Monday, January 30, 2012

Replication: The Jason Expiriment

"When Your Life is Not Your Own"
Bookworm's Ranking - 5 Worms
Storyline - Martyr, a clone living with fifty-five others like him, has always lived knowing he was going to die when he turned eighteen to save the world above his underground home from the toxic air. But he has just one wish, to see the sky before he goes. When the doctors refuse, Martyr takes a security card and goes above ground himself. But it is cold and the sky is black and not blue like he was told. He hides in a strange vehicle that is called a car and goes to one of the doctor's houses. What he finds there is strange. A girl by the name of Abby tells him that the air is not toxic and that he has been lied too. As Martyr learns about the world and a God that Abby talks to but can't be seen, they begin to investigate what is going on at the Jason Farms. Why do the clones die if they are healthy and how? Can they save the other clones from their fate?

Author - Jill Williamson

Publisher - Zondervan

Age Group - 16 and up

Content - Boys make some cat calls. Martyr is so sweet and innocent and defends those that need protection and is very giving of himself. Abby is determined to help those less fortunate and bring others to God.

Personal Opinion - WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW! Sorry that was so teeny-bopper (and I'm not that age anymore :) ) but this book was amazing! The twists and turns and the growing of Martyr and Abby was wonderful. I really got into the story. They fought for what they believed in and Martyr grew so much. He was also so cute as he learned about different things like bleeding eggs (I know that doesn't make sense but it does if you read the book). This is a must read for any reader. I know there might be some who are skeptical because it deals with the cloning debate and the what-if a human was successfully cloned but it actually handles the issue well and is so good. I can only emphasise this so much. READ THIS BOOK!

Video -

Disclaimer - In exchange for an honest review, I received this book for free from Team Novel Teen. Team Novel Teen is a group of bloggers dedicated to spreading the word about clean teen fiction. Check out other posts about Replication: The Jason Experiment by Jill Williamson by clicking on the links above, and check out www.NovelTeen.com for more information about Team Novel Teen.

Links - Learn more about this book and the author here, Book's website, and find out your expiration date (something just for fun that goes with the book).

Buy - Amazon

Special Notes - This post is part of a blog tour for Replication. Check out the other blogs (some of which are also hosting giveaways).
ADD LibrarianAudacious ReaderThe Book FaeBooks I RecommendBook Nook 4 YouBookworm ReadingChristian Bookshelf ReviewsFiction FireGillian AdamsJill WilliamsonKatie McCurdyKurly Katie's RuminationsMy Story ShelfThe Pen and ParchmentRachelle ReaSLY GamesTerri Harr

GIVEAWAY - Courtesy of the author, I am giving away ONE COPY of Replication: The Jason Experiment on this blog. All you have to do is become a follower, or subscribe to this blog, (if already do, don't worry about this step) and post a comment below about why you are interested in reading this book. One winner will be chosen a week from now (Fed. 5) from pulling a name from a hat (yes, I'm doing it the old fashioned way) and posted by 5 o'clock Central Time on the same day. Good luck and see you in a week.

To read, comment, and rate this and other reviews, stop by http://bookwormreading.blogspot.com/

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Happy Sunday

Hello,

This week I am participating in a blog tour which is were a bunch of people get together and post on the same thing (in this case a book) on the same day. Well, it is set up that the day be tomorrow so this week's post is not until Monday. But come back and check it out. It is a good book and there going to be the first ever giveaway on this blog (details will be in a post). So read the post and enter the giveaway. And tell your friends. See you Monday the 30th.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

The Dark Sea Annals: Sword in the Stars

Bookworm's Ranking - 4.5 Worms

Storyline - Alistair Coldhollow has changed his ways to follow the First One. Turning from a life of addiction and regret, he gazes upon the stars searching for the sword that will announce the prophesied hero, the Halfainin, that will save the world. A hero Alistair desperately needs. When the sword appears, he goes and tests many to find the Halfainin, but none pass. Falling into despair, he meets a woman running for her life who hands him a bundle containing a babe. After seeking help from an old friend, Abbageal, mystery, war, and love soon follow. But can Alistair receive forgiveness for his past deeds and the world of Myriad be saved from a sly tyrant trying to take the throne?

