Category Archives: 5 Flames

DEAR TEACHER
Author: Amy Husband
Source: Publisher
* I received this book free
of charge in exchange for
an honest review*

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
• Paperback: 24 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky (July 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402242689
• ISBN-13: 978-1402242687

SYNOPSIS:

This hilarious collection of letters from Michael to his new teacher comes packed with alligators, pirates and rocket-ships, and much, much more.

Can Michael’s imagination save him from the first day of school? 

MY THOUGHTS:

First of all, I loved the way this book was made! It opens like a giant envelope instead of like a regular book.  My daughter loved that part! She thought the book was her mail!  The front of it even looks like a giant envelope.

This is the story of Michael and his dog Bruno.  Michael has a great imagination and proceeds to write letters of wild adventures that he is going on, and sends them to his teacher.  He explains how he won’t be able to make it to school when it starts with various adventures such as rescuing an explorer stuck on Mount Everest, finding hidden treasures and traveling to the moon.  The pages were colorful, fun and kept my daughter interested.  She loved how each page was like a letter! My daughter was very thrilled with this book! Whenever I go to get the mail now, she goes and gets this book and brags about her mail book!

MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!

THE UNWRITTEN RULE
Author: Elizabeth Scott
Source: Library Loan

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 209 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse (March 16, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416978917
• ISBN-13: 978-1416978916

SYNOPSIS:

Everyone knows the unwritten rule: You don’t like your best friend’s boyfriend.

Sarah has had a crush on Ryan for years. He’s easy to talk to, supersmart, and totally gets her. Lately it even seems like he’s paying extra attention to her. Everything would be perfect except for two things: Ryan is Brianna’s boyfriend, and Brianna is Sarah’s best friend.

Sarah forces herself to avoid Ryan and tries to convince herself not to like him. She feels so guilty for wanting him, and the last thing she wants is to hurt her best friend. But when she’s thrown together with Ryan one night, something happens. It’s wonderful…and awful. 

Sarah is torn apart by guilt, but what she feels is nothing short of addiction, and she can’t stop herself from wanting more…

MY THOUGHTS:

First of all, thank you to Cindy for opening my eyes to this author. I will now bow to your extensive and true knowledge of young adult books!  You can now proceed to tell me ” I told you so! “

I admit, I usually judge a book by its cover.  To me, this cover just didn’t reach out and grab me.  So I kept putting it off and not reading it until a friend of mine kept telling me to read it.  She said that I would love it. She was right.  I will never judge a book by its cheesy cover again. (well, maybe)

I loved this book.  I loved the characters and the world the author created because it is high school drama on the mark.  Sarah has always loved Ryan even though she has never admitted it to him.  She has been friends with Brianna forever, and really wants to stay true with her friendship.  When Brianna starts dating Ryan, Sarah is angry and hurt but lets her best friend have her relationship with him.  Personally, I couldn’t stand Brianna.  She was rude, spoiled and thought her beauty could get her anything and anyone she wanted.  She treated Sarah like crap and treated Ryan like a play thing.  I hated half of what came out of her mouth. She was constantly treating Sarah like crap and telling her that no boy would ever like her. What kind of friend treats you that way? I couldn’t believe Sarah wanted to even be her friend!  Then we have Ryan, who couldn’t see what a fake Brianna was on the first date! He always liked Sarah, but it always went unsaid.  When the two finally do admit their feelings for each other, they feel bad for Brianna.  Hello! Brianna was out with another guy when she is suppose to love Ryan! I so wanted to smack that girl down! When Brianna finally does break up with Ryan, Sarah is torn.  Even though Ryan and Sarah decide to give their feelings a chance, and get treated like crap by Brianna, I couldn’t believe Sarah still wanted to be her friend!

I couldn’t believe how much this author made me curse in my head at someone!  She brought emotions out in me, that quite frankly, surprised me.  Usually I just read the book and think that was a good one.  Yet, this author seemed to take a typical high school love drama and make me yell, cry and feel more than I thought was possible. A great read for teens and adults!

MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading! 5 STARS

THE DUFF
Author: Kody Keplinger
Source: Around the World Tours

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Poppy (September 7, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316084239
• ISBN-13: 978-0316084239

SYNOPSIS:


Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn’t think she’s the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She’s also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her “Duffy,” she throws her Coke in his face. 

But things aren’t so great at home right now. Desperate for a distraction, Bianca ends up kissing Wesley. And likes it. Eager for escape, she throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with Wesley. 

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out that Wesley isn’t such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she’s falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone. 

MY THOUGHTS:

Yes, I was The Duff, or as the cover states, “Designated Ugly Fat Friend”.  Now, I wasn’t really this in school, but more around the family members that are my age.  I was the chunkier, average girl while my 2 younger cousins were the pretty, skinny model types. When we went to clubs, I was on the sidelines while they were getting the attention. It wasn’t fun and I instantly related to the character of Bianca in this book.

Bianca has two friends that are hotter than she is.  She sits at the club on the sidelines while her two best friends get the attention.  Now, her best friends aren’t mean to her and don’t see Bianca as The Duff.  In fact, they have insecurities of their own, but Bianca doesn’t see it that way. Especially when Wesley–the school womanizer–comes up to her in the club and nicknames her The Duff.  He admits to talking to her just because the hot friends will notice him more if he is seen talking with the outsider of the group.  I wanted to jump into the book and slap the crap out of this boy!

Bianca has also had a crush on another boy for three years named Toby. When Toby breaks up with his girlfriend and finally notices Bianca, she gets confused because she thinks he is too perfect for her.  Wesley and Bianca have been hanging around a lot–doing term papers and basically having romps in bed–and she is now confused. I felt the confusion she went through.  I really started to enjoy Wesley in the book once we started to see what was really going on in his life.  I loved the smart mouth dialogue between everyone in the book.  Best of all, this could be about anyone really.  We all have our insecurities and feel like The Duff at one point in our life.

I really enjoyed this book more than I thought I would.  I was disappointed when the story ended.  I wanted more! I wanted to reread the book as soon as I finished.  A great read that every teen should read to let them know that no one is perfect.  Everyone has flaws, but this book was a perfect read!

MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading! 5 STARS