Legend- Marie Lu/ New Guest Reviewer

Published:28/11/2011 ISBN-13:9780141339412 Penguin Australia

Please make very welcome here at The Book Gryffin to our newest guest reviewer, Finn. I am sure you will all be just as thrilled and delighted as I am, to have such a talented young man sharing his bookish thoughts with us!

SPOILER ALERT!!! Be warned though, Finn has revealed a few spoilers, so if you are one of the few to not have read Legend yet, I suggest you STOP READING NOW…

After reading Legend I have decided that it is an astounding work of literature.  I greatly enjoyed the adventure, the ideas and the conspiracies. A juicy relationship but worry and disease spreading across the land make the perfect balance for boys and girls from 10+.

The ideas are exposed early and it is easy to work out secrets that are later revealed. Take the murder of June’s brother Metias for example. It is obvious who the killer was and that he was killed for a reason. Not just hatred or envy. Also the fact that the elector primo was evil and was tied up in everything. I even have the theory that he orchestrated the whole affair; Metias’ death, June hunting down Day, and all the while paying people to do his dirty work.

My only problems are the deaths of Day’s mother and brother. Though they cause sympathy from both June and the reader they appear too drastic and saddening. I also think that in the second book they should find Eden (at the end though) but he’s still sick. That means that in the third book they are searching for a cure.

Even with a few minor faults it is an excellent book and I highly recommend it.

-Finn

Merry Christmas To All and To All A Goodnight!

Tis my very favourite time of the year again and this year I have a surprise for you all.

As you know, I have been largely absent from writing content for The Book Gryffin for the last few months. You, my dear readers, have been informed and entertained by my wonderfully talented and well read students whilst I withheld my reviews to fulfil my duties as an Aurealis Judge. That shall continue for some time longer.

My dear readers, I must ask you to be patient a little longer than we first thought.

The New Year brings an exciting new employment opportunity for me. I shall be taking on a 12 month position in publishing, a role I am delighted to be filling!

In the interest of good manners and professionalism, I am delivering the permanent care and content writing for The Book Gryffin to the very students and talented Young Adults that have taken such great care of reviewing books for you all over the past months.

After all, isn’t the very best advice on reading for Young Adults, given by those Young Adults themselves?

I shall return after awhile, but until then, I trust that you will embrace the beautiful people writing reviews here at The Book Gryffin with the same care and love you have shown me over the years.

On that note, I wish to thank you one and all for your incredible support, friendship, love, book knowledge and laughter over the past few years. May you all have a magical festive season, an incredible New Year and take very great care of your beautiful selves.

I leave you with this parting thought…what if its not reindeer that pull Santa’s sleigh? What if its really Unicorns?

Merry Christmas

Cinder- Marissa Meyer/ New Guest Reviewer!!!

Meyer Marissa 9780141340135 Penguin 03 Jan 2012 Not yet available

As you are all aware, The Book Gryffin has been heavily reliant on the reviews of my talented and well read students, owing to my commitments to the Aurealis Award’s.

I am sure you will all agree they are doing a spectacular job of keeping you all informed about the vast array of quality Young Adult fiction available.

Today, I would like to introduce you all to a new guest reviewer, the lovely Morgan!

Since everyone is abuzz with anticipation for the coming release date of Cinder- Marissa Meyer, Miss Morgan was kind enough to read and review it for you all to enjoy here at the Book Gryffin, please make her feel very welcome!

Cinder- The Lunar Chronicles

Well, I have to say – Cinder was amazing! It is book one in The Lunar Chronicles series.  It’s modern twist on the Grimm’s classic Cinderella, with fast-paced adventure, romance and detailed story line, this book was one I could hardly put down!

Cinder is about young mechanic, Cinder. She works in New Beijing – a city in the distant future. She is adopted, and her adoptive mother doesn’t want her. But this is the least of her problems. Cinder is a Cyborg – and no-one likes her kind in New Beijing. Struggling with the fact she doesn’t fit in, and attempting to overcome the neglect, she winds up meeting Prince Kai – the prince of New Beijing and the Commonwealth.

Prince Kai doesn’t know she is a Cyborg – and she plans to keep it that way. But she soon forgets about him when her sister is rushed away. Her sister – Peony – has caught the Plague. It is a modern take on the plague of AD1347-1350, with black-blue bruises and terrible sicknesses. Cinder blames herself – and her adoptive mother (Adri) thinks it’s Cinder’s fault too. Adri bans Cinder from attending the upcoming ball, and continues to be downright dreadful too her.

