Top 3 Favorites

My top three favorites, as of now, in no particular order. I'd define favorites as ones that I will read again and again in the future.

The Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling for sure. It's something about these famous books that makes them an instant classic. Little details throughout the whole series makes it appear very well thought out and organized, as if the whole plot had already been planned since the first book. Maybe it was. The whole magical world was very imaginative and descriptive, from dementors, to the Ministry of Magic, to Quidditch, whose rules were laid out very neatly. While the readers interests change as they get older, Harry also ages at the same rate, making sure readers don't lose interest.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is just a terrific sci-fi novel. Shown from both the teachers' view and the students' view, you kind of have to guess exactly what's going on. Commanders and soldiers, all consisting of brilliant young kids. The teachers are there to mess with them, to make them the best of the best, just to save humanity. It just shows exactly who should be messing with who. No ordinary kid can get admitted into Battleschool. Only the most cunning, most strategic, and the ones who are worth the trouble get in.

Scorpia Rising by Anthony Horowitz is the top spy novel ever! Tragic, suspenseful, full of action and excitement all in one. Alex Rider, an under-age spy recruited against his will, is a really admirable character, never giving himself up to the terror he meets. Even when he really emotionally breaks down, he is still strong, and is even more determined to put things right. He's resourceful, has quick reflexes, and is a quick thinker even under pressure. He's just the spy you'd want working for your side.

The Hunger Games

As most of you know, the Hunger Games movie just recently came out! Based off the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, it's full of action and is a great series.

In future North America, Panem consists of the Capitol as well as twelve outer districts. Every year they hold the Hunger Games, which forces one boy and one girl between ages 12 and 18 from each district to fight against each other, their efforts shown televised to the whole nation. To win is to be the last one alive. So when Katniss Everdeen from district 12 takes up the death sentence, she is determined to win using her hunting and survival skills.

This book is probably my favorite out of the whole series. I loved all the action and Katniss was definitely my favorite character. Her hunting skills, and her cunning personality fit in perfectly with the story. She uses all these characteristics to win the game and start a rebellion against the Capitol.

In Catching Fire, she comes home, a hero, signs of rebellion amongst the other districts popping out everywhere, which greatly angers the Capitol. As long as she lives, the rebellion will go on. Defying the rule that the winners wouldn't be forced into the games anymore, Katniss finds herself in the arena once more, this time with other past winning tributes. She finds herself making allies with several of them, of whom are determined to keep both Katniss and the rebellion alive, no matter what the cost.

This book I found captivating as the story continued to unravel. You meet new obstacles, new characters, and find out more to the original plot.

Mockingjay I just found really sad, as many loved ones go seperate ways. It was perhaps a great finale to the plot, yet I didn't like this one as much as the other two, which both took place for a great chunk of the story in the arena.

So overall, great characters, great plot. Hopefully the movies will be just as good, or better.

My Rating: 8 out of 10 stars

Divergent

Divergent by Veronica Roth introduces Beatrice Prior, whose time to choose her final path in life has come. There are five different factions she must choose from:

Abnegation: the selfless

Dauntless: the brave

Amity: the peaceful

Candor: the honest

Erudite: the intelligent

Each faction serves a different purpose to help keep the government in order. But soon she finds that she doesn't belong to any of them, and she starts to wonder where she truly belongs in this imperfect society.

I loved it. I read it in two days. Each faction was described in great detail, as were all the characters and settings. It was reckless, and fun all the way. Yet there were still some parts that I didn't really like. Especially the ending. It felt like it was in slow motion; there wasn't enough action, not enough description of what was going on. And the last part, which gave a quick hint of what was to come in the second book kind of ruined the whole mood. But overall it was great and I couldn't put it down.

My Rating: 8 out of 10 stars

Gone Series

One second they were there; the next they were gone. One day, everyone age fourteen and up suddenly disappears in a blink of an eye. Only the kids are left to survive on their own in this new world they nickname "the FAYZ". Enclosed by an impenetrable dome, they are unable to contact the outside world for help. At first it begins a terrific life; a life without adults to tell you what to do. But when food starts running out, people start developing strange supernatural powers, and the kids of Perdido Beach start encountering unimaginable horrors, their life in the FAYZ is getting out of control. And when your fourteenth birthday comes along, you may be the next one to disappear.

Suspenseful. Creepy. Enthralling. I loved every bit of it. Every book comes with a new challenge to overcome, and with the rich characters, and fascinating plot, you won't be able to put it down. Told from many different characters' point of view, you never know what's going to happen next. Gone by Michael Grant will have you suspicious, horrified, and thrilled all at the same time.

My Rating: 9 out of 10 stars

Matched and Crossed

Cassia's whole life is controlled by the Society. What to eat, where you work, who you marry, when you die. The Officials decide everything for you, to provide you the best life possible. But when Cassia starts falling in love with Ky other than her designated match, Xander, she starts to wonder if the Society isn't perfect after all.

