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The Book Muncher

The Book Muncher

THE BOOK MUNCHER is the reviewing alias of a prolific teen reader. She is guilty of several overflowing bookshelves and is known at her local post office as the "girl who loves to read." Her literary diet is mostly dedicated to the young adult fiction genre but has been known to occasionally stray into middle grade or adult categories. She is a... more »
  • Unites States
  • member since December 28 2007

Reviews

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Displaying 21-30 of 288 reviews
  • When the Whistle Blows
    • Rated 4 stars

    “The railroads run in the Cannon family’s veins. That’s why Jimmy is so sure that’s where he’s be working when he grows up, no matter how much his father demands otherwise. Jimmy feels his future is all set, especially since his father is the foreman of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and both his older brothers have quit school to work there too. All there’s left to do is wait while he grows up. But as much as Jimmy would like to think everything will stay the way it is, change is indeed coming, just as his father promised it would. Now, Jimmy just has to keep up with it or fall behind.

    When the Whistle Blows is a historical novel centering on the power of the father-son relationship. Though I don’t have any firsthand experience with this, being a girl, I felt this story portrayed Jimmy and his father’s evolving bond beautifully. Slayton’s writing encompasses all the frustration, respect, protectiveness, and love the strongest father-son bonds create in seven yearly episodes. Slayton also does a fantastic job of making the story realistic; the characters were very believable and the setting and diction made the historical context authentic. Despite the story being set over fifty years ago, its message is still meaningful: change comes no matter how much resistance. And this can be change in any form, whether it is technology or familial situations. This message is only reinforced by the evolving train technology from steam to diesel and Jimmy and his father’s developing relationship. When the Whistle Blows is a solid debut novel full of hope for the future.

    Fans of historical fiction, especially Ten Cents a Dance by Christine Fletcher, will enjoy When the Whistle Blows. I look forward to Slayton’s writing as well.

    reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com”

    The Book Muncher wrote this review Saturday, October 17 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • Everlost
    • Rated 4 stars

    “Nick and Allie don’t survive the car crash. Of course, they don’t know this at first. Despite the obvious change in season and strange dullness of the world around them, they figure the only thing that’s wrong was the car crash in the first place. But soon it becomes apparent they’re no longer among the living since no other people can see or hear them and they have a tendency to go straight through things. The only exceptions to this rule pertain to other residents and objects in Nick and Allie’s current realm of existence, Everlost. But Nick and Allie aren’t satisfied with the few dead spots they can safely stay on without risk of falling to the center of the earth and the strangeness of their situation. They want to get on with their lives, unencumbered by the unfamiliar rules of Everlost. But how can they escape?

    Everlost is an exciting and fascinating version of what happens after death. Shusterman takes into account many myths and theories about the afterlife, such as haunting and possession of a body by a spirit, as well as incorporating several unique ones of his own, like how Afterlights, what Nick and Allie have become, are in danger of sinking to the center of the earth. I have to say I quite enjoyed the entire setting of Everlost and thought it made for a fantastic backdrop to the story, which was just filled with all sorts of adventures as well as challenges specific to Everlost. But even more important than the engaging plot were the characters. In general, the characters were easy to understand and to relate to; they might’ve been a little boring at times, but they were always realistic. Overall, Everlost was an entertaining read that explores the possibilities of existence after death and the different trends of human nature.

    Everlost will be enjoyed by fans of Ruined by Paula Morris, Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin, and Jo-Jo and the Fiendish Lot by Andrew Auseon. Those who enjoyed Unwind, also by Shusterman, may like this more lighthearted tale. I look forward to this sequel to this story in Everwild.

    reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com”

    The Book Muncher wrote this review Saturday, October 17 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • Riot
    • Rated 3 stars

    “It’s the summer of 1863 in New York City. The Civil War is well underway, dividing not only the nation but its people. A federally instituted draft only incites the brewing conflict faster. Angry Irish immigrants flood the streets, looting stories and attacking blacks whom they blame for many of their problems. The army has been brought in to put the riots down, but violence still abounds. Caught in the midst of this, fifteen-year-old Claire is confronted with the difficulty of having both Irish and African American heritage. In a situation with very little middle ground, which side will Claire choose?

