Author Archives: Kyle H.

The Last of the Jedi by Jude Watson

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lastofthejedi_judewatsonEver wish you could relive your first Star Wars experience–watching the movies or riding Star Tours–all over again? Well, you can’t, but with the new movie, The Force Awakens, coming up in December, I thought it was about time to get myself back into the Star Wars swing of things. This is when I started to read the book series The Last of the Jedi.

This series follows Obi-Wan Kenobi as he survives Order 66, looks after Luke Skywalker on Tatooine, and goes on multiple new adventures with the help of new friends. In between Episodes III and IV of the Star Wars movies, not a lot is known; but this book series explains everything. It is also heart-warming to see my favorite character’s names in print and read about their adventures. Obi-Wan Kenobi is forced from his exile to rescue an old Jedi friend who also survived the purge. In doing so, he discovers that there are more Jedi hiding around the galaxy. Another part of the story that made me almost fall out of my seat where the mentions of Darth Vader.

Anakin/Vader had always been my favorite character in the entire Star Wars universe, and to read about him while putting my own mental images of his movie self was amazing. If you have not read these books, and love Star Wars like myself, I encourage you to do so. If you have not seen the Star Wars movies… then you should really get outside more.

-Kyle H.

The Last of the Jedi series is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Public Library. 

Blackout by Robin Wells

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blackout_robinwellsImagine you are having a nice day in a peaceful, secluded town when suddenly the government is hauls you and your friends away to test for a biological virus that could give you, or any other teens in the whole world, super powers. This is what it is like for Aubrey Parsons, a normal girl in high school, is suddenly thrown headfirst into a battle between the U.S. government and a terrorist organization using super-teens to destroy national monuments across the country.

With this information, the U.S. government uses their teens to stop these terrorists. Aubrey is highly suited for the situation having some of those powers herself. She has the ability to become unnoticed by anyone around her. Aubrey, along with some friends, eventually joins a special task force in the army that specializes in the destruction of terrorist groups and will help bring the war to an end.

The author, Robin Wells, tells the story from the point of view of a few teens with special powers caused by the virus that go on adventures to stop, or join forces with, the terrorists. Having families back home and being abducted by the government, these kids don’t know who to trust; but they do know one thing: they will not let these terrorists continue to destroy their country and the people in it.

-Kyle H.

Blackout is available for check out from the Mission Viejo Public Library. 

I Become Shadow by Joe Shine

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ibecomeshadow_joeshineI Become Shadow is a story about a society called F.A.T.E. Now, I forget what that stands for, but it’s basically a government agency that captures children at the age of 14 and trains them to be human weapons. Once these kids become fully trained Shadows at age 18, they wait until they are assigned to a “link.” Links are people who will one day make astonishing breakthroughs in science and technology and indirectly protect them until he or she makes their discovery. These Shadows are there to see but not be seen, to hear but not be heard.

The story is told in first person by Ren, a girl and social outcast who is kidnapped and forced to become a Shadow. Following her training process, she comes to realize that it isn’t so bad, and that she is actually trying to become better. Excelling through all aspects of transforming into a human weapon, Ren is given her link: a college guy named Gareth. Because of certain circumstances, Ren is forced to make direct contact with her link, breaking the rules that define a Shadow. Over time, she becomes friends with Gareth, and encourages him as he creates a wheat seed that can grow without water.

While I was reading this story, I thought it would be cool to have the abilities that the Shadows have, but it wouldn’t be cool to be taken from my family in the dead of night at age 14 and forced to undergo 4 years of rigorous training to not be seen again. If you’ve read and liked this book, want to read it, or read something similar, post a comment!

-Kyle H.

I Become Shadow is available for check out from the Mission Viejo Public Library. 

Required Reading: It’s Actually a Good Thing

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bookstack2Why do we have required reading? There are some advantages and disadvantages to school-chosen books that I’d like to discuss.

First off, some of the books we read in school are actually pretty good, but some are slow, uneventful stories that bore us until we can’t stand it. However, a lot of the time, the books we want to read are not always available, so at least we do get to read (for those of you who like to read), and we end up getting exposed to some new material. Also, we get exposed to higher vocabulary and harder dialogue that test our readability skills, and makes us better readers and writers. It is proven that those who read more are able to write more advanced pieces. Reading books that are “out of our comfort zone” expand our minds to become more creative and inventive thinkers, and this can help us in our lives after school.