Soon though, all Cinder wants is to get away. With Prince Kai confusing her, Adri putting her down and a supposedly friendly doctor revealing her murky past, Cinder begins to spiral into funnel of confusion. She doesn’t know who to trust – who to love – who to believe. And finally, Iko (Her trusting robot) pulls her out. A mysterious chip in the Prince’s android, a love for Prince Kai and a shocking secret all blossom into one huge thing – chaos.

But just like any perfect protagonist, she trusts her gut and pulls herself through. This book was really phenomenal – with almost everything a good book should have. I read it cover to cover, and now all I want is the next book in the series! This is definitely in my top five books and – just like it says in the blurb – it will stay on girl’s bookshelves for a long time!

After The Snow- S.D. Crockett/ Guest Review by Emilly

Crockett, S. D. 9780230759350 Macmillan Distribution Services 01 Feb 2012 Not yet available

Another lovely review by Emilly the Great

A stunningly beautiful novel about a young boy’s survival during a winter that never ends.

2059.  The snow begins to fall. Only the few are prepared. A new ice-age has begun.

Born after the snows, fifteen-year-old straggler kid Willo Blake has never known a life outside hunting and trapping in the hills.  When his family mysteriously disappears, leaving him alone on a freezing mountain, Willo sets off into the unknown to find them.

Meanwhile, across Britain, outlawed followers of survivalist John Blovyn are planning an escape to the fabled Islands talked of in a revolutionary book.

When Willo meets an abandoned girl on his trek across the hills, his world collides with outlaws and halfmen on an epic journey that leads him to the new world of the city – a place where the dog spirit inside his head cannot help him.

It is a journey of betrayal and violence. A journey of awakening love and humanity. A journey that changes everything he ever thought he knew.

All These Things I’ve Done- Gabrielle Zevin/ Guest Review by Emilly

Zevin, Gabrielle 9780330537896 Macmillan Distribution Services 06 Sep 2011 In stock

Hello Beautiful people, Today I bring you a guest review by one of my gorgeous students, Emilly… Enjoy

My Rating: 5 Stars

Publication Date: September 2011

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Format: Hardcover , 368pp

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian

Series: Birthright Series

Overview:

In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city’s most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.’s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidentally poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she’s to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight—at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.

What I Liked:

There was much to like about All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin.  The storyline was like no other I have read before.  While the book is more about the characters than the time, Zevin’s careful placement of her characters in a time in the future where there are huge problems with laws and society is genius.  It was never a far reach for my imagination to believe that all of the events could actually take place in the world that we live in and it enhanced the story in a big way.

There is a lot going on in the story, but I never felt like it wasn’t all carefully tied in to the important details of the story.  While main character, Anya, is only sixteen, she is her families “go to” girl and the one managing her home for her much younger sister, her brain damaged older brother and her dieing grandmother.  Add to that a criminal family heritage, trouble with the law, conflict with her mob related extended family and an incredible love story and Gabrielle Zevin has delivered one amazing story that is hard to put down.

What I Didn’t Like:

Although I appreciate that Anya was far from self loathing, I would have liked to have seen a bit more of personal struggle.  The fact that Anya has reached a level of maturity, selflessness and understanding that will not be achieved by most adults in a lifetime seemed a little ridiculous at times.

Would I Recommend It:

Abso-stinkin-lutely!  I recommend All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin for all young adult fiction fans.  It is an interesting read full of conflict and its time and place make it that more interesting.  Because this is a first of series book for The Birthright Series and a new release, it is one that you can get in on now, without any catching up to do.

GUEST REVIEW- Bloodlines BK 1- Richelle Mead

Mead Richelle 978192151888 Penguin Publishing 23 Aug 2011 In stock

I am delighted to share this wonderful review, written by one of my very talented and gorgeous students, Maddie. Please make her feel welcome!

Bloodlines is a spin off from Richelle’s other series called Vampire Academy. Vampire Academy focused on one character called Rose. Bloodlines gets Vampire Academy’s secondary characters to take centre stage. Bloodlines has an entirely new plot line & it is not a continuation of Vampire Academy. Bloodlines has a few key plots from Vampire Academy but the book can be read regardless of having read Vampire Academy or not.

Bloodlines is written in typical Richelle Mead style i.e. intrigue intermingled with humor and romance. Bloodline is designated for young adult readers. It could make an interesting and easy to follow plot line that can amuse any one that decides to pick it up.

