The Magic of Books

Author: Anne Ursu Rating: 9.5/10      This book is possibly one of my favorite single fantasy book s of all time. It was truly a masterpiece. I really loved the way that it moved between realistic fiction and fantasy. At times I forgot and almost couldn't tell. The change in perspective also helped and made it engaging. Letting the reader have parts of the story that the characters don't have is one of my favorite things that authors can do. 

Author: Gordon Korman Rating: 7/10      I read the original book that goes with this companion book a few years ago, and I thought it would be fun to read this one, just to find out what happens. It was funny, but generally intended for an audience that was looking for an easier book than I was. Still, Gordon Korman's books are fun to read every once in a while, just to shake things up.      

Author: Scott Westerfeld Rating: 8.5/10       Extras  had a faster pace than the first three books. It was a refreshing change from the usual cast of characters. It was interesting to think about the ways that technology has impacted the lives of the characters and how it might impact our lives in the near future. This book shows a world where the characters' lives are depending on their "face rank", so, basically, your life depends on how popular you are.

Author: Scott Westerfeld Rating: 5.5/10             This book was not as interesting to me as the previous two. In each book the characters are different some how, but I didn't like the way Tally and her friends were portrayed in this story. I probably would not have finished this one, had I not been so curious about what happens in Extras . I feel like this was sort of a "filler" book, a less interesting story that was a bridge between two other stories.      

Author: Scott Westerfeld     Rating: 7/10          I like Scott Westerfeld's style of ending these books with a cliffhanger, and then skipping a bit of time between the books. If you appreciated the style of the Hunger Games trilogy, you might not like the way Westerfeld writes it here. When beginning a book, it leaves you a little confused for awhile, since you know the general style but don't know what has happened in between. I found it quite interesting to pay attention to the subtle changes in relationships and characters between stories.

Author: Scott Westerfeld     Rating: 8.5/10                  This book is an example of a society that feels the need to put people into boxes and regulate everything. This was one of those times where you are handed a situation without much explanation. Quickly, though, you will feel like you have always been reading the book.. with just enough mystery left to produce an awesome story. If you like science fiction this may be something you'll enjoy.