If one does not enjoy reading as much as his or her peers, one might become irritated at the act of reading; specifically reading the kind of books that one might not like as opposed to others. As a person who loves to read in his free time, I don’t mind reading books that I probably would not have picked up on my own trip to the library.

Also as this post discusses, the advantages to required reading surpass the disadvantages by a substantial amount.

Please post a comment about your ideas on the subject whether you agree or disagree with my opinion of required reading.

-Kyle H., 8th grade

Favorite Book Characters of 2014

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The book characters that I loved from the stories I read in 2014 would have to include James Potter from the new James Potter fanfiction series by G. Norman Lippert. I think that it is the coolest thing to make books about Harry Potter’s kid and his journeys at school. His creative personality helps him discover the secrets of the riddles of the castle and the weird occurrences at his school.

Another character that I thought was cool was from the Divergent series by Veronica Roth; Four (Tobias). He is an incredible spy/agent that works on his own agenda and works to take down a corrupt government with a group of rebels. Four is the ultimate hero and I thought his skills deserved a place on my list.

Also on my list of awesome characters in stories from 2014 is Eragon from the Eragon series by Christopher Paolini. I thought that the concept of the book was so cool because I love science fiction novels, especially ones with such a developed and exciting character like Eragon. He is a really amazing fighter and dragon rider that saves his world from annihilation. Eragon is the definition of a hero and with so many plot twists and surprising turns in the story, he constantly has to adapt to different circumstances.

These characters really impact my life as I try to be more like them in having goals and meeting them with success. My new year’s resolution is to read more books with heroes like these and to become more like them!

-Kyle H., 8th grade

Fic Recommendation: James Potter and the Hall of Elders Crossing by G. Norman Lippert

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james_potterAfter reading the whole Harry Potter series, and loving every book, did you feel a little sad when it was over? Did you want more magic and more Hogwarts and to know what happened to Hogwarts after the battle? I have found exactly what you need.

James Potter and the Hall of Elders Crossing is a story about Harry’s firstborn son James Sirius Potter and his misadventures as a first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This story is fan fiction, not part of the official series, and is available for download as a free ebook. The last chapter of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (SPOILER!) showed Harry and Ginny and Ron and Hermione at Platform 9 ¾ saying good bye to their kids as they jumped aboard the Hogwarts Express. One year earlier, however, is how this story starts.

As James comes to Hogwarts, strange things begin to happen, indeed. Is a Muggle really inside Hogwarts? If so, how did he get in? Why did he come? Join James and his new friends Zane and Ralph as they become learned in the magical arts by some old, new, and surprising professors.

I have to say, I’ve read some other books that claim they know what happened to the wizarding world, but only G. Norman Lippert knows the truth. If you were ever disappointed with sequels that just didn’t fit, you won’t be with this story. I haven’t found one error in any of the story, and I am a diehard Harry Potter freak fan. Anyway, this story is a great read, amazing storyline, and just a fun book overall for those of us where there was never enough Harry Potter.

-Kyle H., 8th grade

Series Introduction: The Heir Chronicles, by Cinda Williams Chima

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heir_chroniclesHave you ever wanted to be able to see the future? To be able to do magic? Fight with magic swords? Talk people into giving you things, heal the toughest of wounds and illnesses, or take power and energy out of other people?

The ones who can are called the Weir. They have five guilds, all with separate powers and abilities. The sorcerers can heal any wound and can work with amulets and other material magic. Enchanters can talk people into giving them anything, or even doing something for them. Warriors are the brawn of the guilds and the weapon wielding Weir. The seers can see into the future, and can sometimes control it, too. Wizards, the most powerful of all, shape magic with words and have enslaved the other guilds into obeying them and giving them authority.

This four book series, which includes The Warrior Heir, The Wizard Heir, The Dragon Heir, and The Enchanter Heir, are stories of how these guilds battle against one another and fight for equal power amongst all the guilds. The main characters include Jack and Ellen, who are warriors, Will and Fitch, who are AnaWeir or non magical, Linda and Jonah, who are enchanters, Leander, Seph, Jason and many others who are wizards, and Madison, who is an elictor. Elictors draw magic out of other people to use it themselves or to stop their opponents.

