Posts filed under 'Adventure Stories'
“Into Thin Air”
Much has been written about Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air and I can’t say anything new, but that, like every reviewer, I thought it was a great book. I’m glad that it’s one of the options for your summer reading.
As you know (or will know when you finish the book), Krakauer climbed Mt. Everest in 1996—at the very time that one of the worst killing-storms hit the mountain. His party (as well as another linked to a famous guide) was one of the most affected in a storm that left five climbers dead and one–who appeared dead–very frostbitten, losing his hand and parts of his face.
Though it’s been awhile since I read the book, three things have stayed with me. The first is the deep irony of the circumstances—that Krakauer hoped to show how, with the right guide and enough money, these days just about anyone could climb the much commercialized Everest. Yet two of the five people who died in the storm of the day Krakauer descended the peak were guides Rob Hall and Scott Fischer, the world’s best. And so nature can’t be controlled, no matter what we believe. The second thing that has remained with me over the years is how an oxygen-deprived brain can cause people to make terrible decisions, ones that put their own and others’ lives at risk. And last, though I can’t say it was surprising, is the sadness of learning that climbers, who were very close to their long-time goal of climbing Everest, left others to die because helping them would have meant that they had to turn away from the peak and not ‘summit.’
So—what most affected you?
Add comment May 18, 2010
“Twice Told: Original Stories Inspired by Original Art”
Twice Told: Original Stories Inspired by Original Art has stories by many wonderful YA writers and drawings by Scott Hunt.
When a teacher asks you to read short stories, check this book out. Each section has art work–a pencil drawing. Following the drawing are two stories that interpret that piece of art. It’s great to see what a creative mind comes up with–how different the two stories can be and how far they can venture from that beginning in the drawing (which is the point–the art is something of a prompt, but once the creativity gets going, the story takes on a whole new dimension). Some of the story writers happen also to be some of my favorite YA authors–Sarah Dessen, Bruce Coville, Neal Shusterman, Margaret Peterson Haddix, M. T. Anderson, and Alex Flinn. Judging from books that checkout here, I think these are some of your favorites as well. Other story authors are new to me–which is great because it gives me the opportunity to meet them and then find out about other works they’ve written.
I also want to recommend this book to you if you’re a budding writer. What sort of story will you write after contemplating the drawing? The art is just right to start those creative juices flowing.
Add comment January 29, 2010
“City of Ashes”
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare (Book Two of The Mortal Instruments)
Here’s another Top Ten Teen Read of 2009—but with smart cover art and an intriguing title.
I read City of Ashes because it got on the top ten teen book list. I probably should have read the first book in the trilogy, City of Bones, but Clare does a good job of grounding the reader. Clary Fray is a Shadowhunter, which is a mortal who polices the ‘Downworld’ of monsters—werewolves, vampires, fairies (Seelies), witches and warlocks. Ordinary mortals are given the pejorative ‘mundanes’ and include Clary’s sometimes boyfriend, Simon.
Though Clary and Simon share an unbreakable bond, it’s really Jace that Clary has the hots for, mostly because Jace has that ‘bad boy who takes crazy chances and is angry at everyone’ thing going. Unfortunately, though the two were raised apart without knowledge of one another, they turn out to be brother and sister. Their father is the evil Valentine whose goal is to overthrow the Clave (Shadowhunter society). His reasons have to do with his hatred for all ‘Downworlder’ beings except Shadowhunters. He sees them as inferior monsters.
The arrogant Valentine engages a lot of powerful demons that mundanes can’t see. It is soon clear that he cares nothing for his own children if they disobey him, and could easily destroy them along with others in the Clave. So the battle is on. And it is fierce. Action is swift, bloody and described in detail. Demons are imaginatively described. As the plot twists, you’ll be hanging on for the ride. And here’s an added bonus: there’s lots of good writing—you can talk to your English teacher about the great metaphors and imagines. There’s a bit of lousy writing as well—when your English teacher lectures about how annoying a plethora of adverbs can be, bring this book in and get extra credit. (Clare can reconstruct any sentence to throw in pointless adverbs, making meaning stupefyingly [get it?] redundant.)
But so what—you’re going to be engaged—from cover to cover. And then want to go back and read Book One—City of Bones–and get on the waiting list here for Book Three—City of Glass.