    Riot is a novel with an interesting topic but a less than thrilling execution. This novel is written in the style of a screenplay, which is unique but a little odd considering I don’t believe it’s supposed to be one. Because of this strict format which only allows for scene descriptions, character actions, different “camera” angles, and dialogue, I found it very difficult to get into the story. Another negative side effect of this structure is that there is little if any direct characterization, and readers must glean what they can about characters based on mainly events, actions, and dialogue. I personally found it hard to fully understand many of the characters because I didn’t know that they were thinking, which the rare soliloquy did little to remedy. If it weren’t for this story, I think I might’ve been more into the story since the Civil War and race relations are fascinating and important parts of American history. For what it’s worth, the historical events discussed, particularly the New York City draft riots, were portrayed relatively accurately, but unfortunately, the story was just boring as a whole. Perhaps it’s only the screenplay style, but Riot was just not a book for me.

    Fans of historical novels just as Ten Cents a Dance by Christine Fletcher and A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly may still enjoy this stylistically untraditional novel.

    reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com”

    The Book Muncher wrote this review Sunday, September 27 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • How To Say Goodbye In Robot
    • Rated 4 stars

    “Bea is not a stranger to moving, and consequently, she’s given up on lasting friendships. Since her latest move to Baltimore, Bea has figured she’ll probably end up buddies with some random but overly friendly girl at her new school. Instead, Bea finds herself sitting next to Jonah, a withdrawn and sullen boy who hasn’t made a friend since the third grade, and somehow their less than cordial introduction morphs into something in the realm of friendship. And they certainly make an interesting duo, connected by a love of late-night radio and secrets in their pasts and possibly appropriately nicknamed Ghost Boy and Robot Girl. But as with all friendships this deep, there comes the hard times, the pushing away and the pulling back. Will each ever know how much this bond means to the other? And could one ever recover from a separation, because as much as they’d like to think they’re ghosts and robots, they’re really just people.

    How to Say Goodbye in Robot is a novel all about the depth and complexities of the truest form of friendship, as well as the quirks of other relationships people share. It is a story heavily reliant on its characters, which are thankfully realistic, and its writing, which was thoughtful and descriptive. I truly enjoyed the characters in this story, particularly Bea and Jonah. Even with all their peculiarities, their personalities are believable and easy to relate to. Standiford so wonderfully develops their selves that they become people the reader genuinely cares about and wants to understand. Another thing I loved about this story is how it shows that the seemingly random connections people make among each other sometimes end up being the most perfect combinations ever. It’s more than just “it’s a small world;” it’s about all the wonder the world creates, how fate worlds in mysterious ways, the magic in bringing people together, and all the possibilities in life. How to Say Goodbye in Robot is a sweet, touching, and even a little heartbreaking story that shows that no matter how much we want to think we’re okay on our own, we really do need other people.

    This novel will be enjoyed by fans of The Miles Between by Mary E. Pearson and Paper Towns by John Green.

    reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com”

    The Book Muncher wrote this review Sunday, September 27 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • Dark Visions: The Strange Power; The Posessed; The Passion
    • Rated 4 stars

    “Kaitlyn Fairchild has never felt like she belongs. In her hometown, people keep away from her unusually eyes and drawings of horrible scenes that always come true. So when she’s offered the opportunity to leave home and study at the Zetes Institute in California for psychics, she accepts. At least there, she’ll have the chance to meet other people like her and not always be the outcast. And she isn’t disappointed. Studying and living with four fellow teen psychics opens Kait’s world to all new possibilities like friendship and even love. But just as she discovers these joys, she also learns of the true nature of the Institute and what’s been planned for her and her new friends. Kait must figure out who she can trust if she’s to save herself and her friends from ultimate destruction.

