What's Christian Reading? Freefall

Christian's reading a series that I am not familiar with. It called the Tunnels series, by Roderick Gordon & Brian Williams. He really likes it, so I think I'll be checking it out. He's going to tell us a little about the third book in the series, Freefall. Let's see what Christian has to say about it.

Here's what Christian says the book is about.

In Freefall, Will, Chester, and Elliot are falling down the Pore. When they reach the bottom they are scattered, knocked out, and spread out. Chester is first awakened when Will’s hunter/cat abomination thing starts licking him. Chester then has to go off and find his friends with Bartleby, Will’s hunter. He finds Will first, thanks to Bartleby, in a cave behind a waterfall. Will is convinced that his father, who he came down into the Deeps to find in the first place is dead.

They find Elliot buried deep in the fungus floor. When they pull her out she is unconscious. They venture deeper into the fungus filled land and get attacked by giant spiders. Thankfully a woman with frizzy red hair named Martha saves them. She takes them back to her shack and takes care of them. They find out that her son, Nathaniel, died due to an illness.  

What I liked: I liked how action packed the book was.

What I didn’t like: I didn’t like how creepy some of the characters were. I felt that they were overly creepified (is that even a word?).

So, how did Christian rate Freefall, by Roderick Gordon & Brian Williams?

He gave it five out of five flaming monkey heads.

What's Christian Reading? The Deliverers 3: The Golden Dragon of Ang

The celebration of the release of The Deliverers 3: The Golden Dragon of Ang continues this week. Christian has read the book, which is surprising because in his soon to be teenage brain he has the idea that it's not cool to read books his father writes. To my surprise, he read the proof copy with very little pleading on my part. Hmmm, maybe he's hooked in spite of himself. Anyway, here are his thoughts on the book.

Here's what Christian says the book is about.

This book is well written. The characters seem real and not fake. I would recommend this book for children ages 9-13. This book is the best one in the series.

Some of the parts I found exciting where when the main characters had to sneak out of Ang’s capital and find Eric and Kate, when they had to escape the Serpent Fortress and when they had to find the legendary island. This book is very exciting and is a very interesting read.

Some of the main characters include Kang, Jiao, The Fang, that Denchi dude who helps them out, and the Golden Dragon of Ang.

When Eric and his friends Kate, Stig the owl and Hallo the dwarf enter the special doors that lead to the “hallway of worlds” they are always plunged into an adventure of mystery and intrigue. Last time it was the Vynestri and Selango, this time it is the five Dragon Islands and the search for the missing Dragon's Voice. What will happen in this exciting installment of the Deliverers series? Find out today!

Bless his soul, I actually think he was trying to slide in a sales pitch at the end there. So how did Christian rate The Golden Dragon of Ang? 

He gave it 4.95 out of 5 flaming monkey heads (he's always been tough, this is pretty good!).

What's Christian Reading? Happenstance Found

It's been a while since I've been able to corral one of my children to write a little about what they've been reading. Today, Christian actually volunteered to write something. Hmmm, must have been a slow day. The book he read is Happenstance Found from the Books of Umber, by P.W. Catanese. Let's see what he had to say.

Here's what Christian says the book is about.

This book is about a boy named Happenstance who has some extraordinary abilities. These abilities include night vision, super speed and high jumping. In the story he wakes up in a dark and gloomy cave with no memories. Some people happen to be exploring this cave and find him. They try to make it out of the cave but one of the explorers, Umber, wants to see the giant tyrant worm that lives there. They escape from the cave with the tyrant worm right behind them. Luckily it won’t go into the sun so they were safe, but then the volcano erupted. They barely made it to their boat and got away. 

They then go onto a bigger boat run by Umber’s friend Nima and Nima’s friend Baroon. Umber’s helper, Balfour, is also there as Umber and the other explorers, Sophie and Oates, used this ship to get to the island where they found Happenstance. They soon notice a strange ship following them.They use evasive maneuvers to try and lose him and it works! They make it to the coastal city of Kuruhaven and Happenstance finds out that Umber is the Lord of the Aerie and a very successful merchant.

When they get to the Aerie Umber introduces Happenstance (who he decided to call “Hap”) to his friend Lady Truden. Lady Truden takes Hap on a tour around the aerie and lets him pick out his room. Hap looks out of the window of the room he picked and discovers that it is the part of the Aerie that his room was the ornamental head of a dragon. The dragon head was carved out of stone of course, so it wasn’t real. This book is a very interesting story and I hope that you will consider reading it.

