It's Been A While...

Hey guys! Just wanted to let you know that I'm still alive! :)
I know I haven't updated in a while, but I'll work on that :)
I also have a tumblr, which I update regularly so follow me !
http://life-is-a-box-of-chocolates.tumblr.com/

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

The Story:  In The Glass Castle, Jeannette tells the story of her memorable childhood. From the deserts of Arizona to Park Avenue, Jeannette has lived everywhere.  Her parents aren't your usual types of parents, as you can see.  Rex Walls is an alcoholic that can seem like the best dad in the world one minute, and then the worst all in the flip of a page.  Rose Mary Walls is a free-spirited artist that makes her kids seem like a burden.  Both parents don't take care of their children very well, so the Walls' children grow up tough.  From eating sticks of butter to survive, to dragging their mother out of bed to work, The Glass Castle is a story of resilience and hope.

Chloe's Critique:  I really enjoyed this book.  I think Jeannette wins the award for "Most Memorable and Crazy Childhood" :).  It really makes you think about how much you love your family, even if they're a little peculiar.  Also, at the end, it shows you that you control your future.  Jeannette and her siblings didn't want to be stuck in Welch, the town they were living in, and they didn't want to take care of their parents their whole lives.  So, slowly, they started saving up to start sending each of the kids to New York City.   You just have to read this book. Now. 

Rating:  5/5 stars

I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

The Story:  Ed Kennedy's life isn't going anywhere.  He's 19, an underage taxi driver, and is hopelessly in love with his best friend Audrey.  One day though, his life turns around when he stops a bank robbery from happening.  From taxi driver, he turns into a town hero.  That's when the cards start arriving.  Aces, to be exact.  Someone is sending Ed Kennedy playing cards with addresses on them.  It's up to Ed to figure out the problem and how to solve it.  Some will involve happiness, others death.  It's up to Ed to help these people or else his own life will be threatened.

Chloe's Critique:  This is one of those books that you don't mind re-reading over and over again.  Highly imaginative and humorous, you won't be able to put it down!  Ed and his gang of friends, his smelly dog, the Doorman, and his potty-mouthed mother, star as the... interesting main characters.  No one else gets the messages besides Ed.  It transforms a regular nobody like Ed, into a hero.  The point is, if Ed can help make people's lives better, than anyone can do it to.  Like in the last sentence of the book, Ed says that he's not the messenger, "I'm the message.". 


Chloe's Rating: 5/5 stars

Al Capone Does My Shirts

The Story:  Moose Flanagan isn't exactly thrilled when his family has to move to Alcatraz.  The year is 1935 and Alcatraz Prison holds the worst of the worst criminals.  Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly, and Roy Gardner are a few of the many notorious inmates there.  Moose and his family move here because of his, um, special, older sister, Natalie.  His mother believes that the Esther P. Marinoff School is the best school to help Natalie with her... special needs (called autism now).  Moose is sometimes embarassed by Natalie when he has to act like the older brother, since he's 12 and Natalie's 16.  His mom's attention always belongs to Natalie, in the process, neglecting Moose.  On Alcatraz, Moose's dad works as an electrician and a guard.  Every family that lives on the island has their father as a guard.  On Alcatraz, Moose makes friends with an incredible cast of characters.  There's Theresa, the 7 year old, I meant, 7 and THREE QUARTERS year old that insists that her mother's baby is hers, Annie, the girl with the killer throwing arm (well, for a GIRL), Jimmy, and his rock flinging contraptions, and Piper.  Piper.  The cute but dangerous warden's daughter that always has a scheme in mind.  They all have their adventures trying to meet some criminals while Natalie is trying to get into the Esther P. Marinoff.  One rejection after another, Natalie still can't get into the school.  So what happens when Moose asks Al Capone to get her in?

Chloe's Critique:  Al Capone Does My Shirts was a fun, quick read.  While all the schemes mentioned in the book weren't true, the book still gave you a detailed look into the life of people living on Alcatraz.  The book also gives you an idea of how autistic children act and think by Natalie's actions and dialogue.  While this book doesn't have a lot of driving action, it has a lot of heart.  It centers on a family's love for their child.  Every thing they do is to try to help Natalie with her condition.  Witty and clever, Al Capone Does My Shirts will please young readers (8 up?)

