Review: A Crack in the Sky by Mark Peter Hughes

Title: A Crack in the Sky

Author: Mark Peter Hughes

Genre: SF-Dystopia, Adventure, Action

Format: Paperback

Pages: 416

Publisher: Yearling

Published: August. 9, 2011

Source: Library

Description: Thirteen-year-old Eli Papadapoulous is worried. Even though he's part of in the most powerful family in the world. Even though his grandfather founded InfiniCorp, the massive corporation that runs everything in the bustling dome-cities. Even though InfiniCorp ads and billboards are plastered everywhere, proclaiming: DON'T WORRY! INFINICORP IS TAKING CARE OF EVERYTHING!
Recently, Eli noticed there's something wrong with the artificial sky. It keeps shorting out, displaying strange colors and random, pixellated images. And though the Department of Cool and Comfortable Air is working overtime, the dome-city is hotter than it's ever been. Eli has been raised to believe that the dome-cities are safe and comfortable; that the important thing is to keep working, keep consuming; that InfiniCorp knows better than he, and he should leave everything in their hands. But now he begins asking questions.

My Review: A Great Dystopian book about what is the truth and what is a lie. It has propaganda, conspiracy, brain-washing, terrorist, and a talking animal. It was a great read.

Like: 

• I like how everything was coming together at the end and the way the truth came out about the domes and InfiniCorp.
• Writing, very Detailed

Dislike:

• Eli didn't really do anything until the end. Even when he was givin the truth about his family he still didn't want to believe. I understand why he didn't want to because everything he knew about his family would be a lie and he always grew up thinking his family was helping people. But how much do you need convincing?
• The Ending. Eli knows the truth but nothing was solved. The way it ended made it seem like it is just the beginning. I don't know if there is another book, I didn't see it on goodreads. But I would love to read more.

4 out of 5 stars

Review: Black Ice (Young Sherlock Holmes #3)

Description: A third case for teen Sherlock involves a heinous crime … and a brother with blood on his hands When Sherlock and Amyus Crowe, his American tutor, visit Sherlock’s brother, Mycroft, in London, all they are expecting is lunch and some polite conversation. What they find shocks both of them to the core: a locked room, a dead body, and Mycroft holding a knife. The police are convinced Mycroft is a vicious murderer, but Sherlock is just as convinced he is innocent. Threatened with the gallows, Mycroft needs Sherlock to save him. The search for the truth necessitates an incredible journey, from a railway station for dead bodies in London all the way to the frozen city of Moscow—where Sherlock is afoot in a world of secrets and danger.

My Review: I’m going to give it 3.5 stars. It was different from the first two books. It was still interesting with all the twists at the end and the little action. I felt the ending was kinda rushed. More new interesting characters to look out for in the future, Kyte’s Theatrical Company or Paradol Chamber members. If the author talks about them again. Looking forward to reading about Mrs. Eglantine in the next book.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Read: July. 31 - August. 5, 2013

Review: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Description: It's the year 2044, and the real world is an ugly place.

Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes his grim surroundings by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia that lets you be anything you want to be, a place where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets.

And like most of humanity, Wade dreams of being the one to discover the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this virtual world. For somewhere inside this giant networked playground, OASIS creator James Halliday has hidden a series of fiendish puzzles that will yield massive fortune--and remarkable power--to whoever can unlock them.

For years, millions have struggled fruitlessly to attain this prize, knowing only that Halliday's riddles are based in the pop culture he loved--that of the late twentieth century. And for years, millions have found in this quest another means of escape, retreating into happy, obsessive study of Halliday's icons. Like many of his contemporaries, Wade is as comfortable debating the finer points of John Hughes's oeuvre, playing Pac-Man, or reciting Devo lyrics as he is scrounging power to run his OASIS rig.

And then Wade stumbles upon the first puzzle.

Suddenly the whole world is watching, and thousands of competitors join the hunt--among them certain powerful players who are willing to commit very real murder to beat Wade to this prize. Now the only way for Wade to survive and preserve everything he knows is to win. But to do so, he may have to leave behind his oh-so-perfect virtual existence and face up to life--and love--in the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.

A world at stake.
A quest for the ultimate prize.
Are you ready?

My Review: I love everything about it, how its about games from the 80's, the whole plot, the characters, the romance, the humor, the details, the information (the was a lot of info, but to me it wasn't useless info), the author because he must of had to research all this 80's stuff unless he already knew stuff. Love the Game Action. I love when Aech and Wade met. And when Wade and Art3mis met, that was cute. Love the happy ending. I love the Oasis (being inside a game would be cool plus virtual school and all that other stuff that was mentioned in OASIS) but it's was kinda crazy how Wade can just lock himself inside all day without going out in the real world but people do, do that in real life too. But he found Love so he wouldn't spend all his time in OASIS anymore. Anyways, If you are a game nerd or just a nerd, this book is for you. Again, I LOVE THIS BOOK!

5 out of 5 stars

Read: July. 17 - July. 22 , 2013

Review: Howl's Moving Castle

Description: Sophie has the great misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate. But when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds herself under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl's castle. To untangle the enchantment, Sophie must handle the heartless Howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon, and meet the Witch of the Waste head-on. Along the way, she discovers that there's far more to Howl—and herself—than first meets the eye.

