The Book of the Dead by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

The Book of the Dead (Pendergast #7)
Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

Suspense, Thriller
640 pages, softcover
Target Reader: Adult

Grand Central Publishing
978-0446576987
Release Date: May 30, 2006



From the Publisher:

An FBI agent, rotting away in a high-security prison for a murder he did not commit... His brilliant psychotic brother, about to perpetrate a horrific crime... A young woman with an extraordinary past, on the edge of a violent breakdown... An ancient tomb with an enigmatic curse, about to be unveiled at a celebrity-studded New York gala...

The New York Museum of Natural History receives their pilfered gem collection back...ground down to dust. Diogenes, the psychotic killer who stole them in Dance of Death, is throwing down the gauntlet to both the city and to his brother, FBI Agent Pendergast, who is currently incarcerated in a maximum security prison.

To quell the PR nightmare of the gem fiasco, the museum decides to reopen the Tomb of Senef. An astounding Egyptian temple, it was a popular museum exhibit until the 1930s, when it was quietly closed. But when the tomb is unsealed in preparation for its gala reopening, the killings--and whispers of an ancient curse--begin again. And the catastrophic opening itself sets the stage for the final battle between the two brothers: an epic clash from which only one will emerge alive.

Read Chapter 1.

I picked this book totally at random from the airport bookstore because I ran out of reading material due to a long flight delay. I chose this one over the others because my teenage daughter said her friend had read it three times and liked it.

Ummm...I have some concerns about her friend.

This book was okay. My biggest gripe is that nowhere on the cover or in the introductory pages does it say that this is book #7 in a series of thrillers centering around FBI Agent Pendergast. Several of the Pendergast books are stand alone, but this one is the last of a story arc spread over three books. I think I would have enjoyed it more had I read the previous ones.

My second gripe is this is one of those books where new characters are introduced so fast and their parts in the overall plot are so complex that you feel like you need to take notes to keep them all straight.

A museum decides to re-open a long closed exhibit of an Egyptian tomb where mysterious deaths occurred in the past. A diabolical killer is manipulating this opening with the intent to kill and/or drive insane as many people as possible. The one man who can stop him (Agent Pendergast) is locked away in a prison known to be escape-proof. Pendergast's friends develop a very complex plot to break him loose in an attempt to save the day. There is also a sub-plot concerning a mysterious and creepy backstory (developed in the previous books) about a young woman who is much older than she seems.

I liked this book okay, even not knowing what had happened in the earlier books, but I definitely think I would have enjoyed it more if I'd read the books in order. There was quite a bit of serious swearing by a few of the characters. Some graphic violence during the prison escape and some blood and guts gore resulting from a few murders. There was some implied sex and sensuality, but nothing very graphic.

As far as thrillers go, this one was pretty good. It kept me guessing through most of it. If I get a chance, I might go back and read the earlier books, but they won't be a top priority—and I'll check them out from the library instead of buying them.


Plot:

Characters:

Ending:

Cover:



Content Ratings

Language: Lots of swearing by some characters.

Violence: Murder. Blood, gore, graphic violence happening in real time.

Drugs/Alcohol: Several of the characters drink.

Immorality: Sensuality; implied sex. Minimally graphic.

Values/Themes: Lots of evil happening in this book; dark and kind of depressing.

Age Appropriate: Definitely for adults; not teens.

Writing Mechanics: A little disjointed at times and hard to follow in places.

© 2010 It's a Book Affair

Sheep's Clothing by Josi S. Kilpack

Sheep's_Clothing
Josi S. Kilpack

Suspense
320 pages, softcover
Target Reader: 14+ LDS

Deseret Book
978-1590387467
Release Date: May 2, 2007



From the publisher:

Six children keep Kate and Brad Thompson busy all day, every day. Between work, school, and church activities, there isn't much time for anything else. Having baby number seven might disrupt the family routine, but Kate isn't worried about that. She is worried, however, about her oldest daughter, Jess, who has been more secretive of late. More distant. Kate hopes it's just a phase. Fifteen is a tricky age, after all.

For Jess, being fifteen isn't just tricky, sometimes it feels downright impossible. Between baby-sitting all the time, hating the gymnastics class Mom won't let her quit, and trying to hold onto her best friend now that high school is pulling them in different directions, Jess feels totally overwhelmed, continually misunderstood, and completely alone. Until she meets Emily online.

Emily listens, understands, and gives Jess confidence. Best of all, Emily introduces Jess to her cousin, Colt. Jess can't date yet, but she and Colt can send long, personal e-mails to each other and he understands her better than anyone else in her life.

However, when Jess disappears, it only takes one e-mail for everyone in the Thompson famiy to discover that when it comes to the Internet, things aren't always what they seem...

Sheep's Clothing is a compelling, frighteningly close-to-home novel that realistically portrays the risks of online chatting and the threat of Internet predators.

