"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" by J,K. Rowling

Star Rating:

**********

Genre:

fantasy fiction

Harry ends up getting to his friend Ron's house towards the end of the summer to attend the Quiddich World Cup with his friends. Harry enjoys what seems like the start of an amazing year in the wizarding world, but the vibe changes when someone sends the Dark Mark, the Dark Lord Voldemort's sign featuring a skull and a snake. Voldemort is growing stronger...

At school, the Triwizard Tornament is about to begin. It's an ancient competition that hasn't happened for hundreds of years. Three schools (Hogworts and two other foreign ones) join together for a year to watch three students (one from each school) compete in three dangerous tasks. The age restriction is seventeen, so many students aren't allowed to put their names forth to be chosen in the Goblet of Fire. But there's a dark wizard at Hogworts this year, and somehow Harry's name pops up as the fourth contestant. He has no choice and must compete against Hugglepuff Cedric Diggory, the beautiful Fluer Delacore, and the Bulgarian Seeker from the World Cup Viktor Krum.

Throughout the year, as Harry is haunted by thoughts of Voldemort, and he starts to think that the Dark Lord is rising once again. Once again, Rowling continues a fantastic tale full of magic, dangerous beasts, betrayal, and action.

This book may look like a lot (over 700 pages long), but the story is so interesting that I zoomed through it. Again, it was cool to see the foreshadowing (cool one on page 221 if anyone's interested) and the all around writing technique of Rowling is so intruiging. Like always, the villan of the story is unmasked in the end, completely unexpected.

"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" by J.K. Rowling

Star Rating:

**********

Genre:

fantasy fiction

Continuing my adventure through all the Harry Potter books again, I finished the third one a few days ago. It was one of my favorites in the series (and my favorite Harry Potter movie).

Harry comes back to Hogworts. On top of his two best friends, Ron and Hermione, who continue to argue over their pets (Hermione's cat seems to have it in for Ron's ancient rat), Harry discovers the truth about a convict from the Wizard prison of Azkaban, Sirius Black. Black was said to be a suporter of You-Know-Who years ago and the reason that Harry's parents are dead. Harry isn't nearly as concerned about his friends, especially with the protection of the headmaster Dumbledore as well as the guarding dementors (from Azkaban), who will suck Black's soul out the moment they find him.

Harry continues with his Quiddich matches, hoping to win the Cup this year at school, copes with Professor Snape the Potions Master, and becomes friends with the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Proffesor Lupin. He soon discovers that they're intertwined in Sirius Black's story, and that the rumors he's heard from everywhere about the criminal aren't as trustworthy as everyone thought. There's another villian on the loose in Hogworts and he'll show his colors soon...

I really like how this story was written, especially in the end where facts about Sirius Black are twisted in an unexpected direction that still makes sense. By rereading, it's interesting to see all the foreshadowing that Rowling uses, like refering to certain characters a lot, showing that they'll be important later on. Like I said, this was one of the better books. The Goblet of Fire is next!

New Moon Trailer

For all you Twilight Fans: Just thought I'd put out that the trailer for New Moon came out a little while ago. The movie comes out in November. Click on the link to see it on Stephenie Meyer's website:
New Moon Trailer
I don't know what to make of the trailer yet... I will say that the werewolf transformations look kind of cool! (:

"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" by J.K. Rowling

Star Rating:
**********
Genre:
fantasy fiction

Continuing on what happened in the previous novel, Harry is having a horrible summer vacation. All his magic stuff (his books, his broom, his wand) are locked up, and his poor owl is locked up in her cage. As the school year time draws nearer, Harry has an unexpected visitor from the magic world, Dobby the house-elf. With him Dobby brings a strange warning, urging Harry to not go back to the magic school because danger is drawing near. Dobby uses a spell at Harry's house in attempt to make sure Harry will never leave, and Harry is locked up in his room for good. It isn't until Ron Weasley (his best friend) and his two brothers Fred and George come with a flying car that he escaped.

When Ron and Harry later try to get onto Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters (they have to walk through a brick wall), they find the Platform has mysteriously sealed itself early. Obviously, someone doesn't want Harry at school this year. Ron and Harry use the flying car to get to Hogworts (and get in trouble), but soon start a new year.

Dobby was right. Something dangerous is happening at the school. Harry is hearing a voice that only he can hear from the walls, over and over saying kill... KILL. Words are written on the walls of the school: The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the heir, beware. Legend has it that this Chamber of Secrets is a secretly built room of Salazar Slytherin's that is home to a fearsome beast that is to rid the school of all Muggle-born students. The beast remains unknown and is attacking students, petrifying them. Everyone is struck by the question who. Who is Slytherin's heir, opening the chamber and releasing the monster? Harry, Ron, and Hermione are determined to find out.

