Books

Books

Thursday, July 3, 2014

29. Misfit: Dealing with Our God-Given Discomfort by Chris Durso


Misfit: Dealing with Our God-Given Discomfort

Goodreads:
Just choosing to follow Jesus isn t enough. But for many teenagers, the choices that come along with living for Jesus can be unpopular and difficult. Their own doubts, fears, and disbelief often get in the way of the amazing things God wants to do through them. Misfit helps teens see what it means to be a misfit like Jesus was, and gives them tools to make world-changing decisions even when it seems like they re going the opposite direction of the world around them. In this practical study, teens will discover that they don t have to conform to the rest of the world, and they ll recognize that they can actually work to change the things in the world that are wrong. Ultimately, teenagers will realize that if they stop making excuses and get out of the way of their own negativity, God will use them to change the world. With discussion questions after each chapter, readers will walk away from Misfit ready to jump into the world and go against the current so they can do unimaginable things.

My thoughts:
Great book. I read it because I wanted my preteen to read it. She loves God and she's going into middle school. It was a great read and I hope that it helps her because it helped me and im old.

28. Forever (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #3) by Maggie Stiefvater


Forever (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #3)

Goodread:
then.
When Sam met Grace, he was a wolf and she was a girl. Eventually he found a way to become a boy, and their loved moved from curious distance to the intense closeness of shared lives.

now.
That should have been the end of their story. But Grace was not meant to stay human. Now she is the wolf. And the wolves of Mercy Falls are about to be killed in one final, spectacular hunt.

forever.
Sam would do anything for Grace. But can one boy and one love really change a hostile, predatory world? The past, the present, and the future are about to collide in one pure moment - a moment of death or life, farewell or forever.

My thoughts:
It ended so well. This series had me going crazy, It made me mad, and it almost made me cry. I loved it!!!

27. Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #2) by Maggie Stiefvater


Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #2)

Goodreads:
In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

My thoughts:
I think this book was better then the first. Talk about getting your adrenaline going. I was on the edge of my seat trying to finish this book. It was AWESOME!!!

26. Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #1) by Maggie Stiefvater


Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #1)

Goodreads:
For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without.

Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human… until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

My thoughts:
This was a great book (series). It kept your attention if your into wolfs. They say werewolves but I think they were like shape shifters. Well written with a great story.


25. Surrounded By Sharks by Michael Northrop


Surrounded By Sharks

Goodreads:
A thrilling survival story from Michael Northrop, the acclaimed author of TRAPPED.

He couldn't sleep. That's how it all started.

When Davey wakes, just as the sun is rising, he can't wait to slip out of the crammed hotel room he's sharing with his family. Leave it to his parents and kid brother to waste an entire day of vacation sleeping in! Davey heads straight for the beach, book and glasses in hand, not bothering to leave a note. As the sparkling ocean entices him, he decides to test the water, never mind that "No Swimming" sign. But as the waves pull him farther from shore, Davey finds himself surrounded by water -- and something else, too. Something circling below the surface, watching, waiting. It's just a matter of time

My thoughts:
I just don't know what to say about this book. Most of the time I didn't know who was talking and it took forever to even get good. I don't think it was that well written. It didn't get good till the last maybe two chapters.


24. Gone (Dream Catcher #3) by Lisa McMann


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Goodreads:
Things should be great for Janie—she has graduated from high school and is spending her summer with Cabel, the guy she’s totally in love with. But deep down she’s panicking about how she’s going to survive her future when getting sucked into other people’s dreams is really starting to take its toll.
Things get even more complicated when she meets her father for the very first time—and he’s in a coma. As Janie uncovers his secret past, she begins to realize that the choice thought she had has more dire consequences than she ever imagined.

My thoughts:
Great book! I think that this book was well written but it kinda jumps. But over all I loved it, keep you wanting more.

23. Fade (Dream Catcher #2) by Lisa McMann


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Goodreads:
SOME NIGHTMARES NEVER END.

For Janie and Cabel, real life is getting tougher than the dreams. They're just trying to carve out a little (secret) time together, but no such luck.

Disturbing things are happening at Fieldridge High, yet nobody's talking. When Janie taps into a classmate's violent nightmares, the case finally breaks open -- but nothing goes as planned. Not even close. Janie's in way over her head, and Cabe's shocking behavior has grave consequences for them both.

Worse yet, Janie learns the truth about herself and her ability -- and it's bleak. Seriously, brutally bleak. Not only is her fate as a dream catcher sealed, but what's to come is way darker than she'd feared....

