Book Review: The Giver by Lois Lowry

Jonas' world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war 

or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role 

in the Community. When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to 

receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the 

memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for 

Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.


I've been wanting to read this book forever. The only problem was that I heard it was a banned book for some of its mature content. I've been debating for a while and eventually I just decided to read it. 

I'm sure glad I did!

I really want to get into more dystopian books and this was a really good one. I loved the innocence of all the characters and how they really do not realize the flaws in their society and how Jonas discovers them.

The plot was a bit vague at times. I wasn't quite sure why they would be doing different things. I did not realize this until I looked back on the book after finishing it. I was just so enthralled by the book, I just wanted to figure out what would happen next. The plot is not exactly resolved which I was perfectly okay with upon finishing the book. I mean, that's what the sequel is for! Wrong. There is no sequel. Gathering Blue is only a companion. That means that I will never get to figure out what happened to Jonas. FJDSKAL;SDFOI JFEWJIOPAOSDIFJ VFIJEA!

The descriptions were really good and I think that is what makes Lois Lowry such a good writer. She really puts you in the world of the characters. And that's another thing. I really like the characters. Honestly, Lily was my favorite even though she wasn't a huge part. She was just so cute and reminded me so much of Lia. Jonas was a well done character, but he didn't really have a huge personality. Jonas' friend, Asher, was cool as well. 

I think the only problem that I had with this book was the ending. It's just that... He needs to... Please... Ugh... I may do a spoiler book discussion on my YouTube channel so that I can rant about this book. I will say, the ending feels more like a drop-off than a conclusion of the plot.

I recommend this to anyone 7th grade and up! I kind of see this as one of the first dystopians along with Animal Farm and I recommend this to any dystopian lover. It's a really quick read that you will think about long after you finish it.

Book Review: Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald

When Theodora Tenpenny spills a bottle of rubbing alcohol on her late grandfather’s painting, she discovers what seems to be an old Renaissance masterpiece underneath. That’s great news for Theo, who’s struggling to hang onto her family’s two-hundred-year-old townhouse and support her unstable mother on her grandfather’s legacy of $463. There’s just one problem: Theo’s grandfather was a security guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and she worries the painting may be stolen.

With the help of some unusual new friends, Theo's search for answers takes her all around Manhattan, and introduces her to a side of the city—and her grandfather—that she never knew. To solve the mystery, she'll have to abandon her hard-won self-reliance and build a community, one serendipitous friendship at a time.


Under the Egg was released back in March and from the first time I saw it, I was intrigued. It is a middle grade novel that seemed like a Lemony Snicket version of Heist Society. When I saw it at the library, I just had to get it. If you have followed my last couple of posts you would know that I read this book during the Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon. It was the perfect book to read during that time and was entertaining at the same time.

My favorite thing about this book had to be Theo and her lifestyle. I loved the simplicity of her life and reading about her chores and what she did for fun. It was so unique! Theo was a really good protagonist. She was smart, brave, and slightly flawed. Bodhi was really cool as well. She was the typical raised-in-Hollywood kid who wanted to be normal. I also really enjoyed all of the art history that was all throughout the book. I studied Rafael last year and it was great to learn even more. At the end we also got some World War II history which I am a huge fan of (seriously, my parents have to tell me all the time to stop reading books from that time period). 

As always, though, there are some aspects of this book that I didn't like. The first was that a whole lot of things happened way too easily. I mean, you don't usually run across some random vendor on the streets who knows all about the chemistry of oil paint. There were lots of instances of things like that happening. In one scene, all of these people with unnatural knowledge show up. In one scene. Can there be no struggle for information? Another thing was the lack of turmoil in Bodhi and Theo's friendship. They just met and all of a sudden they get along great. There was very little conflict in-between them. For some reason I felt like the story really needed that. It happens in the best friendships. Look at Harry and Ron! They spent half of Goblet of Fire mad at each other! And lastly, Theo was too smart. I appreciate intelligence in characters, but with Theo it just didn't seem quite natural. I think it needed to be toned down just a bit.

