The Host by Stephenie Meyer

A guest review from Teen Room Staff Cat!

You all know Stephenie Meyer as the vampire lady, but in The Host she takes a step into a different genre. Science Fiction.

The Host tells the story of aliens. These aliens find planets with life forms, and then insert their souls into these forms, and now they are on earth. The main alien, named the wanderer, had lived many lives and seen many planets. She is put into a body which, she finds out, is from a rebel human, one of the few left alive. The Wanderer is supposed to help track down these last humans, but the human, Melanie, lives on in her head. This is quite unexpected, and leads to turmoil. Should the Wanderer help destroy the humans?

I liked this book. It’s a nice blending of sci-fi and romance, which makes it more accessible to lovers of both. It is a little lengthy though I don’t think it was boring, so the length shouldn’t really be a problem.

--Cat

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Cat's Top Ten of '09

Top ten in ’09 in no particular order, by Teen Room Staff Cat!

1. The Hunger Games-Suzanne Collins
2. Catching Fire-Suzanne Collins
3. Graceling-Kristen Cashore
4. Fire-Kristen Cashore
5. Let it Snow-John Green, Maureen Johnson, Lauren Myracle
6. Paper Towns-John Green
7. Looking for Alaska-John Green
8. Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist-Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
9. The Bog Child-Siobhan Dowd
10. The Last Lecture-Randy Pausch

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is the start of a post-apocalyptic series. The country is spilt into districts, and every year each district sends two children to compete in the hunger games, an Olympics of sorts, but with deadly consequences. The series continues with Catching Fire. Graceling by Kristen Cashore is the story of a fantasy world, where people are “graced” with powers. This book has enough adventure and excitement to keep you hooked until the end (Kristen Cashore has another book called Fire, it is set in the same world, but with different characters, I haven’t read it, but I’ve heard nothing but praise for it, so I felt it would be worth a mention). Let it Snow by John Green, Lauren Myracle, and Maureen Johnson, for the romantic in you. Let it snow has three different stories about finding love during the holiday season all tied together at the end. Now, I can start with the John Green Books. First, there is Paper Towns, which takes you on a whirlwind ride to find Quenton Jacobsen’s Neighbor, and the town’s resident bad girl, Margo, who just happens to be Quenton’s crush. Next is Looking for Alaska by John Green. This book came out in 2005 so I’m a little behind, but if you haven’t read it yet please do you won’t be sorry. Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn is another book that takes you on a wild ride, in this one two teenagers lose love, find love, and then lose it and find it again, all in one night. My last two are more serious. The Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd tells two stories, one of Fergus McCann, in Ireland 1981(during one of the many struggles of Ireland’s History) and one of Mel, 2000 years earlier. The stories meet when Fergus finds Mel’s body in a bog. The last book is the Last Lecture by Randy Pausch, last lectures are usually given by professors who are retiring, they tell the things they’ve learned and give advice, but this last lecture really is a last lecture, because it is given by Randy Pausch who had terminal cancer.

--Cat

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Wolverine: Prodigal Son by Antony Johnston and Wilson Tortosa

A guest review from Teen Room Staff Brandon!

After a long hiatus, it appears that Teen Staffer Brandon does still possess the ability to read, and he has to say he enjoyed this last book; but enough of third person Brandon. I read the graphic novel Wolverine: Prodigal Son. It is written and illustrated in a more American art style, thus appealing more to western readers of graphic novels. It maintains some of the styles of the Japanese manga genre as well.

The story line follows nothing of the Wolverine known to American television and movie viewers; it takes a look at his years before Charles Xavier. Logan, a troubled teen, is attending the Quiet Earth Martial Arts School. He has grown tremendously since arriving, but as of late relies upon his hidden “abilities” far too much. He can heal nearly any wound almost instantly, and also has extendable claws hidden behind his knuckles. No one at the school knows about his claws, though. His teacher decides if he passes the fabled Trial of Wind, Wood, and Water. As a reward, his teacher takes Logan to New York City, where he faces his toughest fight yet. After being soundly defeated, he unleashes his claws in a desperate attempt to win. His master subdues him and they flee the gym in shame. As they roam The Big Apple in the wake of Logan’s fight, the duo is attacked by a mysterious group intent on capturing Logan. The sensei sacrifices himself to save Logan, who returns to the dojo to find it in flames. The only student left alive is the daughter of the sensei. She and Logan embark on a quest for revenge, only to find the attacker of the dojo to be a former dropout of the school. Logan battles him, and uses his powers to defeat the attacker. The book concludes with the sensei’s daughter, Tamara, and Logan heading off into the distance looking for her father and the mastermind behind the attack.

I enjoyed the crisp artwork and fast-paced, action-packed story. It is a visual thrill ride from start to finish. I also think it would appeal to a reader who would like to try manga, but isn’t quite ready for the Japanese type.

--Brandon

P.S. Welcome back to the blog Brandon! We missed your reviews!

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