Twilight - Stephanie Meyer - Reviewed by Sean Woo

Everything must have a beginning and Stephenie Meyer’s most popular series started with this book, Twilight. Stephenie Meyer takes you into a new world where vampires walk unknown and their predators silently hunt them, a new world with a twist of normality and fantasy with enough realism to make you believe it. The theme of the book may be revolved around the classic girl likes boy but Stephenie Meyer’s adaption brings it into the modern world. If fantasy based in modern terms with suspense and action is a genre you like then this is the book for you!

The main plot revolves around a young teenager Bella after she moves out of her mother’s place to stay with her father. In this new area Bella slowly learns to fit in but is fascinated by a group of extremely beautiful people with immaculate features, the Cullens. However they always skulk in shadows and are excluded from normality because of their peers. In a twist of events Bella soon befriends the Cullens, especially Edward Cullen. Bella knows their secret of them being vampires who are above killing humans. But in one innocent game of baseball Bella’s life is put in danger as she realizes all vampires are not the same.

I found this book really enjoyable. At first it does relate to real life struggles such as divorced parents and fitting in at a new school. It’s like a normal book, but slowly the story creeps into the mystery era of this book where the unknown is discovered. Stephenie Meyer puts a lot of emotion in this book and you can practically feel what Bella is feeling, her loneliness, her grief, her joy and her terror. Stephenie Meyer also tones down the fantasy part just enough so it seems possible. Her own adaption of vampires and werewolves are unique unlike the classic ones. So even though her ideas are ones that have already been written her own version is exciting, new and fresh.

The writing style in this book is a mixture. Some parts of the book it is really descriptive and in that particular moment, description suits it. However, other parts may be general but that is because it is meant to be. In those certain parts, Stephenie Meyer describes the emotion and that is what makes you feel the emotions that Bella feels. The author really makes you part of the story through her words.

The types of issues raised in this book are from the normal category. Although it is fantasy, the issues tend to be more realistic, such as fitting in a new school and what a teenager goes through in High School. Another issue raised is predators. There are people out in the world who hunt down others and kill them. In this book Stephenie Meyer has twisted the normal issues of life with the fantasy world and she does it perfectly.

This book is slightly similar to a book called Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause which relates to the vampire’s perspective of trying not to hunt humans and battle with who they are. It also relates to a popular TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In the beginning of that series a young girl is thrust into the world of the unknown of vampires, werewolves and monsters. She struggles with what is going on, but soon accepts the world of the unknown. In Twilight, Bella accepts this as well now knowing about what was around her all this time.

This book is more than just a story; it’s an epic work of art which twists two different worlds together. The written words of this tale bring you into the book and allow you to become part of the story. Twilight is very popular with the teenage audience because of the epic danger which Bella must endure when she realizes just how hazardous the unknown world is. For me, Twilight breathes inspiration for new ideas for stories that I can put down on paper. It is a source for new beginnings of tales as it will inspire young writers if they just read it.

Looking Glass Wars - Frank Beddor - Reviewed by Max Myers

The plot of the “Looking Glass Wars” is the idea that wonderland is real, and that the story Alice in Wonderland does in fact have a grain of truth. Set in the 1860’s the book is about Alyss or Alice as she is know in our world. Alyss is thrown out of wonderland along with her body guard Hatter by her evil Aunt Redd, When Redd took over wonderland and killed Alyss’s Mother the queen of wonderland. Alyss is than thrust into our world with nothing but the cloths on her back.
The “Looking Glass Wars” really gripped me, because it told one of the most famous stories and added a new element. It twisted the story of Wonderland into a new shape, changing characters and change what we know of Alice and fashioning a new Alice.
The Character’s each have their own piece to add to this intricate story, each of them affecting the story, in their own way. Each of the characters had their own original personality; there was none of the stock standard fantasy heroes or villains.
The area that the “Looking Glass Wars” was set in and around, was beautiful explained and instantly put an image in my mind. This allowed the reader to take the most out of the book, while still have the purpose to keep on reading.
The “Looking Glass Wars”, gives the reader, the chance to look at wonderland another way. The story also incorporates modern history and famous people and places and uses them as focal points for his story.
All in all I have to say that this story is one of the best I have ever read.