All in all, this was a cute middle grade mystery and gave me a break from The Darkest Minds which seems rather menacing. 

I give this book 3.75 stars and recommend it too anyone who needs a cute mystery.

Book Review: Manor of Secrets by Katherine Longshore

The year is 1911. And at The Manor, nothing is as it seems . . .

Lady Charlotte Edmonds: Beautiful, wealthy, and sheltered, Charlotte feels suffocated by the strictures of upper-crust society. She longs to see the world beyond The Manor, to seek out high adventure. And most of all, romance. 

Janie Seward: Fiery, hardworking, and clever, Janie knows she can be more than just a kitchen maid. But she isn't sure she possesses the courage -- or the means -- to break free and follow her passions.

Both Charlotte and Janie are ready for change. As their paths overlap in the gilded hallways and dark corridors of The Manor, rules are broken and secrets are revealed. Secrets that will alter the course of their lives. . . forever.


When I first saw this cover I immediately thought Downton Abbey. In my opinion she looks just like Sybil Crawley. That's even the style of dress she wore!

I got even more excited when I read the inside flap. I absolutely love Downton Abbey and I thought another "upstairs, downstairs" drama sounded fun.

First, let's go over what I enjoyed about this book.

I adored the setting of this book. It took me right back to Downton Abbey. I could really imagine the world where Charlotte and Janie lived. I think all of the descriptions were pretty well done. I also liked how the author really tried to get across the differences in the life styles of those who were upstairs and downstairs. My favorite part of it all was that Charlotte was a writer. I thought that was very interesting. The ending was decent and did mark a turning point in the book as well. This was a very clean romance for which I was very, very thankful for. In that way it was refreshing.

Now, what I didn't like.

Where do I even begin?!

I felt that the whole romance thing was incredibly rushed and unnatural. One minute Charlotte doesn't even notice him and all of a sudden he is the love of her life! One of her love interests was rather confusing. You could never tell who he truly loved because he was flirting with everyone pretty seriously. Fran was a rather annoying friend. I didn't get why Charlotte hung around her in the first place if she couldn't stand her! Charlotte was a very aggravating character. She was over dramatic and didn't even try to be compliant. She didn't seem to care that she was endangering Janie's job every time she talked to her. All she seemed to care about was herself. Janie was way too serious, but still a better character than Charlotte. Charlotte's mother was unnecessarily strict and seemed to have all of these ridiculous rules just for the sake of creating more tension in the plot. The way she tried to keep Aunt Beatrice from Charlotte seemed more strange than mysterious. That leads us to another point. Aunt Beatrice. I feel like we saw so little of her we weren't intrigued by her enough. Instead we had to sit through Charlotte dreaming about Lawrence again. You know how I said that this book seemed similar to Downton Abbey? Well, this book was similar in the worst ways. There are a few annoying times in Downton Abbey where someone upstairs will fall in love with someone downstairs or vice versa. This book copied just that but did it very badly. They continued this in making Charlotte overly rebellious, having the servants dance, having some of the same settings, and forcing Charlotte to get married. I did say above that I thought the ending was decent. Yes, and that was a decent plot twist, but it was still too anti-climatic. It seemed a bit too unrealistic. Maybe I would have enjoyed the ending if the book would have focused on the mystery more. 

All in all, I give this book 3.25 stars. 

Unless you are a die-hard fan of romance novels and Downton Abbey, I would not recommend this book. 

Mid-Event Survey (Dewey's Read-a-Thon)

We are half way through Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon and it is time for the Mid-Event Survey.

Mid-Event Survey
1. What are you reading right now?

I am currently reading Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald

2. How many books have you read so far?

Only one. I'm working on the second.

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

Finishing Under the Egg (hopefully) and The Darkest Minds (probably) You never know, I might only have the brain power to reread Harry Potter at this point!

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?

Nope! I originally had tennis practice but it was cancelled last minute.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

YES! I just remind myself that I probably do need a break and to use that time wisely.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?

How many people are participating, the amount of organization, and the general enthusiasm!

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? 

