Friday, September 30, 2011

New Room!

I got a new room, and as you (should) know, the most important thing about a new room is how much book space you have. So I took a few pictures of my room to give you a taste of the whole room.

Outside
of my wonderful book area.

(if you can't see, the tape says "Do not disturb")

Inside
of my wonderful book area.
BOOKS!

Next
to my bed.
MORE BOOKS!

And
just because.
Stuffed animals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do you like it?!?!?!?!?!?!?! Well, even if you don't I do, and if you have anything to say about this post please comment. I know this isn't normal for my posts, but I thought it would  be a nice thing to tell you guys about.

Friday, September 9, 2011

The Lightning Thief

What am I doing?
I'm making a little show that's made up of pictures of my geckos. I have one picture for each chapter, and there are twenty two chapters in the book. This show will not spoil the book for you, so if you haven't read the book (and you should!) it won't matter.
I worked very long and hard to get this done so I hope you all like it!
So sit back, scroll down, and enjoy the show!
I hope you like it!
I know scrolling down is so hard but it's worth it!

The Lightning Thief
By Rick Riordan
(A.K.A. the best author ever!)
































This book is about a 12 year old boy named Percy Jackson who goes to a boarding school called Yancy Academy (sixth school in six years). One day when he's on a field trip to the MET (Metropolotin Meusem of Art) he "accidentally vaporizes his pre-algebra teacher" who turns out to be a monster. Soon enough he goes to a camp called Camp Half-Blood, where he finds out that his long-lost father turns out to be a Greek god! Once he gets there a girl named Annabeth calls him "the one". Turns out that means that he stole Zeus' master bolt, knowing that's not true Percy sets out with Annabeth and his best friend Grover, on a quest to find the lightning thief.

I think my favorite character in the book is Annabeth, I like her because of all the witty comments she makes over the course of the book. I also like comparing myself to her, in a way she's like my role model. This book is very important to me because this was the book that started my love of books. It affected me so much that when my middle school said they were cutting Latin I got so mad. I also like the fact that this book has mythology "infused" in it. I love all the things that Riordan does to make learning mythology enjoyable. At my school I think I have a permanent spot in the library's hall of fame because I was the one who introuduced everyone to the Percy Jackson series. I think the one complaint I've gotten the most is that the books are too childish for some peoples liking:
Them: Hey Maggie, I read the first chapter and I didn't like it! 
Me: Well, did you read the rest of the book? 
Them: Well, no. 
Me: Then read it!
That's normally how those conversations go. I know I had a little trouble with the first chapter, but I kept reading and now that's me favorite book series! 

This book means A LOT to me, and I hope you at least like it!

Happy Reading!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

The Search For WondLa by Tony DiTerlizzi

The Search For WondLa by Tony DiTerlizzi is about a young girl named Eva Nine, who has lived underground with a robot for all 12 years of her life. Eva has been wanting to go the "outside world" for her whole life so she can see if there were any other humans that live on the planet. Then one day when she is at home with Murthur (her mother robot), some crazy hunter/assassin comes and lights the Sanctuary (her underground home) on fire. Then Eva is forced to go into the outside world, which is nothing like she expected it. The world was over grown, the birds and plants both looked strange, and there wasn't a single human in site.

The reason why she is searching for "WondLa" is because, back in the Sanctuary Eva had this "secret room" that she kept stuff in. Most of the stuff was little toys Murthur had given her, but one of them was a little scrap of paper showing a man, a girl, and a robot. They were all smiling and holding hands with each other, at the top of the paper the words were faded so all you could see was WondLa.

I fell in love with this book the second I started reading it. 
I hope you like it that much, too.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Middleworld by J&P Voelkel

Middleworld by J&P Voelkel is a wonderful book. It is about a young boy named Max who lives in Boston (woo hoo!) and is a all-American style kid. Over summer break when his parents are (supposed) to go to Italy with him they completly blow that idea off and go on a trip to (fictional) San Xavier. His parents are crazy archilogists, who go on a lot of trips to "digging" sites. Soon he finds out that his parents got lost, almost as suddenly as that sunk in to Max, his housekeeper, Zia, buys him tickets to San Xavier. Soon after he boards a plane to find his parents in San Xavier. When he gets there he meets a mysterious girl with two companion monkeys. She calls herself Lola and Max' life takes a turn that enhances each emotion differently, for the better.

I think people in 5th grade will like this book because it makes many references to Mayan culture (I read it at the end of 4th grade). For younger children this book might too confusing because there are so many different (not to mention, foreign) names that you have to keep track of. Older people might think that it is a bit young because of the plot line. Then again, if you are interested in Mayan culture you'll love this book!

 



Saturday, July 30, 2011

Misty Gordon and the Mystery of the Ghost Pirates by Kim Kennedy

Misty Gordon and the Mystery of the Ghost Pirates by Kim Kennedy, is a very good book. At first when I saw the book cover (and this might happen to you) I got very confused.

The first things you see on the cover of this book are two girls (one in cat-eye glasses), a crystal ball (with a pirate ship in it), little golden statues of the "Big Three" (Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades), a group of (ghost) pirates, and a lighthouse (super high-tech, but it doesn't matter when you're starting the book). As you read the book all of the things on the cover begin to make sense. 

Misty Gordon and the Mystery of the Ghost Pirates is about a girl named Misty Gordon whose dad runs the D.E.A.D. ( Deceased’s Estate and Antique Dealer) business. One day Misty is in the businesses van with her dad to go check out a house. Once they get there Misty' dad tells her that the house used to belong to a recently departed clairvoyant. Soon she finds a a pair of "cat-eye" glasses, that her dad edges her to keep. Misty tries them on and she sees a mysterious woman in the doorway. Misty walks away and after that her life takes a surprising turn...

I think people in 4th-6th grade will like this book (I read it in 5th grade). I think they will like it because it has an interesting plot. Though, younger kids wouldn't like it because they wouldn't be able to follow the plot, as it is a bit confusing. Also, older people might think it is too childish, but if you're like anybody in my family you will have a wonderful time reading this book!

Poll winner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, a few weeks ago I posted a poll saying that I wanted people to vote on my poll (J.K Rowling vs. Rick Riordan).  Just so I don't spoil the answer for people who are just scrolling through my blog, you will have to highlight under where it says "And the winner is...............".

Also I'm sorry that I didn't publish this post this earlier, for two weeks I was in places that had no internet access (gasp)!

And the winner is...............
Rick Riordan!
Yay!
( 3-7 I may add.)

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

J.K. Rowling vs. Rick Riordan

I put a poll on my blog that will answer the question that has been haunting my since I read Percy Jackson: Who is the better author, J.K. Rowling or Rick Riordan?
In a week I will see who is the better author (majority rules) and stop that evil question from haunting me my entire life. So (please) vote on your favorite.
The poll is located under my profile on the left side of my blog.