Welcome to the Creative Corner!

Hi! Welcome to the Creative Corner! This is going to be a site devoted to book-lovers like me who are always looking for a good read. I am going to do book reviews, recommendations, list off short stories and post some of my own. If you are looking for a good, reliable source for all things book, you've found it. So, again, welcome! Hope you visit my site again soon!

Friday, October 31, 2014

Inkheart

* * * * */ Five Stars

Genre: Action, Adventure, Danger, Drama, Intellect, Loss, Humor, Romance (a tiny, mild crush  . . .)

In this enchanting classic by Cornelia Funke, Meggie and her father Mo are visiting an old book shop. This is very normal, actually, because he is a book-binder and often repairs old books. When Mo finds a book named 'Inkheart', the two of them meet Dustfinger, a fire-breather from a world of fantasy that lies inside their new book. But, as in all books, there is never just a good side; there are also the villains. And now they are after Meggie and Mo and their magical abilities to pull things out of books when they read the book out loud. In this book, the father-daughter duo will encounter; mysterious legends, an elderly writer, that Meggie's mother didn't abandon them (instead, she was trapped inside a book for all these years), an amazing castle, the tyrant lord Capricorn, and their own strength and power.
This book is BREATH-TAKING! It is an outstanding novel that everyone should own. READ IT!

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

'Bums in the Attic'

This is an exert from the story "The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisneros. It is called 'Bums in the Attic'. This harbors a very interesting storyline and overall hidden meaning. I hope you enjoy it!

I want a house on a hill like the ones with the gardens where Papa works. We go on Sundays, Papa’s day off. I used to go. I don’t anymore. You don’t like to go out with us, Papa says. Getting too old? Getting too stuck-up, says Nenny. I don’t tell them i am ashamed-- all of us staring out the window like the hungry. I am tired of looking at what we can’t have. When we win the lottery… Mama begins, and then I stop listening.
People who live on hills sleep so close to the stars they forget those of us who live too much on earth. They don’t look down at all except to be content to live on hills. They have nothing to do with last week’s garbage or fear of rats. Night comes. Nothing wakes them but the wind.
One day I’ll own my own house, but I won’t forget who I am or where I came from. Passing bums, will ask, 'Can I come in?' I’ll offer them the attic, ask them to stay, because I know how it is to be without a house.
Some days after dinner, guests and I will sit in front of a fire. Floorboards will squeak upstairs. The attic grumble.
Rats? they’ll ask.


Bums, I’ll say, and I’ll be happy.
Chasing Vermeer

* * * */ Four Stars

Genre: Action, Adventure, Mystery, Suspense, Intellect, Drama, Danger, (some) Humor

One night, three letters were sent off to three different people; telling them that they would be working together to solve a long forgotten mystery (Well, I hope that was interesting enough to keep you reading this. Now, onto the next part . . .). Anyways, now we get to Petra, a girl named after the ruins, who noticed that on the news they were talking about a stolen painting by Vermeer himself.  Her classmate, Calder, also heard about this, and with his strange problem solving abilities and his knack for puzzles, the two dive into the mystery of the lost painting, the mysterious 'three', and a strange stepfather. Will the solve the mystery? Or will their clues only lead them on a wild goose chase? Will they forever be chasing Vermeer?
I thought that this book was amazing, and that Blue Balliett crafted a truly astounding book (but you might have to read it more than once to really appreciate it and understand it). Everyone who reads it will love it!

Monday, October 27, 2014

Every Soul a Star

* * * * */ Five Stars

Genre: Adventure, Loss, Identity, Drama, Suspense, Humor, Friendship, Romance (but only some . . .)

In this inspiring book by Wendy Mass, Bree's worst nightmare has just begun. She's moving to a rinky-dink campsite called 'Moon Shadow' (that doesn't even have good reception!), away from her best friend and her dreams of becoming a model. However, she isn't the only one whose life is being turned upside-down. Ally has lived at camp Moon Shadow with her family for a while; watching the stars, playing with her little brother, and being home-schooled is part of what makes her her. But now, she is forced to move to the city and begin a new life right after an amazing solar eclipse . . . Jack is overweight, is failing his science class, and lacks confidence; but, he has a good heart and dreams that he can fly. When he goes on a trip to Moon Shadow with his 'tour group' to see the eclipse, his life, along with Bree's and Ally's, will be forever changed.
I just adored this amazing book. Wendy held on to my attention until the last page. Everyone who reads it will fall in love with this spectacular novel!




The Magic Thief

* * * */ Four Stars

Genre: Adventure, Action, Danger, Mystery, Suspense, Drama, Humor (though it is rather mild and widespread . . .)