Just Tricking! – Playing Dead, Andy Griffiths - Reviewed by Daniel Ridolfi

Andy Griffith’s Just Tricking! is an extremely humorous book, but there is one story in particular that just made me laugh. It was Playing Dead, which is a short story in this hilarious book. It is simply about a young boy who thinks it would be funny to pretend that he is dead. Will Andy pull off what he thinks will become one of his greatest “practical jokes”?

It’s a normal school morning, and Andy is still in bed. He truly believes that he can convince his parents that he is dead so that he doesn’t have to go to school. Andy thinks that if he can pull it off, it will become one of his greatest practical jokes ever. His father enters the room and Andy is holding his breath and making his body tight and still as can be. But what is going to happen when Andy’s father feels his pulse to see if he is still alive? This is one thing that Andy cannot fake, but luckily he doesn’t feel his pulse. Andy then has the opportunity to wake up and stop “playing” dead, but he doesn’t. Surprisingly, both his parents fall for the joke and they are both extremely sad, but this sadness feeling soon wares off, which is a bit weird. Perhaps Andy’s parents know that it’s a practical joke. Straight away they bury him in the backyard and it begins to get hard for Andy to breathe when he has piles of mud getting thrown on to him. He gives up immediately. He lies upright and screams out, “Just Tricking!”. What will Andy’s parents will say now, or did they know about the joke and were just trying to teach him a lesson?

This story is a great and hilarious short story that is very entertaining and easy to read. Playing Dead would have to be one of the funniest stories that I have ever read. Just Tricking! and many other books from the Just! Series are books that will just leave you wanting more and you’ll always want to read it again laughing to your self over and over.

Hover Car Racer - Matthew Reilly - Reviewed by David Rockman

Matthew Reilly’s Hover Car Racer is an action packed, extremely fast paced, exciting book about two brothers from Australia trying to make it big in one of the most dangerous sport ever created: Hover Car Racing. From the writer that brought you Ice Station, Temple, Area 7, and Scarecrow, this is a must read book.
Imagine twenty fighter jets racing around a tight track, ducking, weaving and blasting through low metal archers at insanely high speeds… you have just imagined a hover car race…
Hover Car Racer is a story about two young brothers from rural Australia. Jason and Bug try to make it in the Hover Car Racing industry, with Jason as the driver and Bug as the navigator. They fly their home- made racing hover car the “Argonaut”. It is there story of the long climb to the top, through racing school, the most prestigious school in the world, based in Tasmania, facing the best races in the world. Struggling against all odds, they try to be the best they can, even though getting set back and dealing with cheaters, they meet friends as they go along. Jason and Bug show their determination and courage that we all should show in our lives.
This book is my favorite book and is a must read, with its easy-to-read, but still descriptive language. Hover Car Racer has left a big impression on me being one of the most entertaining books I have read. I found myself not able to put it down, always fixed to the pages, absorbing in every action packed bit of every page. I will always remember Matthew Reilly’s Hover Car Racer as one of my all time favorites.
Reading the author’s view of the story, Matthew Reilly explains that the way he sees the book, is that it is about doing your best, not winning, like when Jason and Bug in the Sponsor’s tournament. Jason loses, he comes second, and yet the crowd cheers for him more than they do for the winner, because winning and coming first are not the same thing - you don’t have to win to come first. As Bug says,
“You don’t have to be the best, you just have to do your best.” I agree with it even though it’s sometimes hard to do your best, you should always be looking to come first against yourself.
Throughout the book, it was easy to see what issues the writer was trying to bring up with the character. A character named Oxzavia is always cheating and using dirty tactics in racing courses, with his faster car and endless supply of money he was seen as the bully in the story. Jason never tells on him or tries to get back at him in a mean way. Jason just deals with all the problems that Oxzavia brings up and overcomes them. He never try’s to fight with him, and deals with it in a mature way. I think this is the writer trying to get a message across, that if someone is mean to you, being mean back will never solve anything. Instead, don’t get angry and work away and deal with it in the right way.
This book is much like many of the other Matthew Reilly books because even though he usually writes about war and fighting, he has written in a way that it sucks you in, making you not won’t to put it down. It is written in the same fast pace and emotion provoking way as all his other books and it leaves you wanting more to read.
This is one of my all time favorites suitable for people aged between 12-15 years old. It easy to read and very entertaining. It will leave you hanging on the edge of you seat and you’ll never won’t to put it down. Matthew Reilly’s Hover Car Racer is a must read book.