Author - Wayne Thomas Batson

Publisher - Living Ink Press

Age Group - 15 and up

Content - Alistair is addicted to Witchdrale but fights the hold it has on him. He also protects others, even to the danger to himself. Abbageal is kind and loving, and gives Alistair something that he has long sought. The villains are creepy, some of the creepiest villains I have ever read. They murder, torture, and raze whole villages, just to give an example of how evil they are.

Personal Opinion - One of the best books yet by Mr. Batson. His characters are so real and the story is so captivating. I got pulled into character's struggles and story without even noticing it happening. I loved the adventure and journey they went on. The land and inhabitants were creative and the Christian analogy of the story was beautifully done. Just beautiful. The villains of the story made my skin crawl and gave me the shivers. I have said this in a previous post but I will say it again, Mr. Batson is talented when it comes to villains. A must read for fantasy, adventure, and Christian readers. They won't be sorry.

Video -

Links - Learn more about the books and author at here.

Special Notes - Book 2, The Errant King - Review.

To read, comment, and rate this and other reviews, stop by Bookworm.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Trapped

"The Day the Blizzard Started,
No One Knew that it was Going to Keep Snowing for a Week.
That for Those in its Path,
it Would Become not Just a Matter of Keeping Warm, 
But of Staying Alive."
Bookworm's Ranking - 2 Worms

Storyline - When a blizzard strikes the small town Scotty lives in, he remains behind to help his friend on a project. But soon things become worse than they thought and becomes one of seven stranded at the school for days. Not long after, power slowly goes, heat slowly goes, food becomes scarce, and the snow is ever rising. Can they live through this? Or will they all be lost to the storm?

Author - Michael Northrop

Publisher - Scholastic

Age Group - 16 and up

Content - Hints at teens being together and other such crass stuff. Made some disrespectful comments concerning religion. Scotty helps his friends and turns to God for help. He also helps his friend and stands by them.

Personal Opinion - I didn't enjoy this book that much. Maybe because I felt that Scotty just told you what was happening or because of the characters hinting at being together or making jokes like that. I thought much of what was happening with the character didn't seem completely realistic for what was happening around them. Such as flirting with a girl when you have no power, no heat, and have to live on the second floor because the snow covered all the windows on the first floor. I did like how Scotty stands by his friends and how they became a bit more serious in the end. The adventure about the snow piling up did get more exciting but I still didn't get into this book.
Video -

Awards - Spring 2011 Indie Next List selection, Barnes and Nobel "Must Read for Teens," 2012 TAYSHAS (Texas) High School Reading List selection, and some good reviews by several big name places.

Links - Learn more about the book and author at: http://michaelnorthrop.net/?page_id=7

To read, comment, and rate this and other reviews, stop by http://bookwormreading.blogspot.com/

Monday, January 2, 2012

Best Books of 2011

Here are the Best Books of 2011 (in my opinion) in each category.

Young Adults:
1. Hunter Brown and the Eye of Ends: Book 3 in the Codebearers Series by the Miller Brothers
2. Conspiracy 365: January by Gabrielle Lord
3. Isle of Swords by Wayne Thomas Batson
4. Wildfire Run by Dee Garretson
5. Theodore Boone: The Abduction by John Grisham
6. Taken: Book 1 in the Quest for the Truth series by Brock Eastman
7. TJ and the Time Stumblers: OOPS! by Bill Myers