When Conn (a street rat who's mother died) tries to steal a passing wizard's Locus Magicalus, the source of a wizard's magic (they cannot preform any magic without it), he is supposed to . . . well, be vaporized. That's what happens when a person who isn't its user snatches it. But, Conn is okay. Nothing really happened to him. The wizard in question, Nevery, has just returned from a long exile. And, seeing that Conn is different, he decides to take him on as his apprentice. Why is Conn still alive after living on the streets for so many years? Why does the magic of his city 'protect' him? What is really going on behind the loss of city magic?And finally,will Conn shine in his new role, or will he die saving all of the magic in his world?
I LOVED this enchanting book by Sarah Prineas. It is an amazing book that should have a place on everyone's shelf.

Friday, October 24, 2014

The Secret Zoo

* * * */ Four Stars

Genre: Action, Adventure, Danger, Drama, Mystery

Welcome to the world of Noah, a young boy who's little sister dissapeared. She was telling him about the zoo right before she went missing, and soon Noah and his friends begin to have strange happenings of their own at their zoo when they start to investigate.What is really going on there? Who took Meghan? What is beyond the walls of the enclosures? And, finally, what will happen when Noah and his friends decide to enter the 'Secret Zoo'?
I liked this book a lot. It was very easy to read and understand. Bryan Chick did a great job with this whimsical book, but I have to warn you; it is designed for a slightly younger crowd, so it is a little . . . quick, I guess, and it doesn't elaborate much. All in all though, if you are looking for a quick, easy, and fantastical read, you've found it. 

Thursday, October 16, 2014

A Wrinkle in Time

* * * * */ Five Stars

Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Danger, Mystery, Suspense, Intellect, Humor (just a little bit, though . . .)

When Meg lost her father years ago, she never excepted to be able to find him again. He left the country for his work and went missing. Her life pretty much went downhill from there. She's unpopular, her beloved little brother, Charles Wallace, is bullied constantly because of his stupidity (but he's holding out on them because he is actually a super-genius), and her memories of her father are slipping away. When Charles meets three mysterious women, Ms. Whatsit, Ms. Who, and Ms. Witch, Meg, Charles, and their new friend Calvin are thrust into different dimensions, troubling problems, encounters with many strange and mythical creatures, and a chance to save their father, who has been locked up by the Brain. Will they be reunited with their father? Or will they be captured and removed from this dangerous game before they get the chance to find him?
I really LOVE this book by Madeline L'Engle! It is a classic that anyone wanting a 'tricky' book that will give them thrills should read.



Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Wake

* */ Two Stars

Genre: Adventure, Action, Drama, Romance, Action, Mystery (it has some creepy, gory parts, though . . .)

Dive into the book Wake by Amanda Hocking to enter the mystical world of the sirens. Gemma is a normal girl who is a member of the swim team, is falling in love with the boy next door, and is the prettiest girl in her town. She goes for a swim in the cove like she does every night and finds the mysterious girls Penn, Lexi, and Thea. They give her a drink, and then she is found in the cove the next morning, with no memory of what had happened past that point. Gemma soon finds that she can swim super-fast, she keeps finding green-ish scales everywhere, and she is growing more and more beautiful by the day. What is happening to her? What is with this constant hunger? Is it connected to the mysterious murders going on? What do the three girls know? And finally, if this is such a good thing, a blessing, then why does she feel  . . . cursed?
Personally, I don't dig horror, so this wasn't (AT ALL) my favorite, but many other people liked it, so I decided to post about it. I think that anyone who wants a junior's take on a horror story mixed with a dangerous romance would love this astounding novel.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Lone Wolf

* * * */ Four Stars

Genre: Survival, Loss, Danger, Adventure, Action, Mystery

Welcome back to the world of The Guardians of Ga'Hoole by Kathryn Lasky! Faolan is a wolf pup that was released by the pack into the wild because he had a splayed paw. He was supposed to die, for the weak are thrown aside in these wolf packs. But, instead, he lives through the night and gets taken in by a bear named Thunderheart. Faolan is raised as one of her own, making use of his splayed paw with strange markings by digging and such with it. As he grows stronger with each day, Thunderheart doesn't. She is getting older, and her death is near; from natural causes, or from an attack, she will not last much longer. Meanwhile, Faolan explores a mysterious cave during her hibernation and finds the same strange markings on his paws on their walls. What is so special about him? What do these marks mean? Will Thunderheart live to see another summer? Was Faolan destined to be born with his peculiar weakness? Will he fulfill his mysterious destiny?
I loved this book. It is the first in the 'Wolves of the Beyond' series. If you liked any of Erin Hunter's books, you will fall into the world of the wolves in this astonishing book.

