Once We Were (Quick Review)

Eva and Addie have escaped the institution. They and their friends are being hidden throughout the city, but lying low is starting to test Eva. Her relationship with Ryan is difficult to manage since every time they try and do anything Addie is there, inside her head screaming no. And Eva wants more with her life, she wants to fight back against the government in anyway possible, no matter what.

Eva and Addie are at odds, being in love with different men is pulling them apart, they aren’t sharing things with each other, and Eva is getting involved with people that Addie doesn’t trust. And she is right not to trust them, they are terrorists bent on destroying the government and everyone who has ever been involved with the curing of hybrids.

Eva realizes her friends aren’t who they say they are to late, she and Addie along with Ryan and Devon, and Haley and Lissa, race to save the very people who locked them up. But will they get their in time, and at what cost to themselves and their cause?

The House of Hades: Heroes of Olympus

It has been nearly a decade since I read the first Percy Jackson book, and the latest novel The House of Hades, was absolutely amazing. It took me a little longer to read this novel than usual, but once I started reading it I couldn’t stop. I love that the Heroes of Olympus series follows so many different characters. It isn’t so much that things get confusing, but following a few characters gives the story more depth and shows more of the storyline.

Gaea is waking, and she isn’t happy with the Gods and Demigods. While this has been coming for many novels, this one takes it to a new level. Not only do the seven demigods chosen for the quest (and Nico makes eight) have to battle titans and giants, but Percy and Annabeth face the manifestation of Tartarus itself. Onc of my favorite things about this novel was that many people that Percy has met for the last nine books come back. Calypso and the titan Bob both play significant roles in this novel. If it wasn’t for the things that Percy had done in previous novels to help them and show them kindness, they would never have gotten as far as living through the end of the novel.

House of Hades follows Percy and Annabeth’s long and dangerous journey through Tartarus, something that no mortal has ever done. At the end of Mark of Athena the two had fallen into the pit, and fell for days. If it wasn’t for their love and determination to keep each other safe, I do not think they would have survived. Not only is the underworld dangerous and deadly on its own, but it is the place that monsters are reborn, and Percy and Annabeth have killed their share of monsters. It is those same monsters that they once slayed that are now coming after them with vengeance. Crossing over the many rivers of Hades’ realm, re-defeating monsters, and trying to survive solely on a liquid fire only to face Tartarus manifested at the Doors of Death push the heroes past their limits. But the two refuse to give up, their friends should be waiting on the other side, and if they can’t make it out, then Earth will be doomed.

While Percy and Annabeth travel the depth of Tartarus, the other five demigods with the help of Nico, head west toward the mortal side of the Doors of Death hoping to free their friends, and destroy the monsters that are trying to come through in order to side with Gaea. Things are not easy for the heroes on Argo II. Nico has to face his demons and isolation, made even more difficult when Jason discovers the real reason Nico tries to stay secluded and who he is in love with. Jason struggles with his loyalties. While he is a Roman demigod, he feels more of a connection to Camp Half-Blood and the Greek friends he has made. Hazel has to accept that she is a daughter of Pluto with the ability to control the mist and starts to ally herself with Hecate. Frank learns secrets of Coach Hedge, and starts learning to raise and control dead armies. And Leo, he was marooned during a battle with Jason’s old wind enemies, and it just happens to be the island of Calypso. Argo II tries to get to the doors of death, but old and new foes are everywhere, trying to break their spirits and their bodies.

I think this is the ultimate penultimate book in the epic saga of Percy Jackson. I hate that I have to wait a year for the final book, but it has been an amazing ride so far!!

There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom!

Growing up in the 90s, Louis Sachar was one of my favorite authors. I read anything and everything by him. Recently I stumbled across a copy of There’s a Boy in the Girls Bathroom while photographing at a school. Apart from the Wayside School Series, had been my favorite book by Louis Sachar. I have a couple hours to kill and stared rereading it. While I am fourteen years older than the first time I read this novel, I still loved it. I smiled at the funny and sweet parts, and honestly cried at a few section toward the end.

            Bradley Chalkers sits in the last row, in the last seat of his firth grade class. No one likes him, and he doesn’t like anyone. He never pays attention in class, always doodling and ripping pages out of his school books. He picks fights and threatens to spit on anyone who doesn’t give him what he wants. Things start to change for his when Jeff Fisher moves to his town. Jeff sits next to him, and tells him he doesn’t mind sitting by him. While they are bot skeptical at first, the two become best friends.

            While Bradley is testing the waters of his newfound friend, the school and his parents worried about his failing grades and lack of social skills force him to start seeing a councilor. Miss. Carla Davis is not like other adult’s. She listens to Bradley, believes what he tells her, and doesn’t force him to do anything he doesn’t want to do. With Carla’s help, Bradley slowly starts to believe in himself and even tries to pay attention in school and do his homework.

            Of course, fifth grade is never that simple, and when Jeff starts to become friends with the other boys in class, it slowly tears him away from Bradley. Bradley begins to retreat back into himself and his old ways, but Carla continues to encourage and believe in him.

            Will Carla’s guidance be enough to help Bradley repair his relationship with Jeff and the other boys, his family, and pull up his grades? Or is Bradley so far gone and full of doubt that no one can help him.

            I love this novel, even as an adult is was a great to reread. I love the dynamics of fifth grade peer pressure and family pressure that this novel deals with. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys Louis Sachar books, Jerry Spinelli novels, and books written by Beaverly Cleary. In general this novel is probably for ages 8-12.