The Atomic Weight of Secrets or The Arrival of the Mysterious Men in Black by Eden Unger Bowditch

Title:         The Atomic Weight of Secrets or The Arrival of the Mysterious Men in Black
SubTitle:   The Young Inventors Guild: Book One
Publisher:  Bancroft Press
Pub Date:  03/15/2011
ISBN:        9781610880022
Author:      Eden Unger Bowditch

Book Summary: -

In 1903, five truly brilliant young inventors, the children of the world’s most important scientists, are taken from their lives and their parents by the mysterious men in black. They take twelve-year-old Jasper and six-year-old Lucy Modest from London, England; nine-year-old Wallace Banneker from New York, United States; twelve-year-old Noah Canto-Sagas from Toronto, Canada; and thirteen-year-old Faye Vigyanveta from New Delhi, India, depositing them all at a strange, isolated farmhouse in Dayton, Ohio, with kindly schoolteacher Miss Brett. But what mysterious invention have all the children, unbeknownst to one another, been working on? Who are the men in black? And are the men in black trying to kidnap them—or protect them?



My Review: -

The starting of this book is very slow. Until I almost want to give up reading. Anyway the pace never really increases later. But I was curious to know who are these men in black and whether they are good or bad guys. I was also curious whether the children will successfully run away and rescue their parents or not. One thing the children learn is that a man dress in suit not necessary is a gentleman; a man dress in weirdo outfit not necessary is a bad guy. From being a lonesome the children learn to make friend with each other and work together as a team. The ending was rather disappointing. But I guess we suppose to find the answer from Book 2 or probably Book 3 since it is a trilogy.

I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.


Note: I receive the ARC of this book from the publisher via Net Gallery. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The Goddess Test by Aimée Carter

Title:         The Goddess Test
SubTitle:    Book I in The Goddess Test series
Publisher:   Harlequin
Imprint:      HarlequinTEEN
Pub Date:   04/26/2011
ISBN:         9780373210268
Author:       Aimée Carter


Book Description:

EVERY GIRL who has taken the test has DIED.

Now it's KATE'S TURN.

It’s always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate’s going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won’t live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he’ll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he’s crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she’ll become Henry’s future bride, and a goddess.

If she fails...


Excert from The Goddess Test:

“The prize is immortality,” Henry said. “It’s not something we give out lightly, and we need to make sure it is something you can handle.”

I felt a cold block of ice form in the pit of my stomach. So my choices now were to live forever or die trying. Somehow it didn’t seem fair.

“You will do well,” Henry said. “I can feel it. And afterward, you will help me do something that no one else is capable of doing. You will have power beyond imagining, and you will never fear death again. You will never grow old and you will always be beautiful. You will have eternal life to spend as you wish.” But would I have my mother?


My Review:

The story is written as Kate as the first person. Kate is independent and kind. Despite cheated by a new friend she just got to know in the new school, she did not hesitate to help her even though the situation put her life in danger. Due to her mother's illness, she treasured life more than others. She was even willing to do anything to save her friends. This shows how selfless Kate is. Sadly in reality there are lots of people like to take advantage of others despite being their good friend.

The story is based on Greek Mythology on the tale of Persephone and Hades. Since Kate is the first person in the story, there were lots of thoughts from Kate. I wish there were more thoughts from Henry were told in the story, for example when and how Henry fall in love with Kate.

I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.


Author bio:

Aimée Carter was born in 1986 and attended the University of Michigan. She started writing at age eleven, focusing first on fan fiction and later on original work, and hasn’t stopped since. The Goddess Test is her first novel.  Check out her website at www.aimeecarter.com.


