The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green 

The story is narrated by a sixteen-year-old thyroid cancer patient named Hazel Grace Lancaster, who is forced by her parents to attend a support group where she meets and falls in love with the seventeen-year-old Augustus Waters, an ex- basketball player and amputee. Augustus is at the meeting to support his friend, Isaac, who is losing his remaining eye to cancer. The two bond immediately after the meeting and Augustus invites Hazel to his house where the two strengthen their bond over a movie and their experiences with cancer. Before departing, the two agree to read each other's favorite novels. Augustus gives Hazel The Price of Dawn, and Hazel recommends An Imperial Affliction, a novel written by Peter Van Houten about a cancer-stricken girl named Anna that parallels Hazel's own experience. After Augustus finishes reading her book, he is frustrated upon learning that the novel ends without a conclusion. 

A week later, Augustus reveals to Hazel that he has tracked down Van Houten's assistant, Lidewij, and, through her, has managed to start an e-mail correspondence with Van Houten. Hazel writes to Van Houten with questions regarding the novel's ambiguous ending and the fate of the mother of Anna. Van Houten eventually replies, explaining that he can only answer Hazel's questions in person. Hazel proposes the trip to her mother but is rejected due to financial and medical constraints. Later, at a Dutch-themed picnic, Augustus surprises Hazel with tickets to Amsterdam, attained through a charitable foundation and then realizes she loves him. Will Hazel confess her feelings to Augustus or will it be to late for the both of them. 

This book is probably the most famous teen adult romance books ever published and is one of the best. I love this book because I can relate to some characters. Someone in my family has just been diagnosed with cancer but its good that its so terminal or in any form aggressive. I loved the romance Hazel and Augustus go trough its somewhat magical but tragic at the same time. I would give this book a good 4 and a half. The reason why I wouldn't give it 5 stars is because I feel like its like a boy meets girl kind of romance that you would usually see in books or movies. I recommend this book to people 13 and up. 

 Movie Trailer

True Believer by Nicholas Sparks

True Believer By Nicholas Sparks 

The book begins with Jeremy Marsh as an audience member on a TV talk show.

It turns out that Jeremy is an investigative journalist, writing for Scientific America magazine. He's about to expose this nationally known clairvoyant on TV.

Next however, Jeremy is heading off to North Carolina. He received a letter from Doris, a resident of Boone Creek. The letter tells about a phenomenon at the local cemetery where mysterious lights are appearing from the tombstones. The townspeople are convinced these lights are ghosts.

Jeremy meets with Doris, owner of the small town's busy restaurant. She's a older woman and comes from a long line of psychics. Her mother could read minds and Doris is a diviner, someone who can find water before digging a well. Her main talent though is predicting the sex of babies for pregnant mothers,just by holding the mother's hand.

Doris explains to Jeremy about a legend of the graveyard,

how a curse was placed on it and the ghosts of former slaves buried there are haunting it.

Jeremy wants to learn more and Doris suggests going to the library to learn the history of the place. She tells him to ask for Lex.

Lex turns out to be Doris' granddaughter.

Lexie's parents died in a horrible automobile accident when she was very young - Doris raised her. As Jeremy does his investigating, with Lexie's help, we learn a little about each others past - the most important being that Jeremy was very happily married years earlier. His wife was perfect. They had both very much wanted to have many kids but it turns out that Jeremy was infertile. His wife divorced him because of this. Lexie is starting to worry that she and Jeremy are getting too close so she packs up and leaves for a few days. By the time she gets back she hopes that Jeremy will be gone. Jeremy must be with her and figures out that she's at an old beach house, where her parents were married. He meets her there and she realizes that she is falling in love with him. They make love and spaghetti. Jeremy is convinced he knows what is causing the lights. He is also sure that Lexie and Doris know as well. Will their relationship work out or disappear like a ghost? And will he find out the real reason where the lights are coming from? 

I really liked this book, it was strange in a good way with a little romance. I loved how the author incorporated science into the plot. I have been always curious about physics and if what they do is the real thing or not. I also felt like I related to Lexie. She is a passionate and honest person but she also runs away from the things that mean the world to her. This book does talk about mature themes like sex but this book can be read by people the ages 14 and up. I give this novel 3 stars and a half. 