Here's what Christian liked best about the book.

What I liked: I liked how the author makes it seem like the story is happening around you. I also liked

 how the author makes the main characters get into these crazy fights with monsters in the beginning of each book.

Here's what Christian did not like about the book.

What I didn’t like: I didn’t like the part where the ship starts trailing the ship Hap is on. I think the author should have put it in a little bit later.

So, how did Christian rate Happenstance Found, by P.W. Catanese?

He gives it four and a half out of five flaming monkey heads.

What's Christian Reading? A Tale Dark & Grimm

Oh boy. Christian's discovered another new book. This book is an interesting take on Hansel & Gretel. There are a lot of books out there that are modern versions of fairy tales, some better done than others, but A Tale Dark & Grimm, by Adam Gidwitz sounds like it's one of the good ones. Let's see what Christian thought about it.

         

Summary

This book is about Hansel and Gretel. It tells about the adventures that they had besides the witch and her gingerbread house. Hansel and Gretel were royalty. They fought dragons, went through hell, and got their heads sliced off in the beginning of the story.  

They also go to these two towns that have problems with their magical wine fountain and golden apple trees. They fix all of the problems and move on with their journey.

I won’t tell you all of the details but Hansel meets an old man who happens his family's old and faithful servant. They are very brave and bold. They had many more adventures but I won’t tell you everyone of them.

What I  liked

I liked when Hansel went into hell with the devil.

What I didn’t like

It didn’t have any thing I didn’t like.

     Rating      

 Five out of five Shiny Deoxys

What's Christian Reading? Magyk

Ha! Here's a book that I actually read before Christian! I really enjoyed Magyk, by Angie Sage. Let's see what Christian thought about the book.

         

 Magyk

    Summary

 In Magyk, by Angie Sage the Supreme Custodian guard has taken over the castle and banned the use of magyk. He has killed the Queen and the Extraordinary Wizard at the palace. The baby princess has however evaded death after the Extraordinary Apprentice Marcia Overstrand killed the assassin that was sent by the Supreme Custodian. the princess is given to a local family of wizards called the Heaps.  

Ten years later the Heaps celebrate Jenna’s (the princces’) 10th birthday. Marcia (now the Extraordinary Wizard) comes rushing in and tells Sarah and Silas Heap that Jenna is in trouble. The Supreme Custodian and the Althier, the deceased Extraordinary Wizard--and Marcia’s mentor--have tracked down the princess. Jenna is whisked away to the wizard tower before she opens her present.

Silas and one of Jenna’s brothers come barging into the Extraordinary Wizard's room and give Jenna her present. The Young Army boy that Marcia found earlier stirs. Marcia gives him new clothes and the Supreme Custodian starts to bang on the door. Then they all take a plunge down the garbage chute to escape

    What I  liked

        I liked everything!

     What I didn’t like

        I liked it all.

     Rating      

 Five Out Of five Shiny Deoxys

What's Christian Reading? The Alchemyst

Okay, it's time for Christian to tell us about another book that he's been reading. This week it's The Alchemyst by Michael Scott. Once again, I've let Christian handle the layout of the post. Let's seee what he thought of the book.

The Alchemyst By Michael Scott

Synopsis

        Two twins, Sophie and Josh, work in stores directly across from each other. Josh works in a bookstore owned by Nicholas Flemel and Sophie works in the Coffee Cup. A man shows up at the bookstore and Josh and Sophie are plunged into a world of magic and mystery.

Meeting a new creature around every corner they fight members of the elder race such as The Morrigan and many more. When Sophie’s magical powers are awakened by Hekate and Josh’s aren’t he fills up with jealousy. Nicholas Flamel’s enemies seek to use that to their advantage. Who will win? Nicholas Flamel or Dr. John Dee.

What I liked

        I liked it all except for the part when.....

What I disliked

                .........when Josh doesn’t get awakened and Sophie does. It’s just unfair.

Note:

          Graphics were a special last time because there were pictures in the book and I wanted you to see them. From now on whenever I read a book with pictures i will put some up here.

Thank you for your cooperation, Christian.                                                

Rating

4 out of 5 Pikachus

What's Christian Reading? The Fire Within

Christian, as always, has been doing a lot of reading. He's discovered a new series--The Lost Dragon Chronicles by Chris D'Lacey--which he's currently tearing through. Today, he's going to tell us about the first book, The Fire Within. Let's see what he thinks about it.