Teens and Up:
1. Replication: The Jason Experiment by Jill William Son
2. By Darkness Hid: Book 1 in the Blood of Kings series by Jill Williamson
3. The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson
4. Hiding the Stranger Trilogy by Joan L. Kelly
5. Waking Rose by Regina Doman
6. Alienation: Book 2 in the CHAOS Trilogy by Jon S. Lewis
7. Sword in the Stars: Book 1 in the Dark Sea Annals by Wayne Thomas Batson
8. The Final Hour by Andrew Klavan
9. Human.4 by Mike A. Lancaster
10. Warrior: Book 2 in the Dragons of Starlight series by Bryan Davis
11. Masters and Slayers: Book 1 in the Tales of Starlight Series by Bryan Davis
12. How Huge the Night by Munn and Munn

Childrens:
1. The Dragon and Turtle Go on Safari by
2. God Gave Us the World by Lisa Bergren

Non-Fiction:
1. The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
2. Blind Hope by Kim Meeder and Laurie Sacher
3. Praying for Your Future Husband by Robin Jones Gunn and Tricia Goyer
4. Soul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton, Sheryl Berk, and Rick Bundschuh

Honorable Mentions:
(There isn't really an order to these)
  • All the Conspiracy 365 books (1-4)
  • Diviner: Book 3 in the Dragons of Starlight series by Bryan Davis
  • Raising Dragons: Book 1 in the Dragons in Our Midst series by Bryan Davis
  • To Darkness Fled: Book 2 in the Blood of Kings series by Jill Williamson
  • Love Inspired: The Christmas Child by Linda Goodnight
  • No Place Like Holmes by Jason Lethcoe
  • The Storyteller's Daughter by Cameron Dokey
  • The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson
  • Howl Sage by Brock Eastman
What a good year of reading. There were many good books and I had a hard time ranking some. Many can be interchangeable with others. Most of these books have reviews here on Bookworm but a couple I just finished reading shortly before the year's end so reviews will be coming shortly. Total book count (excluding the two childrens books and the one I re-read)... 58! Well, looking forward to another good year here at Bookworm and I will have a post soon of books that I am most looking forward to in 2012.

Happy New Year!

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Isle of Swords

"Does the Legendary Treasure of Constantine
Lie in Unfathomed Depths, or was it
Hidden by a Mysterious Order of Monks
on an Uncharted Island?"
Bookworm's Ranking - 4 Worms

Storyline - The fearsome pirate, Bartholomew Thorne, travels the sea, leaving destruction behind and causing fear in hearts of not only settlers but also pirates. No one crosses his path... Until Captain Declan Ross kills his second in command in an attempt to escape an island of Thorne's where they stopped to make repairs. While on the island, Anne, Captain Ross's daughter, finds an injured young man. They take him aboard but he doesn't remember his name or who he is. Captain Ross and his crew are on the run when they meet a strange monk with a treasure map tattooed on his back. But it isn't just any treasure but the biggest hoard of treasure in the world. As they journey to the island, the young man, called Cat, who they picked up, starts to have memories slowly come back. But they are not pleasant and cause fear in Cat. Captain Ross, Anne, Cat, and the crew of the William Wallace go on a daring adventure to find the monstrous treasure. But they are not the only ones searching. So is Bartholomew Thorne.

Author - Wayne Thomas Batson

Publisher - Thomas Nelson

Age Group - 14 and up

Content - Bad guys are really creepy (Mr. Batson is good at that). Anne disobeys her father once but soon sees the error. The crew are very giving and look after each other. Cat is a good person and fights and protects others.

Personal Opinion - An exciting, pirate book... and it is Christian! How many Christian books do you know that can make pirates the good guys? Really? The adventure was fun and filled with action. The characters grew in Jesus and fought against evil. A story well strung together. Treasure haunting is something every kid dreams about and these pirates are off to find it. But, there is more to the treasure than what meets the eye. Christians applaud the wonderful lesson of what the real treasure is in this book.

Video -


Links - Learn more about the book and author here.

Special Notes -  Book 2 is called Isle of Fire.

To read, comment, and rate this and other reviews, stop by Bookworm.