The Charmed Bracelet (Nancy Drew: Girl Detective Graphic Novels #7)

Ned Nickerson arrested for shoplifting! Nancy Drew threatened with a lawsuit!  A rare computer chip stolen from Rackham Industries! It all gets even more exciting when Nancy receives a mysterious charm bracelet in the mail - and soon a crime is committed for each charm!  Will Nancy, even with the help of Bess and George, be able to find the real culprit before Ned is convicted?  Ages 8 to 12.

So i really enjoyed reading the original books, not that i have read all of them but several . Those were fine for my age/reading level. Yet these just aren't, they are just overly dumbed down and also the characters seem to be different and not as "smart" as the original series is. I realize that these are for ages 8-12 but i feel like i could have read this and understood it at 6 or 7. I don't think most 12 year old's are really going to enjoy them . I didn't really enjoy it as much as i wanted too, but its okay for younger kids.

Marcelo in the Real World

Marcelo Sandoval hears music no one else can hear--part of the autism-like impairment no doctor has been able to identify--and he's always attended a special school where his differences have been protected. But the summer after his junior year, his father demands that Marcelo work in his law firm's mailroom in order to experience "the real world." There Marcelo meets Jasmine, his beautiful and surprising coworker, and Wendell, the son of another partner in the firm.

He learns about competition and jealousy, anger and desire. But it's a picture he finds in a file -- a picture of a girl with half a face -- that truly connects him with the real world: its suffering, its injustice, and what he can do to fight.

Reminiscent of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" in the intensity and purity of its voice, this extraordinary novel is a love story, a legal drama, and a celebration of the music each of us hears inside.

This book was so cute, yet the main character hit on some hard issues along the way. I really enjoyed all of the different relationships between Marcelo and others. And Marcelo, i loved reading about him and seeing things from his point of view and how he learns and grows through the story. I really enjoyed reading this through his perspective. I normally prefer reading though a girls perspective, as i am a girl. But this one I was fine with reading it through his. I would defiantly recommend this to anyone. Its a cute and slightly romantic book that anyone can learn more from. 

Sigh of the Beast

"The Thumbprint Mysteries" series have been carefully written for young adults and adults at a particular reading level. Each book presents a suspense crime in which one or more mystery murders must be solved. Readers follow the clues and draw conclusions about the suspects and events, helped by the characters who are trying to solve the crimes. The mystery genre guarantees enjoyable reading at all three levels. Teaching notes accompany the three different levels. These include, for each title, a pre-reading activity and synopsis of the plot, followed by vocabulary and skills work. An answer key is also provided.Joan Lowery Nixon, president of the Mystery Writers of America, has found 10 well-known writers to craft spellbinding stories for adults who want to read but have undeveloped reading skills. Here are stories with adult themes and interests that challenge adult minds. All of the books in the series are written at the fourth- sixth- and eighth-grade reading levels, yet offer characters, situations, and concerns appropriate for adult readers.

Okay so i didn't know about the whole reading level thing, It doesnt have anything on the book about it. As someone who has a college  reading level i dont normally pick up books like this. But even though it was written for those who struggle with reading, it was pretty good and i enjoyed it nevertheless. I would defiantly recommend it to someone who may struggle with reading. This is my 4th book for the readathon, another short one at 93 pages. Which makes my total pages read so far at just at 449. 

Dinner With a Perfect Stranger

You are Invited to a Dinner with Jesus of Nazareth: The mysterious envelope arrives on Nick Cominsky's desk amid a stack of credit card applications and business-related junk mail. Although his seventy-hour workweek has already eaten into his limited family time, Nick can’t pass up the opportunity to see what kind of plot his colleagues have hatched…

The normally confident, cynical Nick soon finds himself thrown off-balance, drawn into an intriguing conversation with a baffling man who comfortably discusses everything from world religions to the existence of heaven and hell. And this man who calls himself Jesus also seems to know a disturbing amount about Nick’s personal life.

I really enjoyed reading this book and it was a little different then I expected but still really good.  I enjoyed the story and how a guy who did his best to not  believe a word of it, eventually came around to it and etc. It wasn't a long book by any means, only at 100 pages long it was a short but sweet read. I would totally recommend it. This is my 3 readathon book of the week and have currently read a total of 356 so far in this readathon. So far so good! 

Helen Keller's Teacher

The true story of the dedicated woman, Anne Sullivan Macy, who became Helen Keller's teacher and lifelong friend.
This is the second book i have read during the Readathon I am currently doing and it was a short one, AT only 157 pages it was a short yet informational read. I really enjoyed it and the unique look you go at Annie Sullivan. I would defiantly recommend it!

Readathon!

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 12th and runs through Sunday, May 18th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 10 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team
http://boutofbooks.blogspot.com/2014/04/bout-of-books-10-sign-up.html

So I have never jioned a eeadathon so this is the day to do it! I seem to always find out to late but for once I didnt! (Yayaya) so I am jioning this readathon and will hopefully get through some books this week. So I hope some of you join me on this reading journey. 

