Witch & Wizard By James Patterson: Graphic Novel

Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Yen Press (September 20, 2011)
Language: English
Buy The Book: Amazon

Imagine waking up to find that the world around you - life as you know it - has changed in an instant. That's what happens to Whit Allgood and his sister, Wisty. They thought that they were just a couple of normal teenagers, until their rude awakening at the hands of a dozen armed police! Charged with being a wizard and a witch, accused of having incredible powers they never dreamed possible, the siblings find themselves the targets of an upstart political regime, The New Order, which has swept the country and vowed to wipe "their kind" from existence. Now Whit and Wisty must fight for both their freedom and their lives as they unlock the powers burning inside of them!

This is about ordinary teenage kids named Whit and Wisty. At least they where until the new order was made. They are captured and put into a trail with no lawyer and no chance to talk. They are accused of being a witch and a wizard. Then they find out it is true. As they discover new powers they uncover new things about the world and what it holds. They are imprisoned at a children's hospital that has been turned into a evil prison. They are forced through tests that always threaten their lives with no way of escaping.

I really loved it!! It was action-packed and magical, which I really love. I think my favorite character was Wisty. In the comics she was always making funny faces and doing funny things.

Maximum Ride (Manga) #1 by James Patterson

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Yen Press; 1ST edition (January 27, 2009)
• Language: English
• Buy the Book: Amazon 

 Fourteen-year-old Maximum Ride knows what it's like to soar above the world. She and all the members of her "flock" - Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman, and Angel - are just like ordinary kids, except they have wings and can fly! It may seem like a dream come true to some, but for the flock it's more like a living nightmare. When the mysterious lab known as the "School" turns up and kidnaps their youngest member, it's up to Max to organize a rescue, but will help come in time?

 This book is AWESOME!!! I know Reagan did a review on the novel, but this is the manga, it's different. Anyway, this book was even better than Reagan described! From the very beginning there was action and danger, and it kept me on the edge of my seat. The setting is always changing, and with the whole manga thing you get to see all the different places. It's pretty cool. You should read this book.

My favorite characters were not what everyone expected. Reagan always says that I pick the hottest dude, and she is way in love with Fang so she thought I would pick Fang. I picked Iggy. As soon as he told Gasman, "Bombs are good, I love bombs." I loved him! He is blind, but really smart, and cool. I also like Gasman, he's awesome because he came up with the idea of blowing up the bad guys. And of course, who couldn't like little Angel? She is soooooo cute!

I didn't like Ari so much, he was cool and had big muscles and he looks good in a suit, but dudes that ripped creep me out. I didn't like Fang as much as everyone told me I would, he seemed kinda weird, and he needs a haircut.

There was some language in this book, just two things, but other than that the book was pretty clean. *Puts on hypnotizing eyes* You mussst read thissss book!!

Deltora Quest: Book One

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Kodansha Comics (July 26, 2011)
• Language: English
• Buy the Book:  Amazon

 The kingdom of Deltora is turned upside down when the King and Queen both die mysteriously and their young son, Endon, is given the Belt of Deltora and pronounced kind.  Endon's best friend, the orphaned Jarred, then discovers a plot to strike at the royal household from within!  Before he can warn his new kind, Jarred is accused of murder and barely escapes the castle with his life, but this does not stop the intrepid warrior from pledging his allegiance to Endon and the Kingdom of Deltora.

Now, with the nefarious Shadow Lord's army preparing for invasion, Deltora has never needed Jarred more-- will he answer the call?

     I liked this book, but it was definitely a change from the actual books. (This is another manga, it took me two days to finish all three mangas I got from the bookstore, so I've had a lot of reviewing to do!) Anyway, I liked it, but I kinda liked the actual books a bit better. This is kind of a backstory about the main character of these books' father, Jarred. (There is a little secret that is unveiled in the second or third series that goes along with Leif's parents, but I'll leave it a secret) So it's about how Jarred grew up with his best friend Endon. I liked that I finally got to see what the characters looked like! Some were completely different than what I thought, like Endon looking like a girl for instance, but it wasn't that hard to get used to. I loved how this manga wasn't that different from the actual books, you know, like at the movies when you freak out because they changed everything. Not a problem here!

