Yes! No! Maybe so...
Welcome to Jared and Adam's Literacy Project. We hope that you will take some of our recomendations and read the books yourself. Write your own books reviews by clicking here. We'd love to hear what you have to say about some books that you've read!
The Power of One, by Bryce Courtenay
The Power of One was a book that took place within South Africa and portrayed was a young boy later called Peekay and follows him from a very young age up until he is in university. Peekay was a white South Africain growing up in a very racial environment. None of the other inhabitants realize how bad the racism and mistreatment is as Peekay does. Along his travels he meets many inspirational people, faces many obstacles and even overcomes extremely emotional times. Through these events he realizes that he must do something about the ongoing problem in South Africa. Will he prevail among the people or be swallowed up by the crowd?
This was an excellent story written by Bryce Courtenay. It was filled with characters you could warm up to, it was a personable and inspirational story as well. There was plenty of action and adventure within the writing and it was hard to put down once you got into the action. I loved this story and anyone looking for a great read on a South African adventure filled with many cultural apects, I strongly recommend it.
YES!
Along Came a Spider, by John Patterson
This thriller was just one of many produced by John Patterson. This novel in particular, Along Came a Spider, was just one of the many Alex Cross series by Patterson. The setting takes place in the hustle and bustle of Washington, D.C. The book starts off with lots of action as a little girl goes missing, a family of three gets brutally murdered and a school teacher as well, all tied in with a crazed criminal by the alias of the Son of Lindbergh who had been captured buy still extremely clever and dangerous. The book follows the search of Maggie Rose, the kidnapped daughter of a famous movie star. The FBI, Secret Service and Local Police rely on the assistance of Alex Cross, a decorated Washington Detective and psychologist, for help.
This rollercoaster book was actionful and had so many twists it was nearly impossible to judge where the book would lead to. The chapters were very short and numerous with many different scenes happing and many different events going on to keep the reader hooked and reading on. I personally prefer a good murder-mystery book and this one was cover to cover an excellent read. A movie to this book was later released, but as usual it was not the same as reading the real thing. James Patterson was brilliant again and it is thoroughly impressive how he keeps dishing out the good stuff.
Definite YES!
The Da Vinci Code, By Dan Brown
Robert Langdon is the main character in this puzzle-solving thriller. He is an art historian and religious symbologist whose skills are needed after a murder in the Louve had occurred. The victom was the museum’s curator who had managed to leave certain clues before he had passed. Many of the clues lead to the exploration of many famous works of art and the interpretation and further exploration of them. Along the way the murderer is still at large and murdering, as well as their secret society on the hunt to stop Langdon and his new partner Sophie Neveu at all costs. Its quick pace and action keeps you on your seat and the cliff hangers keep you reading further and further, deeply involving you in your reading.
I loved this book because there were so many clever and subtle hints and clues left behind and it took some extreme investigation and even luck to keep going. It had to be quick too as their lives were at stake, the close calls really makes your heart race as the book grows on you right from the start. I also learned much more about religion and it gives you a different view on things. At the end of the book your mind keeps carrying on and it’s hard to not research some of the topics more as there are different views you may not have looked at. This is an unbelievable read, taking many religious elements, puzzles, adventure and action and mixing it all into what is now one of the best books around the globe.
YES!
The Da Vinci Code, By Dan Brown
Well...it's kind of like an M. Night Shyamalan movie. It's more like a slap in the face at the end than a nice, clever series of chapters. Feels like the real book was cut in half and that bit was slapped in.
NO!
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, By John Boyne
It is very easy to see why this book is a best seller. This book brings out a unique view of a subject that has been written
about many times, the Holocaust. Bruno, a nine year old boy is forced to move because his father must go to a new post for the army. What Bruno does not know is that his father is a commander of one of the worst extermination camps in World War II, Auschwitz. One day while Bruno is exploring (against house rules) He comes to a fence where he meets a little boy who is the exact same age as him. The boy's name is Shueml and he is on the other side of the fence. Bruno sneaks out every day to see his friend Shueml and comes to realize that he is not the enemy like Bruno is being taught in his lessons. This book is a quick read but very thought provoking. It is one of the most moving stories I have read is a long time.
YES!
Brisingr, By Christopher Paolini
In this highly-anticipated third installment of the popular Inheritance cycle lies a truly unforgettable plot. Christopher Paolini is at it again with his brilliant story-telling and ability to keep you reading well into the night. Fans of the first two Inheritance novels- Eragon and Eldest- will not be disappointed with Paolini’s intreging story. Although the violence may be slightly over the top, there is never a lull in this fast- paced fantasy novel. Still burdened with his need to return to Oromis, defeat Galbatorix and fulfill his promise to Roran, Eragon has a lot to face, and it doesn’t all come easily. Brisingr will keep you hooked on the already addictive Inheratince Cycle, and will leave you pleased that this is not the end.
