king, Prospero's brother, and others are shipwrecked on Prospero's island and Prospero, having studied magic twists Fate so Miranda and himself end up on top.
Well this is Shakespeare, so this may be a bit confusing, but I have some ways on making it easier to understand Shakespeare (see my post on making Shakespeare easier to understand). Now, I Love Shakespeare, but it’s cool if you have a little trouble. It’s hard. The comedies can be a little easier in my experience, and more fun to read.  It's my second favorite Shakespeare book, after Midsummer nights dream. The play is fun to watch after you've read it. 

what's your favorite Shakespeare play? have you read the tempest?

-Caroline

Making Shakespeare Easier to read

So I have probably mentioned these in some other Shakespeare posts, but I decided to give it its own.  -listen to it or read it aloud. If you have audible or Libravox It’s not hard to get Shakespeare books, or have someone read it with you, and take turns reading it. I’ve been to a get together where a bunch of girls sat around, chose a part and read aloud basically a play reading. And Shakespeare can be super fun!
-Read it slowly, don’t rush through, reading is never a race.
-Enjoy it, reading should be fun, not annoying,
-If your new to Shakespeare, start with a comedy, midsummer nights dream or twelfth night,
-Watch the names, there are a lot of names repeated in the different plays, so don’t let it confuzzle you. Make a name chart if you have too, who is who, how are they related. Etc.
I hope these make it easier to read, understand and enjoy Shakespeare!
-Caroline

Gossamer by; Lois Lowry

Gossamer is a book about a Fairy type creature who is the bestower of our dreams. they search out house at night and find memories. and sew them together to make our dreams. But there is a dark force coming and if they do, everyone will have nightmares. The fairy type things have to give good dreams to a young boy who goes to live with an old woman, because his mother can't take care of him.
Gossamer is a great book, shorter, and not a bad book for younger kids. Its a great subtle introduction to dystopian books, but still regular enough that it would make sense to a young'n so 7+. Its also a book about dealing with being in new places, adapting, and anger issues. its a great book! have you read this book? let me know your thoughts!
Caroline!

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Harry potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is an amazing book. I know you've probably read it, but i'm going to do a short synopsis. Harry is a 10 year old boy who lives with his aunt and uncle. On his eleventh birthday in the middle of the night, a huge man comes into the house and says he is a wizard and he is to go to the finest wizard school there is, to learn magic. On the magical train ride to Hogwarts, he meets Ron Weasley, they decide to be friends, Hermione granger, of whom their opinions change constantly but she ends up their friend, Neville Longbottom, a forgetful boy who always is losing his toad Trevor, And Draco Malfoy, a nasty little boy. He treats Harry’s newfound friend Ron as trash, and whom Harry and Ron decide to ignore.
Honestly, I don’t really want to go further with that. Because, either, you’ve read the book and know the story, or you don’t and I don’t want to spoil it. But this book is just awesome. It’s also really nostalgic to go back and read my favorite parts. I honestly think that reading this book at eleven is the perfect time to get introduced to the wizarding world. Your the same age as Harry and his friends, it’s not too intense, but for the younger group it is a little, and 11 is a magic number. 😉
What is your favorite chapter of the beginning of one of the best children’s series ever written?
-Caroline

Book Recommendations by Age

Alrighty yall, i've decided to make a post of my favorite book recommendations by age. I've attached links to the books i've already made reviews on. My goal is to eventually have reviews on all of them and I will update this post if I do.

8+
Gossamer by Lois Lowry
A Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

9+
Wonder R.J. Palacio
A Little Princess
Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers
Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osbourne

10+
Hatchet Gary Paulson
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit
Spy School by Stuart Gibbs
The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
Anne Of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Heidi by Johanna Spyri
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory  Roald Dahl

11+
The Sisters Grimm by Michael Buckley
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart (1-4)
Artemis fowl by Eoin Colfer
The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
I Funny by James Patterson
Treasure island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
Yankees on the Doorstep by Debra Smith
The Yearling by Marjorie K. Rawlings
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

12+
The Trapp Family Singers by Maria Von Trapp
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
Messenger by Lois Lowry
Son by Lois Lowry
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
The Brendan Voyage by Tim Severin
The Purple Mantle by Aliki Kafetzopoulou
Between the Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Mister Max Finder of lost things by Cynthia Voight
Mister Max the books of secrets by Cynthia Voight
Mister max and the book of Kings by Cynthia Voight

13+
A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
When Calls the Heart by Janette Oke
Macbeth by Shakespeare
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
The Odyssey by Homer
Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis
War, Women, and the News by Catherine Gourley