    Dark Visions contains three juicy paranormal reads bound in one book, and I have to say, I quite enjoyed them. Strange as it is, I have never read anything by Smith prior to this, but Dark Visions has won me over. Smith proves herself a master storyteller, adept at manipulating plot and inter-character connections to create a satisfying and thrilling story. In all three books, there is no shortage of action, deceit, and romantic tension. The numerous twists and turns kept me interested in the story, but the friendship and romance really brought it to life for me because it showed the main characters’ capacities to love. For the most part, the characters were realistic although Gabriel’s deeply conflicted nature was difficult to believe at times. As a whole, the entire supernatural angle of this story was thoroughly exciting and very original, and I loved reading about Kait and her friends’ lives and backgrounds just as much as I did about their psychic adventures. Dark Visions holds a thrilling trio of paranormal action and romance stories sure to enthrall readers.

    This novel will be enjoyed by fans of The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong, the Midnighters trilogy by Scott Westerfeld, and Dead Is the New Black by Marlene Perez.

    reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com”

    The Book Muncher wrote this review Sunday, September 27 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • Generation Dead: Kiss of Life (Generation Dead)
    • Rated 4 stars

    “When Phoebe’s best friend Adam takes a bullet for her, she finally understands that he loves her. And when Adam comes back as a differently biotic, Phoebe vows she’ll do all she can to bring him to a higher level of functionality. The theory goes that love is what helps zombies function more normally, but in order to devote himself to Adam, Phoebe must break up with her differently biotic boyfriend and zombie leader, Tommy Williams. Matters are made even more complicated by Tommy’s crusade for zombie rights and recognition. While there are some people who are open to the differently biotic and want to help them, still others are convinced the teens risen from the dead are evil and need to be exterminated. Will the zombies’ uphill battle for the right to exist be successful—or will their efforts only bring them in harm’s way?

    Kiss of Life is a fantastic sequel to Waters’ awesome debut Generation Dead. The writing and characterization were great and the plot satisfactory, but what stood out most to me was the unmistakable, if possible unintended, social commentary. Although America prides itself on being an advanced and modern nation, it is still capable of quite heinous crimes against minority groups and the unfamiliar in the spirit of fear and intolerance; the evidence is stacked through history, which Waters may or may now have been discreetly referring to throughout the novel. I saw so many parallels between the zombies’ struggle in this story to the civil rights era, to name a historical example. What it all boils down to is acceptance and tolerance; it’s frightening how some people can lose sight of those qualities so quickly. I also really liked how this novel didn’t automatically assign the religious to the intolerant list, because while there are the zealots, the religious can also be some of the most generous and kind people. Aside from the fact that this novel is mostly about zombies, the situations it presents are scarily realistic. Kiss of Life is just a great read both for the story and the simple truths about life and love it presents.

    This novel will be eagerly enjoyed by fans of its prequel Generation Dead as well as by those who liked Night Road by A.M. Jenkins and Peeps by Scott Westerfeld.

    reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com”

    The Book Muncher wrote this review Tuesday, September 8 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • The Hollow
    • Rated 4 stars

    “It starts with the disappearance of Abbey’s best friend Kristen. Everybody but Abbey is too quick to believe Kristen much be dead. Abbey’s hometown, Sleepy Hollow, is a small settlement and the nasty gossip and rumors about what really happened to Kristen only serve to make Abbey fell more alone than ever. Visiting Washington Irving’s grave doesn’t even offer the solace it used to. Then Abbey meets Caspian, an alluring stranger whose obvious concern for Abbey’s wellbeing offers the only comfort in her life. Unfortunately, Abbey’s like starts to unravel even more when she learns of the secret Kristen was keeping from her. It makes her doubt everything in her life, from her faith in Kristen’s loyalty to her trust in the mysterious Caspian. There’s something strange and possible sinister at work in Sleepy Hollow, but admitting this just might cost Abbey her sanity.