I thought this book was pretty good. Though a bit slow, it described how the Society worked really well. I liked the conflict between Xander and Ky, and Cassia having to choose one over the other. It was interesting to see how everyone reacted when they found out; her parents, Xander, and her Official. I thought the Society was pretty evil, not only to her, but to everyone. I enjoyed reading it a lot.

Crossed on the other hand, was a lot slower than Matched. Sequels almost never turn out to be as good as the first book. Ky was taken away to the Outer Provinces, and Cassia desperately tries to find him. You meet a lot of new characters, and learn more about Xander, Ky and the Society. Yet it was a touch too slow for me. It only got really interesting towards the end. Crossed by Ally Condie has you almost dangling on a cliff hanger, waiting to find out what happens next in the final book.

My Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

Maze Runner

The Maze Runner by James Dashner takes place in a rectangular open expanse called the Glade. The Glade is surrounded by four stone walls, which opens up during the day to reveal an unsolvable maze behind it. Thomas wakes up to find that he can only remember his first name. He is greeted by other boys living in the Glade, the "Gladers", and tries to settle into his new home. But Thomas' arrival seems to have triggered a chain of events that cause the Gladers to wonder why they are here and how to get out.

I heard about this series from many classmates, some saying it was the best series ever. I slightly disagree. Don't get me wrong; it's a great book and I enjoyed it a lot. But I thought it could've been better. I liked the plot, and the suspenseful events kept me reading to the end. But I didn't like the style of writing. It was somehow kind of plain; although it was a fast-paced book, it felt kinda slow. I still had a lot of unanswered questions by the end of the book, which I hope will be answered in the next book. Overall, a pretty decent book, with a suspenseful plot that is brilliant enough for me to be willing to read the rest of the series.

My Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

The Forbidden Game

    The Forbidden Game by L.J. Smith is a terrific book, divided into three parts; The Hunter, The Chase, and The Kill. Jenny buys a game from a mysterious boy she encounters for an upcoming party. Turns out that the boy is a Shadow Man and has been in love with Jenny since she was a kid. To take her for himself, he draws Jenny and her friends into three consecutive games in which Jenny and her friends' lives are at stake. If they win, Jenny gets her freedom. But if they lose, Jenny has to commit herself to Julian for the rest of her life.

    This is a book where friendships deepen, and love gets in the way of the game. I loved the unique plot and the different characters. There were surprises at every turn and it's a great story of love, horror and sacrifice. In the end you have to question who's the real enemy, and who you can trust. I have no idea what to categorize this one as. Is it romance? Paranormal? Or both? Either way, I loved it.

My Rating: 9 out of 10 stars

Alex Rider Series

    The Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz is one of my favorite series. Alex Rider is a fourteen-year-old spy working for MI6. All nine books feature nine different missions he's been given by MI6 and he meets many different people along the way. He proves himself to be a very good spy, however unwilling he is to be one. He is resourceful, a quick thinker, and has a reckless personality.

In the first book, Stormbreaker, Alex is introduced to the spy world when his last living relative, his uncle, dies in a "car crash". Later he finds out that his uncle is really a spy working for MI6 and that he died on one of his missions. MI6 wants to recruit him seeing as a teenage spy would be much more useful than an adult. Though Alex refuses at first, MI6 gives him no choice, and he is sent on his first mission.

About a year later, Alex has been on nine different, successful, missions, and has managed to save the world more than once. His last mission, told in the final book, Scorpia Rising, not only puts a definite end to his spy career, but also changes his life forever.

    Out of all the books in the series, I have to say that Scorpia Rising is my favorite. This final mission has Alex scarred for the rest of his life. I loved the unexpected twists, surprising me more than once. The gadgets, the people, and most of all, the ending. Terrifying and sad, it left me in tears by the time the book was over. It was full of action, and kept me reading all the way to the end. I would recommend this series to anyone who loves a good action-packed spy novel.

My Rating: 10 out of 10 stars

Ender's Game

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is one of my favorite books! It's a mixture of sci-fi, war, and smart kids. I absolutely loved it!

    The earth is under attack once again. The "buggers" final invasion could wipe out the human species. And only one person can defeat them...

    Ender Wiggin is sent to Battleschool for millitary training at age six, where he quickly proves himself to be the best of the best. Smart. Daring. A quick thinker. But how will he do when he's in command of a real fleet? Is he willing to defeat the "buggers" once and for all?

There's also a companion book; Ender's Shadow. It's basically the same time period in which Ender's Game occurs, yet all the events are told from a different point of view, from one of Ender's fellow classmates and friends in Battleschool. I loved them both!

My Rating: 10 out of 10 stars