Lockwood & Co. The Screaming Staircase

The book that I'm recommending is Lockwood & Co. The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud. (He's my favorite author! Yay!)

Lucy Carlyle, a teenager in modern day London, can hear ghosts and paranormal echoes from the past. Now, you might read that and think, “Oh, she must be so special, then!” Well, you’re slightly wrong on that account. A lot of people have Talents, in fact. And the only people who can properly use them are, guess what? Kids. And teenagers, you get it. Anyways, those Talents of theirs are rather useful, considering the fact that ghosts of all kinds are roaming the street, forever bound to their Source and their everlasting craving for some sort of contact with living beings, whether it be for revenge or finding something lost.

This epidemic, or literally “The Problem”, is tackled by several different agencies, including the up-and-coming Rotwell agency, the snooty Fittes, and several others of a slightly lower rank. In the end, the goal is always the same for all agencies: Find the Source, contain it, and destroy it for the safety of the public. However effective it may be however, there is a corruption that lies under it, and some reasons for that corruption are different then others.

Enter Lockwood & Co., the smallest agency in London, and the only one to be run by teenagers, much to the Department of Psychic Research And Containment's, aka DEPRAC'S, annoyance. It consists of charismatic and mysterious Anthony Lockwood and his pudgy, sarcastic assistant George Cubbins. Lucy decides to take a shot at an interview with them, (she was turned down by the other companies,) and the duo accepts her as a new agent. Together they attempt to solve the mystery of Annabel Ward: an ancient corpse found behind an old chimney breast before a disastrous end to a simple case.


This book is literally one of the best books that I have ever read. The pace is perfect, and the ghosts are terrifying. The dark humor is spot-on, and the overlying mysteries about the Problem and Lockwood's past is always underlying the story. 

It can be a bit complicated at times, though. Not in a bad way, but enough to have you trying to remember the part where they mentioned an important bit of information, and it will turn out that that part was 6 (very long) chapters ago.

I give it 5/5 stars!

Eldest: By Christopher Paolini

This is the second book in the Inheritance Cycle. In this you are introduced to another dragon rider and and will go to the dwarvish and human kingdoms. Not the best part of the series but still necessary and a good read. Definitely has a good plot and continues the series very well. It is actually interesting, although not the best much better than Order of the Phoenix in Harry Potter. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. 

Magnus Chase and the Gods Asgard: The Sword of Summer

Magnus's life sucks! His mom is dead and he is homeless, roaming the streets, hiding from police. When his crazy uncle (that his mom had always told him to avoid) arrives telling him stories about the Norse gods and the end of the world his life gets way weirder. Then when a fire giant attacks him for a magical sword he realizes that sometimes the only way to start a new life is to die.......

Source

The best part about this book is that (if you're a Percy Jackson fan) you will recognize some of the characters and references -chapter 48-. This is awesome because some of us just aren't over Percy Jackson. Also this book is more grown up compared to some of Rick Riordan's other books.

The main thing I didn't  like about the book was how confusing it was. Also it was fairly similar to The Lightning Thief but so much that it is a rip-off.

Btw, for anyone that read the book, Magnus would win the bet.

The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones By: Rick Riordan

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The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan is a fun and thrilling read. It has adventure, romance, action, and mystery.

Grace Cahill has left her descendants a decision. They could either take one million dollars or a clue. You’re probably thinking why they would take a clue instead a million dollars, right? The Cahills are the most powerful family in the world, but the source of that power seems to be lost. There are 39 clues scattered across the world, and those clues will reveal the family’s secret and the source. No one has been able to assemble them. The hunt will commence. Amy and Dan must decide if finding the clues or finding out what actually happened to their parents is more important.

This book is in a series with different parts. The first part is just the 39 clues, the second part is Cahills vs. Vespers. The third part is Unstoppable, the fourth is Doublecross. There is 24 books in the series so far. There is also codes in the books or outside of it that makes it more fun to read.

I liked how you had to think throughout the book, and that is was very unpredictable for the most part.

I didn’t like how pretty much everyone hated Amy and Dan.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Backlash By: Sarah Darer Littman Reviewed By: Ana S.

Cover photo by amazon.com

Are you looking for a drama filled quick read? Well look no further! Backlash is the book to fit your needs!

After a mean online post made by Christian Dewitt, it pushed Lara to have a pill overdose and commit suicide. Luckily, she lived but she still wished the pills would of work. Will she make it through this difficult time?

Bree, Lara's ex-best friend, thought she deserved it after all that time Lara complained about her life. Bree also has a secret her mother doesn't want her to share.

Sydney hates being Lara's little sister. It seems as if Lara is always in the center of attention. Now with Lara going through therapy and her parents giving her extra attention, it seems as if Sydney will never get what she wants.

Liam always knew his family wasn't like other families. His parents seem to be always busy and really strict. His older sister, Bree, isn't any better. After learning about Lara's committing suicide and Bree's secret, Liam can never look at his sister the same way again. This book is split up in chapters with different points of views of the characters. I think it fits the book perfectly. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. 

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Virals By: Kathy Reichs

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I will be recommending Virals by: Kathy Reichs. This book is a science fiction mystery with some action.