My Review: I seen the movie years ago and I love it, even own it. I just found out it was a book because back then I wasn't reading as much. It's sad to say, but I love the movie more than the book. I liked the book but it didn't 'WOW' me. I love the characters but sometimes Howl was annoying. In the movie he was childish and nice. In the book he is kinda mean. What I didn't like in the book was the lack of Sophie/Howl moments like in the movie. In the book, Sophie and Howl are always fighting or howl insults her. In the movie I can see the connection/Love from the beginning til the end. Somethings I was confused about which I'm not going to talk about. The last chapter was interesting, but in the ending Howl and sophie are together now. It mentions that sophie loved him, but Howl? I don't know what to say. I'm being Bias but I love the movie more. I'm scared to read book 2 because they are not the main characters and I want to read more about Sophie and Howl Life.

3 out of 5 Stars

Read: July. 14 - July. 17, 2013

Review: Rebel Fire (Young Sherlock Holmes #2)

Desription: Fourteen-year-old Sherlock Holmes knows that Amyus Crowe, his mysterious American tutor, has some dark secrets. But he didn’t expect to find John Wilkes Booth, the notorious assassin, apparently alive and well in England—and Crowe somehow mixed up in it. When no one will tell you the truth, sometimes you have to risk all to discover it for yourself. And so begins an adventure that will take Sherlock across the Atlantic, to the center of a deadly web—where a friend is in peril and a defeated army threatens to rise again.

Andrew Lane’s exciting second case for the teenage Sherlock leads the young detective to America, straight into the heart of a shocking conspiracy.

My Review: I'm giving it 4.5 Stars. A lot of action which I liked and the different Scenery. Great details on whats going on at certain scenes and on different objects like the design of the S.S. Scotia. Like the first book, I love how the evil guy is disfigured or something like that. (SPOILERS) Baron Maupertuis bones was broken and he used these things to be pull like a puppet to move around. Duke Balthassar used leeches to stay alive from an illnes. They both used animals, Bees & Cougars as weapons. They are insteresting characters and I hope there are more like them in the other books. I thought this book was going to be more about John Wilkes Booth, but I liked how it ended up. I would of liked to know if they found balthassar body or if Sherlock told Crowe? But I think Crowe know something happened?

4.5 out of 5 stars

Read: July. 10 - July. 14, 2013 2:45am

Review: Death Cloud (Young Sherlock Holmes #1)

Description - The year is 1868, and Sherlock Holmes is fourteen. His life is that of a perfectly ordinary army officer’s son: boarding school, good manners, a classical education – the backbone of the British Empire. But all that is about to change. With his father suddenly posted to India, and his mother mysteriously ‘unwell’, Sherlock is sent to stay with his eccentric uncle and aunt in their vast house in Hampshire. So begins a summer that leads Sherlock to uncover his first murder, a kidnap, corruption and a brilliantly sinister villain of exquisitely malign intent . . . The Death Cloud is the first in a series of novels in which the iconic detective is reimagined as a brilliant, troubled and engaging teenager – creating unputdownable detective adventures that remain true to the spirit of the original books.

My Review - I really like it, the whole idea of a teenage Sherlock Holmes, to see how he was and what made him become the man he is. I love how the author got approval from the Doyle Estate and Family. That shows that they believe in the author to give Sherlock a good background on his teenage years and not mess it up. 

As for the book, it has good writing, great characters, great plot and a good pace. The ending left me wanting more. And it's a book I would like to own (book from the library) and re-read. 

One thing that got me wondering is the housekeeper, Mrs Eglantine. I thought she was in on these mysterious death and Mycroft said "she is no friend to the Holmes family" then why do she work for them? And what is the next plans for the Baron? What happens to Matty? Well I guess I got to keep reading to find out.

4 out of 5 Stars

Read: June. 27 - May. 7, 2013

Review: The World of the Hunger Games

Description: The definitive, richly illustrated, full-color guide to all the districts of Panem, all the participants in The Hunger Games, and the life and home of Katniss Everdeen.

Welcome to Panem, the world of The Hunger Games. This is the definitive, richly illustrated, full-color guide to all the districts of Panem, all the participants in The Hunger Games, and the life and home of Katniss Everdeen. A must-have for fans of both the Hunger Games novels and the new Hunger Games film.

My Review: Its a good book for someone who didn't read the Hunger Games book but seen the movie and didn't know what was going on or didn't know who was who.

3 out of 5 stars

Read: June.10 - June.10, 2013

Review: The False Prince (The Ascendance Trilogy)

Description: The False Prince is the thrilling first book in a brand-new trilogy filled with danger and deceit and hidden identities that will have readers rushing breathlessly to the end.

In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king’s long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner’s motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword’s point—he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage’s rivals have their own agendas as well.

As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner’s sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.

An extraordinary adventure filled with danger and action, lies and deadly truths that will have readers clinging to the edge of their seats.

My Review: Not much to say but that, I LOVED IT!!!! I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT IT. THE TWIST AT THE END (LAST TWENTY CHAPTERS). READING THOSE LAST CHAPTERS, I HAD TEARS IN THE CORNER OF MY EYES, NOT BECAUSE I WAS SAD BUT BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY REALLY GOOD. I'M GLAD I PICKED THIS BOOK AT A SCHOOL BOOK FAIR. I CAN'T WAIT TO READ BOOK 2 AND I HOPE BOOK 3 COMES OUT THIS YEAR.

5 out of 5 Stars

Read: April.6 - April.12, 2013