Review: The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth Laban

Title: The Tragedy Paper (Click on the link for the synopsis)
Author: Elizabeth Laban
Publisher/Publication Date: Knopf Books for Young Readers, January 8, 2013
Source/Format:  Library, Hardback
Age Range:  YA

 

“SOMETIMES IT’S HARD—IMPOSSIBLE, EVEN—TO KNOW HOW MUCH MAGNITUDE A CHOICE HOLDS UNTIL IT IS ALL OVER” (Laban, 246)
My Thoughts:

       The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth Laban is a moving and thought-provoking YA novel. It captures many of the issues associated with coming of age such as relationships, self-esteem, choices, and underage drinking/prescription drug use.

       The story is told from the alternating perspectives of Tim, an alumnus, and Duncan, a senior in high school.  As a gift to Duncan, Tim left him CDs detailing his senior experience. Both characters were well-developed and dealt with self-esteem issues.  I was moved by this story because Tim’s revelations about his senior year at the Irving Boarding School facilitated Duncan’s introspection and personal growth.

       I recommend The Tragedy Paper, because it’s a YA novel with a unique storyline that has shifted away from the current trend.

I absolutely loved it.  I would recommend it to everyone.

 

 Author Website  Goodreads  Amazon Barnes & Noble

Review: Poison by Bridget Zinn

Title:Poison (Click on title for Synopsis)
Source/Format: Purchased, Hardcover
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Disney Hyperion, March 12, 2013



My thoughts:


     Poison by Bridget Zinn was honestly a lovely story about potions, a piglet, and what one would be willing to do to save their kingdom.  It was captivating, well written, and full of characters that were likable.  Zinn crafted a story with mystery, intrigue, as well as an adorable piglet.  I really liked Poison as a whole.  It was the kind of book that had a good flow to it—one that I would read a second time, and recommend to others.

     Kyra, a potion’s master, was a good main character with a strong will.  Despite her strong bonds with her friends, she was determined to do what was right—even if it meant going on the run for committing a crime.  I liked seeing her develop as a character.  Hal, well, I really hated him.  Honestly, I’m glad Kyra found out what she did about him before things could escalate between them.  Fred was a good addition to the plot; he was funny, carefree, and likable.  Poison also had a really good cast of supporting characters.

      I liked the story.  At first I didn’t really get some of the details, but when everything was revealed at the end, I understood.  I liked the fact that everything in Poison had to do with the plot, and there weren’t any miscellaneous details floating around just because.  Overall, Poison was quick enjoyable read, and my only wish is there were would have been a sequel.

I really like it.  I would recommend it.

Review: Pivot Point by Kasie West

Title: Pivot Point (Click link for synopsis)

Author: Kasie West

Age Range: YA

Source/Format: Borrowed From Library, Hardback
Publisher/Publication Date Harper Teen/ February 12, 2013

My Thoughts:  

       As we go through life, we all have to make decisions in which we have to contemplate which choice will have the better outcome. Now just imagine if you had the power of divergence that allows you to have insight regarding the outcome of each choice. Would you make the decision that was most beneficial to you personally or those around you? In Pivot Point by Kasie West, Addison Coleman (Addie), who has the power of divergence, is faced with a major life decision. She must decide whether she wants to remain in the paranormal community with her mother or relocate to a norm community with her father after her parents get a divorce. So she uses her power to examine what each path has to offer. 

       The plot was well developed as West presents Addie’s life in a paranormal versus normal society.  The twists in the plot never ceased and at times I was unsure of what decision Addie should make. Addie had a love interest in each society. First, there was Trevor who was such an amiable character that I wanted to be on Team Norm. Then there was Duke who seemed a little self-centered, but could be just as charming, so I also wanted to root for Team Paranormal. It was hard to decide because I just couldn’t get the following statement by Mrs. Stockbridge, Addie’s teacher, out of my mind: “Sometimes perfection reveals the lie, Addie, not the truth” (57). Addie’s love interests in both societies had imperfections and there were well developed conflicts in both. Considering that some of the paranormal characters had the ability to persuade and affect emotions, it was hard to decipher who Addie could trust. Her friends Laila and Duke appeared to be self-centered; whereas, Trevor simply seemed to be hiding something.  As such, the complexity of the problems presented left me contemplating Addie’s best course of action. Just when I thought that I knew how the story would end, there was a slight twist that left me pleasantly surprised. 

