Hey guys! I decided I should start doing other things than just doing book reviews, so here's my first entry for Jessica Recommends. Today I'm going to be recommending my top 3 middle-grade series.
1. Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Starting with The Lightning Thief, Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a modern fantasy series about a boy named Percy who finds out he is a demigod: half-human, half-god. He doesn't understand why weird things keep happening to him, and why monsters are suddenly chasing him. He is sent to a camp for demigods called Camp Half-Blood, and he realizes that Greek myths aren't exactly myths. He meets satyrs, centaurs, and makes friends/foes with other demigods at the camp. He discovers his true identity as being the son of Poseidon, god of the sea. From there, he goes on adventures fighting monsters, going on dangerous quests, and saving the Earth from the evil god who wants to reign: Kronos. This is a five-book series, including The Lightning Thief, The Sea of Monsters, The Titan's Curse, The Battle of the Labyrinth, and The Last Olympian. The series also has a few spinoffs about different types of mythology such as The Kane Chronicles, The Heroes of Olympus, and soon-to-be-released Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard. I highly recommend this series whether you're a kid, teen, or adult. Trust me, it's amazing.
2. Grimm
For fans of Grimm's fairy tales, this series might just be what you're looking for. Each book tells a different tale, but they're each so dark and have their own twists on the original stories. The first book, A Tale Dark and Grimm, follows Hansel and Gretel and tells the story of how their parents met, how they came to be, and what really happened to them in the forest. The second book, In a Glass Grimmly, is about Jack and Jill, and the last book, The Grimm Conclusion, I haven't actually read yet! I've only read the first one, but I really would like to read the next two. A Tale Dark and Grimm was so strange and dark and sometimes funny. I would recommend this to anyone who loves dark fairy tales and kids, if you're going to read the book, make sure you can handle occasional blood/gore and that you're not too scared. Otherwise, I'd have a nightlight.
3. Magisterium
Written by two amazing authors, Cassandra Clare and Holly Black, the Magisterium series is pretty amazing. If you don't know the authors, Cassandra Clare wrote The Mortal Instruments series and The Infernal Devices trilogy, and Holly Black has written The Spiderwick Chronicles and The Curseworkers trilogy as well as cool standalones like The Coldest Girl in Coldtown or The Darkest Part of the Forest. Anyway, this series follows a young boy named Callum Hunt who, in the first book The Iron Trial, has been told all his life to stay away from magic. Yet, he has to take The Iron Trial, a test to get into a magic school, the Magisterium. He tries his best to fail the test so that he doesn't get in, but instead passes and has to go to the school. There, he finds out things about his past that he never knew, but also makes some new friends along the way. I got the first book sent to me from Scholastic for review and I absolutely loved it. Cassandra Clare and Holly Black working together to write this book was exactly what I've been waiting for. It reminds me a lot of Harry Potter, with the magic school and whatnot, but honestly, I think everyone should read this series. The second book releases in September, so watch your backs everyone and get excited!
So there are my middle-grade series recommendations, and I'll be posting another blog post in a few days. Happy reading!
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Friday, July 24, 2015
My "Night on the Towns" experience!
Hey everyone! As you all may know, the film "Paper Towns" released in theaters today. Last night, there was a special event for the movie called "Night on the Towns", where fans got to see an early screening of the film. I got the chance to go to my local theater with a friend and sit there for nearly 3 hours (not that I really minded) and see the early screening and everything they showed after the film.
Before the film starts, it opens with John Green welcoming everyone to the screening and that he hopes you enjoy it, and afterwards Dylan O'Brien hosts for a moment to give you a sneak peek trailer for the film "Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials". *Sigh*... If only Dylan O'Brien could've been cast as Q for Paper Towns.
Anyway, after the film ended, they had a live show hosted by the fabulous Tyler Oakley in which there was a Q&A with John Green, the filmmakers and some of the cast, and there were also live performances by up-and-coming Saint Motel, and Nat and Alex Wolff. This live show lasted about an hour or so, which wasn't bad, but overall the entire experience with the film and the live show lasted a little over 2 and a half hours.