Monday, October 13, 2014

The Snow Spider

* * * */ Four Stars

Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Danger, Loss, Suspense, Mystery

In this fabulous book by Jenny Nimmo (the first in the Magician Trilogy), Gwyn's life is upside-down. His sister died, his friend is growing distant, and his own father seems to deny him. When his birthday comes around, he is given 5 unusual gifts from his grandmother; a piece of seaweed, a yellow scarf, a tin whistle, a metal brooch, and a broken toy horse. She thinks that these gifts will reveal if he is a magician, like his ancestors; Math, Lord of Gwynedd, Gwydion, and Gilfaethwy. He doesn't expect anything when he takes them; his grandmother often was a bit awry in the head most days. But then, a mysterious, beautiful, silver spider as white as the snow appears before him. Then a new girl appears in class that reminds him of someone . . . but he can't place just 'who' yet. Then, after that, he finds that he can 'release' the objects his grandmother had given him out into the wind. Is he a magician like in his grandmother's tales? Can he do magic? Is there something that he is meant to do?
I was moved by the story of The Snow Spider. It was entrancing and magical, but it also kept the ideas of sadness, perseverance, and 'moving on' steady throughout this piece. This is a bittersweet novel that is a new-found gem. Everyone looking for a book to cuddle up with will instantly fall in love with it!

Sunday, October 12, 2014

All's fair in Love and in War . . .

I have just made an amazing poem that I already love. It had no specific title (I haven't decided on one yet) so I made one up on the fly. It's about a young woman in Vietnam whom wants excitement in her life and is happy when the war swings by. What she soon realizes is that she wants her old life and her fighting husband back. This is an astounding piece that I really hope everyone will enjoy!


Melody and Harmony


I sing for my land and my family; and all the trials and grieving of past tracks;
I breathe the fresh sea air and let go of my pain again and again,
singing by the open sea side and letting my simple life slip away
wishing I and my family could make a difference


My single ‘gift’, knowledges of hurt and light and sorrow, help people move on
into my eternal, musical, sweet and embracing musical oblivion
The beautiful song I create which healing lies in:
I make my melody thrive and all the notes glow with a strong, blossoming love


Especially when I heard you were helping the cause,
I was glad you would fight for our loses,
our friends and family that fell for our freedom
How wrong I was to be happy you would go to battle


I was sparkling with pride that you and me would contribute to world peace
And inside the feeling unifying me wonderfully, making me quite joyful and happy
(You bring me to life; I will always live with you inside my sight)


This was different from the change we thought we would make;
nations changing, your letters coming from oversea lands, cursed ideas of war
smiling, suffering, medicine, and wonder; all healed and yet destroyed our land  
I still sing out, my melody and all the notes glowing with a simple love.


I imagine I still hold you; both of us crying and laughing ,
But I smiling joyously and holding your hands
but I then remember you are far away from me
(You bring me to life; I will always live with you inside my sight)


Even though I wanted the adventure of having a ‘eagle eye’ view
of the fields of labor called a battle
I was not prepared for when you left me
I found I missed our simple, plain life


When our beautiful land wasn't at war,
I lived without a care; only a fierce longing for more
I had all I needed with my home, and with you, my dear friend, who has become something more as well to my heart.


On our day, when our pledges were made, I wrote;
‘You bring me to life; I will always live with you inside my sight’
and I still stand by these words
but why must you have gone?


I miss you terribly; and yet, I still wonder
why can not the world learn from past mistakes and move on
as one, without this pain and sorrow that clouds our souls like a fog
and makes us fight for no reason, brother against brother


You should not have to suffer instead for others wanting this sacrifice;
At times my hands, head, and heart wonder if you are coming back to me again
If the world would ever learn from all our mistakes
If the soldiers like you will ever return back home
I sing my melody and all the notes are glowing with my sadness and love.
Artemis Fowl

* * * * */ Five Stars

Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Danger, Mystery, Suspense, Intellect, Fantasy, Humor (widespread, though)

Another great book by Eoin Colfer has arisen. This one, though, is about young, rich, Artemis Fowl. Artemis is a teenage genius with a bodyguard called Butler and a knack for the unusual. When he is trying to uncover the secret existence of fairies, he takes pictures of a fairy textbook, deciphers it, and then catches a fairy itself. When he takes it home to his mansion, it sparks a seemingly all-out war between the fairies and himself. These fairies are not the regular sweet, plant-loving fairies that everyone knows about from fairy tales. They have advanced technology, strong magic, and a thirst to make sure that they are not known about in the upper world (they live in a mystical world in the ground, right under the 'crust' layer of the earth). But, Artemis is up for the challenge. Will Artemis prevail with his cunning and wit? Or will the fairies best him first?
This is a great, amazing book that draws you in from the first page. I wouldn't, however, recommend this book for a younger author; it is a very smart, cunning book (much like Artemis . . .) if you understand what I mean. If you are looking for a new favorite, this is it!

