The Knife of Never Letting Go
Chaos Walking Book 1
Patrick Ness
Candlewick Press
ISBN 9780763647513
Sometimes life is not what it seems; most people would say often it is not what it seems or even what you expect. But for Todd Hewitt it is even more so. Todd is the last boy in Prentisstown. Todd was raised to believe that all women on the settlement planet had been destroyed by a germ from an alien species called the Spackle. That same germ allowed men's thoughts to be visible to others and for men to hear the thoughts of animals and for animals to speak. In thirty days Todd becomes a man, for on your thirteenth birthday on this frontier planet you become a man. But for now he is the last boy and it is lonely because after 13 years of 13 months you become a man and Todd cannot wait, but his world is about to be turned upside down.
Todd is out picking apples when he notices a spot of silence, a void in the noise he is accustomed to coming from everything. He tries to follow the noise and it moves away from him. Soon he loses track of the void in the noise and heads home. He tries to hide this secret as he passes through Prentisstown. When he gets home, his adoptive parents panic when they find out about it, and start gathering stuff to send him away. Bewildered, confused and feeling rejected he struggles against this plan, a plan they have obviously been preparing for a while. Soon he discovers the void in the noise is a girl, and he and the girl are running for their lives.
This book was a wild ride, and I cannot wait to read the rest of the series. From the minute I picked it up, I did not want to put it down. A few of the plot twists I figured out well before the story explicitly told us, but there were so many, and the way they were all woven together was thrilling to read. Of the over 300 books I read in 2010 this is one of the best; I just hope the rest of the series lives up to it.
Books By Patrick Ness:
The Crash of Hennington (2003)
Topics About Which I Know Nothing (2005)
Young Adult Books:
The Knife of Never Letting Go - Chaos Walking: Book One (2008)
The Ask and the Answer - Chaos Walking: Book Two (2009)
Monsters of Men - Chaos Walking: Book Three (2010)
The New World - Chaos Walking: Prequel (Ebook 2009)
A Monster Calls (Walker Books, 2011)
Emiko Superstar
Mariko Tamaki (Author)
Steve Rolston (Illustrator)
Minx a abandoned division of
DC Comics
ISBN 9781401215361
This was the second last of the 12 MINX graphic novels that I was able to track down and read. It is one of the best in the series. It is the story of a young girl who does not follow all her friends off to business camp. Who borrows the words of another woman to learn to find her own voice. Emiko is staying home this summer; she is babysitting after being fired as a whipping girl at a coffee bar. She is invited to a Freak Show at a placed called the Factory. At first she goes, but then she auditions and makes the act. Wearing some of her grandmothe's old clothes she finds a new person inside and spends the summer exploring who she really wants to be.
This story is fantastic - the writing, the concept and the artwork. I reread it immediately and know I will reread it again and again. The short-lived MINX graphic novel line was supposed to feature stories about strong women and girls and be quality graphic novels for young women. I plan on keeping the whole series set aside for my daughters for when they are older, but I will probably pull this one and a few of the others out from time to time to reread.
MINX Graphic Novels:
The P.L.A.I.N. Janes by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg (May 2 2007)
Re-Gifters by Mike Carey, Marc Hempel, and Sonny Liew (Jun 6 2007)
Clubbing by Andi Watson and Josh Howard (July 11 2007)
Good as Lily by Derek Kirk Kim and Jesse Hamm (Aug 1 2007)
Confessions of a Blabbermouth by Mike Carey, Louise Carey, and Aaron Alexovich(Sep 12 2007)
Kimmie66 by Aaron Alexovich (Nov 7 2007)
Burnout by Rebecca Donner (Jun 24 2008)
Water Baby by Ross Campbell(July 8 2008)
The New York Four by Ryan Kelly (July 22 2008)
Janes in Love by Cecil Castellucci (Sep 23 2008)
Emiko Superstar by Mariko Tamaki (Oct 14 2008)
Token by Alisa Sheckley (Nov 4 2008)
All Nighter by David Hahn (Unreleased)
Janes Go Summer by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg ( (Unreleased)
Books by Mariko Tamaki:
Cover Me
True Lies
Fake ID
Emiko Superstar ( with Steve Rolston)
Skim (with Jillian Tamaki)
(You) Set Me on Fire
Author profile and interview with Mariko Tamaki.
The War At Ellsmere
Faith Erin Hicks
SLG Publishing
ISBN 9781593621407
I need to preface this review by stating that I always wanted to go to a prep or military school. The whole concept of it appeals to my personality and temperament. This book shines a somewhat different light than my previous expectations. The War at Ellsmere is a book primarily about a young scholarship student at a very pretentious school. Juniper is 13 years old and has won a 
scholarship to the Ellsmere Academy. She wants to use her time there to give her a better chance at post secondary education. She has more street smarts than most of the students at the school, and for the most part cares less what others think, as long as she does well in school to better her future. But soon she has a sworn enemy in Emily, a girl with a silver spoon, and a major attitude. The artwork is amazing and the story intense. It was a great story that I have already read three times and know I will read again in the future.