Memorial Day - Vince Flynn - Reviewed by Nick Kalfas

Vince Flynn’s book Memorial Day (2004) is the 5th book in the electrifying, action series involving CIA counter terrorism agent ‘Mitch Rapp.’ The book is set in the dry deserts of Afghanistan and in the city of Washington D.C. The book is mainly aimed at teenagers or even to young adults looking for a good, exciting read. The book mainly reflects loyalty and doing whatever must be done to protect the ones you love and your country.

When a spike in CIA intelligence suggests a major terrorist attack Washington D.C. planned for Memorial Day, the president sends in his top counterterrorism operative Mitch Rapp to pull out all the stops. Rapp immediately leaves for Afghanistan with a team of highly trained secret service commandos, the target: an al-Qaeda stronghold. With a treasure trove of maps, computers, files and bills for multiple freighters heading to United States ports-all leading to a catastrophic attack on Washington D.C. CIA director- Dr. Irene Kennedy, is proud of her successful agent brings him to a meeting with the president in the oval office. Rapp is in no mood to take glory so he simply tells the president that he is underestimating the enemy and what’s needed to combat them- “We pulled five prisoners out of that village in Pakistan, sir, and none of them were willing to talk. I lined them all up, and started with a man named Ali Saed al-Houri. I put a gun to his head, and when he refused to answer my questions I blew his brains out, Mr. President... after I killed a second one, the third one started to sing like a bird. That's how we found out about the bomb, sir. That's what it takes to win this war on terror.”But to Rapp the mission seemed a bit too easy, so Rapp decides to investigate a bit further; in his investigation Rapp discovers a chilling secret. Another nuclear bomb is being smuggled into Washington D.C. and is set to go off for Memorial Day. Rapp must track down and kill the enemy quickly and effectively.

One of the most significant events on the book is when Rapp finds the second nuclear bomb and immediately after the green light from Kennedy tracks it down. It is interesting to see how he tracks it down, what desperate risks he takes to protect himself and his country. The risks that Rapp takes are selfless. Another significant event in the book is when Rapp leads a team of secret service commandos on the al-Qaeda stronghold. It is a significant event because that is when Rapp finds out about the nuclear bombs.

Vince Flynn writes in perspective, he writes in ‘parts’ one part is from the view of the terrorists another from Rapp’s, another from Kennedy’s. Although it doesn’t feel like a novel when you’re reading it but slowly, slowly chapter by chapter you start to grasp the main concept of the story. Flynn is one of the gifted talent’s of the twenty first century, when he writes it feels like you‘re actually there.

The major issue that Memorial Day focuses on is loyalty. Mitch Rapp is so loyal to his country that he is willing to put his life at risk for random people. He is loyal to his work, doing whatever it takes to win the war against terrorism. Another issue looked at is bravery, Rapp is so brave that he would put himself in front of a bullet for a random stranger. Mitch Rapp is a role model for all to look up to. His bravery and loyalty is something to aspire to achieve.

Memorial Day is the 5th book in the Mitch Rapp series. A series is usually a group or a number of related or similar things, events, etc., arranged or occurring in temporal, spatial, or other order or succession; sequence, but the Mitch Rapp series is different. The only things the series have in common are the characters in the book (i.e. Mitch Rapp, Irene Kennedy etc.) and the purpose: the war on terror/terrorism. If you pick up Memorial Day and just read it not knowing about any series (I did this), you will have no trouble whatsoever understanding the book. Each book in the series has a beginning and an end; there is no: to be continued... in the whole series. You can even read one book every couple of months a have no trouble understanding the book.

Memorial Day is a great book for everyone to read. It is action packed and has received many praise from other many other great writers and magazines. ‘Sizzles with inside information, military muscle and CIA secrets’- Dan Brown. ‘Moves at the speed of a stinger missile’- People magazine. Memorial Day was a great read for me personally, I think most teenagers would pick it up, read it and enjoy it thoroughly. I strongly recommend this book to anyone looking for an action packed, great read.