The film was extremely amazing, heartwarming, and hilarious. I had just finished reading the book the night before so everything was fresh in my mind, and yes, I sat next to my friend pointing out everything that they either didn't put in the movie or changed. I especially loved Austin Abrams' character Ben Starling. I felt like he played the role perfectly, and he was such a hilarious character.
If anyone wants to know what my favorite scene was during the movie, it would have to be the scene where Q and his friends were in the abandoned souvenir shop and Ben started singing the Pokémon theme song, and the rest of the group joined in. It was such a funny scene, and I think I even found myself singing along as well. Another scene I enjoyed was when Q and his friends were on their way to New York to find Margo, and they stopped at a gas station and the cashier was none other than Ansel Elgort, who played Augustus Waters in last year's film adaption of another John Green book, The Fault in Our Stars. I was so surprised to see Ansel and I flipped out when I saw him, and you could hear everyone in the theater gasping and yelling "Oh my gosh!" and "Hey what!"
This was one of the best experiences I've ever had. The movie was awesome, the live show was so fun to watch, and I even got a cool commemorative poster signed by Cara Delevigne, John Green, and Nat Wolff, and I got a cute locket as well that has a map in it, and it has "Night On The Towns 7•23•15" engraved on the back.
Leave a comment if you went to "Night on the Towns" or if you just saw the regular early screening for Paper Towns! I hope everyone who saw it had a great time!
Before the film starts, it opens with John Green welcoming everyone to the screening and that he hopes you enjoy it, and afterwards Dylan O'Brien hosts for a moment to give you a sneak peek trailer for the film "Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials". *Sigh*... If only Dylan O'Brien could've been cast as Q for Paper Towns.
Anyway, after the film ended, they had a live show hosted by the fabulous Tyler Oakley in which there was a Q&A with John Green, the filmmakers and some of the cast, and there were also live performances by up-and-coming Saint Motel, and Nat and Alex Wolff. This live show lasted about an hour or so, which wasn't bad, but overall the entire experience with the film and the live show lasted a little over 2 and a half hours.
The film was extremely amazing, heartwarming, and hilarious. I had just finished reading the book the night before so everything was fresh in my mind, and yes, I sat next to my friend pointing out everything that they either didn't put in the movie or changed. I especially loved Austin Abrams' character Ben Starling. I felt like he played the role perfectly, and he was such a hilarious character.
If anyone wants to know what my favorite scene was during the movie, it would have to be the scene where Q and his friends were in the abandoned souvenir shop and Ben started singing the Pokémon theme song, and the rest of the group joined in. It was such a funny scene, and I think I even found myself singing along as well. Another scene I enjoyed was when Q and his friends were on their way to New York to find Margo, and they stopped at a gas station and the cashier was none other than Ansel Elgort, who played Augustus Waters in last year's film adaption of another John Green book, The Fault in Our Stars. I was so surprised to see Ansel and I flipped out when I saw him, and you could hear everyone in the theater gasping and yelling "Oh my gosh!" and "Hey what!"
This was one of the best experiences I've ever had. The movie was awesome, the live show was so fun to watch, and I even got a cool commemorative poster signed by Cara Delevigne, John Green, and Nat Wolff, and I got a cute locket as well that has a map in it, and it has "Night On The Towns 7•23•15" engraved on the back.
Leave a comment if you went to "Night on the Towns" or if you just saw the regular early screening for Paper Towns! I hope everyone who saw it had a great time!
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Paper Towns book review
I can't believe it. I actually finished a John Green book. After a failed attempt at reading The Fault in Our Stars last year, only making it to chapter 4 and having to put it back on my shelf and stop reading it because it wasn't as good as I'd hoped, I finished a John Green book. One of my friends recommended Paper Towns to me when she suggested that we should go see the movie together when it came out, but she didn't realize I hadn't even read the book yet. I didn't want to try to read another John Green book. I didn't like The Fault in Our Stars. When my friend realized I hadn't read Paper Towns yet, she told me I absolutely had to.
Me: No.
Her: But it's so good!
Me: I don't like John Green. I couldn't make it through TFIOS.