 

The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Giver by Lois Lowry

What if the world you're in revolves around the government and rules? 

Twelve-year-old Jonas lives in a perfect community.  At an annual ceremony, 12-year-old are assigned their careers. When the officiating Elder fails to call Jonas' name at his ceremony, he fears he's done something wrong. The Elders have saved his assignment for last because of its significance. He will be trained for a rare, honored and secretive position called the Receiver of Memory. 

Jonas meets with his new mentor, a man he calls The Giver. Jonas will take all of the older man's memories — some of which were given to him by a predecessor — and preserve these truths and experiences about which the rest of the community is oblivious. The Giver transfers his memories to Jonas by touching the boy's bare back. Jonas is thrilled to discover feelings and objects he's never known. He convinces himself that, given too many choices, people would make the wrong ones and disaster would follow.

The more Jonas understands about objects and ideas others can't see, the more isolated he feels from his community. When Jonas asks why they must retain these painful memories, The Giver explains that memories are the key to wisdom. 

Jonas' father, a Nurturer who works with newborns, brings home a failure-to-thrive baby named Gabriel. He hopes the extra attention will help the infant. If Gabriel doesn't improve, he will be released. Gabriel continues to sleep poorly, so Jonas offers to keep him in his room. When the baby fusses at night, Jonas secretly shares comforting memories that The Giver has passed on to him. These memories help Gabriel sleep soundly and begin to improve.

The Giver continues to share memories, both of intense pain — like war — and amazing warmth, which The Giver calls "love." Jonas tries to convince himself a world with love would be dangerous, but he begins to believe it might be worth the risk. 

Jonas asks what happens when someone is released. The Giver allows him to watch a tape of
the release Jonas's father performed earlier that day. Jonas is stunned as he watches his father euthanize an infant and throw away the body. Jonas tells The Giver he wants to leave the community and try to save his community. Will he survive with Gabriel or will they catch them before its too late?

The book was great, the movie not so much. They changed lots of things in the movie that were very important in the book. Anyway, I loved the book, it was fascinating and entertaining. It also includes lots of action which I really like in novels. I have always loved book that there setting was years into the future or years into the past. I like learning new things with the novels even if its fictional. I give this novel 4 stars. I recommend this book to people ages 12 and up. 

  

                                             The movie trailer 

Looking For Alaska by John Green

Looking For Alaska By John Green

"Compelling...Brilliant [and] insightful." -Chicago Tribune 

Looking for Alaska is the first young adult novel John Green has published. This novel cannot be merely written off as a typical boy-meets-girl love story, because it isn't. It's more of a story of how love isn't as it seems.

The book starts with Miles Halter mostly known as "Pudge" leaving Florida to attend a school in Alabama. He's introduced by his roommate Chip "The Colonel" Martin to beautiful, mysterious and emotionally confused Alaska Young, and the story progresses, mostly centered on Miles' life at Culver Creek and his growing attachment to Alaska. After hearing Pudge's obsessions with famous last words, Alaska informs him of Simon Balivars final words: "Damn it. How will I ever get out of this labyrinth?" Miles asks her what the labyrinth is and the two make a deal: if Pudge figures out what the labyrinth is, Alaska will arrange sex for him. On his first night at Culver Creek, trouble arises between the Weekend Warriors their enemies.

 Alaska and Pudge grow closer and he begins to fall in love with her, although she insists on keeping their relationship platonic. The Colonel and Alaska decide to pull a series a pranks in a row to intimidate the Warriors. The gang celebrates their victory by drinking and partying at the old barn by the school. During the celebration, Alaska tells her friends about her mother's death from an aneurysm when she was eight years old and Pudge thinks that's why she is emotional an closed off most times. With all this drama in their lives will Pudge be with the girl he likes or does he have to keep on looking for Alaska?

My friend gave me this book as a gift knowing that I love reading. This novel  by John Green is brilliant and suspenseful. Its the perfect read for someone who likes a bit of action, drama and love all in one. The ending shocked me the most, It was so unexpected that I got chills just reading it.  Its a heart breaking story which I don't think I will read again without tearing up. I give this book 5 stars. I absolutely loved it and anyone would love it too. I recommend this book for young adults, ages 14 and up for its language, drug use and sexual references.