Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne

Synopsis

When Professor Lidenbrock opens an ancient book, a sheet of paper comes out and he decides to take his nephew, Axel, with him to discover more information on what the sheet is saying. They travel deeper and deeper into the earth in order to find the centre of the earth.

Review

Category: Fantasy, Science Fiction

Age Group: Young Teens

Star Rating: 7/10

Verdict

This book was really interesting because it is fun to read about the adventures of Professor Lidenbrock and Axel travelling further and further down into the centre of the earth. The reader is able to feel as though they are on the journey with these characters, suffering the lack of food and water and sighing with relief once a new supply has been found.

Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer

Warning: If don't want to hear Breaking Dawn being criticized please don't read my ranting verdict.
Synopsis
In the final book of the Twilight series, Bella has made her choice. She is going to leave everything she knew, humans and all, behind, and start her new life as a vampire.

Twilight tempted the imagination. New Moon made readers thirsty for more. Eclipse turned the saga into a worldwide phenomenon. And now, the book that everyone has been waiting for...

Goodreads


Review
Category: Teen Fiction/Romance (Mild Violence)
Age Group: Teens
Star Rating: 0.5/10


Verdict (Beware: Rant)
What can you say about an absolutely rubbish book with no plot? Funnily enough, the book's initials are B.D., which suits the contents perfectly. Breaking Dawn is an absolute Brain Drain. Bella, who never bothered me from the start of the series, started really bugging me in New Moon. Please leave Edward alone if he's convinced he's too dangerous for you. Stop whining about the amazing 'after' car your fiance has bought you. If you are THAT displeased sell the car and donate the money to Salvation Army. Bella has become so much of a whiner that it totally spoils the book as readers stop to stab at her name with sharp fingernails and glare.
On the plot. Stephanie Meyer has previously spent three long books describing the supernatural world and what can and cannot happen in it. Then she turns around and totally ruins everything I was reading about. Rule: Vampires cannot have kids. Bella has a kid. Rule: Newborn vampires spend years being bloodthirsty and out of their head. Bella is not.
Come on. Supposedly, Bella has to struggle with the fact that if she wants to become a vampire, she will have to cut off ties with all humans she ever knew; she will be out-of-her-head-crazy for at least a few years; she will never be able to have kids. All this is spoiled with the author's obsession for having a happily-ever-after ending that Bella gets the best of both worlds by being beautiful, controlled, having a talented, amazing child, being amazingly talented herself. She opens her eyes and sees the world in a whole new perspective. After reading this, doesn't everyone want to be a vampire? There are absolutely no downsides to it! Mummy, I want to be a beautiful vampire with paranormal powers too. This total Brain Drain killed me to read and I ended up throwing my hardback copy across the fence to my three year-old neighbour who will hopefully enjoy tearing them up and chewing on the hard cover.

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

Skulduggery Pleasant is the first book in the Skulduggery Pleasant series. Confusingly enough, Skulduggery Pleasant is also the name of one of the main characters in this book. Skulduggery Pleasant is a live skeleton; he has died but his bones and life still remains. When Stephanie Edgley's uncle dies, she attends the reading of the will. Every member of the family shows up - and one mystery person that no one knows anything about - Skulduggery Pleasant. When she meets him and realizes that he is a living skeleton she receives a big surprise. However, when she finds out about what he does for a living she is flabbergasted. Skulduggery Pleasant teaches her magic so that they can destroy the evil magicians.

I really enjoyed this book because I found the idea of an "undead" hero quite funny. It is an enjoyable read; it's fun to read about the adventures of Stephanie and Skulduggery as they fight the evil to bring peace back. People who enjoy science fiction will enjoy this!

Age Group: Teens

Star Rating: 8/10

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Eragon is a boy that used to live on a farm with his uncle. One day while he was hunting, he found a blue "stone" which he kept. One time while he was sleeping, a dragon hatches from the "stone". He calls the dragon, Saphira. He secretly keeps the dragon because the king might take away the egg. After his uncle is killed in a fire, they find Ra'zac with Brom. Brom teaches Eragon how to be a Dragon Rider and how to speak the language of the elves.

I found the plot really interesting, but some bits were a bit boring and kept on lagging on. Also, I think there was a lot of scenes that weren't necessary.

Rating: 3/10

Series: 2/10

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Synopsis: Bilbo Baggins, an ordinary hobbit, is dragged onto an adventure with the mysterious wizard Gandalf and a number of dwarfs to regain treasures taken by an evil dragon.
On the way, he encounters Gollum, whom he defeats (through the use of a ring of invisibility) and navigates his way through a number of obstacles in the forest, finally arriving at Lake Town, where Smarg the dragon is guarding his stolen treasures.

Suitable for: Fantasy Lovers

Age Group: Kids and Teens

Star Rating: 8/10

Verdict: I am not a huge fan of fantasy, but this is a great, funny, interesting book. A good rea; there is a reason why it is a classic. Readers may also be interested in The Lord of the Rings, the sequel to Bilbo's adventures. The Lord of the Rings review will be completed soon.