Her: It wasn't my favorite tbh, but PAPER TOWNS IS SO GOOD.
So there I was, with no money to buy the book, no library card to check it out, no money from my parents to buy the book. I had no way to get it. She told me she'd let me borrow it when we saw the movie together. But the next day, my grandparents came to visit and took me to the local bookstore, and I saw it on sale for $7.99. I decided to give it a try. They gave me money for the book, and I started reading it the next day. I was sooooo not disappointed.
Paper Towns follows Quentin Jacobsen, a high school nerd who's in love with Margo Roth Spiegelman, his neighbor since he was two. One night, she climbs through his bedroom window and tells him she needs him to take her on an adventure. This adventure consists of a revenge plot against her cheating boyfriend and backstabbing best-friend, and trips to random places, such as SeaWorld. The next day, however, Margo disappears. Quentin finds clues that he believes she's left for him, and goes on a fun and hilarious journey with his friends to find her.
This book was perfect. The characters were hilarious, the story was heartwarming, funny, and emotional. The last line made me want to read the book all over again. "Yes, I can see her almost perfectly in this cracked darkness." I can't believe how wrong I was about John Green. I flew through this book and I do not regret a second of it. I give this book 5/5 stars, and kudos to you, John Green, for writing a book that made me question why I ever put The Fault in Our Stars back on my shelf.
If you'll excuse me then, I'm gonna head to the bookstore and pick up every other book John Green has written, starting with Looking For Alaska.
-Jessica
Me: No.
Her: But it's so good!
Me: I don't like John Green. I couldn't make it through TFIOS.
Her: It wasn't my favorite tbh, but PAPER TOWNS IS SO GOOD.
So there I was, with no money to buy the book, no library card to check it out, no money from my parents to buy the book. I had no way to get it. She told me she'd let me borrow it when we saw the movie together. But the next day, my grandparents came to visit and took me to the local bookstore, and I saw it on sale for $7.99. I decided to give it a try. They gave me money for the book, and I started reading it the next day. I was sooooo not disappointed.
Paper Towns follows Quentin Jacobsen, a high school nerd who's in love with Margo Roth Spiegelman, his neighbor since he was two. One night, she climbs through his bedroom window and tells him she needs him to take her on an adventure. This adventure consists of a revenge plot against her cheating boyfriend and backstabbing best-friend, and trips to random places, such as SeaWorld. The next day, however, Margo disappears. Quentin finds clues that he believes she's left for him, and goes on a fun and hilarious journey with his friends to find her.
This book was perfect. The characters were hilarious, the story was heartwarming, funny, and emotional. The last line made me want to read the book all over again. "Yes, I can see her almost perfectly in this cracked darkness." I can't believe how wrong I was about John Green. I flew through this book and I do not regret a second of it. I give this book 5/5 stars, and kudos to you, John Green, for writing a book that made me question why I ever put The Fault in Our Stars back on my shelf.
If you'll excuse me then, I'm gonna head to the bookstore and pick up every other book John Green has written, starting with Looking For Alaska.
-Jessica
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Mechanica book review
Ah, here we are for the second round of book reviews.
I recieved an electronic ARC of Mechanica by Besty Cornwell from Houghtin Mifflin via NetGalley for review, and I must say, it had a lot of similarities to Cinder by Marissa Meyer. That being said, the book was still great.
Nicolette learned mechanics from her mother as a child, and when her mother died, she kept learning and became a great mechanic. Her father married another woman a few years later, and she ended up with a rude stepmom and two stepsisters. Her father dies, and the others are left to take care of her. Her stepsisters call her "Mechanica", which I guess the name fits! A technological expo and the royal ball are coming up, so she decides to prove her worth by winning the heart of the prince and bringing excitement to the technological entrepreneurs.
I wasn't sure I would like this book when I read the description, I thought it was going to be just another "Cinder" or retelling of Cinderella. Boy, was I wrong. This story is powerful, and I absolutely love fairy tale retellings. One of the reasons I was drawn to this book was the cover. I mean, wow. That cover was beautiful.
