Review: The False Princess

Title: The False Princess
Author: Eilis O’Neal
Published: 2011 by Egmont
Obtained: Library

Princess and heir to the throne of Thorvaldor, Nalia's led a privileged life at court.  But everything changes when it's revealed, just after her sixteenth birthday, that she is a false princess, a stand-in for the real Nalia, who has been hidden away for her protection.  Cast out with little more than the clothes on her back, the girl now called Sinda must leave behind the city of Vivaskari, her best friend, Keirnan, and the only life she's ever known.
Sinda is sent to live with her only surviving relative, an aunt who is a dyer in a distant village. She is a cold, scornful woman with little patience for her newfound niece, and Sinda proves inept at even the simplest tasks.  But when Sinda discovers that magic runs through her veins - long-suppressed, dangerous magic that she must learn to control - she realizes that she can never learn to be a simple village girl.Returning to Vivaskari for answers, Sinda finds her purpose as a wizard scribe, rediscovers the boy who saw her all along, and uncovers a secret that could change the course of Thorvaldor's history, forever.

Alright. This book is so stinkin’ fantastic. It’s adorable, exciting, addicting, and involves magic.

So the story goes of the girl, she thinks she’s the princess then she finds out that she isn’t. So she goes WITHOUT ANY PROTESTING, to an obscure village to live with her aunt who hates her. Discovers she has magic, goes back to the city to learn to control it, and discovers a secret. (I’m not going to spoil that) and from there it is a whirlwind of new people, places, ideas, and a lot of Keirnan (my favorite character).

All in all, this book is just amazing for many reasons. First, the characters are all so well crafted. Sinda seems like this huge push-over in the beginning and you want to yell at her to stand up for herself. Then some of the characters point this out to her, and you realize this was just a character flaw, not an annoying characteristic. Even the side characters are complex, from Tyr (you’ll find out who he is… :)) to the queen and king. Also, Sinda isn’t this weak and whiney heroine, she has her flaws, but she gets over them and moves on.

The plot is crazy. I’m doing this review kind of late, so I don’t remember EVERYTHING, but it really is a whirlwind once Sinda “discovers the secret.”

So, I loved this book a lot. A lot a lot. Go read it.

Rating: 10/10

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Content Warnings: A few kisses. It really had nothing objectionable in it.

Review: The Adoration of Jenna Fox

Title: The Adoration of Jenna Fox
Author: Mary E. Pearson
Published: 2008 by Henry Holt
Obtained: Library

Who is Jenna Fox? Seventeen-year-old Jenna has been told that is her name. She has just awoken from a year-long coma, and she’s still recovering from the terrible accident that caused it. Her parents show her home movies of her life, her memories, but she has no recollection. Is she really the same girl she sees on the screen?

Little by little, Jenna begins to remember. Along with the memories come questions – questions no one wants to answer for her. What really happened after the accident?

In this fascination novel, acclaimed author "Mary E. Pearson presents an unforgettable look at one human life and a glimpse into a possible future that may be closer than we think.

It’s really hard to say why I liked this book so much. I’ll try, but there are so many good things about this book, I don’t know quite where to begin.

So, the plot is basically this: Girl wakes up from year-long coma and doesn’t remember anything. She doesn’t know her name, how to act, what certain words mean, and who her family and friends are. This is a first-person narrative so the reader really struggles along side Jenna as she deals with just EVERYTHING.

Slowly she starts remembering her old life, and begins to really accept her life. Then she makes a discovery which turns her world upside, and this is where the novel explores futuristic themes.

I loved everything about Jenna. As she tried to get through some BIG issues, it was so fascinating and plain breath-taking. I couldn’t put it down.

AND, I found out this is the first in a “series” of sorts and that the next book is coming out this year!!!! So, now I’m really excited.

Rating: 10/10

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Content Warnings: Kissing, some rude language.

Review: Hex Hall

Title: Hex Hall
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Published: 2010 by Disney – Hyperion
Obtained: Library

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It’s gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie’s estranged father—an elusive European warlock—only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it’s her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.
By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.
As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

I’m not the biggest fan of supernatural stories involving werewolves, demons, and vampires, but this was a really good book.

I loved how the characters were all so relatable, except for the fact that they were all magic in some way. Sophie was an character who I think many girls can connect with. Her problems and struggles were similar to the everyday struggles of the average girl.

I was not expecting the ending at all. Maybe I should have been, because looking back it seems kind of obvious. The plot and the setting remind me strongly of Harry Potter, particularly the second Harry Potter book. Just with the mystery of someone attacking the students, and also the fact that they are in a school for “magical” things.

Yep, it was pretty good. I’m definitely reading the sequel soon.

Incase you’re worried about the creepiness of the mythical creatures, don’t be. The demon mentions can be weird, but the whole story is written lightly, making the supernatural elements not as “scary” as they could have been.

Rating: 8/10

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Content Warnings: Language, teenagers talking about sex, and passionate kissing.

Blog Title Decision

Yep. This is it.

I decided on "Hyperman's Book Blog". Why?
Here's the story:

I have a tendency to get extremely hyper when I am running on sugar and no sleep. One time while in one of my hyper moments, I had the "inspiration" to declare myself "Hyperman". And yes, the phrase is "man"....I don't even know.....
To this day a couple friends tease me about it, so I decided to use it for my blog name. I had no idea what else to call it.
The banner was my doing, via Paint. (I'm THAT amateur, haha) I might get someone to make me a better one, but for now, this is what we're stuck with. Enjoy!

Thanks for reading!

P.S. I found out I have page views from Japan!!! I know this is just page views and they happen easily, but still!!!! Japan!!!!!

Review: Artichoke’s Heart

Title: Artichoke’s Heart
Author: Suzanne Supplee
Published: 2008 by Dutton Books (member of Penguin Group
Obtained: Library

Rosemary Goode is smart and funny and loyal and the best eyebrow waxer in Spring Hill, Tennessee. But only one thing seems to matter to anyone, including Rosemary: her weight.

Rosemary's only boyfriends are the "secret lovers" stashed under her bed: Mr. Hershey, Mr. Reeses, and Mr. M&M. Worse, Christmas brought nothing but unwanted presents: a treadmill from Mother and two tickets to the Healing the Fat Girl Within conference from nosy Aunt Mary. And when your mom runs the most successful (and gossipy) beauty shop in town, it can be hard to keep a low profile…especially when the scale just hit an all-time high.
Rosemary resolves to lose the weight, but her journey turns out to be about everything but fat. A life-changing, waist-shrinking year is captured with honesty and humor—topped with an extra-large helping of Southern charm—in this enchanting debut.

Okay, so this book was just really good.

In case you think this is another boring fat-girl book, it’s not. I’m not overweight, but I have my little things (procrastination…) that make me really horrible when I “indulge”, and so this book was still very relatable to me.

I loved every character and every moment of this book. Her mother’s personality was so realistic, and the dynamics of the aunt-mother-daughter relationship was so well presented. Also Kyle was completely perfect and a good example of looking beyond outside appearances.

I also started wishing my mother owned a beauty shop. How cool would that be?!
The detail in this book regarding how Rosemary feels about everything about her body, makes me wonder if the author was ever overweight. It is so perfect to how I would assume that would all go down.

There’s not much else to say, except, go read it. Because not only will in inspire you to tackle your own problems, but it will give insight into the world of overweight teenagers/teenagers with physical insecurities.

Suzanne breaks the mold of YA fiction with this story. Please keep writing!

Rating: 9/10

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Content Warnings: Mild language, kissing, and some teenager thoughts on sex.