A Tale of Two Castles by Gail Carson Levine

I feel like I’ve just returned from an adventure after reading this book.  Elodie is from a little town called Lahnt.  That is where her family lives but she is venturing off to hopefully get an Apprenticeship in the town of Two Castles.  Right off she gets bad news.  It appears that they have done away with free Apprenticeships.  It is too late to turn back so she sets out anyway.  She is hoping for a lot of good luck but finds everything seems to be the opposite of good luck.  She doesn’t know who to trust but makes unexpected friends in places she hadn’t dreamed of. This was a book full of adventure.  There are castles, ogres, dragons, magical animals, kings, princesses, dogs, lions, an ox, poison, acting and plenty of adventures await her. 

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer

Okay, so, this is part of the story of twilight.  I went in reading and knowing that it is a tragedy because I have read the Twilight series.  It was good to get her story.  I was rooting for her even though I knew the ending. 

I like this story because it helped me understand her and what she had been through.  It was easy to dismiss this character.  I didn’t know her background.  That is what I did first when I read about her in the twilight series.  I wasn’t worried about whether or not her life ended.  I didn’t know her.  It was good to get to know her and feel with her. 

 I am glad to have read this book and think it is worth the read.  It helps one in real life by realizing that following someone with a blind faith isn’t always wise.  Sometimes feelings help us to know that we need to not follow that person on blind faith.  We need to trust our feelings.  That is a good lesson for me.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling

This book by JK Rowling is really fun.  I enjoyed these stories.  This book was written to help JK Rowling’s Charity with money.  There are 5 stories.  The stories are the magic version of what we would call “Fairy Tales” or “Fables.”  These are what the magic communities in Harry Potter’s world would be read to for bedtime stories though some could be quite shocking for little ones to be read to at bedtime.  My favorite part of the book is the actual stories.  They have some fun bonuses though.  Dumbledore (the character) gives insight and commentary on each one.  That is fun to read.  Also, the author JK Rowling gives footnotes.  Hermione (the character) is to have translated the stories.  I really thought the stories were fun and believable.  It was quick, light reading that went best when I was using my imagination.

Cinder and Ella by Melissa Lemon

What if the story of Cinderella has been wrong all this time?  What if all this time no one has gotten the details right?  The author writes this as being the real Cinderella story.  This is a story about a very happy family which consists of:  a dad, a mom and 4 little girls (Katrina, Cinder, Ella, and Beatrice).  Then something in the story happens that breaks up their happy family.  There is a change.  Soon things are not happy.  Cinder finds herself in a position to try to save her family and she’ll also have to save the entire kingdom from a very dark and evil prince.  That’s a heavy burden for anyone to bear but, Cinder will find she can do much to help.  I really liked this book.  It wasn’t the typical happily ever after book and yet it had a very satisfying ending.  It was a book that really makes you think about real life troubles and of family.  It was very hard to put down.

Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George

This book was a bit unexpected.  Who would’ve thought of a castle that is alive and that can add rooms or switch around hallways?  That is exactly what this book did.  It was a fun adventure.  I grew to like Celie.  She is one of the princesses at the castle.  The castle likes her a lot and she finds the castle a big help when the castle and kingdom are threatened.   I enjoyed using my imagination and thinking of what it would be like to be in a castle that if it liked you suddenly your room was soft and luxurious.  Or if the castle didn’t like you it would seem to get smaller and cramped and military like.  It was so cool to cheer for the royal family that lived in the castle and hope they came out of it alright.  Jessica Day George makes a story feel real even though there is magic and things that are not typical in real life.  It seemed that it could happen.  I had fun with this book.

Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale

I have a confession to start with.  I prefer the young adult books Shannon Hale writes compared to her Adult Fiction.  But, I like her Adult Fiction.  It is much better than most Adult Fiction.  But her young adult books are in my top favorite.  So, in comparison her adult fiction books are just not my top favorite.  So, while I enjoy her adult fiction, it just isn't as much of a favorite as her young adult books.

Confession over.

This book is about a lady named Charlotte Kinder.  Charlotte is a woman who has two children, a good business, and an ex-husband.  She loves her children and is accidentally successful at her business.  Her business started out as a hobby.  Now she has plenty of money.

Now that she is divorced, she gets set up on dates a lot.  To get away from it all she decides to go on a vacation.  Upon looking into things, she is told about a 2 week vacation place where they dress in fancy clothes, eat authentic "Austen" food and pretend to be in the days of Jane Austen's novels.  She decides to try it out.

She finds things hard to determine what is real and what is  part of the game.  Especially when she thinks she felt a dead body while playing games in the mansion.  This has a fun story to it.  I was intrigued with the mystery to it.  I'd definitely recommend this book as a fun getaway book.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

This book was fun to read as I waited in line to see the Hunger Games at 3:15 am.  I had great seats to see the movie and the book kept me awake and totally thinking about the same type of society as The Hunger Games.  It is about a Dystopian Society just like the Hunger Games.

This society (a Dystopian Chicago) in this book is divided into 5 factions (it talks about this inside the cover.)

1. Candor (the honest)
2. Abnegation (the selfless)
3. Dauntless (the brave)
4. Amity (the peaceful)
5. Erudite (the intelligent)

Each year, all the sixteen year olds have to pick a faction.  They can either stay in their current faction or they can choose to change to another one.


Beatrice Prior is the main character and she has grown up in the Abnegation faction and the people around her are selfless.  She loves her family but has a big decision to make.


I really loved this book and noticed the next book in the series is going to be coming out in May.  I can't wait.  It is such a great book.  I couldn't put it down it was so wonderful.  It is intriguing and there is a little love thrown in there.  I am glad for a son who told me about this great read.