Of Mice and Men by John Steinback

A Hobbit a Wardrobe and a Great War by Joseph Loconte

The Alchemist by Paul Coelho

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Murder On the Nile by Agatha Christie 

Gods and Kings by Lynn Austin 

ABC Murders by Agatha Christie

The Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis 

War Women and the News by; Catherine Gourley

War Women and the News is about female journalists and their fight to cover WW2. This book talks about lots of women who get jobs as journalists. most cover out of country, but some stay in the US. Some cover the front lines, some the devastation war causes. One woman and her husband get imprisoned in a prisoner of war camp. It's a very informational and inspirational book. It's got lots of pictures and backgrounds on all of the journalists. Its really cool to read about women who paved the way for women all over the world who because of women in WW2 who made it possible to be whatever you want to be! id say that because this is war that 13+ is a good age for people reading this book. but I would recommend. have you read this book? If not totally do.its super inspirational and you totally should.
Caroline

Macbeth

"Double, Double, toil and trouble. Fire burn, and cauldron bubble"
Macbeth is a tragedy, but a great read and a very well known play.its about Macbeth and lady Macbeth. During war the king is pleased with Macbeth and gives him a higher title. The king says that he will rest the night at Macbeths house on his way home. Macbeth and Malcom, his friend ride ahead to prepare for the king, but on the way home, the meet the three Weïrd sisters and they foretell Macbeth will be king, but Malcom the father of kings. Macbeth writes to Lady M. and tells her of the prophecy. Lady M. Plans to murder the king while he is asleep at their house, and Macbeth is hesitant at first but lady M. taunts him and he gives in. right before he murders the king, he has second thoughts, but the clock strikes, and that was his cue to go and murder the king. He uses the knives of the kings guards as to frame him. When the king is discovered dead Macbeth kills the servants out of "rage" but instead to silence them so they can't plead innocent. Macbeth is made king because the kings sons ran away fearing their lives. Fast forward and Malcom becomes suspicious of Macbeth and Macbeth sends murderers to kill him and his son. The murderers succeed in killing Malcom but his son gets away. At dinner that night, Macbeth sees the ghost of Malcom in Macbeths seat. Later Macbeth goes to see the Weïrd sisters. they tell him he will not die until  Birnham wood comes to the castle and he will not die until he fights some not 'born of a woman" of course Macbeth was very pleased to hear this for he knew these things were impossible. But back at his castle, Lady M. was suffering from nightmares, and was unwell. The forces of the people who were mad at Macbeth were in Birnham wood and to keep their numbers a secret, tore branches off the trees and marched to the castle. The scout who told Macbeth of the attack said "It looked as though Birnham wood was marching to the castle. later Macbeth was killed by a man who was torn from his mothers womb so he was not born of a woman.
Macbeth is a very tragic story. There are a lot of suspicions about this play: some think that lady M. and Macbeth lost a child, and that lady Macbeth killed herself to free her from the nightmares. like I said very tragic. But its also not a long book, and not terribly hard to read. Its something that I think everyone should read. Id love to hear your thoughts on Macbeth!
Caroline!

I Even funnier!

Yes this is the second book in the I funny series. I even funnier is about Jamie, after winning the New York's funniest kid contest, and the northeast's funniest kid contest. Stevie is still a bully, Glinda and Jamie are good friends, Gaynor gets into trouble and Pierce is sill a nerd. there are new struggles and old ones but Jamie is still telling jokes.
This book is actually a pretty good sequel to the first book. Some aren't but this one is. Its got its ins, outs, and surprises and that's what makes a good book. This book also deals with cancer, something that is devastating and becoming more common. It also touches on Chemo therapy and things that come with cancer. But it's also not something that they spend forever on. Overall this is a great sequel and I will defiantly recommend  it.
Caroline!

The Mysterious Benedict Society by; Trenton lee Stewart (Books 1-4)

the Mysterious Benedict Society is about a group of kids gathered by a man named Mr Benedict originally to defeat Mr Benedict's twin brother Mr Curtain. Books 1-3 (I'll go over four later) are about the children and their adventures as a team, going against Mr. Curtain and his infamous Ten Men. The four children learn about teamwork, trusting each other, and blocking their deepest thoughts from the telepath Constance.
I loved this series so much, and it is defiantly a favorite of mine! and I was very pleased when I found out there is a fourth book.
The fourth book is a little later. The children are high school age-ish and are reunited after a while. Constance is battling a telepath who is constantly in her mind trying to discover the location of the children and tai a telepath that constance found and led to the house of Mr Benedict. The Ten men are trying to save Mr Curtain from the safe house/prison on an island in the first book. But the MBS knows their plan and is trying to stop it.
I know I was a bit vague about the first three books, I'm sorry, but its been a while. But I discovered/read the fourth book recently and discovered that I hadn't done a review of these amazing books! so despite my vague review, I would say that these books are for 11/12+. they are long, and a little bit tough, especially the first couple chapters of the first book (lots of names of unfamiliar countries and things), But such a fun and interesting read! I defiantly  recommend you read them no matter what age. let me know if you've read these books and your opinions of them!
Caroline!