Note: I receive the ARC of this book from the publisher via Net Gallery. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Hereafter by Tara Hudson

 

 Title:         Hereafter

Publisher:   HarperCollins
Imprint:     HarperTeen
Pub Date:  06/07/2011
ISBN:       9780062026774
Author:     Tara Hudson

Book Description:

For Amelia, time has all but slowed to a stop as her spirit remains stranded alone in the dark waters of a mysterious river. She knows she’s died, but with no recollection of her past life--or her actual death--she’s trapped in one long continuous nightmare, in which she cannot feel anything or interact with anyone. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a teenage boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in a moment of connection, he looks in her eyes and becomes the first person in the world to see that she still exists.

When he touches her, Joshua sparks strange and wonderful sensory feelings in Amelia--at first just momentary flashes, then pulses that become ever stronger as he leads her out of the river and into his life. As Amelia and Joshua uncover who she was and the strange circumstances of her death, new problems arise: somehow, Joshua’s grandmother seems to know exactly what is going on between them, and Eli, a ghost enforcer, is hell-bent on destroying their happiness and dragging Amelia back into the spirit world.

With every touch and the growing feelings that come with them, Amelia and Joshua begin to wonder if there’s something special not only about Joshua but also the dark river that held her captive for so long. Can there truly be love after death?

This is a beautiful story, a beautiful love story between a ghost and a human. After seeing Amelia during his near death accident, Joshua couldn't help but attracted to her. And that's made everything change for Amelia. She was no more wondering around aimlessly. She started to get flash back memories on her past life. She gained back some of the senses that she had lost after her death. Together with Joshua, she found out who she was. Though she did not harm Joshua, but Joshua grandmother's Ruth who was a seer did not trust her and wanted to exorcize her. At the same time, the evil spirit Eli wanted to claim Amelia as his apprentice. Despite all these, Joshua and Amelia's feelings to each other did not change. And I believe it is their innocence love that brings out the power hidden inside Amelia. I admire her courage and strong will to defense herself from surrender to the evil spirit. How many of us can really deny to gain power and take control? Not all ghosts are evil. Just like not all human are good people. 

I enjoy reading this book very much. Both Amelia and Joshua's characters are well defined. Amelia's thoughts and emotion are well presented throughout the whole story. And the story is very attractive and intriguing.

I rate it 4 out of 5 stars. 

Book Trailer:

Note: I receive the ARC of this book from the publisher via Net Gallery. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Summer's Crossing by Julie Kagawa

Summer's Crossing is a novella between The Iron Queen and The Iron Knight. The Iron Queen end with Meghan becomes the queen of the Iron Fey staying in the Iron realm, leaving Ash and Puck behind. Ash determines to find a way to go back to Meghan. And Push does not want to be left alone despite Ash does not invite him to come along.

In Summer's Crossing, just when Ash and Robin Goodfellow (Puck) want to continue their journey, the Exile Queen appears to collect the favor from Ash. Ash left with no choice but to go to Summer Court to collect the item for Exile Queen from Queen Titania, the Summer Court's queen. However Ash is the prince of Winter Court, the enemy of Summer Court, it is definitely not safe for him to travel to Summer Court all by himself. Thus Puck is taking Ash to Summer Court.

It may be a challenge for Puck to bring Ash to Summer Court without being noticed but he definitely capable of doing that. However he also falls into dilemma whether he should help Ash or get rid of him in Summer Court. Both of them have fallen in love with Meghan. But Meghan's heart is on Ash, and treating Puck as her very good friend. So if Ash is no longer around, he will have a much higher chance to win her over.

It is a joy to read Summer's Crossing. The adventure to Summer Court is light and fun. It is written from Puck's point of view, where he is the first person here. So we get to know his inner thoughts; his feelings towards Meghan, his princess; his mixed feelings on Ash. I can't stop myself from smiling over his brilliant and witty character. I'm not sure whether he treats Ash as his friend or still as an enemy, but his willingness to help Ash to get the job done, prove to me his noble spirit. It makes me light-hearted reading about Puck and his brilliant and devious plan to get the job done.

I rate it 4 out of 5 stars. 


P/s: You can download the eBook of Summer's Crossing for free for limited time period, from Harlequin Teen website.