     I did not like that they made Endon look like a girl! His robes made him look extra girlish too! Also I didn't like how there was some cussing. It wasn't terrible, but every once in a while there was a word or two. And Prandine was totally suspicious looking, and weird I would've been wary of him from the start if I was in that book.

     My favorite character... I don't know, I didn't really have a favorite in this book. If I had to chose I'd pick Jarred because he is strong and brave.

     My least favorites were Endon and Prandine, Endon because he cried too much, even as a grown man. Prandine because he was a traitor and he killed Min!

     Overall, this book is not my favorite, but it is still pretty good. I'd say read the ones after this one, they are better, especially because of Leif and Jasmine!

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Part 1

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; Original edition (October 7, 2008)
• Language: English
• Buy the Book: Amazon

     In the mystified land of Hyrule, three spiritual stones hold the key to the Triforce, and whoever holds them will control the world! A boy named Link sets out on a quest to deliver the Emerald, the spiritual stone of the forest, to Zelda, Princess of the land of Hyrule. The journey will be long and perilous, and Link will need all his skill and courage to defeat evil. The battle for Hyrule and the Sacred Realm has begun!

     This book isn't one of the comic books that we Americans claim to be manga, this is the real deal! A Japanese book that goes right to left instead of left to right! I was so excited about the book and I was not let down. This was a good book, all clean and perfect all around, no cussing, not even kissing or romance (except that Link and Zelda are obviously crushing on each other) at all! (Though I suspect there will be in the other books) I thought that I might be let down but it turned out to be pretty funny and cool.

I didn't like that the dude doesn't wear pants! In other pictures I see him wearing tights at least, but in the book he's pretty much just wearing a little green dress! It's a miracle that no wind was blowing!

My favorite character was definitely Link, he's so cute and brave! In the first half he's only a cute little kid, but then he grows up for the second half and he's more dramatic, but still awesome.
My other favorite character was Epona, the horse who liked Link from the start and ended up becoming his horse at the end. She is smart for a horse, and really cute and sweet.

My least favorite character was Ganondorf, the villain. He's kinda... meh. I just don't really like the guy.

 

Maximum Ride By James Patterson

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Yen Press (April 26, 2011)
Buy the Book:  Amazon

Despite their initial hesitation, living with Anne has softened the Flock, so Max is keenly aware that it's time to leave. With Thanksgiving so near, though, all of them want to stay, at least until they've had their first ever Thanksgiving turkey! But danger is on the horizon as Jeb's plan advances, and while the Flock's new school seems normal and safe, secrets are hidden beneath its prestigious facade...

I LOVE THIS BOOK! It's the best book in the world!! I think it was well written and I LOVED the characters but my favorite's had to be Max and Iggy. Because I think they really loved each other! ♥ :) There were some minor cuss words in the book but that's really it, and they hold hands, but that's it.... You really need to read this book! It's my favorite book!  

The Invasion of the Potty Snatchers (Super Diaper Baby 2) By Dav Pilkey

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Inc. (July 12, 2011)
Buy the book:  Amazon

George and Harold (the co-stars of the enormously popular Captain Underpants series) are in big trouble again! Their mean principal, Mr. Krupp, has had it with their comic books. But the boys aren't giving up, and they decide to create an all-new epic novel about a subject they've never tackled before!

 The Story:

Every chapter switches between Billy and his dog, and Dr. Dilbert Dinkle and his cat.  The book is about how Dr. Dilbert Dinkle was robbing a bank, and he had a liquidator 2000 that turns anything into water.  He accidentally turns himself into water, which he thinks is a good thing, until his cat drinks him....and then does what cat's do......turning Dr. Dinkle into animated pee.  (haha, awesome)  Then he decides he will destroy every toilet in town.  Super diaper baby has to save the town....and the toilets.....from the giant Dr. Dinkle pee monster.

My favorite character:

I really liked Super Diaper baby and the cat, Petey.  I liked Super Diaper Baby because he's really funny.  I liked Petey because he was a villian, a he got really out of control sometimes and told some hilarious (and gross) jokes.

Did I like the book?

I liked this book a lot.  It was a lot of fun.  It was "THE BEST BOOK IN THE WORLD" but it was really funny, and I am glad I read it.  One thing I really love about the book is something called Flip-o-rama.  You hold down one page, hold the corner of the other, and flip the page back and forth and it looks like a live action cartoon.  It's awesome!!  I haven't read the first Super Diaper Baby book, but this one still made sense.  I definitely want to read the first one now.