ADVERTISE MORE!!!!!!!!!!

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?

Read only new books that do not include non-fiction. I'd also like to have more snacks on hand! 

9. Are you getting tired yet?

Absolutely! My brain gets foggy after 200 pages.

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?

Don't feel like you have to do EVERY challenge. 

So long!

Hannah Claire

First Editions Challenge (Dewey's Read-a-Thon)

Time for yet another challenge!

This one is hosted over at The Blue Stocking Society. 

I am supposed to figure out what edition I am reading of my current book. 

Thankfully, my book just came out. 

Title: Under the Egg

Author: Laura Marx Fitzgerald

Edition: first! (New release) it is also a very nice hardcover with a beautiful cover 

I'm proud of how much I've been reading today and hopefully you will see me here with another challenge soon! 

So long!

Hannah Claire

The Best of Your Reading Year Challenge (Dewey's Read-a-Thon)

I haven't participated in any of the mini challenges for the Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon yet so I though I'd try this one.

This challenge is hosted over at Lisa's World of Books.

I have to choose at least three categories from the list and share my favorites in those categories and why.

Category 1: Best book of your reading year

THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett

This book made me see racism in a completely different light. There was the perfect mix of seriousness and funniness.

Category 2: Best YA book of your reading year

HEIST SOCIETY by Ally Carter

I absolutely loved the plot of this book and there wasn't too much romance! I think I read this in three days. I just loved it.

Category 3: Best Children's Book of your reading year

THE MAN WHO WALKED BETWEEN THE TOWERS

This is kind of a picture book but I though it told the story of 9/11 beautifully.

Category 4: Best Author of your reading year

ALLY CARTER

I've read two of her books and I think they are really good. I can't wait to read the rest of her books.

Category 5: Best non-fiction book of your reading year

OUTLIERS by Malcom Gladwell

This book made me see success in a completely different way. I now see that it is not only our talents that make us successful but our family origins, when you were born, where you live, and how much you practice that makes you the best.

I really enjoyed doing this challenge and I can't wait to spend even more time reading today!

So long!

Hannah Claire

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon

Today I'm going to do something different.

I'm going to try a read-a-thon.

I've seen so many videos about different ones on YouTube and I'm really excited to do one for myself.

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon is just what it sounds like. It is where people from all over the world read for 24 hours.

You don't actually have to read that long, but that is how long the read-a-thon lasts.

I live in the Eastern Time Zone so I will be starting at 8:00 AM.

If you are interested in joining me you can sign up here.

Make sure you sign up soon because it starts tomorrow!

Also, everyone in the world is staring at the same time so click here to see what time you will be starting.

I will be posting updates often on my Twitter page.

I will also try to post periodically right here on my blog.

Some time after the Read-a-Thon is over, I hope to post a video on my YouTube page to sum up all that I read.

I figured that right now I'd show you some of the books that I plan on reading.

1. The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

This book is so good, but I'm not very far through it. I hope to get a good chunk of it completed

2. How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous by Georgia Bragg

I love how this book takes such an austere topic and makes it funny. I hope you finish this book or get most of the way through

3. Things I Must Remember by Lune Lenore Violette

Yes, this poetry book was written by the lovely, Lune Lenore Violette! It came in the mail yesterday and I'm looking forward to finishing it tomorrow!

So those are my primary three books. However, if I feel the need to pick up something else just because I am getting tired of the same three books all day, I will read these books.

1. The Ultimate Iron Man (a graphic novel)

You've gotta love Iron Man! I think this will give me a nice break from staring at words for hours.

2. Under The Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald

This is a fun middle grade novel that kind of reminds me of a younger version of The Heist Society. I'm really looking forward to picking this up

3. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

This is for moral support. I don't know which one I will read, but I feel like reading a chapter of a Harry Potter book would just get me excited about reading again and help me push through.

I really do not know how much reading I will get done tomorrow, but the important part of this is that I have fun reading, not that I finish four books.

I'm really looking forward to a day of reading and I hope you will join me!

So long!

Hannah Claire