Add comment January 20, 2010
“The Siege of Macindaw”
I’ve said before that I love this series–The Ranger’s Apprentice. This is the sixth book. Will, the ranger’s apprentice of the series’ title, now has his own fief to protect. It is a cold northern area with little activity–at least in normal times–but it has strategic value as a gateway to Arulen. However, in the fifth book of the series, Will is fooled into trusting treacherous people. Now in book six, when the Castle of Macindaw has been overthrown, Will must save Alyss by recruiting the outcasts of the fiefdom, an apparent wizard, and his old enemies-turned-friends, the Scandians.
Lots of fun and magic tricks! I’m waiting for book seven, which I understand is the last of the series.
Add comment December 9, 2009
“The Count of Monte Cristo” Student Reviews 2009
The following reviews by COHS students are on “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexander Dumas.
Genre: Historical
Pages: 1312
Reviewer: Ron W.
The story begins when the main character Edmond Dantes and Fernand Mondego land on the island of Elba to get medical help for there captain. Dantes meets Napoleon Bonaparte and is given a letter which is to be given to a friend back at port, but the friend will find him to get the letter. Mondego who is jealous of Dantes and his fiancés Mercedes relationship turns him in to the police. After Dantes explains himself to the head prosecutor Gerard Villefort who decides to send Dantes the life imprisonment in the Château d’If. After befriending the priest the priest teaches Dantes to read and write. They start to dig a tunnel out of the prison but the priest is caught in a cave in and dies Dantes then escapes by pretending to be the priests dead body. After escaping he befriends a group of buccaneers and sails back the his home port. After he and another man by a boat they sail to Monte Cristo a small island and find the hidden treasure. When they return home Dantes starts calling himself the Count of Monte Cristo. While he is doing this he is slowly ruining all of the people who hurt hims lifes. Until all of them are in jail and Mondego is dead.
My opinion of the Count of Monte Cristo is that it was a very adventurous and suspenseful book. The storyline was odd but all together the long read was worth the effort. If I had to recommend a book it would be this one.
1. The author wrote this book I alive so that you can learn that you can’t trust all your friends even the close ones.
2. The theme is you can’t judge a book by its cover even if you have already read it.
3the author supports the thesis by using a lot of good quotes and a really suspenseful storyline.
4. The issue is Dantes going to jail for carrying a letter to a friend of napoleons and it is resolved when dantes pays every one back for their deeds.
1 comment June 3, 2009
“The Man in the Iron Mask” Student Reviews 2009
The Man in the Iron Mask by Alexandre Dumas
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 588 of the story, and 626 pages including explanatory notes.
Reviewer: Christian I.
The Man in the iron Mask by Alexandre Dumas is an excellent novel. It is about King Louis, and he is making France fall apart from his poor ruling as king. Three retired musketeers want to get rid of the king, after he put one of the musketeer’s sons on the front line of war. D’Artagnan, the musketeer captain, thinks otherwise, and is trying to defend the king. The other three find another heir to the throne, and that is the man in the iron mask. The man in the iron mask is King Louis’s twin brother, Phillipe. The musketeers then train Phillipe to fight, just in case if he needs to defend himself. King Louis then hosts a party, and the musketeers make the switch. Although, a loyal friend of the King breaks him out of jail, and Louis resumes being king. Parthos and Arimas the escape to Belle-Isle, where the King sends an attack. D’Artagnan resigns from the military, and helps his friends. Parthos dies during the battle of Belle-Isle, and D’Artagnan died a few years later from a war with Holland. At the end, the only original musketeer alive is Aramis.
As I said in the summary, I think The Man in the Iron Mask by Alexandre Dumas is excellent. It has an action filled story with a hint of mystery. This novel is considered a world classic, and is a French novel. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good book to read.
1. The author wrote The Man in the Iron Mask to show how two brothers can be different and what they will do for their country.
2. The theme of the book is right versus wrong. The king is a tyrant, and his twin brother (the man in the iron mask) knows what is right for France.
3. The author supports the thesis in many ways. In the book, three musketeers have to do a wrong action, to save France from the tyrant. They also did what was right by not killing the tyrant. D’Artagnan conflicts whether or not to help his friends or the king. The author uses many other examples to support this thesis.