All Quiet On The Western Front - Erich Maria Remarque - Reviewed by Anton Ivkov

Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front (1929) is the first and arguably most famous anti-war novel. It is set during World War One, on the Western Front, a German, French border. This is where the German army fought the French and English armies, in intense trench warfare, during that era. This story tracks the life of the fictional Triple Bäumer, a German soldier, who fought at the Western Front between 1914 and 1918. The purpose of this book is to show the horrors of war, not how great it is.
The story essentially just tracks the life of Triple Bäumer, the narrator of the story. It shows his time through military training and his time at the Western Front, between 1914 and 1918. It shows his emotional changes, from being a teenage boy, finishing school, to that of a German soldier at the Western Front. How he believes he changed from a well brought up boy, at school, to a soldier at military camp, and an animal at the Front. It also tells the tale of his friends, basically all 19 year olds, like the narrator himself, with the exception Stanislaus Katczinsky and Haie Westhus, who all subsequently and tragically die. It tracks their lives in the war, their issues like emotional blankness and isolation, and their own ways to cope with the war
The most interesting aspect of this book is that it shows the horrors of war, it is an anti-war novel. Possibly, the first ever made, it tracks the emotional aspects of the war, the pain and misery people went through. Unlike other books at that time, that showed how great war could be, and the unbelievable heroics of it, this showed the truth of it all. Another significant aspect on the book is that it isn’t sympathetic in some aspects. When people die, it doesn’t dwell on people’s pain surrounding the death. This shows that the soldiers grew used to death, and death became a natural thing, making the book even more realistic.



The Author shows the horrors of war, from a 19 year olds point of view. The Author writes this book in first person, from the fictional Triple Bäumers, point of view. This allows the Author to make the book more emotional and allow the reader to interact with the narrator and his friends. The interaction allows the reader to feel what those soldiers are feeling, like in one section of the book; I could feel hatred and disgust to the rats which lied in the trench with them. The first person point of view, the Authors Style, makes the book more of a testimony to soldiers, then a recount of the war.
The main issues explored with this book, is emotional change through war, and the horrors of war. The biggest issue the book explores is emotional change, which the narrator explains extensively throughout the novel. The narrator, Triple Bäumer, believes that he used to be a normal, well brought up boy. This changes when he goes to the front, where it becomes a fight for survival. He changes a lot, from a well mannered boy, to a rebellious recruit, to a soldier, and finally an animal at the front. It also tells of his emotional blankness concerning love, death and sympathy. The book also explores the horrors the war. From the military training, time at the front, getting shot and shelled at, and having to fight for survival, which includes killing people.
Due to the fact that it’s the first anti-war novel, there are no older books that compare, or a similar to this. Yet still, no real book today, compares to it in telling the horrors of war. Some modern movies may do so, such as Platoon, and Apocalypse Now, which both don’t show the heroics of war at all, just the craziness and horrors involved.
I enjoyed this book a lot. I would suggest it to any mature reader, who enjoys reading classical novels, or novels which have a deep meaning to it. After reading this, you will never view war as a fun-playground again, instead, you will think of it as a hell-hole, a place which wrecks lives and is never sympathetic.

New Moon - Stephanie Meyer - Reviewed by Stephen Yuen

New Moon (2006) by Stephanie Meyer is a compelling sequel to Twilight in the Twilight Saga which is constantly bursting with fantasy, romance and action. It is mainly set in the small town of Forks, Washington in the United States. This is mainly targeted at teenagers and at those who just want a good read about mythological creatures coexisting and surviving in the modern world with a romantic and action based storyline. The main thing this novel does is it puts in perspective how difficult teenage life can be in. It also presents an opportunity to readers to escape reality and to enter a different world – Bella’s world.