Oh yes, Christian has changed his ratings from flaming monkey heads to Pikachus (it's a Pok'emon thing).

Here's what Christian says the book is about.

A woman named Liz Pennykettle gets a tenant named David Rain. She has a daughter named Lucy Pennykettle. Liz and Lucy can make clay dragons that can come to life. You have to have been inducted into the Pennykettle family to be able to see them move, though.

Lucy is trying to save an injured squirrel who she has named Conker. Conker only has one eye. Lucy thinks that another squirrel who she calls Birchwood took the other one out during a fight. It turns out though that a crow who they call Caractus took it out.

Liz gives David a clay dragon that she made. He names him Gazooks. David can imagine Gadzooks and Gadzooks will give him inspiration for stories. Near the end of the book what David writes becomes true, but he does not notice it at first. Gadzooks tries to warn David about what is happening. Will David realize what's going on? Read the book to find out.

Here's what Christian liked best about the book.

I liked the part when David named his clay dragon Gadzooks and the part where Lucy said that the dragons were hurring (read the book and you'll understand), which confused David.

Was there anything that Christian did not like?

I didn’t dislike a thing. This is an impeccable first book of an impeccable series.

So, how did Christian rate The Fire Within, by Chris D'Lacey?

He gave it five out of five Pikachus.

What's Christian Reading? The Candy Shop War

It's been a while since I've posted anything from the Reading Crew. Frankly, it's been tough sitting any of them down long enough to give me an update about what they've been reading. Christian received a new Kindle this Christmas as a combined birthday/Christmas present and he's been using gift cards to buy a lot of apps and books.

This week, I finally flagged him down and asked him about some of the books he's been reading. When I asked him if there were any that he really enjoyed, he raved about The Candy Shop War, by Brandon Mull. Christian had really enjoyed Mull's Fablehaven series, and that was what had prompted him to give Candy Shop a try. Let's see what he had to say about it.

Here's what Christian says the book is about.

It's about four kids--Nate, Trevor, Summer and Pigeon. They meet this weird woman named Mrs. White who runs a candy shop. They find out that she makes magical candies, including Moon Rocks and Shock Bits. Moon Rocks allow you to jump extra high and float into the air. If you eat a mouthful of Shock Bits, you can give people an electrical shock.

The four kids have to go on special missions for Mrs. White in order to earn more candy. Their first mission is to break into a museum and steal two artifacts that Mrs. White claims belonged to her ancestors. This leads to a series of creepy and shady events.

I won't tell you how that turned out, but you'll find out what's really going on when you read this amazing book by Brandon Mull, author of the Fablehaven series.

Here's what Christian liked best about the book.

I liked the first time they ate the Moon Rocks, because they seemed surprised. Nate tried to take a step and ended up drifting off into the air.

Was there anything that Christian did not like about the book?

Nothing. I liked it all. It was perfect, absolutely perfect!

So, how did Christian rate The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull?

Christian gives it five out of five flaming monkey heads.

What's Christian Reading? Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel

Christmas has come and gone, and I hope you all had a great holiday. I did, and so did Christian. He received a couple of books as well as a Kindle Fire, so he's in reading heaven. This week, he's going to tell us a little bit about one of the books he received, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel, by Jeff Kinney. Let's see what he thought.

Here's what Christian says the book is about.

"The book is about this kid named Greg Heffly. He has to find a date for a Valentine's Day dance. He is having trouble because he's not that popular with the ladies. All the girls are fair game except for the really popular ones and the weird ones. The ones in the middle section of popularity are all good. He does have his eye on one girl that is super popular, Holly Hills, the most popular girl in school.

"Maybe they will get together and go to the dance or they will go with different people. Greg doesn't have his eye set on only Holly though. He wants any girl he can get. The only girl he doesn't want though is Ruby Bird, the weirdest girl in the school.

"Unlike most people Greg remembers every moment of his life, starting from when he was in his mom's stomach. He says it was a good place to be except for the fact that when his mother talked he could hear anything she said. Greg could do whatever he wanted."

What does Christian like about the book?

"I liked the part when Greg has to sell chocolate bars for a school fund raiser and he eats them all."

Was there anything that Christian did not like about the book?

Nothing,  I liked it all.

How does Christian rate The Third Wheel by Jeff Kinney?

Christian gives it five flaming monkey heads.