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Brief synopsis (no spoilers): The Earth is basically in ruins. Just about everyone on the planet escapes that reality by living in a massive online universe, called the OASIS. The inventor of the OASIS created an elaborate game that activated upon his demise, which will determine the future controlling person of the OASIS. Wade Watts is a Senior in High School, convinced he will win the challenge. Like most hugely popular stories, the movie appears that it will deviate heavily from the book in execution, but stay true to its basic principles (based on previews). Category : Sci Fi Why I chose this book : Very popular, especially with the movie coming My personal opinion : I can see a handful of points in this book that will get under the skin of various people. Tolerance of homosexuality is promoted; racial issues are pointed out frankly; sexual self gratification and pornography are condoned; atheism is upheld and Christianity is mocked; global warming has reached the point of ruining...

Brief synopsis  (no spoilers): Harry continues his adventure by returning to Hogwarts as a 12 year-old Second Year student. A secret part of the school houses a killer beast, and it's controlled by an evil wizard known as the Heir of Slytherin. Harry, Ron, and Hermione feel a need to solve the mystery and stop the beast. Category : YA fiction Why I chose this book : I've read the series several times, but I've never reviewed them My personal opinion : The story is excellent, and the story telling is top notch- lots of humor, gripping plot, believable characters. I love the lessons it teaches of confidence, bravery, and good fighting against evil. This is the first book that I feel actively acts as a platform to set up for the major story line. It focuses a little less about what actually happens during the school year, and starts to bring in elements from outside the Hogwarts bubble. Warnings Language: None Violence: Fighting, but nothing graphic "Adult...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers): Magic exists in the world, and users of magic work hard to keep that a secret. They have separate schools, government, and jobs. Harry Potter is famous in the wizarding world because he, as a toddler, defeated the most powerful evil wizard in the world. But he grew up under the care of his Aunt and Uncle who hate magic, so he knew nothing of his fame or of magic until wizard Hagrid showed up on his doorstep on his 11th birthday, and started him on the greatest adventure of his life. Category : YA fiction Why I chose this book : I've read the series several times, but I've never reviewed them My personal opinion : The story is excellent, and the story telling is top notch- lots of humor, gripping plot, believable characters. I love the lessons it teaches of confidence, bravery, and good fighting against evil. The Dursleys and Malfoy drive me crazy, but they do a good job of providing opposition. Warnings Language: None Violence: Fight...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers): Ceres continues her role as a puppet of the royalty- thrown around into new perils at the whims of any number of spoiled people in charge. Thanos continues his goal of being the benevolent style of royal, as well as the target of royal conspiracies. Lucious and Stephania continue being jerks. Category : YA fiction Why I chose this book : Next in series My personal opinion : I liked this book better than the last book. It wasn't quite so frantic, and it felt far more organized. Not that the characters' lives were more organized, but that the author was more organized on the story line. It didn't jump from crazy thing to crazier thing the entire time. It felt more deliberate. This continues to be a clean series (good movie rating), and pretty enjoyable. I like the element of the special power Ceres has, and the clean romance. I even like the subterfuge and deceit- the plot is pretty gripping. Not one of my favorite series of all time, but definit...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers): Ceres is a young woman (17) living in an oppressive Empire, with an equally oppressive mother. She has ties to a rebellion, and stronger ties to her brothers. She is basically thrown around her world constantly- enslaved, imprisoned, set loose, etc. Each time, she puts herself in the best position to cause the most damage to whatever she hates most. Category : YA fiction, fantasy Why I chose this book : Recommended on the library website My personal opinion : It's complicated. I loved the action, the pace, the unknown special power, the strong female lead character, the general story line. But I disliked the coincidence (see Emma Coats, rule #19, link below)- Ceres got out of trouble so many times. Mostly by fighting, but a couple times by coincidence. I disliked that the "Queen" phase never came, before the end of the book. Maybe that's part of the series, but the next book doesn't mention that in its title. I disliked tha...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers): The earth is run by 3 massive companies (conglomerates). The government is essentially powerless. People are bred to be certain types of workers. Most low-level workers are clones, most high-level workers are natural born, but all are genetically engineered. A group of geniuses is chosen to breed, in hopes that they will create a more evolved generation, with better natural tech integration. That happens, but Millicent becomes attached to her baby, and decides to fight to keep her. That's not supposed to happen- most mothering instinct has been bred out of workers. Category : Fiction, maybe Sci-Fi Why I chose this book : Kindle first from a while ago My personal opinion : This story started out fantastically. I loved the first half of it. And I would have loved the entire thing, but the second half was very disappointing. The constant sexual innuendo was cute and fun banter at first, and then became tiresome and then disgusting. The language started...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers): Originally written as three separate short story e-books this book tells the story of three characters who are found in the Wonder book (See previous post here: http://bcereviews.blogspot.com/2018/01/wonder-by-rj-palacio.html) . However, instead of being told by or about Auggie himself, these books tell the experiences of these other students who knew Auggie during their 5th grade year: Jullian the bully, Christopher the oldest friend, and Charlotte a welcome buddy/classmate.   Category: Middle School Why I chose this book: Follow up on Wonder  My personal opinion:   These were interesting reads, though in a few places I felt like the story was longer than it needed to be.  Warnings Language:  None Violence: None "Adult" situations: None Death:  None Movie rating equivalent: PG Protagonist description : *some spoilers* Jillian was Auggie's biggest bully at school and created some of the bi...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers): Auggie Pullman was born with a severe facial deformity. This year he is going to public school for the first time, entering 5th grade at Beecher Prep.  Category: Middle School Why I chose this book:  Been on my "to read" list for a while My personal opinion: Everyone should read this book at least once in their lifetime. It is a fantastic way to see how someone with disabilities is treated and how to handle bullying.  Warnings Language:  None Violence: Bullies/middle school fights "Adult" situations: None Death:  Minor "character" Movie rating equivalent: PG Protagonist description: Auggie is a smart boy who is particularly good in math and science. In having his facial deformity he has learned to read other's thoughts/feelings very well. He has also been somewhat sheltered by his parents (understandably), so at the beginning he his somewhat whiny, but he learns to grow a thicker skin at school. Though Auggie de...