Pirate Emperor

Review by Edan
Title: Pirate Emperor (Wave Walker Trilogy - Book 2)
Author: Kai Meyer
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderberry Books
Published: 2004

Quick Summary:
     Jolly and Griffin are stranded on a strange island with a bridge leading into an unknown world. As they stand on this bridge suddenly it bursts into flames. Luckily, their mysterious friend the Ghost Trader comes and rescues them. They go back to Aelinium, a floating city on a giant sea star, and find Jolly's friend Munk. Jolly and Munk are polliwogs, meaning they can walk on water and breath underneath it. The fate of mankind rests on their shoulders as the Maelstrom, an entrance to a sea of large, unnatural creatures, needs to be closed and they are the only ones to do it.

Review:
     I'm not sure which book I liked better, the first or the second. Each book doesn't have a different plot. The first book feels like the beginning, the second like the middle of the story. The different characters are sometimes doing different things and I like the way every so often, the story would change and go into someone else's thoughts somewhere else. It keeps me wondering what was going on to all the people. When someone just did something and then the perspective changes, it makes me want to keep on reading to know what happens. This book had more action than the first one, but I think I liked the first book slightly more. It is as action packed, enthusiastic and interesting book.

Rating: ****

Skellig

Review by Edan
Title: Skellig
Author: David Almond
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Published: 1998

Quick Summary:
     Michael, a 10 year old boy, has just moved into a decrepit house that is falling apart, as his baby sister lies sick in the hospital. As he searches through the house, he makes his way to the garage. In it, he finds the most sup rising thing in his life. A creature lies still, looking dead. He and his new friend Mina have no idea who and what he is. He has given up on life, but they won't let him. It is their job to bring him into the light and put the life back into him.

Review:
     I think this is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. It was so inspiring and mystical. Anyone who reads it will interpret it in a different way. They will each have an idea of what Skellig is and where he came from. Even in the back of the book, David Almond said he is always asked questions like, What is he? Where did he come from? Where does her go? and he said he didn't have answers. He didn't even know, his book is a mystery even to him.

     I'm not sure what I can say. I loved this book. You feel the connection with Michael and his feelings. You feel his awe and anger. You feel his confusion and love. You can create your own opinion of Mina, who is not your average girl. You can add any of your own thoughts into the story, there are not constrictions.

    If you like books ending with answers, then this book is would not be one of your favorites. This book is wonderful, but not for someone who wants a finished and satisfied ending. But this book was wonderful, loving, inspiring, fantastical and I loved it and would highly recommend it.

Rating:*****

Heart of a Samurai

Review by Edan
Title: Heart of a Samurai
Author: Margi Preus
Publisher: Amulet Books
Published: 2010

Quick Summary:
    In 1841, 14 year old Manjiro and some other fishermen find themselves shipwrecked on a island in the waters far from there homeland, Japan. But soon they start to starve and become sick. Finally, they are rescued by an American whaling boat that is swarming with "barbarians". Manjiro become curious and learns all he can from these whalers and soon befriends the captain. Manjiro travels to America and lives with the captains family, going to school, helping out on the farm and trying to find way back to Japan. But Japan is in isolation and will probably kill him if he returns. Will Manjiro return to Japan and put his American knowledge to good use?

Review:
     This book was based on a true story. That is what amazes me. Almost everything written in the book is true, and that is one reason I like this book. Manjiro is considered the first Japanese person to be in America, and his journey to get there, and back to Japan, is mind boggling. I cannot believe how far he went and the risks he took. The story feels like fiction, but at the same time it feels true and wonderful.

     Preus did a great job describing his confusion and thoughts. The story took around 20 years, yet it all fit into this one book. The balance of action and time lapse is perfect and you can tell how Manjiro grows and ages. You can get swallowed into his thoughts and start to think like him. Heart of a Samurai is a inspiring book, full of adventure, perseverance and determination.

Rating: *****

Pirate Curse

Review by Edan
Title: Pirate Curse (Wave Walker Trilogy - Book 1)
Author: Kia Meyer
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Published: 2006

Quick Summary:
     14 year old Jolly is a pirate in the Caribbean, but not just any pirate, a polliwog. Being a polliwog, she can walk on water and she is sure she is the last polliwog alive. After her ship was destroyed,  Jolly makes her way to a island where she meets Munk, the other last polliwog. Together they wind there way through an adventure with a mysterious character the Ghost Trader, a ship captain, a pit bull headed man, a pirate princess and another pirate their age. The Ghost Trader seems trust worthy, telling them information, but he is holding something back. Can these two polliwogs find out the truth of their adventure?

Review:
     I have never been interested in pirates or Pirates of the Caribbean, but this book has an interesting tale and twist. I love the idea of walking on water and the way Meyer describes it. I can just imagine jumping from wave to wave, feeling the current pulling me beneath my feet and laying down on the water as if jut carries you like a flying carpet. The book is loaded with adventure and action, I mean it's a pirate book, how can it not have action! The creatures they describe and in legends they tell, make me wonder where they came from. Are these stories from the Caribbean, sailors, pirates or other parts of the world? I read a book (The Island of the Aunts) that mentions the kraken. That book takes place in the middle of the ocean in the middle of nowhere. In the Pirate Curse, they also mention the kraken, but describe it in a totally different way. It make you compare different books and their stories.

     The end of the book seems to end in a strange place, but it makes you want to get the second book. If you get the first book, I suggest you get the second book at the same time so you don't have to wait to get the second book (unlike I did, I have to wait a while until I can get the second book. It's killing me).

Rating: *****


   

The Book of Wonders

Review by Edan
Title: The Book of Wonders
Author: Jasmine Richards
Publisher: Harper Collins
Published: 2012

Quick Summary:
    Zardi and her friend Ridhan live in a kingdom called Arribitha where the cruel, evil sultan rules. He banned all magic and djinn, phenixes and any other magical creature. Zardi loves these stories her grandmother tells her and lives happily, until one day her older sister and father are taken by the sultan and will surely die. Zardi and Ridhan - Zardi wanting to save her sister and father and Ridhan wanting to find out more about where he came from - set off with a sailer and  his crew but are shipwrecked on a magical island. Will Zardi escape from the Queen of Serpents, a brass giant, and djinni with the answers she is searching for?

Review:
     This book was awesome. When I first found the book in the library, I thought, Cool. This book might be OK, but I really liked it. It is a book full of adventure, magic and another land. I love books like that.  These two kids are seeking answers and run into tons of people, creatures and problems. Jasmine Richards did a great job creating scenes, connections between characters and feelings in my head. I enjoy reading book about magic and magical creatures, because every author has another spin on it. Harry Potter's magic is totally different than the type of magic in Eragon, and totally different than a real life spin of magic in Magic by the Lake. These takes on magic create a large veriaty of options in my head.

     Ok, I got side tracked. The book pushed me onward, never letting me put the book down. It was action packed and great. The only problem was the ending isn't finished, like there is going to be a second book. The problem with that is I can't find anything about the second book anywhere. Maybe it is to recent for Jasmine Richards to announce the second book, or maybe she got bored and isn't going to write it, I don't know. I just hope she write book 2.

Rating: *****