I Funny by: James patterson

I funny is a book about a boy named Jamie Grimm. a handicapped middle schooler, who loves to tell jokes. he lives with his aunt and uncle Kosgrov or "smiley" as he calls them. They don't laugh or smile any. Not even their three children. Or their dog. Jamie has trouble with a bully at school: Steve Kosgrov. yup the bully is his cousin. Jamie stands up to Stevie a lot because he's not scared of him. Jamie has four friends over the course of the book; Gaynor, Pierce, (boys BTW) Glinda, and "Cool Girl" (girls). After school Jamie zips on over to the seaside diner. Owned by his uncle Frankie. The diner is like home to him. He tests out new material on customers, works the register and has a great time!
I funny is a book about living your dreams and not conforming into stereotypes. But for me its also a glimpse into life as a public schooler. which don't get me wrong, I have public schooler friends and family, it's kinds nice to know what it's like. Its also FILLED with jokes. mostly good ones ;). I think the first time I read it I was a little young to understand it, but after re-reading it recently it makes a lot more sense. I think its a great book and I would defiantly recommend! let me know if you've read this book and what you think!
Caroline!

Spy School by: Stuart Gibbs

Spy school is a book about a young boy named Ben Ripley, who gets accepted into the CIA spy school in Washington DC. He isn't allowed to tell anybody that is is a spy school, but that it's a science school. Ben is a little suspicious because it's January, but he is told that there was an opening and he was next on the list. On his first night, he is attacked by an assassin which he wards off with a tennis racket, but by the time help arrives the assassin is gone.
This book was great in my opinion. I can't wait to read the next one! there are 5 or 6 bookish this series. I really enjoyed it.  It's a longer book, but Ben is twelve, so about that age would be who I would suggest it too.  There is a lot of excitement and spy school is interesting, but it's also about trust and how some friends will be there for you and some friends will not. Its like that saying, you'll have lots of friends when you're rich and famous, but if you lose it all, the ones who stick around are your true friends; or something like that. so overall this is a great book, would defiantly recommend, let me know if you've read this book and what you think!
Caroline!

When Calls The Heart by: Jeannette Oake

I know that most likely when you think When Calls The Heart, you think Jack Thornton. But the title  has more meaning in the book. There is no Mountie Jack only Wynn hence the when-Wynn. like I said the title has more meaning for the book. Not that I have any problem with at least the first 5 seasons of the show. This is a series of books but sadly I have only read the first one. But there are lots of similarities. This book is about Elizabeth the teacher going from City, to town, to frontier. One of my favorite parts of the book is when she visits her brother and his family, she tells him "I am not here to find a husband," and the one man she wants her brother to introduce her too, he just ends his conversation with. I love how the youngest of her brothers children, is in love with an adult she nicknamed Dee.
I hope this post has encouraged you to go read this book. If it has, please keep in mind. The BOOK came FIRST!
Caroline

Gods and Kings by: Lynn Austin

Gods and kings is about a prince named Hezikiah who lost his brother when his father sacrificed to one of his Gods. Hezikiah's mother and grandfather are christians, but keep it a secret. His grandfather tries to teach him the faith, but one day he leaves to go to the temple and says he will return……… Years into the future, his father promised his hand to one of his advisors daughters.  She is very exited to live in the palace, but when she gets there, she realizes he has other wives and probably not devote his life to her. The book is a cliffhanger, just a warning. But there are more books!

The A.B.C. Murders by: Agatha Christie

The A.B.C. murders is about a series of murders each murder in alphabetical order. The murderer was sending Hercule Poirot notes taunting him and telling him what town the murder would be in and what day to expect it, but there was always something in the way; the letter miss-addressed, the races in the town, and no connection between the murdered people. Hercule was truly stumped, but he'll make it through, he always does.
the A.B.C. murders was a very interesting mystery. It was different than the usual mystery, but I guess that you could say that about every mystery. It was a good one, but not easy to crack. Absolutely worth a check out from y'all! ;) 12+ definitely, just because Agatha Christie doesn't make her books gooey and stuff doesn't justify that its still murder so def. needs to be a little older.
Caroline