I am currently reading the fourth book of the series, The Enchanter Heir, which is about a young enchanter named Jonah. I haven’t gone too far into the book now, but right after I finish writing this I am going to go and read it. If anyone has read these books please post a comment below about which guild you would be a part of or if you liked these books!

-Kyle H., 8th grade

Book vs Movie: Percy Jackson

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percy_book_movieI think this is the best place to say “The books were better than the movies” because I am going to talk about the Percy Jackson series. That saying works best with this series because the books were the best books I have ever read and the movies… not so much.

If I had not read the book and I saw the movie, then I would have thought that it was a cool story and a good movie overall. But since I read the book first, I had a 10/10 rating in my hand and a less than 10/10 rating on the screen. The movie makers aren’t even going to make a third movie because they aren’t making a profit on them.

The books are written in the perspective of Percy Jackson, which is hard to do when you’re writing, and gives a whole lot more description about what is going on. First off, in the movies, there was no description as deep as the description from the books and they left out huge things from the books that the storyline barely made sense. They also added things from the last book that totally ruined what the second book was about!

But I am not just here to criticize the movies; I am also here to talk about how AMAZING the books were. You’ve got action most of all that is really cool to picture in my mind. The description is really great because I am able to visualize and make a movie in my head about what is happening in the book! My head movies are better than the movie theater movies even! (I wonder if the director even read the book…)

Also, the Heroes of Olympus series is just as good. All these books aren’t some of those “and they lived happily ever after” stories; these books actually make you think and enjoy and relate to the characters. I know I am not the only one that is waiting for the next Heroes of Olympus book that just came out and I also know that I am not the only one who is really excited for it!

I know this Book vs. Movie post is kind of late, since the books have been out a while and the movies too, but I have just recently been reading them and watching them again. I am sorry for those of you who turned 13 and did not get chased by monsters to Camp Half Blood, but those of you who are not 13 yet, don’t lose hope! If anyone, and I am sure there are a lot of you, feels the same way about these books and movies, or if you don’t, please leave a comment below!

-Kyle H., 8th grade

Book Review: SYLO, by D.J. MacHale

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syloSYLO is a story about an island off the east coast of the United States of America where there is supposedly a virus that leaked out.

A group of kids on the island tried to figure out what the virus is and why SYLO came. The longer SYLO stays on the island, the more suspicious the inhabitants get. Now, these kids will try to find out everything. All information will be theirs about SYLO, the mysterious Ruby, the victims of the virus, and who else is involved. As they learn more, they discover the SYLO officers contacting their parents. Once this is discovered, the kids get even more suspicious. Their limits are tested as these kids will be chased, questioned, in danger, and scared. But in the midst of all things seeming lost, there is always friendship and determination to get them through whatever task might come before them.

However, there might be obstacles that even these determined kids cannot surpass. Such as alien weaponry, and government associations that out-man, outgun, and might outwit these kids on their journey to find the truth and the lies. What is the virus? Who is SYLO? Why are their parents involved? How did the Ruby get onto their island? What are the kids going to do about everything?

All of these questions will be solved when you read SYLO.

-Kyle H., 7th grade

Series Review: The Last of the Jedi

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last_jediI, for one, love the six Star Wars movies, and I am really excited about the new ones yet to come from Disney. That’s why, while at the Mission Viejo Library, I found a whole new Star Wars book series: The Last of the Jedi.

This series takes place in between Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, which is my favorite, and Episode IV: A New Hope. Now, I am not going to spoil anything too much about the two movies or the book series, but I will start off my “summary” by saying this: it is awesome!

As of right now I am on book 7 out of 10 known books, there might be more, and I love the storyline! It is about Ferus Olin who is trying to get the Jedi back together. He is successful at times, and others not so much, so it really keeps the reader on edge of what will happen next.

Also, familiar characters are in these books such as Darth Vader, Obi Wan Kenobi, Emperor Palpatine, and Grand Moff Tarkin. The author, Jude Watson, has taken many small details of the Star Wars films and put hints of them throughout the series, so if you want to read this series, I suggest watching the movies first. Although the books explain things well, you won’t get a single word of it until you see the movies.

If anyone has seen the movies and loved them like me, hopefully all of you, or read the series, then leave a comment so that I can see other thoughts about the books!

-Kyle H., 7th grade