Friday, October 10, 2014

Where The Red Fern Grows

* * * */ Four Stars

Genre: Action, Adventure, Realistic Fiction, Drama, Loss

In this inspiring book by Wilson Rawls, Billy is a boy who always wanted some hunting dogs. When he saves up his money to get some, he ends up with puppies Dan and Ann; two Redbone Coonhounds. As the bond between the three grows, their skills come in to play, and the three become a fierce force to reckon with in the hunting world. Ann is the smart one, Dan the fighter, and Billy himself the glue that molds them together. As their friendship grows, bad luck strikes. Dan dies suddenly, and everyone is devastated. Will Billy and Ann be able to mend their broken hearts, or will more tragedy and heartbreak follow in their paths?
I was touched and moved by this inspiring story from Rawls. It is now an apparent classic that will be beloved by anyone who reads it.

Percy Jackson Fans: LOOK AT THIS RIGHT NOW!!!!!

Just a reminder . . . THE NEW HEROES OF OLYMPUS BOOK IS OUT!!!!! If you haven't bought it yet, just let me say . . . buy it. I really can't say it any clearer. Barnes and Nobel already has it out for an awesome price (especially on orders and deliveries) and is already shipping them out. This has been the most successful book release all year, so you have to get it now before it is gone! Already about half of many booksellers' stocks of this book are sold out, so if you want to get your hands on it fast, send word out now. YOU WILL MISS IT OTHERWISE! Anyways, if you haven't seen the spin-off series of the initial Percy Jackson books, they look like this (yes, they are in the wrong order; The Son of Neptune should be before The Mark of Athena) :



The new book looks like this:



Anyways, please go and get this book; there needs to be more Percy Jackson lovers out there! BUY IT! NOW!!!!!
Deep Blue

* * * * */ Five Stars

Genre: Action, Adventure, Danger, Suspense, Mystery, Drama, Humor (like 'curren-sea'!  . . . well, after you read it, you will understand . . .)

In this incredible book by Jennifer Donnelly, Serafina is a princess. But not like any other princess on land; in fact, she doesn't rule on land at all. She is a mermaid princess attending her engagement ceremony when all hell breaks lose. An arrow zips through the crowd, killing her mother, the queen. Mermaids of all kinds flee; some are killed, some escape, but she and her best friend find out about the only way to save the entire realm from falling. Surprisingly, it lies in an old tale about the original 'enchantresses', or sea witches, of the waters. They soon find out that there is a prophecy that predicts that 6 mermaids scattered across the seas are going to be the new witches, creating an unimaginable bond that will save both their homelands and the world. Will Serafina and her new-found 'sisters' be able to fight for the sake of the seas and win? Will she and her friend be caught before they even get the chance to gather them all? Will the assassin be revealed? Or will Serafina and her new friends fail, and slink off slowly into the deep, deep blue . . . ?
Well, I will tell you this; I was in love with this book from the first page. To be honest, I really tried to avoid this book at first; I thought it would be dumb, since it was about mermaids and all. But, as soon as I got down into it, I instantly regretted ignoring it. This is one that everyone will enjoy, and another great novel that is destined to be a classic!

The Wish List

* * * */ Five Stars

Genre: Humor, Drama, Danger, Suspense, Intellect, Action, Adventure (and one chapter/part of the book about his old love . . . so some romance . . .)

When Meg Finn goes to rob old man Lowrie in exchange for a favor, she didn't expect to die. No, Lowrie wasn't supposed to even be up. Her 'partner' in this crime, Belch, loaned her a video camera that could change her life by exposing her stepfather for what he really was; a selfish pig that didn't shed a tear when her mother died and used her as a slave in her own house. She knew the cost of borrowing this would be high, but she didn't expect that she would have to go such lengths to repay him. So, there she was, with the old man behind her, and Belch about to set his dog upon him. Meg found that she couldn't do it, and so she and Belch fell out a window and ended up dead. Belch, for all his sins, went to hell with the rest of the demons. But, Meg didn't. Her last act, saving Lowrie before she died, made her tally of deeds even; dead even. Now she has to go back to earth to help the person whom she did wrong; Lowrie. If she succeeds and becomes more good than bad, she gets a free-pass to heaven. But, the Devil is mad that he didn't get Meg. He is sending Belch back to 'make her bad'. Will Meg help Lowrie fix his mess of a life before he dies? Or will Belch turn her 'bad', and send her spiraling towards hell?
Eoin Colfer has crafted quite the novel! In this page-turner (no, this isn't creepy, despite the heaven-and-hell thing going on) I was moved by Meg and Lowrie's attempt at fixing up their broken lives and their new-found friendship. I think that anyone who reads it will love this book; especially the ending!