4. The main issue is that the king, Louis, is a tyrant. Three of the original 4 musketeers had enough of the king’s tyranny. They discover that there is another heir to the throne, and they secretly switch the two, making France have a fair and kind king.
Add comment June 3, 2009
“Gulliver’s Travels” Student Reviews 2009
The following reviews by COHS students are on “Gulliver’s Travels” by Jonathan Swift.
Genre: Wild frontiers and exotic lands/ European historical fiction
Pages: 271
Reviewer: Andrea Z.
In the novel Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift, the reader is introduced to the main character named Lemuel Gulliver who goes on extraordinary adventures. The first location he goes to is the island of Lilliput. There he meets people that are about six inches tall. He learns their customs, and becomes friends with the king, but he eventually departs from this strange land. Once he returns home he again sets sail and becomes stranded on the land Brobdingnag. He soon discovers that this land is inhabited by giants. He becomes friends with a farmer and he starts making a profit out of Gulliver. He is soon sold to the queen and is taken care of by the farmer’s daughter. After about two years of living there an eagle captures him and drops him in the ocean where he is rescued by his own kind. One again he ventures off inot the world and goes to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib and Japan. Laputa is a flying island and the people there are devoted to music and mathematics. Then he basically goes to the other places just to get back home which he eventually does. Despite his past mishaps he once again goes out to sea and lands on Houyhnhnms, a land where horses are the rulers. He eventually leaves this land by force and once he arrives back home he is unable to live a normal life.
I really enjoyed reading this novel. The author uses a lot of detail in describing the places Gulliver went. I still wonder why Swift capitalizes random words but it was a great new experience for me. The adventures the main character went on were very strange but life changing at the same time. What I learned from this novel is to accept people for who they are. I also learned that everyone is different. I highly recommend this book to others.
1.The author’s purpose in writing this book was to inform the readers on how different people are and how people in other lands have customs we are not used to.
2. The theme of this novel is the limits of human understanding and the thesis of the novel is understanding different customs.
3. The author supports the thesis by learning the ways of other people. “Learned men appointed to teach the author their language” (30)
4. The only issue in this book is trying to fit in and the author solves this by learning the inhabitants’ ways.
6 comments June 3, 2009
“The Alchemist” Student Reviews 2009
The following review of “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho was written by COHS student Danielle L. (Ms. Waddle reviewed this book on an earlier post.)
Pages: 208
Santiago was a young boy who was following his dream. He had always wanted to travel so he became a shepherd. Santiago was constantly having a dream that he would find gold at the pyramids. One day He met an old man who turned out to be a king named the king of Salem in Tarifa; he tells him that he should go to the pyramids and gives him the location of the buried tresure. Santiago sells his sheep and goes to Africa to find the tresure, unfortunatly he gets all his gold stolen. He quickly finds a job with a cristal marchant so that he could return home and buy sheep. For a year he works with the merchant, and he makes a great amount of money. At this point he has totally forgotten about the treasure, but when he recognizes the two rocks the old king had given him he goes back to looking for the treasure.
I really enjoyed the book. You would think that the theme is really cheesy, but the author develops it in a realistic manner that makes the story great! I really like the fact that he doesn’t sugar coat anything, but he doesn’t make it really depressing.
1. Follow your dreams but be careful and wise by doing so, it may take a while but in the end it will pay off.
2 Follow your dreams
3. The author creates many obstacles that the main character has to face to follow his dream. The main character (Santiago) is faced with good and bad “omens” which he is supposed to follow. He becomes discouraged at certain points but he kept going.
4. Sometimes people aren’t wise about they way they live there life. They do things just for money. The book shows that you should follow your dreams because “it is written”, but at the same time you should be wise about it and don’t forget about your surroundings.
27 comments June 2, 2009
“Robinson Crusoe” Student Reviews 2009
The following reviews by COHS students are on “Robinson Crusoe” by Daniel Defoe.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Pages: 320
Reviewer: Cristian B.
Robinson Crusoe is an Englishman from Europe. He is the third son in his family. His father warns him of the hardships that he will have to face if he ventures out into the world. Robinson wishes to go out to sea instead of staying home his whole life. He sets sail, but unfortunately, the second time the vessel is captures and he is kept captive. He escapes after being a servant for a few years and seeks another voyage. A violent storm hits and he alone is shipwrecked on a barren island. Over the course of a few days, he gathers supplies from the wrecked vessel just off shore.
Robinson Crusoe is one of my favorite books. I enjoy the adventure and excitement gained by reading about Robinson’s adventure. It inspires me; I want to go on a grand adventure one day. Nicely written but the original version has some writing that I do not understand completely. I plan on reading it again during the summer.
1. The author’s purpose towards writing the book was to tell a story of adventure and provide entertainment for the reader. The book has a hint of realism, and the way it was written makes it seem as if the author took part in these events.
2. Throughout the story, Robinson shows that perseverance and courage.
3. The author places Robinson Crusoe in situations in which perseverance and courage must aid him. This is a motif in the book. Robinson, time and time again, wishes during facing his hardships that he should have listened to his father and stayed home. Perseverance and determination place him back on his feet after every bump in the road. While on his first voyage, during a great storm, Robinson ponders why he left home in the first place. After the storm subsides, though, he forgets his pleas to God and he is replenished with courage.
4. The main issue that Robinson Crusoe raises is how does one live by themselves for so long without going crazy. It could be compared to a modern person who surely would have died living by themselves for almost 30 years. With no internet, no cell phones, and worst of all no television, a modern person would not be able to bear the pain. Robinson, fortunately, is not plagued with these treasures and with perseverance and courage battles the evils of solitude and starvation.
Reviewer: Sebastian Waz
Crusoe is a native of the town of York and son of a merchant who believes Crusoe should lead a more modest life, despite his love for the sea. Disobeying his fathers wishes, Crusoe and sets off on a voyage towards South America. After a series of intricate and complicated events, a storm wrecks Crusoe’s ship on an island deserted of humanity. Crusoe soon finds that he is the lone survivor of the shipwreck and is left on the island to find sustenance. He manages to live on the island for an incredible amount of years before making the acquaintance of a cannibal he names Friday. One day, Friday catches sight of an English ship, which soon relieves him of his sentence on the island.
Robinson Crusoe is definitely an interesting story. Personally, I found the story to drag a bit after the most climactic events had already passed and at points, the author’s Old English can become difficult to decipher. For someone who has not read it, I would definitely recommend it since it is a classic novel.
1. The author’s main purpose in writing the book is for entertainment. The author writes the story as if it were a memoir and leaves distinct clues that hint to reality to give the reader an interesting glimpse into the adventure of Robinson Crusoe.
2. There are several themes evident in this novel, but one of the largest themes is perseverance in the face of a trying situation. Daniel Defoe supports this theme by showing Crusoe’s endurance and ability to survive all alone on the island for several years. Robinson scavenges the land for what he can utilize despite his apparent death sentence on the island, Robinson makes-do rather well without losing sanity.
3. The author develops and supports the thesis greatly throughout the novel, possibly, before Robinson has even shipwrecked. Robinson’s father constantly stresses the danger of adventuring too far, and when Robinson is the only survivor on the island, he soon realizes this. At first, he seems desperate and hopeless, but with the passage of time, Robinson soon becomes a master scavenger.
4. Having been written in the 1600’s, the tale of Robinson Crusoe does not address any modern issues that would still affect the present. Basically, Robinson Crusoe deals with a situation that would drive any average person to the edge. Crusoe’s willingness to survive shows how endurance can get you through even the most difficult challenges.
Add comment June 2, 2009
“The Last Olympian”
I have a brand new copy of this latest (and last—5th) installment of the “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” series by Rick Riordan. It’s a hardcover format. I thought it would be fun to give it away to any COHS student out there who is a Percy Jackson fan and may not have a copy. If any COHS student writes about why s/he likes the Percy Jackson series as a comment on this blog, I’ll give him or her the book. If more than one answers, I’ll choose my favorite answer.
I loved ‘The Last Olympian” as much as the rest of the Percy Jackson series. It’s action-pack from the first scene. Though this completes the series, this is an indication that we will see another series on heroes as the oracle gives this prophecy:
Seven half-bloods shall answer the call.
To storm or fire, the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.
Add comment May 26, 2009