My thoughts:
What can I say. It was great. It kinda freaked me out a bit, but that kinda thing makes a great book.

22. Wake (Dream Catcher #1) by Lisa McMann


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Goodreads:
For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.
She can't tell anybody about what she does they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can’t control.
Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant.

My thoughts:
I loved it. It had a alittle language in it but not to bad. But it was a great read well written series.


21. The Death Cure (The Maze Runner #3) by James Dashner


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Goodreads:
Thomas knows that Wicked can't be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they've collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. It's up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test.

What Wicked doesn't know is that something's happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than they think. And he knows that he can't believe a word of what Wicked says.

The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine.
Will anyone survive the Death Cure?

My thoughts:
Man, this series ended perfect. I hope they make them all into movies. I loved you it!!!


20. The Scorch Trials (The Maze Runner #2) by James Dashner


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Goodreads:
Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. 
 
Thomas was sure that escape from the Maze would mean freedom for him and the Gladers. But WICKED isn’t done yet. Phase Two has just begun. The Scorch. 
 
There are no rules. There is no help. You either make it or you die.
 
The Gladers have two weeks to cross through the Scorch—the most burned-out section of the world. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them. 
 
Friendships will be tested. Loyalties will be broken. All bets are off. 
 
There are others now. Their survival depends on the Gladers’ destruction—and they’re determined to survive.

My thoughts:
This book was as good as the first one in the series. I loved it!!!

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

19. The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner #1) by James Dashner


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Goodreads
"If you ain't scared, you ain't human." 

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He's surrounded by strangers--boys whose memories are also gone.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It's the only way out--and no one's ever made it through alive.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.

My Thoughts:
Loved, Loved, Loved this book. At first I didn't quite understand it and the words they used were weird but overall the book was well written and it did keep you wanted to read it. I can't wait till the movie comes out in September.   I totally recommend this book to everyone!!!!

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

18. Monsters (Ashes Trilogy #3) by Ilsa J. Bick


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Goodreads:
The Changed are on the move. The Spared are out of time. The End...is now.
When her parents died, Alex thought things couldn't get much worse-until the doctors found the monster in her head.
She headed into the wilderness as a good-bye, to leave everything behind. But then the end of the world happened, and Alex took the first step down a treacherous road of betrayal and terror and death.
Now, with no hope of rescue-on the brink of starvation in a winter that just won't quit-she discovers a new and horrifying truth.
The Change isn't over.
The Changed are still evolving.
And...they've had help.

My Thoughts:
Spoiler Alert!!

Ok, so after everything that everyone has gone through with the mind issues. Tom has this monster that is telling him to go find Alex, Chris keeps having daddy issues, Simon is a chuckie sweetheart. But Alex she has real issues. Lets just say she reminds me of Alice from Resident Evil.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

17. Shadows (Ashes Trilogy #2) by Ilsa J. Bick


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Goodreads:
The Apocalypse does not end. The Changed will grow in numbers. The Spared may not survive.
Even before the EMPs brought down the world, Alex was on the run from the demons of her past and the monster living in her head. After the world was gone, she believed Rule could be a sanctuary for her and those she’d come to love.
But she was wrong.
Now Alex is in the fight of her life against the adults, who would use her, the survivors, who don’t trust her, and the Changed, who would eat her alive. 

My Thoughts:
Spoiler Alert!!

Loved this book even more then the first. Ok, you have Chuckies (Zombies but not really), Alex with a strong since of smell, A little girl that lost her family, a soldier that has lost his way, and a semi-chuckie that falls for a human. A crazy town that's feeding the chuckies. And everyone is trying to survive Love it!!!!! Ya, its kinda weird with the sex part, ya the chuckies having sex put its only a paragraph.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!

16. Ashes (Ashes Trilogy #1) by Ilsa J. Bick


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Goodreads:
An electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerized system, and killing billions.
Alex hiked into the woods to say good-bye to her dead parents and her personal demons. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushes her to the ground, Alex meets up with Tom—a young soldier—and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP.
For this improvised family and the others who are spared, it’s now a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human.

My Thoughts:
I loved this book, couldn't put it down. In fact this whole series was awesome! I loved the fact that this book had different stories going on at the same time about the same thing, but in different place. Its survival and its well written. You fall in love with characters.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

15. Free Four: Tobias Tells the Divergent Knife-Throwing Scene (Divergent #1.5) by Veronica Roth


13615258

Good reads:
 Veronica Roth retells a pivotalDivergent scene (chapter 13) from Tobias's point of view. This thirteen-page scene reveals unknown facts and fascinating details about Four's character, his past, his own initiation, and his thoughts about new Dauntless initiate Tris Prior.