Books By Faith Erin Hicks:
The War At Ellsmere
Zombie Calling
Online Comics:
ICE
Demonology
Random Comics
Mad at Mommy
Komako Sakai
Arthur A. Levine Books
An Imprint of Scholastic
ISBN 9780545212090
While reading this book, at first I really did not like it. It was not until the ending that I came to appreciate it. It is the story of a young Rabbit who is mad at his mother and it appears he is mad about everything. But then he decides to leave and go away. But then he forgets his ball. The illustrations are quirky and fun. It is colored with bright, vibrant colors. Not my favorite book but it has some merit.
Winston of Churchill
One Bear's Battle Against Global Warming
Jean Davies Okimoto (Author)
Jeremiah Trammell (Illustrator)
Scholastic
ISBN 9781443104722
This book won the Green Earth Book Award and for obvious reasons. It is the story of a grumpy old bear, Winston, who wants to start a rally against global warming. But his wife believes that if he wants others to change so must he. With wonderful illustrations and a great story, this book will allow young readers to learn about this important issue in a fun way.
City Of Glass
Mortal Instruments Book 3
Cassandra Clare
McElderry Books an imprint of
Simon and Schuster
ISBN 9781416972259
This is one of the few series I have read in years that has completely blown me away. The world that has been created is amazing, and the characters are craftier with incredible skill. The world is believable, and the one we might actually live in and just not be aware of it. The battles between good and evil are epic, but one of the things that makes this series so good, is it explores the areas of life that are grey, neither black nor white. It explores feelings and emotions even when they are difficult.
This book continues almost immediately after book 2, City of Ashes, the battle between the Shadowhunters and Valentine . Valentine is intent on cleansing the Shadowhunters and destroying all down worlders. This is another great book in a marvelous series.
Books by Cassandra Clare:
Mortal Instruments:
City of Bones - Book 1
City of Ashes - Book 2
City of Glass - Book 3
City of Fallen Angels - Book 4
City of Lost Souls - Book 5 (May 2012)
City of Heavenly Fire - Book 6 (September 2013)
Infernal Devices:
Clockwork Angel - Book 1
Clockwork Prince - Book 2
Clockwork Princess - Book 3
Bane Chronicles:
1. What Really Happened in Peru
2. The Runaway Queen
3. Vampires, Scones, and Edmund Herondale
4. The Midnight Heir
5. The Rise of The Hotel Dumort
6. Saving Raphael Santiago
7. The Fall of The Hotel Dumort
8. The Course of True Love (and First Dates)
9. What to Buy the Shadowhunter Who Has Everything (And Who You're Not Officially Dating Anyway)
10. The Last Stand of the New York Institute
The Dark Artifices Trilogy
Lady Midnight
Prince of Shadows
The Queen of Air and Darkness
Magisterium Series: (with Holly Black)
The Iron Trial
Contributor:
Geektastic
Vacations From Hell
Eternal Kiss
Zombies versus Unicorns
Vunce Upon A Time
Siobhan Vivian (Author)
J. Otti Seibold (Illustrator)
Chronicle Books
ISBN 9780811862714
This is a wonderfully quirky and unique book for children. It is a vampire tale like no other. Dagmar is bit off for vampires; first he is only a child vampire, second he is a vegetarian and third he is addicted to Candy. Dagmar has problems growing vegetables by moonlight and tending his garden at night, but he supplements his diet with candy - in fact he is something of a candyholic. But his candy supply has run out. But then a skeleton informs him that tomorrow is Hallowe'en and humans give out Candy. Dagmar wants to go trick or treating but he must find a costume, convince his parents and overcome his fear of humans. It is a wonderful story with amazing illustrations.
Book by Siobhan Vivian:
A Little Friendly Advice
Same Difference
Not That King of Girl
For Children:
Vunce Upon A Time
Author Profile interview with Siobhvan Vivian.
The Knife of Never Letting Go 
Todd is out picking apples when he notices a spot of silence, a void in the noise he is accustomed to coming from everything. He tries to follow the noise and it moves away from him. Soon he loses track of the void in the noise and heads home. He tries to hide this secret as he passes through Prentisstown. When he gets home, his adoptive parents panic when they find out about it, and start gathering stuff to send him away. Bewildered, confused and feeling rejected he struggles against this plan, a plan they have obviously been preparing for a while. Soon he discovers the void in the noise is a girl, and he and the girl are running for their lives.