I really liked it. I would recommend it.

 

Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Title: Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Click title for Synopsis)
Source/Format: Purchased, Paperback
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Little, Brown Books For Young Readers September 27, 2011



My Thoughts:

     Wow, I think this book goes beyond the meaning of fantastic.  I admit that I was hesitant on reading Daughter of Smoke and Bone, because the last book I read that had a lot of hype about it fell kind of flat for me.  But I got the book, and I loved it.  Taylor presented a book that was about angels and demons, but the way she did it just set Daughter of Smoke and Bone apart from all the others.

   We are introduced to Karou, a girl with blue hair, and a sketchbook full of monsters.  What no one knows is that the creatures in her sketchbooks are all too real.  Brimstone by far was one of my most favorite secondary characters, along with Zuzana.  Brimstone was a real mystery from the start, and it isn’t until later in the book that we find out what he really did.  Akiva was also mysterious, from the moment he first appeared; you got the feel that he was tortured and conflicted by something that happened in his past.

   The concept of the story showed how awesome Taylor is when it comes to making up plots, and twists.  I also found the usage of bones and teeth and the meaning that they held fascinating.  I really liked this book and I can’t wait to read Days of Blood and Starlight.

I absolutely loved it. I would recommend it to everyone.

Movie Review: Advanced Screening of Oblivion

Picture from OblivionMovie.com

 

Title: Oblivion by Joseph Kosinski
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Producer's: Joseph Kosinski, Peter Chernin, Ryan Kavanaugh, Dylan Clark, Barry Levine
Screenplay: Joseph Kosinski, William Monahan, Karl Gajdusek, Michael Arndt
Music: M83
Release Date: April 19, 2013
Age Range: PG-13
Content: Sci-Fi action, brief strong language, and some sensuality/nudity
For more information about the movie, visit the official site Here

Our Thoughts:

     Let me start out by saying that Oblivion was awesome!  Last night we went to an early screening of Oblivion, and I have to say that I really like this movie.  Before it actually started, fun facts about the movie rolled across the screen.  Like how Tom Cruise did all of his stunts, and that he has a motorcycle and pilot license.  As well as the fact that they filmed part of the movie at the Empire State Building.  How cool that must have been for the people visiting at the time of filming.  Also before the movie we found out that it was filmed with a brand new camera that was basically right off the production line, “the Sony CineAlta f65 Camera.”  How cool is that?  Oblivion is also the first time that Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman have worked together in a movie, and I have to say neither of their performance’s disappointed. 

     The world building was evident throughout the movie, and the shots were visually stunning to watch.  The plot follows Jack Harper, a Drone mechanic, as he lives his life flying around a desolated earth fixing broken Drones.  Soon, trouble arises, as his world begins to fall apart piece-by-piece.  Honestly, I was a little confused at first, but as the movie got further and further in, I began to understand the intricately woven mystery surrounding what really happened to earth.  It wasn’t until Jack realized it that I fully understood what was happening.  Oblivion is an action-packed post-apocalyptic joy ride, perfectly formatted for the IMAX screen.    

     And of course after the movie we got to see a live Q&A broadcasted from the New York premier of Oblivion.  The Q&A was priceless.  Some of Tom Cruise’s answers were hilarious, but I do have to agree with him.  The Bubble Ships were awesome, and it was interesting to know that some of the best car designers worked on the design for it.  The Q&A also revealed that very little of the movie was actually green screened.  The beautiful shots of the clouds were actual takes collected by positioning a camera above a volcano in Hawaii.  M83 did a wonderful job on the score for Oblivion, and it added the perfect touch to the film. 

      To say that this was only the second film directed by Kosinski, his creativity and world building were amazing.  I was so pleased with Oblivion, and I can only hope that Joseph Kosinski has a prequel or sequel in the works.  I am curious to see how the world got to the state that it was in.  I can only hope that the visuals of Kosinski’s future movies are just as captivating. This one is a must see.

Thank you to Universal Pictures for the Advanced Screening Passes!
Review written by Andrea & Breana M.

I absolutely loved it.  I would recommend it to everyone.

 

Other fun acts from the screen & off the screen:

Joseph Kosinski’s directorial movie debut was Tron: Legacy
Oblivion is the 37^th film Tom Cruise has acted in.
Oblivion is based off an unreleased Graphic novel by Joseph Kosinski & Arvid Nelson

Check out the trailer below: