Review: The Dragon Whisperer by Lucinda Hare

Title: The Dragon Whisperer
Author: Lucinda Hare
Publisher: Bodley Head
Pages: 416
Reading Level: 9-12 yrs old
Rating: 5/5 stars

Quenelda has always had a magical bond with dragons, and her greatest wish is to fly one and fight alongside her father in the war against the hobgoblins. Root, on the other hand, wishes only to avoid the fearsome creatures, so the role of Quenelda-s esquire is the last thing he needs. But an unexpected friendship is forged, and when Dragons Dome is besieged by a deadly plot, this unlikely duo must find a way to defeat the dark forces.Epic battles, whispered legends and soaring magic combine in this breathtaking debut fantasy, with black and white illustrations by David Wyatt.

Review:
It's like Eragon for middle school kids!  I enjoyed every moment I spent reading this book.  The author is an excellent writer, the subject magnificent and the characters well developed and inspiring.  The Dragon Whisperer has a strong female lead character and an unlikely male hero, the perfect pairing for a perfect book!  The plot is exciting at times and even a little bit dark.  It's great for girls and boys , there's plenty of action to keep everyone interested.  The first of a series, The Dragon Whisperer will prove to be a cult classic.

Review: Matched by Ally Condie

Title: Matched
Author: Ally Condie
Publisher:  Puffin (2 Dec 2010)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Pages: 384
Rating: 3/5 (Good)

On her seventeenth birthday, Cassia meets her Match. Society dictates he is her perfect partner for life. Except he’s not. In Cassia’s society, Officials decide who people love. How many children they have. Where they work. When they die. But, as Cassia finds herself falling in love with another boy, she is determined to make some choices of her own. And that’s when her whole world begins to unravel . . .

Review:
GREAT dystopian! Really got into this one fast. Kept my attention from page one. I felt the characters were well developed! I wasn't searching for more from them. They all brought a lot to the table, and when I wanted to know something about them the author told me! I did want to know more about this dystopian world. I didn't feel like a lot of my questions were answered, but there is definitely enough there to really get a picture for this futuristic world. I'm looking forward to book 2!  Oh, and my favorite character is Xander. He just is! I hope you like him too!!!

Quote:
"Lying in bed, my body and soul bruised and tired, I realize that the Officials are right. Once you want something, everything changes. Now I want everything. More and more and more. I want to pick my work position. Marry who I choose. Eat pie for breakfast and run down a real street instead of on a tracker. Go fast when I want and slow when I want. Decide which poems I want to read and what words I want to write. There is so much that I want. I feel it so much that I am water, a river of want, pooled in the shape of a girl named Cassia."