Rating:  3.5/5 stars

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

*This will be a spoiler-free review for Mockingjay, minor spoilers for Catching Fire*

The Story:   Katniss Everdeen has made it out of the arena twice.  It wasn't by accident that she was rescued out of the Quarter Quell instead of her fellow tribute, Peeta Mellark.  After those last hectic moments in the Quell, Katniss learns that Peeta has been taken by the Capitol, and the whole country is in rebellion.  She is the face of the rebellion, ever since she pulled out those berries in the arena.  But now, will she be able to become the Mockingjay and lead the whole country of Panem to revolution?  Can she bring unity to all the districts and overthrow the Capitol?

*Sorry, I take my word back :)  This part will have a lot of spoilers and angry rants... don't say you haven't been warned :)*
Chloe's Critique:  This has been one wild ride.  It's hard to believe that the series is over already!  Mockingjay is the darkest of the trilogy, yet it's full of hope.  Hope that the rebels will win.  Hope that Peeta's okay.  Hope that life will be better.    By the end of the book, I was an emotional wreck, crying uncontrollably.    But it still didn't live up to my expectations.  Really? Did she really need to kill Prim?  I mean really?????  That was totally unnecessary!  And Katniss wasn't Katniss at all in this book!  I mean, shes' an emotional wreck and just gives up.  And the biggest upset: Gale.  For all the fans out there, I'm team Gale.  Even though Gale didn't win Katniss' heart, I hated how Suzanne made it seem like they never talked again.  He was her best friend!  And technically, even though it was his bomb design that killed Prim, he didn't drop the bomb!  Katniss doesn't deserve Gale and I hope she's happy with Peeta Mellark- "Today, we let him feed himself pudding! Plutarch says".  Peeta = epic fail. Even though I didn't like it that much, Mockingjay will be sure to delight Hunger Game fans around the world.

Rating: 4.999999991/5 stars :)

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Super pumped for Mockingjay tomorrow! *squeals in excitement*

The Story:  Katniss Everdeen has beat the odds and has won the 74th annual Hunger Games- a televised fight-to-the-death competition.  But, she won by defying the Capitol- challenging the rule of only letting one victor survive by having her and her fellow tribute, Peeta Mellark, commit suicide.  Now, the Capitol is mad.  This spark of rebellion may lead all the 12 districts in Panem to rebel against the Capitol.  Now, Katniss' victory tour throughout Panem is the only way to turn things around.  She has to prove without a shadow of a doubt, that she was driven crazy in love with Peeta, and couldn't live without him.  Any sign of rebellion was coincidental.  With not only that on her shoulders, soon, she has to be a mentor for the 75th Hunger Games, also a Quarter Quell.  But what happens when Katniss is sent back into the arena?  Will the districts ban together and start a revolution against the Capitol?

Chloe's Critique:  After the Hunger Games, I was desperate to find out the continuation of Katniss' story.  Luckily enough, I read the Hunger Games just when Catching Fire was due to come out.  Catching Fire, to me, was still a great book, but it couldn't capture the magic as in the first book.  It's set at a much slower pace, with the action happening in the second half of the book.  It provides a view of all the districts in Panem from the Victory Tour, and starts to hint at what is coming in the third book, Mockingjay.  Needless to say, another great book from Suzanne Collins that will leave fans desperate to know what will happen in the final book, Mockingjay.


Rating:  5/5 Stars

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Since Mockingjay's coming out tomorrow *squeals in excitement*, I better pay tribute to this ground breaking trilogy!  All hail Suzanne Collins!  :)


The Story:  Katniss Everdeen lives in a future world called Panem, controlled by the Capitol.  Every year, the 12 districts of Panem are forced to submit 2 tributes( boy and girl) to play in the Hunger Games- a televised fight-to-the-death game.  The winner will receive fame, fortune, and glory.  But what happens when Katniss' little sister Prim's name is drawn to be a tribute?  Since she knows Prim can't survive, Katniss volunteers to take her place as the tribute.  Now, can Katniss survive the Hunger Games and possibly become the second victor District 12 hosts?  And what happens when her fellow tribute, Peeta Mellark, declares his love for Katniss in front of all of Panem?  Is he telling the truth or just playing a game?  It's the game within the Games.  Will Katniss buy into Peeta's speech?  Only one can win the Hunger Games.

Chloe's Critique:  OH MY GOODNESS.   What an amazing book!  I was a fan of the Gregor the Overlander series already, but this book has made it official- Suzanne Collins is my favorite author ever!  The Hunger Games has a little bit of everything: action, violence, and even some romance too!  This is easily one of the best books of the year and the trilogy is the gold-standard for sci-fi writers.  Warning: very addictive.  You won't be able to put it down or stop thinking about it. 

Rating:   5/5 Stars   Can I say like 500 Stars??? :)