While rereading this book, I couldn't help but notice all the huge hints that Rowling leaves throughout the beginning of the novel that relate directly to the ending. It was kind of cool, actually. Anyway, I'm now onto the third book! Again, this installment was really good, but for anyone who's never read the series, each novel definitly gets better as the story progresses!

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling

Star Rating:
**********
Genre:
fantasy fiction

In honor of the sixth Harry Potter movie coming out soon, I decided to reread all the books! I've recently finished the first book where the amazing series.

For anyone who's never read the books, here's a quick summery. Harry Potter has lived with his unkind aunt, uncle, and cousin (the Dursley's) his whole life after his parents' deaths. It wasn't until his eleventh birthday that Harry discovered he was much more than your average kid... Harry's a wizard.

Harry ends up thrust into a magical world and attending Hogworts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where learning to fly a broom, turn a needle into a match, and levitating objects are just a few of the interesting lessons. Even in what seems like a paradise compared to Harry's life with the Dursley's, there's more danger than before. He discovers the truth about his past, how a powerful and evil wizard, Voldemort, had murdered his parents but somehow couldn't kill him. He's famous for surviving. Many think that You-Know-Who was destoyed after his failure to kill Harry, but others think he's still out there. With the knowledge of something being hidden in the school, guarded by a massive three-headed dog, Harry and his friends can't help but wonder if Voldemort is after it, whatever it is, to come back to power.

Out of all the wonderful things about this book, there are two that really stick out. There's a lot of foreshadowing (not only for the rest of this book, but the whole series as well). Another cool thing is the creativity of Harry's magical world. It's creatively similar but different from the Muggle (or our) world. I'd suggest this book to anyone and everyone who hasn't read it yet, because it's the kind of book that I'd predict is long-lasting enough to be read in schools one day.

"Impossible" by Nancy Werlin

Star Rating:
**********
Genre:
mix of realistic and fantasy fiction with romance

Impossible was based off the ballad "Scarborough Fair". If you're familiar with the tune, or it sounds familiar, the lyrics are something like Are you going to Scarborough Fair / parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. Lucy Scarborough had a different life from the beginning. Her mother went mentally insane shortly after giving birth to her only daughter, so she lives with her two foster parents. Her best friend lives next door, Zach Greenfield. On the night of her prom, her life takes an even bigger spin when her date rapes her. Even on birth control, Lucy gets pregnant. Even though this is life-changing, Lucy can still realize that its such a coincidence. Her mother had gotten pregnant at a young age too. It turns out that it wasn't a coincidence, but a curse on Lucy's family put on by the Elfin Knight. She has three impossible tasks to complete or upon her daughter's birth, she too will go mad.

I really liked the creativity of this novel, especially the twist of reality and fantasy. It has so many messages as well, including the meaning of family a friendship, and never giving up. Nancy Werlin created an original story off of a well-known music piece. Why should you read this book? Well, it recieved a lot of cool rewards including Kirkus Reviews YA book of 2008, but mostly the story is just riviting. Plus, the book is full of short chapters and cliff-hanger endings keeping you on the edge of your seat.

"Kaleidoscope Eyes" by Jen Bryant

Star Rating:
**********
Genre:
historical fiction

I recently finished reading Kaleidoscope Eyes, and it has to be one of the most interesting books ever. It's about a girl named Lyza. Lyza's family is different, as her mother is gone, her older sister is a pain, and her father is always away at work. On top of her family life, the Vietnam War is taking place and many citizens in her town, Willowbank, are being sent away and coming back in coffins. Lyza couldn't be more happy when she finds the clues to a treasure hunt from her grandfather that lead to Captain William Kidd's treasure. With the help of her two best friends, Lyza starts an adventure through maps, old documents, and a lot of digging to find the chest, hoping to change her fortune in such a difficult time.

This novel is written in verse, which in my opinion helps move the story really well. It's historical fiction, but it also has many life-long lessons introduced cleverly. It really expresses the importance of friendships, trust, and never giving up hope. I've read a few books in verse, and this one was different but still amazing. Anyone into history out there? Definitely a must read!

(Some other cool poetry books--and favorites of mine--to check out would be Burned by Ellen Hopkins and Far From You by Lisa Schroeder. They're about completely different topics than Kaleidoscope Eyes, but still really good.)

Thanks to Melyssa M. and collectiveX!