Tory Brennan is always up for a challenge. She and her science-geek friends spend their time exploring the marshlands of Loggerhead Island. Exactly where the Loggerhead Island Research Institute is, which is completely off-limits. Sensing something weird is going on, they rescue a wolfdog from a secret lab within the Institute. Tory and her friends are now exposed to a rare canine parvovirus, changing them forever. They are no longer just friends. They are dangerous. They are a pack. They are Virals. Is it enough to catch a cold blooded murderer?

This book is a series of 5 books. The next book is called Seizure.

I liked how this book described what the characters were feeling when they went into their hyper senses.

What I didn’t like about this book was the fact that Kit spent more time with whitney than his own daughter.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Breathing Underwater By: Alex Finn

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WARNING! If you have had trouble with abuse or anger issues, this book may trigger you!

I am going to recommend Breathing Underwater by Alex Finn. This is more of a realistic fiction than anything else.

Nick Andreas was perfect. He was intelligent, handsome, popular, and wealthy. He had it all. That’s what everyone thought. No one knew the dread he felt every time he was alone with his father. Nick thinks all of his problems are over when he and Caitlin fall in love. He couldn’t be farther from the truth. Nick must face the fact that he has more of his father than his green eyes and money. Like father, like son, right?

I liked how this book took you into the mind of the one doing it instead of the victim.

I didn’t like how there were a lot of time skips throughout this book.

I would give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Black Beauty by Anna Sewwell

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I'm reading Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. Black Beauty was just born. He's about a month old or more but besides that his mother told him that he should be follow the rules. She says that you will not bite if even if it is in play, or kick, or anything to hurt anyone.

As he got to two years old, he was trained  to use the tack and all the other stuff. Black Beauty was sold to squire Gordon. Black Beauty liked this horse named Ginger, and she was treated badly and sold at a really young age. No one ever stroked her or talked to her to let her know she was okay, and after the second owner that did that she started to kick and bite. When Jonathan talked to her softly and stroked her all of that began to change.

It is a happy and sad story at the same time. I would have to say that I would give the rating 5 out of 5 stars because it had so many really good details and great words to pull you in like little fishy.

Pivot Point By: Kasie West

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Pivot Point by Kasie West is what I will be recommending. This book has romance, science fiction, and it might classify as fantasy.

Addie Coleman is a Searcher. Whenever she is faced with a decision, she has the ability to look into the future to see both outcomes. That is exactly what happens to Addie. Her parents have told her that they are getting a divorce. She can stay with her mom, in a world she has always known and is completely familiar with. Or, she can live with dad among the “Norms” where she will have to hide her powers in a world she knows practically nothing about.

In one future she is pursued by the most popular guy in school, and in the other she falls for a shy artist. Addie is then drawn into a murder investigation. With much to lose in either future, she must decide which reality she is willing through and who she is willing to live without.

I liked how this book switched between the futures, heightening the suspense throughout the book.

There isn’t anything I can think of that I don’t like about this book.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

The Martian by Andy Weir

Mark Watney is one of the first people to ever to walk on Mars, but he will surely be the first to die there.

(Source)

Mark Watney was presumed to be dead, after a satellite hits his visor in a 170 kilometer per hour storm. And his crew is forced to abandon Mars. But no! His life is saved! When it impacted his suit, it created a seal. Even though no air leaked he was in critical condition, once he hobbles back to the HAB he does a minor surgery to himself.

After all of that he starts to count how much of everything he has, rationing is necessary. Then remembering the potato seeds, and his skills with botany has a illogical idea to get water. By distilling hydrazine. everything is going his idea of perfect until BOOM! The Hab explodes. everything is misplaced. Will Mark Watey survive only using his botany and chemistry expertise? Find out by reading this awesome book. 

 Overall I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

This book is not meant for the average person, Some words are complicated. Oh, and A LOT of cussing 



Thanks for reading!

The Book Thief by: Markus Zusak

THE BOOK THIEF is one of my all time favorite books and..........the saddest book I have ever read.

picture from amazon 

Enter the world of Liesel Meminger, a 10 year old moving in with her new foster parents in Molching, Germany. The year is 1939 and the world is on the brink of war but for Liesel, a war has already begun. The war against children who tease her for being unable to read, the fact that her foster parents harboring a jew, and the sorrow that is constantly threatening to overtake her.

With the help of her new Papa, best friend Rudy, and a stack of stolen books, she will survive this terrible time. Liesel will read and make new friends only to have everything taken away from her.

This is a wonderfully well written story that brings the characters to life and allows you to feel their emotions.

As said before this book is extremely sad and not recommended for the faint of heart. It is also a higher reading level of book with some complicated words.

Eragon: by Christopher Paolini

Eragon is the first book in a fantasy series about a boy, named Eragon, and he lives in a small town with an adopted parent who doesn't truly appreciate him. He comes to find a dragon egg and with Brom, an old man who lived in that, trains him to use his sword and magic. Of course we can't forget the dragons and their riders which Eragon becomes through Brom's training. They did make a movie of this which is fair, although they didn't make a movie of any of the rest of the series. The other three books, in order, are Eldest, Brisingr, and Inheritance. I may review the other three. I must say one of my favorite parts is how the lore really expands throughout the series. Overall I give this book 5 out of 5 stars