Graceling by Kristin Cashore - Bellanush Review

 Graceling by Kristin Cashore. Graphia. 9780547258300. $9.99

Reviewed by BellaNush

Isabella says:

I loved this book! I just enjoyed everything about it! It was an  interesting idea. The two different colored eyes, Katsa's graceling being survival not killing, Po losing his sight! I was absolutely mesmerized by this book. :) Yes, Po losing his sight did make me sad, but it also seemed needed. So I definitely enjoyed this book and I hope others do to. I think this is a good book for people who like descriptive writing and read a lot. But I also think people who don't read a lot would enjoy it because it has a wonderful plot.

Anusha says:

I didn't like this book. No, actually I hated this book! I found it boring, annoying, dumb, insufferable, and most of all, stupid. First off, I HATED the main character! I found her really annoying, because in the beginning of the book, Katsa seems very strong and unbreakable. Then in the middle, she was breaking down and crying over every little thing! Near the end, she was just a mess. Crying one second, taking down an army the next. In love one moment, furious the next. I hated her little mood swings! They were really annoying. The author could have made her a great character, but all we got was this ignorant, annoying, stupidly emotional, mess. It's pretty sad actually.... Second reason why I hated this book was the story. The idea of Gracelings didn't appeal to me from the start, but I thought it would get better. I thought the author would make them more interesting, but no. That never happened. The Gracelings could have been great for the story, but the author chose to focus on everything BUT them. I also hated the whole medieval theme. The characters speech pattern got really annoying after a while, and I just couldn't stand it! It didn't seem perfectly medieval,or at all normal. The speech was at an annoying level in between! Overall, I felt like the book was a COMPLETE waste of my time.

What do you think?

Tweet

Introducing Alexa

Over the next several weeks, I'll be introducing you to several student bloggers from my summer book club. Each blogger will be answering questions from Welcome to My Tweendom.  These students are new to blogging and look forward to sharing their book thoughts with you.  Please help me welcome:


Alexa 


of 


Simon Cowell's Corner




What are your favorite genres to read?
 I read a wide variety of books, but my favorite genres are probably science-fiction and fantasy 


 How do you select the books you want to read? 
 Usually, I see ads for books on the internet or someone recommends them for me. 


 What is your favorite book so far?
 My favorite book is The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. 


 What is your favorite thing about reading? 
 I love the fact that there are so many creative ideas that people come up with, and really experiencing what it would be like, asking yourself, "What if?" 


 Do you read on an e-reader/phone/computer? 
Yes, I read on my I-pod touch on an amazing app called the Wattpad. ( Free books written by people and sent out, and given feedback.) 


 What kinds of books do you think are most popular with kids your age? Why?
 I believe that books that kids my age really like to read romance novels, (though I really don't enjoy them) All kids, mostly girls, at the pree-teen age like to imagine if they had a boyfriend like the wonderful, non-realistic ones they experience in novels. 


 What book are you waiting to be released? 
I am anxiously awaiting the release of the third book in the trilogy the Iron King, the Iron Prince. I heard it comes out this month, so excited!! 


 What are you currently reading? 
 I am currently reading the new novel Matched, by Allie Condie though I haven't gotten into it yet!

  Tweet

The Sunday Salon: Introducing Anusha and Isabella

Over the next several weeks, I'll be introducing you to several student bloggers from my summer book club. Each blogger will be answering questions from Welcome to My Tweendom.  These students are new to blogging and look forward to sharing their book thoughts with you.  Please help me welcome:

Anusha and Isabella of

Bellanush, we think...

What are your favorite genres to read? 
I like fantasy, realistic fiction, and anything that has action.
Fantasy

How do you select the books you want to read?  
I read the inside cover of a book, and if it intrigues me, I read it.Sometimes the name, sometimes the cover. Then if it interests me I read the description of the book.

What is your favorite book so far?  

I have alot! Basically, anything by Rick Riordan, Maximum Ride Series, City of Bones Series by Cassandra Clare,  and the Lorien Legacies by Pittacus Lore. I've got lots of others!!!!!
I don't have a favorite book so far. I like a lot of books and I really can't pick just one book to be my favorite. Always seems to change too!