    The Hollow, though for the most part enjoyable, was not quite as well written as I hoped it would be. The main reason for this is because for the first 90% of this lengthy book, I wasn’t sure whether this story was a getting-over-grief one, a twisted, tortured romance, or something relating closely to The Legend of Sleepy Hollow with a hint of the supernatural; a considerable chunk of the plot felt like a tug-of-war between these three options. It frustrated me that such a large portion of the novel was spent leading slowly up to the biggest revelation in the last tenth of the book, and it bothered me that those first 450 pages or so were spent on events that were too drawn out and at times boring; this slow section could’ve been condensed to better maintain the reader’s interest. Though Abbey’s character is well-developed, admittedly mostly during the slow section, realistically teetering on the line between sanity and the unbelievable, the rest of the characters needed much more work. I understand little is revealed about Caspian to keep him mysterious, but his devotion to protecting Abbey was mostly unbelievable and his behavior generally confusing. Ben, Abbey’s school acquaintance, was too nice. I wanted to know the back story and these characters’ motives, and I just couldn’t glean them from the given story. The last revelation may have redeemed earlier section of the novel with its originality especially since it rekindled my interest in the story, and though I would’ve liked some of my many questions about this novel answered, I don’t completely mind that they weren’t since hopefully a sequel will do that for me.

    Despite my heavy criticism, I did enjoy The Hollow and have high hopes for a sequel. This novel will be enjoyed by those who liked Swoon by Nina Malkin.

    reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com”

    The Book Muncher wrote this review Friday, September 4 2009. ( reply | view 1 replies | permalink )
  • Demon Chick

    Demon Chick

    by Marilyn Kaye
    • Rated 4 stars

    “Jessica Hunsucker normally keeps to herself. Moving around a lot, she finds it easier to not make friends, and with her mother’s political position and a long deceased father, she hardly gets any family time either. But her world is about to get a whole lot crazier now that her mother’s on the campaign trail for the presidency. Whatever warm and fuzzy feelings Jessica ever had for her mother go straight out the door when she discovers what her mother has done—Margaret Hunsucker, aspiring presidential candidate, sold her firstborn daughter to the devil for political power. That’s why Jessica finds herself in an atrociously decorated suburban-style house the day after her sixteenth birthday. She’s in hell, literally, and apparently, she belongs to a demon named Brad now. It’s not much of a comfort to her that Brad is a pretty decent guy and that her new home is in one of hell’s nicer neighborhoods. And it’s even scarier when Jessica finds out the reality of her mother’s evil plans for not only the country, but the entire world. How in hell will Jessica find a way to stop her mother in time?

    Demon Chick has such a unique and interesting premise for a novel, and for the most part, the story is that too. I’m fascinated by novels involving anything to do with the afterlife, so Kaye’s version of hell was a major selling point for me. In this novel, hell comes close to resembling a modern nation or even a business with its hierarchy of leadership and system for attracting new residents. Aside from the fact that most of hell’s residents are dead, Jessica’s new neighborhood would not be too out of place in the real world. I absolutely love how Kaye mixes myth with fact and fantasy with science. Character development was generally satisfactory, especially when it came to Jessica and Brad, but Jessica’s mom was completely unrealistic. Margaret Hunsucker is portrayed as a modern-day, far right almost beyond fascist, female Hitler. I suppose it’s possible for people to turn out that way, but I would’ve appreciated some background as to why Jessica’s mother would be motivated to act and think as she did. For me, the ending to this story was a little bizarre. I’m not sure I could think of an alternate to the events that did occur, but the novel would’ve been much better had the ending been a little longer. Overall, Demon Chick is an original and enjoyable novel that really goes to say, nothing is ever fair.

