The Declaration

The Declaration-Gemma Malley

Premis-In a world where people take drugs to live forever and are forbidden to have children for population reason, Anna is an illegal child-a Surplus. She lives in a house for people like her-and completely eats up every word she is told about her parents and herself. She has been completely brainwashed to hate her parents and she believes that she is completely worthless. Then a boy named Peter shows up. He is her age-much too old to be brainwashed. He shares dangerous thoughts about the government and Surpluses-he believes that they are equal to everyone else-and that the drugs that make you live forever are bad. He begs Anna to escape with him-but she can't leave the only place where she belongs-or can she?

Genre-Young adult fiction, rebellion, science fiction, espionage

Age range-10+

Rating-4.75 stars

Review- This book has a great plot line, really good characters, great description that still leaves enough room for you to put your own touches on it. .75 stars were deducted because of a few unnecessary parts that happened at some points of time. This book progressed smoothly, but I liked the beginning and middle more than the end. There were a few unrealistic points at that point. Besides that though, I am impressed with this book in the whole. I wouldn't recommend this book to most people, but people who like action adventure with either science fiction or post-apocolyptic who like this book. All though I wouldn't recommend it, I still think this book is and always will be a great piece of literature.

The City of Ember

The City of Ember-Jeanne DuPrau

Premis-A young boy and girl live in a dying city underground. After Lina (main female charector) finds a mystorious map in the back of her closet, she and Dune (main male charecter) team up to find a way out of the city of Ember. It might take them a while to figure out what to do, but with the generator failing, how much time do they really have bafore power goes out permanently? The citizens were ment to leave and start a new world years ago, and there is only so much food and energy left. With the government hunting them for trying to change things, it's now or never.
Age range-6+
Genre-Post-apocolyptic, speculative fiction, adventure, fantasy, science fiction
Rating-4.75 stars
Review-This book has a great sense of time, amazing description, a delighting plot-line, and well developed characters. I really enjoyed how it was very realistic-nothing that was hard to believe happened. .25 stars were deducted because the book is a little slow. Although that might be true, I still enjoyed how everything played out. Throughout the book, you were always wondering what was going to happen next, but not so much that it was uninteresting. I liked how it was set in a time and place so that even when everything was resolved, you still were interested in what had happened and what was going to happen. I would recommend this book to almost anyone, excluding people who don't like post-apocolypic book or books with lots of action. All in all, this book was a treat to read and I will (and have) read it again and again.

The Golden Compass

The Golden Compass-Philip Pullman

Premis-A young girl named Lyra takes on the challenges of acquiring possession of a magical golden compass that can answer any question her mind could fathom. This would be an amazing opportunity, if there weren't people who aren't as kind as her who would do anything to get their hands on it. A mysterious string of kidnappings leads her right to the kidnapper, who also wishes to acquire the trinket. She travels all around the world to give this magical piece of equipment to her uncle-who is desperately in need of it.

Genre-Steampunk, adventure, action

Age range-8+

Rating-4.5 stars
Review-This piece of literature contains a wonderful plot-line, an intriguing plot line, unexpected twists, and an amazing descriptions of people and places throughout the book. .5 stars were deducted because the sense of time was a bit hard to follow, and some of the characterS were a bit underdevolped. Although the beginning was a bit slow, once it got going, the book made an impact from beginning to end. I would recommend this book to most people, especially people who like fantasy in a realistic way, people who like a fast paced book, and people who like to think of things in an abstract way. I would not recommend this book to people who like things to be easy to follow, as some of the aspects of this book are a bit complicated. Overall, I think this book is a great read and I beive I will remember it and re-read it soon.

The Book Thief

The Book Thief-Markus Zusak

Premis-A girl living with foster parents in Berlin during Hitler's reign faces challenges with money, the government, books, and the Jew living in her basement
Genere-Realistic fiction, history, fiction, adventure
Age range-9+
Rating-4.5 stars
Rewiew-This book had a great plot line, sensationally developed characters, and a wonderful sense of time. The use of symbolism is amazing. .5 stars were deducted because of the difficulty to understand what was going on at some points of time. The plot line had twists and turns which were unexpected. It had a good beginning, a enjoyable climax, and in the end, all major plot points were resolved. The ending was unexpected, but still a delight to read. I would recommend this book to people who like realistic historic fiction. I would not recommend this book to anyone under 9, or people who like quick fast action books. Overall, this book is an amazing read and one of my favorites.