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Micheal Vey: Prisoner of Cell 25

* * * * */Five Stars

Genre: Adventure, Action, Drama, Danger, Suspense, Mystery, Humor (some of it dry . . .)

Richard Paul Evans has crafted an amazing novel! This book is about teen Micheal Vey, whom is electric. 'Well, everyone's electric,' you may argue, but Micheal is different from other people. He can shoot electricity out of his body, and seems to generate more and more with each passing day. When his secret is found out by a secret society whom hosts 'glows', or other teens with electric powers, they kidnap his mom and try to make him and his new electric friend, Taylor, join them. Will Micheal fight them and win? Will he help everyone escape? Will he get back his mom? Or will he end up short, a prisoner of the torturous cell 25?
I was thrilled with this book! Anyone who loved Percy Jackson's adventures will love this great read!

Thursday, October 2, 2014

A Long Walk to Water

* * * * */ Five Stars

Genre: Adventure, Drama, Danger, Suspense

In this astounding book by Linda Sue Park, young Salva witnesses an attack on his village. He and the others in the school run away frantically and try to make it home safely, where their families are. When Salva gets home, there is nobody there. He runs off with the rest of his village into a big shelter in the desert for the night, but Salva held them down, so they left without him. Alone and abandoned, Salva is out there without food, water, or even an idea about where he should go. His situation seems utterly hopeless. Meanwhile, several years later in 2008, a girl named Nya is in a pickle of her own. She has to walk several miles each day about 3 times to collect only about a 1/4 cup of water for her thirsty family (and the water is over 5 hours away). She is wondering if things will ever get better when a mysterious builder comes to her village and starts making the men dig a huge hole in the heart of their town. Will Salva ever find his family and find where he belongs? Will things ever change for Nya and her weary family?
Well, with that said, I guess you will have to read this book to find out! Even though it is short, it is based off a real story and really captures your attention. I know that everyone who peeks inside will love this action-packed read!

Elsewhere

* * * */ Four Stars

Genre: Drama, Action, Adventure, Romance (but only some . . . just a little . . .)

In this intriguing book by Gabrielle Zevin, Liz is dead. At least, she hasn't quite realized she's dead . . . Anyways, she wakes up in white pj's on a cruise ship with a bunch of other people. Mainly old people, but some are teenagers like her. She spends about a month on the ship with her new friend (who got shot) and finally realizes she's dead. When the ship stops to make port, it lands in a place called elsewhere, where everyone ages backwards from the day they die. She meets her grandmother (who is now in her late thirties) and goes to explore the land of 'elsewhere'. She soon finds out; you only age backwards (if you were 16 when you died, in a year you would be 15), life is more of a continuous infintious stream, you can be reborn (but not before your time), pets that die go here as well, and that a life lived backwards is not something that she's ready to embrace. Will she ever except that she can't go back to her old life, or will she reject her new one here forever?
In this amazing novel, I was sucked in to the story automatically. I know that everyone will love this great book.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Bridge to Terrabithia

* * * * */ Five Stars

Genre: Drama, Adventure, Loss, Suspense, Action

When Jessie meets Lesley, everything changes in this wonderfully crafted and yet sorrowful novel by Katherine Patterson. In this book, Jessie and his family live on some-what of a farm. Here, Jessie practices every day in the fields this summer at running. At school this year, he knows that there will be races in the schoolyards. When it's time for the races, all the boys line up; but so does the new girl. She's so good, in fact, that she easily beats all the boys and sprints across the finish line with ease. When he finds out that she lives right across the way, a friendship begins. The two are fast friends and soon want their own place. What they find is an old, crusty rope that they use to swing across to a land of imagination called 'Terrabithia'. Deep in the woods, pretending to be kings and queens of their imaginary world, their friendship blossoms. Then, suddenly, when Jessie is out on a trip with his teacher, Leslie, his only friend, dies when the rope they have been using to swing on snapped. Can Jessie finally come to terms with losing his best friend and ever forgive himself in return?
In this unforgettable novel about friendship and loss, I couldn't stop turning the pages. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a sad, inspirational novel.