    Demon Chick will be enjoyed by readers who also liked Repossessed by A.M. Jenkins, Devilish by Maureen Johnson, and Gorgeous by Rachel Vail.

    reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com”

    The Book Muncher wrote this review Tuesday, September 1 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • Fire
    • Rated 5 stars

    “In the Dells, there are animals, and then there are monsters. The only way to distinguish between them is that monsters have unique coloring, impossibly alluring beauty, and sometimes even the ability of mind control. That’s what makes monsters so dangerous, to humans and to each other. That’s why Fire lives such a careful and guarded life; this flame-haired young woman is actually a human monster. The Dells, the land she calls home, is experiencing supreme instability now that rebel lords are attempting to overthrow King Nash. Spies and other suspicious people are everywhere, only increasing the danger. And somehow, Fire fits in the midst of all this, because this beautiful girl can influence the minds of those around her. Wanted as an asset by each opposing side in the brewing war, Fire must determine the path she will follow, to save—or forsake—her land.

    Talk about a page turner! Fire, though lengthy, is a fantasy filled with excitement, danger, spy work, brewing plots, and even romance. Cashore’s writing draws the reader easily into her fictional world of monsters and royal court intrigue. Generally, I find the settings in most fantasy stories difficult to adjust to since they generally include new lands and terrain, wording and languages, species, laws of nature, and occasionally magic; however, with Fire, part of the reason why it was so easy for me to get into the story was because the setting and atmosphere were really quite simple. The most unusual aspect of the Dells is the monsters, and those were quite easily explained and able to be understood. It’s amazing to me how Cashore so successfully creates a vivid new world with a realistic cast of characters. Character development is so well done, especially for strong protagonist Fire, that the characters hardly feel like they’re just part of a fictional story. I suppose there are segments of this story that are a little boring, but I feel that fades away next to the excitement that action, drama, and romance bring to the plot.

    Fire is by far one of my favorite fantasies yet, and I cannot wait to read Graceling, for which Fire is a prequel. This novel will most definitely be enjoyed by fans of The Abhorsen Chronicles by Garth Nix, Trickster’s Choice and Trickster’s Queen by Tamora Pierce, Foundling by D.M. Cornish, and The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien.

    reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com”

    The Book Muncher wrote this review Tuesday, September 1 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • Novel #2 (America's Next Top Model)
    • Rated 4 stars

    “Roommates Alexis, Lindsay, Chloe, and Shiva-Rose have survived the first challenge at Top Model Prep without elimination, but ten other model hopefuls were not so lucky. There is little room for celebration among all the drama and the next challenge approaching. Lindsay knows she’ll do well in the next challenge, but for some reason, she’s lost part of her backstabbing attitude; plus that gorgeous and off-limits boy is throwing her a bit off balance. Alexis isn’t too worried about this challenge either, but the fact that her discreet nighttime activities are catching up to her is cause to fret. Chloe looks good doing anything, but a new love interest—who isn’t her boyfriend—may be too large of a distraction. Shiva-Rose is the only of the four freaking out for the next challenge, and when offered inside help, she doesn’t know whether to accept it or stick to her morals. The competition is tougher than ever. Do these girls have what it takes to make it to the next level?

    Eye Candy picks up almost immediately after where its prequel Face Value leaves off, and the plot continues to be as drama-filled as ever. The America’s Next Top Model series was still a slightly education experience for me because Eye Candy focuses on commercial advertisement instead of just the runway or still shots. I like how Bell switches things up here, because the story might’ve seemed boring and repetitive otherwise. Once again, the story gets a little awkward when it comes to the characters. Lindsay’s complete change of heart regarding the nasty treatment of all her rivals was completely unrealistic since there seemed to be no cause for it. The revelation of the nature of Alexis’ relationship with her juvie-incarcerated brother was confusing and not elaborated on. Shiva-Rose’s character was just poorly developed. The only of the four girls that made sense as a person was Chloe, who is believable and even experiences growth in this novel. By the conclusion of Eye Candy, it’s become apparent that Bell’s writing, though generally sufficient, is nothing grand. I only hope there will be some improvement for this series’ next two installments, Skin Deep and Strike a Pose.

    Fashion conscious girls may be interested in the America’s Next Top Model series, particularly those who enjoyed Violet on the Runway by Melissa Walker, The Elite series by Jennifer Banash, and The A-List series by Zoey Dean.

    reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com”

    The Book Muncher wrote this review Tuesday, September 1 2009. ( reply | permalink )
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