My Thoughts:
I love short stories that take you into the mind of the other main character of the book. Plus, I liked Four. They need to do a full series on his mind set.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Friday, June 13, 2014

14. Silver by Chris Wooding


18289718

Goodreads:
When a boy is bitten by a strange silver beetle, he becomes the first victim of a mysterious infection. But this is no ordinary virus. It turns flesh into metal, and people into machines. There is no escape. As the virus spreads, and more terrifying, bloodthirsty machines appear, the remaining survivors are losing hope. Who will turn silver next? Is help ever coming? Will any of them survive?

My Thoughts:
I don't know what to say about this book. It was ok. I just couldn't wrap my mind around a book that turns people into mechanical flesh eating killers. Ya, no zombies but if bitten by its like zombie like. I don't know you have to read it to understand it. Other then that it was well written and there were parts that made you want to keep reading.

ITS AN OK BOOK.

13. Partials (Partials Sequence #1) by Dan Wells


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Goodreads:
Humanity is all but extinguished after a war with Partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island. But sixteen-year-old Kira is determined to find a solution. As she tries desperately to save what is left of her race, she discovers that that the survival of both humans and Partials rests in her attempts to answer questions about the war's origin that she never knew to ask.

My Thoughts:
Well, I was a good book it keep you wanting to read more. The story line was great. I thought the idea of humanity dying because of a chemical war that not only killed more than half the population but prevented the survivors from successfully having living children, and trying to find a cure under any circumstances was a great plot. It was well written. 

I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

12. Pro Secrets to Dramatic Digital Photos by Jim Zuckerman


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Goodreads:
Jim Zuckerman, a photographer known for his vivid, surreal images, reveals a lifetime's worth of tricks and techniques for taking photos with that huge WOW factor.
His pro secrets range from the technical to the abstract, from making an impact with complementary colors to getting picture-postcard photos of scenic sites. He'll reveal which editing tools bring out a photograph's hidden assets, how to pan the camera to control the appearance of movement, and much more. Filled with compelling, colorful photographs, this eye-catching volume will inform and inspire both beginners and more experienced photographers.

My Thoughts:
I liked this book. It shows great pics and how to see the beauty in everything. But what I didn't like is that it really doesn't show technique in how to get a photo to look awesome.

I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK IF YOUR NOT LOOKING FOR TECHNIQUE.

11. Digital Photographer's Handbook by Tom Ang


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Goodreads:
Encompassing both digital and conventional photography and revised to include the most up-to-date cameras, computers, peripherals, and software, the Digital Photographer's Handbook encourages traditional photographers to experiment with new technology while inspiring experienced users to reach new heights. Expert photographer Tom Ang shows how to get the most out of this new technology - from improving casual snapshots to learning the secrets of lighting, composition, and digital image manipulation. The accessible yet in-depth text, stunning photography, and quick-fix features provide a practical approach to producing better photographs in a snap.

My Thoughts:
Its kind of out dated  but it still has a lot of interesting aspects of the digital age today. I tried a few the examples he gave and they worked great. I think if your a beginner photographer and you don't have one of those real expensive cameras, I think this book might work for you.

I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK

Saturday, June 7, 2014

10. Blood Red Road (Dust Lands Trilogy #1) by Moira Young


9917938

Goodreads:
Saba lives in Silverlake, a wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms where her family scavenge from landfills left by the long-gone Wrecker civilization. After four cloaked horsemen kidnap her beloved twin brother Lugh, she teams up with daredevil Jack and the Free Hawks, a girl gang of Revolutionaries. 

Saba learns that she is a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Saba and her new friends stage a showdown that change the course of her civilization.

My Thoughts:
Don't let the name fool ya. This book was a page turner for me. If you like The Hunger Games, or even Divergent for that matter, you will love this book. You have a hot headed girl that goes after her twin brother that is taken from her family. You even have a hot headed 9 year old who don't know how to listen trying to save her brother as well. There's action, friendships, young love, and family love. And it clearly explains why and adults should not us drugs, lol.  Did I mention that they are suppose to make a movie out of this book. If they make it right, it will be a awesome movie.

I SERIOUSLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK.

Friday, June 6, 2014

9. I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies #1) by Pittacus Lore


7747374

Goodreads:
In the beginning they were a group of nine. Nine aliens who left their home planet of Lorien when it fell under attack by the evil Mogadorian. Nine aliens who scattered on Earth. Nine aliens who look like ordinary teenagers living ordinary lives, but who have extraordinary, paranormal skills. Nine aliens who might be sitting next to you now. The Nine had to separate and go into hiding. 