I guess another reason I was so drawn to it was because I assumed it was just going to be someone's remake at Cinder. I was also wrong about that. Mechanica is its own story, Nicolette is her own person. This book was just... *sigh*. I don't think there's much more I can say. Just get the book. It releases August 25th. Get it. Love it. Trust me, you won't regret it. 4/5 stars.
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Legacy of Kings book review!
Guys, here's my first review on this blog. I just finished Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman last night, and it was sooo amazing. I received an ARC of this from the author herself, and I was so excited to read it. I started it as soon as I got it and, what can I say? It was perfect.
This book is told from the perspectives of teenage Alexander the Great, princess Zofia, Katerina, Jacob, Queen Olympias, princess Cynane, and Alex's best friend Hephaestion. Alex is the heir to his father's throne, and he is named regent when his father has to go away. Zofia is arranged to marry Alex, whom she has never met, although she is in love with another. Katerina is an orphaned peasant girl from Larissa, and she lives with her best friend Jacob and his family, and ends up in the palace after Jacob wins the Blood Tournament and she punches a Lord in the face. (Pretty cool, right?) Princess Cynane is Alex's half-sister who is trying to aquire a type of blood magic called Smoke Blood, which is unheard of and somehow got her mother killed when she was younger. I don't really think I need to describe Heph or Queen Olympias that much, do I?
Anyway, the story takes place in the city of Pella. A bunch of Aesarian Lords (Lords who try to snuff out the people with blood magic) come to Pella to get rid of anyone who has blood magic and also get some new recruits. Alex, Heph, Katerina and Cynane, however, finds out that they have a larger plan at hand, and that the Queen also has plans of her own. Zofia runs away from her palace in Persia in search of her lover, but gets kidnapped by slavers in the process who believe she's a boy.
I gave this book 5/5 stars. The world-building was excellent, the characters were excellent, and the story was overall just perfect. I don't read many stories set in times like this, and I haven't read much fantasy either. This book is going to set me on a fantasy kick. It was soooo good. I definitely recommend it to anyone over the age of 12 who likes fantasy, action, and doesn't mind a little cussing and blood here and there.
Thanks again to Eleanor Herman and Harlequin Teen for sending me this novel! I can't wait for the sequel!
This book is told from the perspectives of teenage Alexander the Great, princess Zofia, Katerina, Jacob, Queen Olympias, princess Cynane, and Alex's best friend Hephaestion. Alex is the heir to his father's throne, and he is named regent when his father has to go away. Zofia is arranged to marry Alex, whom she has never met, although she is in love with another. Katerina is an orphaned peasant girl from Larissa, and she lives with her best friend Jacob and his family, and ends up in the palace after Jacob wins the Blood Tournament and she punches a Lord in the face. (Pretty cool, right?) Princess Cynane is Alex's half-sister who is trying to aquire a type of blood magic called Smoke Blood, which is unheard of and somehow got her mother killed when she was younger. I don't really think I need to describe Heph or Queen Olympias that much, do I?
Anyway, the story takes place in the city of Pella. A bunch of Aesarian Lords (Lords who try to snuff out the people with blood magic) come to Pella to get rid of anyone who has blood magic and also get some new recruits. Alex, Heph, Katerina and Cynane, however, finds out that they have a larger plan at hand, and that the Queen also has plans of her own. Zofia runs away from her palace in Persia in search of her lover, but gets kidnapped by slavers in the process who believe she's a boy.
I gave this book 5/5 stars. The world-building was excellent, the characters were excellent, and the story was overall just perfect. I don't read many stories set in times like this, and I haven't read much fantasy either. This book is going to set me on a fantasy kick. It was soooo good. I definitely recommend it to anyone over the age of 12 who likes fantasy, action, and doesn't mind a little cussing and blood here and there.
Thanks again to Eleanor Herman and Harlequin Teen for sending me this novel! I can't wait for the sequel!
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Welcome to my blog!
Hi, everyone! I'm Jessica! I'm gonna be running this blog from now on. I have a blog on Tumblr as well, but I'm gonna try to get this one started as an actual blog! I will be posting things about books, book reviews, news about books, and, well... it's a book blog, so all things books! Please check out my blog when you can!
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