emilymahar's reviews
483 reviews

Animal Farm by George Orwell

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3.0

I didn’t choose to read this book, but instead my class was reading it for school so I had to read it. Of all of the books that I have read with a class, this has been my favorite. I’m not really sure how to feel about this book because it isn’t the kind of book that I would just pick up and read, so I don’t feel like I can truly review this book.

But, there were some things that I enjoyed about it. The animals each had different personalities, which I liked. Also, the thought of an “animal farm” being completely run by animals is humorous. I was kind of bored by the politics aspects of it between Snowball and Napoleon. There was a good message behind the story though. Basically it shows you in a different and original way, that unlimited power isn’t a good thing for just one person, or in this case animal.

Those are my thoughts on the book, but as I don’t read this kind of thing normally, I feel like it was just ok.
The Girl Who Was on Fire (Movie Edition): Your Favorite Authors on Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games Trilogy by

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4.0

I liked the way that the authors that wrote for this book analyzed the trilogy by [a:Suzanne Collins|153394|Suzanne Collins|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1285984570p2/153394.jpg]. It really made me think about what the underlying meaning of the series is.
Becoming by Raine Thomas

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4.0

When I started this book, I was expecting one thing, but then as I kept reading it got better and turned into something totally different. It’s kind of like a mix of greek mythology, magic and of course romance!

My favorite character probably had to be Gabriel, not Amber like most people who have read this might have thought. He was a good friend for Amber and watched over her while keeping her safe at the same time. It’s hard to believe that he is Estilorian. From the minute he comes into the story I knew that I would love him! Amber wasn’t my favorite female lead character in a fantasy novel like this one, but she wasn’t too bad. I’m starting to like Olivia and Skye a little more than her and am excited to read each of the books centered around them.

The story line with a good side and evil, with sisters and all that stuff is really cool. I love how the author came up with all of the cool names for roles such as each of the sisters’ guardians. Once in a while the chapter will switch to the evil side so the reader can hear what’s going on to help you understand a little more. The battle scenes (which I won’t talk too much about) were nicely done and were good at showing the perspectives of everyone in the book from the sisters to Gabriel.

Overall, it was pretty fast moving, and a great fantasy book! I’m looking forward to reading the whole trilogy!
The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher

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4.0

4/5 stars

When I bought this book, I wasn’t quite sure what it was going to be like. I hadn’t heard any reviews saying that it was a must-read for teens, and I hadn’t heard much hype about it either. The synopsis that I read sounded promising, so I bought it.

Stracher’s first young adult novel is a dystopian, that focused on the United States in the future. Here there are only republics, and war. The people are trying to stay alive, but have problems with dehidration, as the water supply has disappeared. The book is written from the point of view of a teenage girl named Vera, and has recently met a boy named Kai, who is rich and has a secret. He drinks water out in the open, and throughs it away like it is garbage, even though everyone else treasures every last drop.

I enjoyed this novel that had shed light on a future that could someday be real. It was different than many other dystopian novels, with minimal romance, and a fresh and new story revolving around something that everyone needs to survive. It reminded me a little bit of Matched by Ally Condie, with one government controlling groups of people, and making desicions for then. (In Matched, what they eat and who they marry; in The Water Wars the amount of water you are aloud to have, and what kind.)

The Water Wars was very fast-paced and a little short. I would have liked it to have had a longer ending, with maybe an epilouge taking place a year or so later. This was the part of the book that I thought was lacking. It seemed almost rushed, and left open for discussion. Maybe a second book?!

Overall, I enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it to younger teens, and maybe some more advanced middle grade readers!