BRANSEN

 

Book Review: Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom

Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom by Eric Wight

Reading level: Ages 9-12 

Hardcover: 96 pages 

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (May 5, 2009)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1416964843

ISBN-13: 978-1416964841

Meet Frankie Pickle...the kid with the world's most amazing imagination!

It takes him on adventures.It helps him save the day.And sometimes it gets him into trouble.


When Frankie's mom says he never has to clean his room again, he goes hog wild. The more he plays, the bigger the mess grows, until it tumbles out of control! Now Frankie must clean up his act, but will his imagination be enough to conquer the CLOSET OF DOOM?

My Review

I liked that Frankie had the world's best imagination. In this book there were so many adventures. He had many different characters to play, every time he would play a game in his room. 

One of the funniest things about this book is that his room would get messier and messier, as the book went along. It drove me crazy, to think how messy his room was, that is all I could think about. His mom would come in his room while he was playing and tell him to clean his room. He would just be so focused on the game he was playing he would forget everytime.

He played a super hero, he would play jail, Indiana Jones, doctor. He also used a hockey mask, yellow dish gloves, and he held a shovel pretending he was a soldier.

In chapter eleven their were some really funny parts. He finally comes to the point were he would play a room cleaning game, just to get the job done. He used his imagination so much during this awesome book, I just loved it so much. 

So that is what I liked Frankie Pickle!

P.S. Half of this book was manga (every other page)

Manga Monday: Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things by Ted Naifeh

Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Oni Press; 2 edition (September 8, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1929998600
ISBN-13: 978-1929998609

The initial Courtney Crumrin miniseries in a new digest-sized format. Courtney's parents have dragged her out to a high-to-do suburb to live with her creepy Great Uncle Aloysius in his spooky old house. She's not only the new kid in school, but she also discovers strange things lurking under her bed.

Main Characters

Courtney-blond short hair brownish black eyes brave and she is almost never scared. She is the main character. 

Uncle Crumrin-I have no idea what is hair color is(but i always imagine him blonde)and is always geting Courtney out of trouble. 

Mr. Butterworm- A werewolf that eats people. 

The Changeling Baby (Roger)- A smoking, drinking creature that took the place of a human baby that was stolen.

Plot Summary
This book is about a girl who had to move to her uncle's mansion and she thought her uncle was creepy. At school she was teased and talked about. She was bullied by a group of kids who beat her up and took her allowance. Then she meets a boy at school who is nice to her. But when they were walking through the woods, he was attacked and eaten by a werewolf. She gets away, but then discovers a whole new world of creatures that she never knew existed, and found out that her uncle was more than he seemed.

Plot High Point
At one exciting point in the story, Courtney follows a changeling into a different world of creatures to find a baby that was stolen. She was captured by the creatures who sell her at auction. A mysterious person bids high for her and wins. This was pretty exciting.

Personal Opinion
I liked it a lot, except the bad words were disturbing. I liked the part where there was a doppelganger and it said that it was better at being Courtney than Courtney was. But Courtney told it that it was terrible. I didn't like the part where the boy came to her house and tried to make her like him (he was under a spell). I liked that it was manga.

From a parent's point of view:  I thought that this was a pretty cute book, and I like that my kids are really enjoying Manga.  It's an easy read for them and something that they can read in between other books to boost their confidence.  I wasn't crazy about the content in this book, though, and if I had read it before my daughter, I probably wouldn't have given it to her.  The age recommendation on the book is for ages 7 and up, but I found the language a bit much, and the content was too old for a 7 year old, in my opinion.  It included a scene where a boy forces Courtney to kiss him, a changeling baby that smokes and drinks, a picture of an obviously female creature topless, and a couple of other things I won't mention here.  So, needless to say, if you care about that kind of thing, make sure you check over the mangas before passing them on, and don't just trust the age recommendations!  :)  I honestly don't understand the point in putting things like this in a book for 7 year olds, it certainly didn't enhance the story at all, so I'm at a loss to see the positive side of it.  If it weren't for these things, I would recommend the book to kids who like to read creepy stories, that aren't too creepy.  But at this point, I'd definitely save this book for when they're a little older.

If you'd like more information about the content, go to Courtney Crumrin on Parental Book Reviews!

Reagan's Mom.....