The books greatest strength is it’s character development: Two of Vampire Academy’s best-known characters become leading characters and not surprisingly Richelle Mead does her trick again and creates a believable, emotional and vibrant environment.

The story is filled with action, reaction, counter-action and drama. It fascinates, excites and it does entertain Vampire Academy fans will embrace the new story. The author hints to that there are more fascinating things to come in the next book of the Bloodlines series.

Audition- Stasia Ward Kehoe

Ward Kehoe Stasia 9780143566595 Penguin Publishing 31 Oct 2011 In stock

I must confess to glancing at the contemporary, stylised ‘movie poster’ cover for Stasia Ward Kehoe’s Audition and dismissing it instantly. (Interestingly, I did the very same thing with Anna And The French Kiss- Stephanie Perkins, which thanks to Persnickety Snark, I later read and adored)

Still unsure of what caught my attention and prompted me to open the book itself I am now however, grateful for whatever it was.

Poetic, achingly lovely and utterly enthralling, Ward Kehoe offers readers a gripping and realistic view of the life and psyche of a ballerina. The self doubt, the insecurities, the physical injuries, the dedication, loneliness, heartbreak and successes that are all too often infrequent and hard won.

As a former ballerina, I was immensely impressed by the accuracy of the technical knowledge contained within the pages of Audition.

Sara is a gorgeous and utterly believable protagonist, talented, well spoken and truthful, willing to bare her soul to the reader and shine the harsh light of reality upon the inner mechanisms of the ballet world and the thoughts and feelings of a teenage girl caught in that precarious place between childhood and becoming a woman. Her journey of self discovery and exploration of her own wants and desires is beautifully written.

Readers who have no interest in ballet or dance will still relate easily to Sara, and recognise the determination that drives us to achieve a dream. Even when we may no longer be sure whose dream it was in the first place.

Graceful, flawless, lovely… Audition is well worth the read.

SLAV CONFERENCE PRESENTATION 11/11/11

This past Friday, I was honoured to be a presenter for the SLAV Conference titled, Reading Culture: collaborate, create, celebrate. The conference was beautifully organised and the wonderful SLAV members and NGV staff responsible for the Conference schedule and planning deserve a true pat on the back for all of their effort and hard work. I had a delightful time!

To those who attended my session, I promised you I would upload my presentation and my notes here on the blog. For those of you who might need the link to Corrie Barclay’s blog, you can find him and a plethora of invaluable iPad information and documents HERE

Please do feel free to use my notes for your own purposes and do not hesitate to contact me should I be of any further assistance.

Thank you, to all of the lovely people who made yesterday such a joy.

Inkyfest 2011

Inky Link...

I have been a terrible blogger of late, so much so that the Inky Awards were two whole weeks ago and I have yet to mention them at all. My sincerest apologies!

Most of you were aware (owing largely to my shameless bragging here on the blog!) that one of my Year 9 Students, Iain, was fortunate enough to have been a judge this year.

I am sure most of you are well versed in the shortlist and the winners of the Awards so I will not visit that here. For those of you who are still in the dark, simply click on the image above to visit the official page for Inkyfest 2011.

Rather than me boring you with my recount of the day’s festivities, I would direct you all to THIS blog post. I can think of no better tribute to the Award itself and why we need to do all we can to support it.

Graveminder- Melissa Marr/NEW GUEST REVIEWER!!!

Marr, Melissa 9780007349272 Harper Entertainment Distribution Services 01 Jul 2011 In stock

Hello Beautiful People! I have a new Guest Reviewer to delight you all with today..her name is Emily and she is a student at my College. Can you please make her feel welcome here at The Book Gryffin!!!

I really enjoyed this book and was very excited to learn that there is going to be a sequel.

I’ve only read the first book in her YA series but I will definitely be going back and continuing on. I think dysfunctional characters seem to work better in horror books, don’t they? Bigger creep factor possibility or something.

I couldn’t put this book down. Anyone who adores dark fantasy, horror and paranormal suspense is going to love Graveminder, a hauntingly atmosphere tale of walking the dead-and the living who are charged with keeping them at rest. I was immediately immersed in the story Melissa Marr has written and didn’t want to put the book down till I had read it cover to cover.

I found my self grieving along with her characters and captivated by her creative take on not only the things that pull us back home, but also the secrets we find when we return there. Marr created rich characters and fascinating mythology in Graveminder.

Melissa Marr’s book Graveminder is a beautiful blend of self-discovery, family drama, light romance and the supernatural.