Bella Swan is a normal teenage girl with normal teenage issues living in dreary, old Forks, Washington. That’s what she thinks until she meets Edward Cullen, her future love of her life and his family of vampires. Although not like typical vampires, the Cullen family have devoted themselves to avoid human flesh. Now, she has been dating Edward for almost six heavenly months. The only thing she desires the most from Edward is to turn herself into a vampire so that she can be unnaturally gorgeous, lightning fast, infinitely strong and even possess special powers but most importantly, she has the ability to stay young forever so she can be with her love of her life for the rest of time.
However, her life goes from heaven to hell when an accident at Edward’s house causes his family to leave Forks – for good. Suddenly, Bella enters a deep depression, shutting out her whole life, ignoring her friends and family until she can once again be with her “love of her existence”.
Bella later discovers that by committing reckless and careless acts, she triggers hallucinations of Edward. As soon as she finds this out, she then starts to do mindless deeds. She later then befriends Jacob Black, a family friend and her future best friend. Soon, she throws her depressive state aside and tries to resume her life with Jacob helping her the whole way.
One day, to trigger another hallucination, Bella decides to try cliff diving. However, Edward’s sister, Alice Cullen who can see the future, foresees Bella jumping off a cliff. Soon, word gets out to Edward and he thinks that she is committing suicide. Edward then runs off to Italy to a royal vampire family called the “Volturi” who are the only ones that can kill him. He does this because he once promised Bella that he couldn’t live without her. Bella didn’t know that he meant it literally.
Eventually, once Bella hears this, she rushes to Italy and stops Edward from being killed, but the Volturi catch them intent on killing them. However, they soon release them when the Volturi sense that Bella is unique and says that they will come for her in the future.
Later, Bella expresses her argument about the fact that Edward should turn her into a vampire and they both agree that he would do it only after she has graduated.

The most interesting and fascinating aspect of this novel is the way Stephanie Meyer makes Bella’s life seem extremely realistic. For example, she is thoughtful and creative to add small, everyday teenage things such as the occasional over-protectiveness of parents and the stressfulness of basic teenage issues. This makes it easier for readers who are teenagers to relate to this as well as picturing themselves in situations and scenes throughout the novel.

Meyer writes in first person which then gives her opportunities to not only tell the story, but to illustrate to the reader what the character is feeling at the current situation. In a number of times, many things Bella observes and experiences are not told clearly until later in the novel. Sometimes, Meyer leaves clues and hints to the following scenes, but even these are difficult to pick up. Events are only described clearly to the reader until Bella completely understands the situation. Until this, she cannot offer and explanation about the current situation to the reader.
Besides using first person, Meyer uses not only words to describe the surroundings and environment, but she also uses very heartfelt words to really make the reader feel what Bella’s feeling in the current situation from the pain to the joyousness.

Many themes are introduced in this novel. Most of them can be related to the lives of teenage girls and boys mainly because Bella is a teenage girl.
One of them is loyalty which plays a big role within New Moon. When Bella discovers that Jacob (her new best friend after Edward leaves) is a werewolf and also that werewolves are mortal enemies to vampires, she is torn in her heart and finds it difficult to interact with both parties without starting an argument.
Depression is one of the predominate emotions Bella experiences in this novel. When Edward and his family leave, Bella’s world literally collapses in front of her eyes. However, the most interesting aspect of this is the way she deals with it and how she bounces back. The method she uses to cure her depression can be related to many teenagers who have suffered from this. She also illustrates that since Bella had ignored her friends during the whole experience, her friends have a difficult time trying to forgive her.

This novel had a very deep connection to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. It also plays a very key role in the novel. This connection is first presented to the reader at the beginning of the novel when Bella and Edward are analysing it for English. However, throughout the entire novel, Meyer uses scenes and storylines that are similar to Romeo and Juliet.
For example, one of the similarities of New Moon and Romeo and Juliet is illustrated when Bella dives off the cliff and Edward misinterprets this action and attempts to kill himself. This is exactly like the suicide-for-love scenario in Shakespeare’s play.

Stephanie Meyer’s New Moon, is definitely another one of her masterpieces. She has given not only teenager’s another novel to put on their “Must Read List”, but also a wonderful opportunity to immerse the minds of many people into a fantastical world. The way she can create relations from the novel to our lives in reality is astounding. The storyline can seem to be impossibly hard to imagine at times, but this is just the thing Meyer wants for us – a chance for us to broaden our minds. Meyer has definitely created another successful novel and many will be anticipating for the next in the Twilight Saga.