The Mogadorian caught Number One in Malaysia, Number Two in England, and Number Three in Kenya. All of them were killed. John Smith, of Paradise, Ohio, is Number Four. He knows that he is next.

I AM NUMBER FOUR is the thrilling launch of a series about an exceptional group of teens as they struggle to outrun their past, discover their future—and live a normal life on Earth.

My Thoughts:
I liked the book way better then the movie. They shouldn't have left out so much. The book was awesome. Actually makes you want to read the next book. I could have done without the little bit of cursing in it, but other that that I really liked. 

I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK

Thursday, June 5, 2014

8. Arena Two (The Survival Trilogy #2) by Morgan Rice


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Goodreads: 
Having just escaped from the treacherous island that was once Manhattan, Brooke, Ben, Logan, Bree and Rose make their way up the Hudson river in their stolen boat, low on fuel, low on food, and desperately needing shelter from the cold. On their tails are the slaverunners, who will stop at nothing until they capture them and bring them back.

As they make their way upriver in this post-apocalyptic, action-packed thriller, on their way to try to find the mythical city in Canada, they will need to use all their ingenuity and survival skills to stay alive. Along the way they will encounter crazed survivors, roving gangs of predators, cannibals, wild animals, a desolate wasteland, and an unstoppable blizzard. They sustain injuries, get sick, and the Hudson freezes over as they do their best to salvage what they can and avoid the slaverunners’ pursuit. They find a small island and think they have found respite—until events don’t go their way. It is not until they board a mysterious train to nowhere that they find that things can always get worse.

My Thoughts:
I Thought the book could have been better. I read the first one and it had a lot more action to it. It was a page turner. But this one was kinda of boring. It had its moments where you thought there is no way they would escape and such. And it had its are you really stupid moments (twice). I thought that Bree was very irritating. Its like when you have people chasing you don't start throwing out demands and having a fit to get your way. Towards the end of the book it started getting good, and a little sad but I did like it. Its kinda like The Hunger Games so in that sense it worked. 
I GIVE IT
I RECOMMEND IF YOU HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO READ.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

7. Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan, Danae Yankoski


3206011

Goodreads: Have you ever wondered if we're missing it?
It's crazy, if you think about it. The God of the universe—the Creator of nitrogen and pine needles, galaxies and E-minor—loves us with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love. And what is our typical response? We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss.
Whether you've verbalized it yet or not, we all know something's wrong.
Does something deep inside your heart long to break free from the status quo? Are you hungry for an authentic faith that addresses the problems of our world with tangible, even radical, solutions? God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn't working harder at a list of do's and don'ts-it's falling in love with God. And once you encounter His love, as Francis describes it, you will never be the same.
Because when you're wildly in love with someone, it changes everything.
My Thoughts:
This book was great. It had a lot of great points when it came to the Christian life, the Church, and to my life. It made me ask myself  "Am I ready?" Are you?

I REALLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK.

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

6. Prince of Thorns (The Broken Empire #1) by Mark Lawrence


9579634

Goodreads: When he was nine, he watched as his mother and brother were killed before him. At thirteen, he led a band of bloodthirsty thugs. By fifteen, he intends to be king... 

It's time for Prince Honorous Jorg Ancrath to return to the castle he turned his back on, to take what's rightfully his. Since the day he hung pinned on the thorns of a briar patch and watched Count Renar's men slaughter his mother and young brother, Jorg has been driven to vent his rage. Life and death are no more than a game to him--and he has nothing left to lose. But treachery awaits him in his father's castle. Treachery and dark magic. No matter how fierce his will, can one young man conquer enemies with power beyond his imagining?

My thoughts:
Well, this book had a lot of hate, revenge, forgiveness and its sad that its from a fifteen year old boy. Also, I don't believe that a 15 year old can do everything this kid did. It just didn't seem believable. Yes, I know that its fiction and fantasy but come on this was just ridiculous. 


 I DON'T RECOMMEND THIS BOOK. 

Sunday, June 1, 2014

5. Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2) by Sarah J. Maas


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Goodreads: From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.

Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.

Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie...and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.

My thoughts:
Omgosh!! This book was so intense that I actually read this book in about a day in a half. I couldn't put it down. I laughed, I cried, I yelled. Man, its got everything you could want in a book. Its a bummer that the 3rd book doesn't come out till September 2014. I'm addicted to Celaena and Chaol.

 This book is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!