Read sample chapter.

If your children have access to the Internet, you need to read this book. If those children are over the age of 12, they need to read this book.

I liked the Prologue, which sets the tone and foreshadows events to come. I liked the way Josi started each chapter with e-mails between Jess, Emily and Colt. It was unnerving to see how subtle, yet manipulative those e-mails were—coaxing identifying information from Jess, alienating and isolating her from her parents and friends, and finally, convincing her to break all the rules and meet in real life. The scenes with Jess seemed realistic and right on with the way teens think and feel. I could really empathize with her.

I was less captivated by Kate. We spent a lot of time in Kate's head and there was a lot of "telling" rather than showing of her emotions. I like that to come out in action and dialogue a little more. There were also quite a few errors—typos, cut and paste mistakes, etc. It should have been more closely edited, and for Deseret Book to let these slip through, all I can say is "tsk, tsk."

But even with these annoyances, the concept and plot are great. The characterizations are well developed. I liked the ending. [small spoiler alert] It was a delicate balance between reality (the usual result) and a happy ending (unlikely), but Josi handled it well and it was believable.

I think this is an important read on a timely topic and so I say once again: If your children have access to the Internet, YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK. If those children are over the age of 12, THEY NEED TO READ THIS BOOK.


Plot:

Characters:

Ending:

Cover:



Content Ratings

Language: I don't remember any swearing, but there might have been some infrequent, mild words ??

Violence: Internet predator; kidnapping. He kills some of his victims, but it's not described in real time. There is a rape, but it's not described and younger readers will not realize what is happening. Adults will recognize the mild hint.

Drugs/Alcohol:

Immorality: No immorality on the part of the main characters, but the Internet predator is pretty yuckie.

Values/Themes: A cautionary tale; beware chat rooms and trusting people you haven't met in real life.

Age Appropriate: While some of this is tough to read, I think all teens who use the Internet should read it.

Writing Mechanics: Most of the issues were in the editing, not writing.

© 2010 It's a Book Affair

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

New Moon (Twilight Saga #2)
Stephenie Meyer

Young Adult Paranormal Romance
608 pages, hardback
Target Reader: 14+

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
978-0316160193
Release Date: August 21, 2006



From the publisher:

"Shoot," I muttered when the paper sliced my finger; I pulled it out to examine the damage. A single drop of blood oozed from the tiny cut.

It all happened very quickly then.

Edward threw himself at me, flinging me back across the table...

I tumbled down to the floor by the piano, with my arms thrown out instinctively to catch my fall, into the jagged shards of glass. I felt the searing, stinging pain that ran from my wrist to the crease inside my elbow.

Dazed and disoriented, I looked up from the bright red blood pulsing out of my arm—into the fevered eyes of the six suddenly ravenous vampires.

****

For Bella Swan, there is one thing more important than life itself: Edward Cullen. But being in love with a vampire is even more dangerous than Bella could ever have imagined. Edward has already rescued Bella from the clutches of one evil vampire, but now, as their daring relationship threatens all that is near and dear to them, they realize their troubles may be just beginning...

Legions of readers entranced by the New York Times bestseller Twilight are hungry for the continuing story of star-crossed lovers, Bella and Edward. In New Moon, Stephenie Meyer delivers another irresistible combination of romance and suspense with a supernatural twist. Passionate, riveting, and full of surprising twists and turns, this vampire love saga is well on its way to literary immortality.

Read Chapter 1.

New Moon is book #2 in a series about a teenage girl who is in love with a vampire. In Twilight (book #1), we're introduced to Bella when she moves to cloudy Forks, Washington to live with her father. She very quickly falls in love with Edward, one of a family of "good" vampires who do not drink human blood. He reluctantly falls in love with her and through trials and danger, their relationship develops.

In New Moon, Edward decides he is a danger to Bella, breaks her heart and leaves. After months of depression, Bella develops a friendship with Jacob Black, a young man who lives on the reservation in a nearby town. His friendship is the only thing that eases her heartache. I don't want to spoil the story for anyone planning to read it, but it includes killer vampires, werewolves, and a trip to Italy where Bella races to save Edward's life.

I have ambivalent feelings about this book. I like fantasy so I'm predisposed to like this book. I am also a Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan, which means I like vampire stories (if they're not too scary). Meyer has an interesting take on the vampire and werewolf legends that I found unique and fresh. New Moon is more cohesive than her first book. It flows more smoothly, the characters are better developed, the dialogue more natural. It also diverges from the traditional romance devices which I appreciated. (I am not a big fan of romance novels.)

However, I still have issues with it. First, Bella is an idiot. I know she's a teenager, and by definition, is not going to think things through, but still. It was outside the realm of believability at times. (I don't want to be specific, but you'll know what I mean if you read the book.)

