Review: Son(The Giver Quartet #4)

Son

by Lois Lowry

Quote: " But it was fun for me today. Part of my job is giving the newchildren to their parental units. The new mothers and fathers are always so excited."~ Nurturer  pg.77

Started: Nov. 2, 2012

Finished: Nov. 9, 2012

393 pages/ hardcover

From the cover:

" They called her Water Claire."

When the young girl washed up on their shore, no one knew she had been a Vessel. That she had carried a Product. That it had been carved from her belly. Stolen.

Claire had had a son. She was supposed to forget him, but that was impossible. When he was taken from their community, she knew she had to follow.

And so her journey began.

But here in this wind-battered village Claire is welcomed as one of their own. In the security of her new home, she is free and loved. She grows stronger.

As tempted as she is by the warmth of more human kindness than she has ever known, she cannot stay. Her son is out there; a young boy by now.

Claire will stop at nothing to find her child...

even if it means trading her own life.

With Son, the two-time Newberry Medal-winning Lois Lowry has spun another mesmerizing tale in this thrilling and long-awaited conclusion to The Giver.

My Review:

This was a great ending to a wonderful series. Son, tied up all the loose ends to the 3 previous books. It was very well written and made a great story even better. The main character is Claire. She was chosen to be a Vessel but something went wrong. Even with the Elders wisdom and great reputation for making the best choices, the unexpected happened. From then on Claire was changed, different and unsure of most things. The one thing she was sure of, she had to find her son.The book is divided in to three parts. Before, Between, and Beyond.  It tells everything from how each character got to where they are to where they were when they seemed "missing" in the middle books. It , for the most part ties everyone together and helps explain the how, why and whens. I would love to see these stories made into a children's movie or a mini-series.

*4 stars*

Review: Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine's 

Home For 

Peculiar Children

by Ransom Riggs

Quote: " I bet there's a lot of things about this place she wouldn't like you to know." ~ Enoch pg. 214

Started: Aug.18, 2012

Finished: August, 22, 2012

348 pages/ hardcover

From the cover: 

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear the Miss Peregrine's children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow- impossible though it seems- they may still be alive. A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

My Review:

this was a neat little book with vintage photos to go along. It was very different from anything I have read in quite awhile. Sort of like a fairy tale with photos for adults or YA. although it still left quite a bit of room for your own imagination to fill in the blanks. Each character has their own "talent". Some much more unimaginable than others. The story had a good amount of mystery and suspense throughout. Which I enjoyed. I kept questioning whether what Jacob had heard and was now seeing really were his imagination or were they real as his grandfather had tried to tell him. I also enjoyed the "loop" or time traveling aspect. it was a great way to explain the past through new eyes in Jacob. I gave this book * 4 stars*. well written and very entertaining!

Review: Haunted Waters

Haunted Waters

by May Pope Osborne

Quote: " There are questions you have never asked, Lord Huldbrand. There are worlds you have never imagined."~ Undine

Started: Feb. 5, 2012

Ended: Feb. 9, 2012

From the cover:

As I came close to the water, I saw a figure lying on the bank: Undine. Her white gown spread about her, she looked like a gull with broken wings.

   Her face was hidden as I ran toward her. I reached out to touch her, and suddenly the phantom's screech split the twilight- and i found myself reaching for nothing at all. Undine had evaporated into the air! I ran like a madman, slipping, crawling, clawing my way through the marsh reeds. My mind reeled with terror- was Undine herself now a demon? Had the monster taken her shape?

My Review:  I didn't hate this book. I simply didn't get it! Honestly, as I came to the end, all I kept thinking was...Yea, and....

It's not that I didn't enjoy the story, I think it just kind of rambled into a list of "what's next" that never got answered. I never felt like the story ended any of the topics it started. 

**SPOILERS**

My questions left are:

1. What was she?

2. How did Lord Huldbrand really get onto the shore?(was it a storm? shipwreck? magic?)

3. Where did Undine come from? (Hell, the sea, a hybrid of sea and human)?

4. Why was the forest against humans/mortals?

5. Why didn't her father come back for her before she married a mortal?

6. Why was she abandoned and raised by humans?

7. Why did she come back for him only when he was going to marry another?

8. Did he really fall in love with her or was it a spell?

I'm not sure I got the story. I only learned that this was a spin-off of a mythological legend after reading the book. Still, after trying to do much research on the original, I haven't really learned anything new or answered any of my questions.  Maybe some will understand this more than I did.

My rating is 2 stars. It was just too unfinished for me.

Review: The Giver

The Giver

by Lois Lowry

Quote: "We celebrated a release this morning, and that always throws the schedule off a little, so things get backed up."~ Dad

Started: Jan. 22, 2012

Finished: Jan.24, 2012

From the cover:  

Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community.

 When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now it's time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.

My Review:

I'm not usually big on the whole fantasy genre, but this book was more than that to me. I will say I have a "thing" for the "what-if" types of stories. What if this really was life? What if there were other places? Things we know nothing about. I really enjoyed this wonderful little book and the 2 books that follow. It is a great story that really makes you think about and appreciate the gift of free will. At the same time we learn that without pain there is no true joy. Without heartache, struggle and trials we cannot truly enjoy and appreciate the blessings and opportunities we have. 

I look at this book as "Community" being the parent and all the people are its children. It is a safe place to keep our children naive and oblivious to the dangers and pain we try to protect them from. We tend to think if they don't know it's there, it can't hurt them.

I give this book all 5 stars!!!