YES!
Inkdeath By Corneila Funke
In this thrilling third and final installment of the Inkworld trilogy Cornelia Funke does another fantastic job at pulling the reader into the Inkworld. Picking up where Inkspell left off, the Inkworld is full of dark magic. Adderhead has taken control of Ombra and has received the gift of eternal life, while Mo is trying to protect the Inkworld from Adderhead’s terrorist marauders. Meanwhile, the Book of Immortality is unraveling, and Adderhead has begun to fear the While Woman of Death yet again. In order to get Bluejay back to fix the book, Adderhead must kidnap all the children in the kingdom and force them to be his slaves unless Bluejay returns. Although Inkdeath is an excellent but gory finish to an even better trilogy, Funke does seem to have wandered away from her original audience as the story becomes less of Maggie’s story and more adult. Inkdeath is an excellent read as far as the story goes, but is not quite as addictive as the other novels in Funke’s Inkworld trilogy.
YES!
Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox By Eoin Colfer
After returning from his three-year disappearance Artemis comes home to his new twin siblings and his mother. Artemis spends most of his time teaching his younger siblings the many important skills of life, until disaster strikes. Artemis’s mother contracts a deadly sickness that can only be cured by one thing; the brain fluids of the silky sifaka lemur. Artemis knows that this lemur is extinct because of a heartless bargain he made when he was 10 years old. In order to cure his mother Artemis must break all the rules of time travel and go back in time to save the lemur. His opponent? None other than the 10-year-old Artemis Fowl. All of the odds are stacked against him as he begins his fateful journey to keep his mother alive. Will Artemis be able to thwart himself and save his mother, or will he forever have to live with the guilt of killing the person he loves most?
YES!
Crank By Ellen Hopkins
Crank is about a stright lace girl who goes to visit her meth head of a father for a few weeks in the summer, that is when her down hill sprial begins, from starting to smoke, sniffing crank, being raped, Kristina's (or should we call her Bree) life is way out of control. Can Kristina get string again, pick up the book to read and find out!
YES!
The Power of One, by Bryce Courtenay
I thought this book started off to a slow, but as you got to know some of the characters it drew you in. Some parts, I thought should have gone differently. Plus it was a little weird that some of the people that the main character met died. Over all I thought that this book was really
good and gave you a good message and would deffently recommend it!!
YES!
A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Kahlead Hosseini
This book is the runner up to “The Kite Runner”, which sparked many readers and turned out to be a great success. He followed up with this book which talks about what life was like in Afghanistan for a woman. There were many cultural traditions and some of those weren’t very good ones at that. It followed two different characters, Mariam and Laila. They both life very tough lifestyles in the Afgan tradition and are faced with much violence, this is a story about their fight for survival.
This story is of survival, with that comes grief, sorrow and pain, along with positive things like pride, belief and relief. This story was one of many hardships and can make for a very emotional read for many. I found this book to be very troublesome and it brought foward many different emotions. I was a very well written book and the book had so much tension and drama it seemed to be a very quick read. It can be very graphic in scenes, however, and some may be offended making it a difficult read for some.
Maybe so...
Double Cross, by James Patterson
Another thriller from James Patterson has a common character, Alex Cross, being in the brunt of action once again. This time not only one deranged killer is murdering ruthlessly the people of Washington D.C. and after Cross, but the notable Kyle Craig is after him as well after his escape from a high-security prison. Alex and his new girlfriend Bree Stone, who is also a detective for the police force are left to put together the pieces and solve the case before time runs out and the killers reach the two of them and their families. It is a non-stop, fast pace story that will leave you wondering what will happen next.
Once again I was highly impressed with Patterson as he never ceases to amaze me. In his long career as a novelist he always comes up with different story lines and manages to think of the most complex and shocking twists that you will never see coming. He does all of this while maintaining a high-tempo story line and different situations happening at once. It is no surprise why he is one of the top thriller writers of this time.
Yep!
Mercy Among the Chrildren, by David Adams Richards
This book is about a boy who pushed another boy off of a roof when he was younger. The story follows his adulthood and his life. This is going to be a short response because I could not “get into the book”. I wasn’t sparked by the storyline and found the book to go by very slow. I gave up after the first hundred pages and therefore don’t know how much of the story turned out. There wasn’t overly much action that aroused my interest, as I like to read books with a bit of action and a great story line. The book just didn’t spark my interest.
No!