The Ocean of Osyria (Hardy Boys Graphic Novels: Undercover Brothers #1)

Collected from the first three Hardy Boys comics, here's the complete saga of Frank and Joe's adventure in the war-torn Middle Eastern land of Osyria! After rescuing Jackpot, a kidnapped prize-winning racehorse, Frank and Joe are stunned to return to Bayport and discover that the Department of International Security has arrested their best friend, Chet Morton, for stealing a priceless art treasure! The Hardy Boys decide the only way to clear the friend is to journey to the Middle East and find the Ocean of Osyria themselves! Ages 8 to 12.
Papercutz is the exciting new graphic novel publisher that's building a huge following among the next generation of comics fans. Even the most reluctant readers are becoming addicted to the Papercutz approach of giving classic characters a modern makeover! Each Papercutz graphic novel features comics stories drawn in the style of the popular Japanese comics known as manga, and beautifully rendered with state of the art color. While educators rave about the high quality of the Papercutz writing and artwork, readers 8 and up are simply enjoying the great adventures found in each fun-filled volume. Be sure to check out other Papercutz titles such as Nancy Drew, Totally Spies, and Zorro.

I really liked this graphic novel as far as the graphics go. I didnt't love the story though, it seemed like parts didn't flow right and overall didn't sound right. So its hard to follow along and always know that everything you read doesn't always make sense. I felt like it could have been better then it was but it wasn't horrible. I dont know whether i would recommend it or not, I really don't... 

Sticks and Stones

Jujube is thrilled when Brent asks her out. She is not so happy when the rumors start flying at school. Pretty soon her name is showing up on bathroom walls and everyone is snickering and sniping. When her mother gets involved, Jujube's reputation takes another hit. Deciding that someone has to take a stand, Jujube gathers all the other girls who are labelled sluts and worse and tries to impress on her fellow students the damage that can be done by assigning a label that reduces a person to an object.

This book was a short story on basically how words and rumors can hurt people. The main protagonist in the story was able to come out on top of it all but many people arent so lucky.I would defiantly read this book. 

Beast

Meet the Beast-- before there was Beauty

Orasmyn is the prince of Persia and heir to the throne. His religion fills his heart and his mind, and he strives for the knowledge and leadership his father demonstrates. But on the day of the Feast of Sacrifices, Orasmyn makes a foolish choice that results in a fairy's wretched punishment: He is turned into a beast, a curse to be undone only by the love of a woman.

Thus begins Orasmyn's journey through the exotic Middle East and sensuous France as he struggles to learn the way of the beast, while also preserving the mind of the man. This is the story of his search, not only for a woman courageous enough to love him, but also for his own redemption.

So I didn't like certain parts of this book, there were a couple parts were he was a lion and did lion things that were really disturbing atleast to me and a saw a bunch of other people too. I enjoyed most of the rest of the book but thought that certain things were out of proportion, like there was a ton about when he was a lion, i felt like she didn't have enough of his time with Belle. There wasn't really much on an ending either, It just kind of ended after he turned back into a human. But there wasn't really any after that. That's my pet peeves showing through but ya, that's what went through my mind. 

God Is Able

Got an IMPOSSIBLE situation? The anxiety it brings can wake you in the middle of a needed night’s sleep and then stalk you in the middle of broad daylight. It can sneak up on you and cast a cloak of fear and concern over your shoulders that you can’t seem to shake no matter how hard you try. It can take you down. Squash all hope. Stop you in your tracks. 
IMPOSSIBLE. IMPENETRABLE. UNCHANGEABLE. Maybe so . . . until God gets involved. No matter the details of your circumstance, His raw power potential and immeasurable ability refuse to cower in the face of any challenge. Nothing is impossible with God. Nothing. Not even that thing. This is the uplifting, well-reasoned answer from New York Times best-selling author Priscilla Shirer—not a denial of life’s adversities and troubles, but a biblical reminder that God is always up to great things, even when His great things are greater then instant remedies and visible change. He is a God who cares . . . and a God who CAN. Believe it. Experience it. God Is Able.

I received this book through a giveaway, I was excited but not bouncing off the walls to read it. I started getting excited as I started reading it. I loved the humorous way she writes and still get her serious point across at the same time. Not to much funny business but not to serious either. I really enjoyed the way she blended everything together and I love her style. I would totally recommend to any one to read. Its a great book with a lot of passion for the subject.  By the end of this book you will remember that God Is Always Able!

Tuck Everlasting

Doomed to—or blessed with—eternal life after drinking from a magic spring, the Tuck family wanders about trying to live as inconspicuously and comfortably as they can. When ten-year-old Winnie Foster stumbles on their secret, the Tucks take her home and explain why living forever at one age is less a blessing that it might seem. Complications arise when Winnie is followed by a stranger who wants to market the spring water for a fortune.

No wonder people love this book, its short, bittersweet and to the point. I understood why the Tucks did what they did in the story by taking Winnie, I wouldn't have wanted to have been told afterward that drinking the water will let you live forever. That would be nice and all but to be the same age forever would just be hard, I wouldn't have wanted to stay a little girl like Winnie would have.  The only big complaint I have about this story is that the author doesn't go into any of Winnie's life after the Tucks leave, and we only find out what happens after they come back to find her. I feel like we missed a big chunk of her life that I wish we could have visited. But I guess that would have made this 139 page book at-least twice as long. In the end I really loved it and may re-read in the future.