J.A.M.'s BookCorner

11.26.2011

Brian Selznick

Brian Selznick wrote The Invention of Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck. He writes the stories in words and pictures. Sounds like graphic novels, huh? But his pictures are original charcoal drawings(by himself) and they are AMAZING.

The book The Invention of Hugo Cabret is the first one I read by him(the major motion picture, Hugo, just released).It also won the Caldecott Award. Here is the synopsis.

Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.
This is such a touching story, and the drawings are fantastic. I completely recommend this and as family friendly as it is, it would be a great read-aloud. 10/10

Wonderstruck, the another story by Brian Selznick book(I finished yesterday), and I loved it. It was really sad, but had a very sweet ending. Here is the synopsis(from the book)-

Ben and Rose secretly wish their lives were different. Ben longs for a father he has never known.
Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. When Ben discovers a puzzling clue in his mother's room and Rose reads an enticing headline in the newspaper, both children set out alone on desperate quests to find what they are missing.
Set 50 years apart, Rose's story told in pictures and Ben's in words, the book is absolutely lovely.
(And something-not a spoiler- both of them are deaf)
Adieu!

11.23.2011

HaNnah joyA

Hey everyone,
One of my best friends has started a blog called HaNah joyA!
So please check it out! It's really awesome!- hannahjoya.blogspot.com
~JaM

11.17.2011

The Hunger Games

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games," a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed.

This is an award winning book by acclaimed author, Suzanne Collins. I really enjoyed The Hunger Games, but be forewarned: It is extremely violent. So if you get queasy from Lord of the Rings, or other such material, you would advise you to leave it well alone.
Katniss is a very likable person, and so are Peeta and Gale(don't worry, they get introduced in the beginning), but I found the writing level to be very simple, almost annoyingly so, and the subject of the book being what it is.... I recommend this book(I'm in the middle of "Catching Fire" the second book to the trilogy) and I hope you like it! and the movie is released March 23, 2012, right around my b-day! Here is the trailer, and it stars Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutchinson as Katniss and Peeta.

I think it looks amazing!!!!!!!

11.04.2011

THE RING OF FIVE

Danny Caulfield doesn't know how he ended up at a mysterious academy called Wilsons. A few of the students are pretty scary. Someone tries to murder him. Even the ravens that haunt the school seem to be against him. Yet he also finds friends: Les, an exceptional thief; Dixie, who has an unsettling talent; and Vandra, a physick with special powers.

It turns out that Danny is destined for a terrifying mission. As he embarks on his training, he is shocked and secretly thrilled to discover that he seems to have all the natural gifts of the perfect spy—most importantly, the ability to betray.

I finished it less than 2 minutes ago. It is my new favorite book in that genre.
This book is the first of a trilogy by Eoin McNamee. It is slightly dark, but please do not let the fact drive you away from it! Danny has a very strong character, and his friends Les, Dixie, and Vandra are also strong. If you've read the "A Wrinkle in Time" series by Madeline L'Engle, you will see similarities in the premises in which it is set. There is very little profanity in it (two uses of d**m), no romance, and the violence is on a mild level. CHEERS!!

10.31.2011

Magyk by Angie Sage

Septimus Heap, the seventh son of the seventh son, disappears the night he is born, pronounced dead by the midwife. That same night, the baby's father, Silas Heap, comes across an abandoned child in the snow -- a newborn girl with violet eyes. The Heaps take her into their home, name her Jenna, and raise her as their own. But who is this mysterious baby girl, and what really happened to their beloved son Septimus?

I love it. It was really well written, even though it is 4th grade+, but the story was captivating, and an easy read. Jenna is cute and funny, and Boy 412 is so adorable. All of the characters are well developed, and this is also the first of 6 books. So I will get readin' the others and review those as well. Cheerio!