GJSHS book reviews » Fantasy

Mister Monday by Garth Nix

Christina Brownell — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 14:05:05 +0000

This book is about a boy named Arthur who has severe asthma, and he gets caught up in a novel of puzzle’s, madness, and creatures. It all starts, in gym class where he has a severe asthma attack, and blacks out. Then two strange men show up, and give him what look’s like the minute hand of a clock, but here is the catch it holds a power known only to it’s holder and other select people, and it wasn’t supposed to be given to him. So that was a mistake. The man who gives him the minute hand is man named Monday. He is in charge of the lower part of the house, which is supposedly the center of the whole universe. A woman named the architect creates this house and all of the “secondary realms”. Which Arthur happens to live in.

Then Arthur meets up with a few strange people that help him in his journey. The first person he meets is a girl named Suzy Turquoise Blue, who is an ink filler, helps him solve many of his problems. The next person that helps him is The Will. He is sort of a mystical frog who knows everything, and any thing about the lower house. Then one of Monday’s assistant’s who wants the original law to be carried out, so he helps Arthur take the hour hand clock which is the second key to the lower house away from Monday.

All of this just to find a cure for plague that is brought by one of the creatures from The House.
This book is sort of a mix of Harry Potter, and Willy Wonka. There isn’t a lot of suspense, but there is some action, and even a little bit of humor I would rate it 4 stars just for the fact that it was fun to read. So if you’re looking for a great fu series this book is the one to start off with. But if you don’t like these he has many other great books. I would definitely recommend this book.

Seth P. – 8th grade

Wormwood by GP Taylor

Christina Brownell — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 14:01:17 +0000

Yet another amazing novel by an amazing author, this one is named Wormwood. Like the previous novel, this one is full of twists and turns, and has tons of suspense. But this one is a bit harder to follow. It takes place in old-time London. It’s about this book named The Nemorensis. It’s a book so evil it can possess your soul by just touching it, and/or reading it. Wormwood follows the life of a servant named Aggeta Lamian who gets caught up in all of this, thanks to a lady named Yezernia. As you find out later in the book, she goes by many different names, and you learn how she takes place in all of this. It also follows a scientist whose name is Blake. He is looking for every answer he can find, and by some chance he gets hold of this book and finds out that there is a comet named Wormwood that is coming towards the Earch. If it hits it will poison all of our water, and bring destruction to the whole world. There are tons of mystical creatures, suspense, action, and even a little bit of humor. There are even angels! If you’re looking for a book that you don’t want to put down, this is the perfect one.Seth P. – 8th grade

The Fire Thief by Terry Deary

Christina Brownell — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 13:57:44 +0000

This books was okay. Some of the parts had you on the edge of your seat making your eyes never want to leave the page, but other parts aren’t as exciting. It has a good plotline though. A Greek god named Prometheous steals fire from the gods and gives it to the humans. He is punished but his father, Zeus, makes a deal that if he can find a true human hero on earth then he will be forgiven. The story then moves into the future to Elden City: smoky, sad, falling apart, with two thieves named Jim and Uncle Edward. He has to do all this while The Fury, a massive bird and avenger of the gods, is searching for him. The story is told through Jim’s eyes. I would give this book three stars because sometimes the story got boring.Tory – 8th grade

Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

Christina Brownell — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 18:58:18 +0000

This is the Sixth, and definitely the most action packed of the series so far. Harry sets off to solve the mystery that is Lord Voldemort, while He who must not be named is sending out his allies beginning to act openly, causing widespread chaos and paranoia in Britain.

This Book is a great read, and you’ll find yourself never putting it down. Although it was a little more “dark” than the previous five that is what makes it truly amazing. I recommend this book to anyone who has read the first five books, and if you haven’t read the first five you are really missing out and need to catch up

Frank Sousa – 11th grade

Shadowmancer by G.P. Taylor

Christina Brownell — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 18:49:59 +0000

Shadowmancer is a mystical story with a lot of twists and turns. It revolves around two boys, and a young girl. The two boys’ names are Thomas who is around 12 years old, and Raphah who is about 15. The young girl’s name is Katie Colgan. Raphah is an African priest who is on a quest to get the Keruvim. The Keruvim is a magical religious idol with very strong powers that even an evil priest named Demurral can’t handle. Demurral isn’t happy with just controlling the village near him; he wants to control the world! So Raphah, Tom, and Kate, along with the help of a smuggler named Jacob Crane, try to stop the evil priest from controlling the world. There are also a lot of very odd characters they meet along the way. This book has a lot of action, and suspense. So if you’re looking for a great read, this is it.
Seth P. – 8th grade