What is your favorite thing about reading?  
It's just cool. :)
I like being able to go to a different place that may not exist, or being halfway around the world. It's fun being able to be someone else and to live their life even if its only for the expanse of the book.

Do you read on an e-reader/phone/computer?
Nope, not at all!
I read on my Nook and my moms Kindle sometimes and I read on the computer a lot. Mostly Japanese comics though.

What kinds of books do you think are most popular with kids your age?  Why?  
Alot of action/fantasy books, because people have short attention spans [like me!]  and need to be intrigued. 

I think action for guys because its almost always about fighting,blood and death. I think girls also like action but do enjoy a good romance book because everyone loves when the gorgeous guy comes and helps the girl and how they will always be together. But I think most girls like when it doesn't end well and they have to work it out.

What book are you waiting to be released?
Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan, the rest of the Lorien Legacies series, the rest of the Red Pyramid series, Spellbound by Rachel Hawkins, Hallowed by Cynthia Hand, City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare, and Nevermore by James Patterson.
I'm waiting for a lot of books to be released but I will only name a few: Crossed, Son of Neptune, Goddess Interrupted, Allegiance, Hallowed, Catching Jordan, and Darker Still.

What are you currently reading?  

The Maximum Ride Series!!!!! 

I am currently reading The Power of Six and Divergent.

Tweet

The Sunday Salon - Austin Teen Book Festival

Hey guys! =)

So, as some of you know, I was at the Austin Teen Book Festival yesterday!! [ATBF, for short]

I got to meet a bunch of authors, get book signed, and had an awesome time!!

There were panels of authors that you could go and listen to. Out of 5, you got to choose 3. At the panel discussion, the authors were asked questions from one author, and they answered them, and then the audience got to ask questions! It was really nice hearing the authors talk about a lot of different things, and they were so nice and funny! =)

My favorite authors that I got to meet were: Jessica Brody, Scott Westerfeld, and Andrea Cremer. Gabrielle Zevin was pretty nice too!

I got these books signed: Nightshade, Wolfsbane, My Life Undecided, and Uglies!

I also learned some things about upcoming books from authors: Andrea Cremer is going to write 2 pre-quels about Nightshade after she's done with the last book of the trilogy. She's also going to write a new Steampunk series that's coming out in a few years!

Tera Lynn Childs said she is also writing another Forgive My Fins book, along with the trilogy of her Sweet Venom series!!

It was a blast [even though I had to wake up at 5:45 on a Saturday]!! Totally worth it! I'm only sorry you guys couldn't have come to make it more fun. =(

Aneeqah's Not So Real Life

Tweet

Introducing The Sisters

Over the next several weeks, I'll be introducing you to several student bloggers from my summer book club. Each blogger will be answering questions from Welcome to My Tweendom.  These students are new to blogging and look forward to sharing their book thoughts with you.  Please help me welcome:

Courtney and Sydney of

The Sisters Read

(still contemplating it though) any ideas?

What are your favorite genres to read? 

Both of ours are fantasy and mysteries. 

How do you select the books you want to read? 

We choose our books by how interesting the summary is, by recommendations, and by Good Reads. 

What is your favorite book so far? 

Oh wow thats a really hard question. But I guess we'll have to say Harry Potter, Percy Jackson (not as much as Harry but a really good series), The Mysterious Benedict Society trilogy. 

What is your favorite thing about reading?

It makes both of us feel like were in the book. Like in Harry Potter, we both feel like were in the Gryffindor commons room having one of those late night conversations. 

Do you read on an e-reader/phone/computer? 

Sydney reads on a nook a lot, but only when I doesn't have that book in paper. Neither of us really ever read on a phone or computer (maybe we will if we ever get iPhones). Courtney has only read 100 pages on a nook, I just don't like the feel of reading on a nook 

What kinds of books do you think are most popular with kids your age? Why? 

We would both have to say fantasy, mystery, Sarah Dessen (for girls), adventure, fantasy romance (once again girls, I have never seen a boy even look at twilight), sports books (for boys, and last but not least adventure. 

What book are you waiting to be released? 

The next book in the Nightshade by Andrea Cremer series… Spiral, the fifth book in the Tunnels by Roderick Gordon series… The next book in the Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan… The next book in the Maze Runner by James Dashner series….the next book in the Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan series

The next book in the Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan… The next book in the Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan series… The next book in the Maze Runner by James Dashner series… Theres more but I can't think of them right now...

What are you currently reading? 

I am currently reading The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Stewart.

I am reading Closer by Roderick Gordon, the 4th book in the Tunnels series, currently.

Tweet

Introducing Lucy

Over the next several weeks, I'll be introducing you to several student bloggers from my summer book club. Each blogger will be answering questions from Welcome to My Tweendom.  These students are new to blogging and look forward to sharing their book thoughts with you.  Please help me welcome:

Lucy of

Getting Real With Lucy
 





What are your favorite genres to read? 
Realistic Fiction... I'm learning to stretch, but that is very hard for me:)

How do you select the books you want to read?  

Goodreads, and what friends suggest. If I see it, then I'll read it. (Again... Depends on Genre)

What is your favorite book so far?  
That's a hard question!! I have really got to like the Mother Daughter Book Club Series.   Hoping to do a couple of reviews on them so you can get my take.

What is your favorite thing about reading?  
Down time. My schedule's so crazy!!!! I'm a golf fanatic, and I'm at the golf course with every opportunity I get! It's nice to just have that time to relax.

Do you read on an e-reader/phone/computer?

No- But that might change by the end of the year. Family sends me gift cards all the time. Since I haven't bought anything with them and I'm at more then $100 I will probably get one. Waiting for my birthday to see if I get any more. Fingers crossed!

What kinds of books do you think are most popular with kids your age?  Why? 

I couldn't say. I look around in all my classes and I see fantasy, realistic, science fiction. It all depends on what students like. (And if they don't like to read... I hand them a book to start!)

What book are you waiting to be released?
This is a toughie... What am I waiting to be released? Well, Power of Six just got released so that crosses that one off. I guess I would say Death Cure (Maze Runner #3) by James Dashner. (Shortly I'll be reading the second one)

What are you currently reading? 
I'm currently reading Power of Six, and Before I Fall (Which I will do a review on)

~ I hope that I can make good times doing this blog! I like to have a good laugh! Thanks for stopping by!!


Tweet

Introducing Aneeqah

Over the next several weeks, I'll be introducing you to several student bloggers from my summer book club. Each blogger will be answering questions from Welcome to My Tweendom.  These students are new to blogging and look forward to sharing their book thoughts with you.  Please help me welcome:


Aneeqah of
Aneeqah's Not So Real Life




What are your favorite genres to read?
 I love to read fantasy [urban fantasy to be specific] and dystopia.

 How do you select the books you want to read?
 I usually base it off of what other people think of it on Goodreads, if the concept sounds intriguing, and if any of my friends have read it and liked it.

 What is your favorite book so far? 
 Gosh, this is a hard one! I think my favorite book goes out to The Maze Runner by James Dashner.

 What is your favorite thing about reading? 
 I love being in a completely new world and meeting new characters. It also gives me a break from the real world.

 Do you read on an e-reader/phone/computer? 
 Not really, though I wish I could! =)

 What kinds of books do you think are most popular with kids your age? Why? 
 I think it depends where you are. Where I am, kids seem to be interested mainly in realistic fiction. I think it helps them connect their experiences with something.

 What book are you waiting to be released? 
 Goodness, this list is long! I think it's around 30 books right now? It could be more...
 My most anxiously awaited are:

1. The Death Cure by James Dashner 
2. The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan 
3. Unwind #2 by Neal Shusterman 
4. Spellbound by Rachel Hawkins 
5. City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare .... and on the list goes! 

 What are you currently reading?
 I actually just finished a book called Unwind by Neal Shusterman, which I absolutely loved! It was fantastic!

Thanks for stopping by Aneeqah! We look forward to seeing what you think of those fantasy books!


 Tweet