JC 1010E

#5

Peter and the Secret of Rundoon - Dave Barry, Ridley Pearson

Quick Synopsis: 3rd book in the Peter and the Starcatchers series. The series is about Peter Pan before the typical story of Peter Pan. It chronicles how he came to be on the island and how he and Captain Hook came to be enemies. This book is the climax of the series as Peter and Molly come to the land of Rundoon and must battle their enemies, including the evil shadow king, Ombra.

What I thought:I found this book after listening to the Harry Potter series read by Jim Dale. If you've never listened to the Harry Potter books as read by Dale, I'd highly recommend them. This series is also a lot of fun and made much better with Dale voicing all of the characters.

#4

Paper Towns - John Green

Quick Synopsis: Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs back into his life - dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge - he follows.

What I thought: This book really got me turned on to John Green as an author. The book is for young adults but looks at some serious topics about life and love overall. With several laugh out loud moments, this book is a fun listen.

#3

Gregor the Overlander - Suzanne Collins

Quick Synopsis: From the same author that wrote The Hunger Games, comes Gregor, an eleven year old that follows his little sister through a grate in the laundry room of their New York apartment, he hurtles into the dark Underland beneath the city. There, humans live uneasily beside giant spiders, bats, cockroaches, and rats—but the fragile peace is about to fall apart.

What I thought: In spite of what the synopsis sounds like, this series is great. Give it a chance. This book is quite a bit different than The Hunger Games series, but a really fun listen. The books are for a younger audience but deal with some intense topics. I really like that Collins is willing to kill of some of the main characters and explore how the other characters deal with it. Ripred, the rat, is hilarious and the prophecies are well done. This would probably be #1 on my top 5 series from 2010 if it wasn't here.

#2

Skybreaker - Kenneth Oppel

Quick Synopsis: Second book in the Matt Cruse series. Forty years ago, the airship Hyperion vanished with untold riches in its hold. Now, accompanied by heiress Kate de Vries and a mysterious gypsy, Matt Cruse is determined to recover the ship and its treasures. But 20,000 feet above the Earth's surface, pursued by those who have hunted the Hyperion since its disappearance, and surrounded by deadly high-altitude life forms, Matt and his companions soon find themselves fighting not only for the Hyperion—but for their very lives.

What I thought: This series is a light fantasy series (meaning that it isn't our world, but there's not any magic or major fantastical creatures like dragons). Matt Cruse is a character that it is easy to cheer for and the book is by far the funniest in the series. Highly recommended series that probably would be #2 on my top 5 series from 2010 if it wasn't here.

#1

Mr. Monster - Dan Wells

Quick Synopsis: John Wayne Cleaver is dangerous, and he knows it. He’s spent his life doing his best not to live up to his potential. He’s obsessed with serial killers, but really doesn’t want to become one. So for his own sake, and the safety of those around him, he lives by rigid rules he’s written for himself, practicing normal life as if it were a private religion that could save him from damnation.

What I thought: The synopsis is for the first book in the series, I Am Not a Serial Killer. Having listened to the first book earlier in the year, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one. I was constantly looking for it and couldn't find it for the longest time. Fortunately, it didn't let down and the book was just as clever and witty as the first. John is very sarcastic throughout and it really adds to the book overall. Fun read and series.