Second, I really, really have an issue with some of the subliminal messages: it's okay for girls to give up everything, who they are, their identity for love; if the girl loves the "bad boy" enough, he will change for her; if you're sad and depressed, an appropriate cure is to do something reckless and life threatening. As an adult, I can look past this and still enjoy the story. But this series is marketed as YA.

In the first book, Bella is 16, turning 17. That means the target audience is 14 year old girls. Most girls this age see the world through highly romanticized eyes in the first place. They do not have the ability to discern and reject these messages, and therefore, may internalize them and go looking for a bad boy of their own. If you allow your daughter to read it, I'd very much suggest you read it as well and talk to her about these issues, pointing out the fallacies in Bella's thinking and the foolhardiness of some of her behaviors.

Having said that, I have to admit that I did like this book—not as much as a dyed-in-the-wool romance reader would, but I still enjoyed it. And contrary to 99% of the Twilight fan club, I want Bella to end up with Jacob because, in my opinion, he's the better guy. I know it will never happen, and I'm not sure that I really want him to end up with her, she is an idiot, after all. Will I read books three and four? Probably, because even with the typos, grammatical mistakes and a few plot holes, it's still an interesting story.

I'm giving it 4 stars because Meyer is a good story teller and has a talent for reaching her target audience.

Plot:

Characters:

Ending:

Cover:



Content Ratings

Language: Mild swearing.

Violence: The violence is a little stronger than in Twilight (book 1). The Volturi are pretty violent. They eat humans. The wolves are aggressive. Some of the back stories are violent. It was a intense at times.

Drugs/Alcohol:

Immorality: While there is no overt sex, there are some pretty steamy kissing scenes.

Values/Themes: As mentioned above, I have issues with some of the implied messages. However, I do like the positive message that Edward sends—no premarital hanky-panky.

Age Appropriate: I've seen 8-year-olds reading this book. That is way too young. Personally, I'd say 16+.

Writing Mechanics: There are some inconsistencies in the writing style. The characters are sometimes annoying (especially Bella). While Meyer is not the best writer, she is a good story teller.


© 2010 It's a Book Affair

My Not-So-Fairy-Tale Life by Julie Wright

My Not-So-Fairy-Tale Life
by Julie Wright

Young Adult
256 pages, softcover
Target Reader: 14+

Deseret Book
978-1590384763
Release Date: October 1, 2005



From the publisher:

Looking away, I asked as nonchalantly as my rapidly beating heart would allow, "So you're the kind of guy that believes in fairy-tales."

"I am. And you're the kind of girl that believes in the reality of here and now."

"When you're pregnant and living with your brother and his wife, reality seems like a safer place to stay."

Suzanne Quincy was raised by an abusive mother and an apathetic father. In an effort to escape her upbringing, Suzie chooses the numbing effects of drugs and alcohol--and the accompanying lifestyle. She reaches a crossroad when she discovers she is pregnant. Will she listen to the world and abort the baby, or will she listen to the conscience she has ignored her entire life? The choice she makes sends her down a path of self-discovery.

This story is about choices and consequences, laughter and tears, and finding the truth in the midst of it all.

Read sample chapter.

Suzanna "Cue" Quincy has had a rough life—an abusive mother, emotionally absent father, drugs and alcohol. If that's not enough, she discovers she's pregnant and isn't sure who the father is. Suzanna's mother kicks her out of the house because she won't get an abortion. Her friends abandon her because she will no longer party with them. With nowhere else to turn, Suzanna leaves Massachusetts and heads out to Utah, hoping her brother and his new wife will forgive her for ruining their wedding reception and give her a place to stay while she figures out what to do with her life and her baby. On her cross-country trip, Suzanna meets Rion, a member of the same weird religion (Mormon) her brother had joined a few years earlier.

Once in Utah, Suzanna makes a gradual transformation from bad girl to responsible citizen. Her struggle with feelings of insecurity and anger as she contemplates the future ring true. Her developing feelings for Rion and an increasing respect for her brother's religion leads to a believable spiritual experience during the birth of her baby.

I liked this book because it was realistic and believable. The characters were unique and developed. It was inspiring without being over the top. Although Julie deals with difficult topics (things we wish our children didn't know about, let alone have to face themselves), it was handled well, clearly showing the consequences of poor choices. I found nothing offensive or inappropriate. I've encouraged my two teen-aged girls (16 & 19) to read it. I look forward to seeing what Julie writes next.

Plot:

Characters:

Ending:

Cover:



Content Ratings

Language:

Violence:

Drugs/Alcohol: The main character used drugs and alcohol but she stops when she gets pregnant.

Immorality: The main character is pregnant and doesn't know who the father is, but she learns from her mistakes and becomes a better person. There is no graphic description.

Values/Themes: An LDS book with themes on repentance and forgiveness.

Age Appropriate: For older teens.

Writing Mechanics:


© 2010 It's a Book Affair