The Troll Series

I was browsing the paperback section at the library one day, when I spotted an interesting-looking book on the shelf called Troll Mill.  Being the kind of person who believes in trolls, I picked up the book, saw that it was the second one in a series, and set out to find the first. I'm very glad I did. This is a trilogy, with Troll Fell being the first book, followed by Troll Mill, and Troll Blood. There is an omnibus coming out March 2011, entitled West of the Moon. Peer Ulfsson, the main character, has had some terrible luck. His father has just died and right at the end of the funeral, his cruel long-lost half-uncle Baldur Grimsson shows up. After selling almost all of Peer's possessions and keeping the money, Uncle Baldur drags Peer away from everything he's ever known. Then things get worse. It turns out uncle Baldur has an identical twin who's just as bad as he is, they have a dog who is a trained killer, and the way his Uncles see it, Peer is no better then a slave and should be treated accordingly. Plus, the huge hill is infested with trolls. Peer's only friends are his dog Loki, and the girl who lives up the road. But when Peer discovers a plot that involves giving children to the trolls in exchange for gold, he has no idea what's in store for him. The first book in this series is a bit depressing, although it picks up a bit at the end. It is a pretty clean series, but because some of it might be a little hard to understand, I recommend this series for ages 11 and up. Author: Katherine Langrish. Release date: 2004 On a scale of 1 being not so good, and 10 being the very best series I've ever read, I rate this series a 8.

Septimus Heap

Okay, so I had known about this series for awhile, but hadn't really been interested. Maybe because of all the weird title spellings. But last week I was out of things to read, so I figured I would try it out. IT WAS AWESOME!!! The first book in the series is called Magyk. It starts out with  the murders of a Queen and the ExtraOrdinary wizard, the mysterious death of the Heap family's new baby (who happened to be a seventh son of a seventh son), and the finding of a baby girl in the woods. And all on the same night too. That's about all I can say without giving too much away. So instead, I will tell you if you will like this book or not. If you like magic, wizards, witches, mysteries, swamps, dragons, boats, dragon boats, or anything else along those lines, you will most definitely like this book. If you don't find those  things interesting, read it anyway. You will soon change your mind. There are currently five books in the series (Magyk, Flyte, Physik, Queste, and Syren), along with a companion book (The Magykal Papers). The sixth book is called Darke, and is coming out in June 2011. (U.S.) This series is a bit predictable, but is an enjoyable read. I recommend this series for kids ages ten and up. Author: Angie Sage. Release date: 2005 On a scale of 1 being not so good, and 10 being the very best series I've ever read, I rate this series a 7 1/2.

Visit the website at http://septimusheap.wordpress.com/press.com  Oh, and beware DomDaniel!

Zoobreak

Griffin and his friends are back in the second book of this awesome series. The trouble starts when Griffin's friend Savannah's pet monkey goes missing. Savannah is frantic and asks Griffin to help her find the missing animal. They search, but to no avail. Then, on a class field trip to a floating zoo, they find that the main attraction is Savannah's monkey! But the zoo owner, Mr. Nastase, says that he bought the monkey, although he won't say from where. Will Griffin and his team of friends get the monkey back quietly? Or will they have to pull a zoobreak to stop Mr. Nasty? I loved the first book in this series and I was hoping that the second book would be just as good or better. I definitely was not disappointed. This book has lots of relatable topics, such as friends who are moving to a new school and being underestimated. I recommend this book for kids ages nine and up. Author: Gordan Korman. Release date: 2009  On a scale of 1 being not so good, and 10 being the very best book I've ever read, I rate this book a 7 1/2.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Countdown Post #4

Okay, so I got a little behind in my countdown. The movie comes out at midnight tonight. Oh well. The fourth book in the Harry Potter series is Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. In this book Harry gets to go with the Weasleys to see the Quidditch world cup. But everyone freaks out when the dark mark appears in the sky. Plus everyone is saying that something exciting is going to happen at Hogwarts this year. And sure enough when Harry arrives at Hogwarts, they announce that the Triwizard Tournament which hasn't been held in years due to death incidents, is going to take place this year. Everyone is excited at the arrival of the two rival schools, Durmstrang and Beauxbatons. And finally the night comes when the Goblet of Fire will pick the name of the three who compete. The three champions are chosen, but then another name comes out of the cup. And the name is.... Harry Potter. This book has it all. Dragons, merpeople, blast-ended skrewts, nosy journalists, a fight with a friend, and possibly an encounter with Voldemort. I recommend this book for ages 11 and up. Author: J. K. Rowling. Release date: 2000 On a scale of 1 being not so good, and 10 being the very best book I've ever read, I rate this book a 10.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Countdown Post #3

The third countdown post. Five days until the movie! In this book,Harry accidentally blows up his uncle's sister and makes a run for it, thinking that he has been expelled from school. When he reaches the Leaky Cauldron he walks straight into the Minister of Magic himself- who seems strangely relieved to find Harry safe and sound. And everyone is talking about an escaped convict, Sirius Black, who is so dangerous that even the Muggles have been warned. Is Harry somehow connected to Black? Why is Ron's rat acting so weird? And why do the Dementors, the guards of Azkaban, cause Harry to pass out every time they come near him? As Harry grows older in the books, J. K. Rowling's writing becomes better. This book was harder for me to get through the first time I read it. Unfortunately, the book does lose speed about half-way through. Please, stick with it. It gets better.I recommend this book for ages 10 and up. Author: J. K. Rowling. Release date: 1999 On a scale of 1 being not so good, and 10 being the very best book I've ever read, I rate this book a 10.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Countdown Post #2

Second countdown post. 6 days until the movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  This is the second book in the greatest series of all time. After having stopped He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named at the end of the school year, Harry is back at his horrible aunt and uncle's house for the summer. Yet all he wants is to be back at school with his friends. But when a strange creature shows up at his house and warns him not to go back to Hogwarts, Harry knows something is up. And sure enough when he goes back to school, people start being attacked. Is the Chamber of Secrets fact, or is it just a legend? Is Harry the heir of Slytherin? And is Voldermort behind it all? I got this book as part of a boxed set that contained books 1-4. This book is rather intense at parts, so I recommend this book for ages 10 and up. Also, if giant snakes give you nightmares, I do not recommend this book. Author: J. K. Rowling. Release date: 1998  

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: Countdown Post #1

Because the new Harry Potter movie is coming out in 8 days I am doing my own countdown by reviewing the books. I thought I would start with the first one. But oh my goodness. Where to start? To sum up this book in one word: Genius. This book is the first in the best series of all time. The Harry Potter series. Harry is not an ordinary boy. He lives with his horrible Aunt and Uncle and has a spoiled cousin who picks on him constantly. He has a scar shaped like a lightning-bolt. And weird things are always happening to him. Then strange letters start arriving. Eventually Harry meets Hagrid, the largest man he's ever seen. Hagrid tells him that he's a wizard and that he has been accepted at Hogwarts school of witch craft and wizardry. I read this book for the first time during my summer break after first grade. I admit that I wasn't a huge fan at first. I think part of that is because I was seven at the time, so I recommend this book for ages 10 and up. This is now my favorite series ever. Author: J. K. Rowling. Release date: 1997  On a scale of 1 being not so good, and 10 being the very best book I've ever read, I rate this book a 10.