The Hardy Boys Undercover Brothers #35 Lost Brother

I haven't read the first book in a while. It took me about as much to remember the horror of what happened in the last one, The Children of the Lost. To recap, there was someone (not the bears as some of the locals were thinking) abducting innocent children. No one had a clue why and the reason that Frank and Joe were sent to investigate the disappearances that happened years ago was that one kid mysteriously turned up, Justin Greer.
The case was a rollercoaster to read. They seemed to be having dead-ends a lot in the story and the breaks weren't much of a breakthrough. At the end, *spoiler* Frank had been kidnapped himself, although the reasons why are still unknown.
Later in this book, Lost Brother, of course, you would think of the possibility that he was a bribe to get Joe to stop investigating.
Once I really got into this book again I just couldn't put it down. I was in suspense the whole time, reading about the two brothers who had separate stories in the book, but had the common goal to find one another (mostly).
It was hard reading what was happening to Frank. Hard to also imagine what anyone might have been feeling. "Lost" is perfect in this instance. They were trapped but not exactly. There were kids that were okay and comfy but others that were definitely running scared. It didn't make much sense and I wasn't able to draw much from it. All I know is those who "resisted" were punished and I felt a sting of anger realising what could have been done to Frank (think back to Justin) if not for ________.
Needless to say, I'm going to search as hard as Joe for the third book. Hopefully it'd go smoother for me. Who knows, it might pop up somewhere, maybe through a hatch.

TRACES Luke Harding Forensic Investigator : Lost Bullet by Malcolm Rose

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I actually have read his series before, but I decided to give it another gander. There's something about how well thought out the stories are.
Luke Harding is one of the more intriguing detectives that I've come across. He's already an expert at investigating death, only at sixteen. It's a feat!
This crime was something else. Like I said, the story would have to be thought through, if such a large factor, as a storm, would 'contaminate' the crime scene. A lot of the evidence could simply be washed away. It's plainly a grievance that most people grumble about.
But the obvious grace is that it gets you thinking. As a reader, it's cool to get a chance to ask questions and sooner or later find out what the answers are. Which is what I did throughout just the first few pages. It was a thrill. I liked guessing games when I was younger, especially if I know the clues and solutions as Soon as possible (permit me a laugh)
Of course, if you're not into over-thinking things, go with the flow of the book :)
I figured this book isn't one for those not interested in science-y ways of solving crimes, but the good author injected a little humor in it. For example, he wrote "..Malc replied dryly." See? :)
Thankfully Luke is also one with a sense of humor, though if you read the book you'll realize something about Malc and these jokes. Frustrating yet funny to see how they interact, as close to friendship as a robot could have (*may be spoiling for a book somewhere later to the end*)
Soon you'd start to realize the probable reasons for the deaths.
This book got me thinking a lot about religion and science, in total. And there's also discrimination by the Visionaries against the white community, as in general they believe the latter is an abomination. Only those incredibly indepth books can handle the prejudice. Look at Things Fall Apart, for instance.
And "Lost Bullet"'s idea of being a being without sin was to shave himself clean. To be a baby again. This book is descriptive, no one can dispute that. The scene after is uncomfortably vivid, however, as it brings about another murder.
Not only that, but there are definitely going to be complicated references to something so unmistakably mild, like a flavour chemical "2-furylmethanethiol" which is, surprisingly, "roasted coffee beans".
(No shocker here, the author Malcolm Rose studied Chemistry, and lectures on the subject.)
I could understand thoroughly about the differences between science and religion, but even Ethan did not see it as murder. All in all, it would come down to a test and if Lost Bullet fails or passes, you'll have to find out. Little hint: it was a befitting punishment (one way or another, people committing crime would pay, so not a giveaway exactly) totally and completely.. though unusual :-/
I truly enjoyed reading about the duo - Malc (Mobile Aid to Law and Crime) and Luke himself. It was technology with a human touch.

  

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

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Here's how I chose to start of a truly moving and captivating book:
Characters come first!
Gale is undeniably one with strength, but to have two strong people with each other, there'd bound to be clashes. They're too tough together, which is not necessarily bad.
Then again.. Honestly I pegged Peeta once as a weakling (only slight), especially from the first book, if I had to choose one word for him. However, the fact that Katniss does whatever it takes to protect him even though it had to do with the possibility of winning in the arena *cough, cough*, can't help noticing the awesomeness that a girl can finally rescue the guy; that, and for the fact that he showed he would do anything for her, so far, anyway.
I managed to love the book even more, though I don't get how it was possible, and around the ending of the 1st where she hurt Peeta (I won't say why) and before when I came to so many conclusions on what Gale might have said when he was pulled away (“Remember I-”), I felt like fainting, and I almost did.
One scene from the book doesn't just enthrall you, they all do. It was unbelievably well written. Blood and gore are something given, but the intensity behind everything else, especially when Katniss and Peeta were in the giant arena with the others, was striking and amazing. I could feel the feelings that Katniss felt.
It was something else entirely. And for an author to evoke so much off a page is breath-taking.
I can't wait for the next books!

Hardy Boys Undercover Brothers #34 by Franklin W. Dixon

The Children of the Lost

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I really liked it. It'd be perfect if you liked suspense, and it kept me on the edge as I was shocked by some of the events. I was never more interested, or adrenaline-pumped. The plot was there so I see the need for a trilogy. At the end... a shocker. Better not spoil it (though if you took a chance to see the cover of the second you might guess right) :)

 

Blood Sun by David Gilman (324 words)

For our holiday homework, we were told to do a character write-up for a book we read. It was to be about 200 words long.
Seeing as I'm really terrible at keeping to the limit, it did go over, though I tried to confine it! :)

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Blood Sun by David Gilman (324 words)

My character write-up is on Max Gordon. He has a stubborn streak in him, but then, so does everyone in the world. Though it seems like he does not really listen to others’ opinions of anything (be it of their own accord or of his wellbeing), he does… eventually. His one-track mind plays a lot in the books, as well as being head-strong and slightly defiant. However, with that trait, it never gets in the way of him always thinking rationally, even when his mind played tricks on him, arresting his fears. He wants to protect the ones he loves by any means necessary – and he definitely showed it by saving his father (even when, later, he lost his memory and could not recognize Max most of the time, breaking his heart) and in this book now trying to find the secrets of his mother’s own death.

He was gifted, in the beginning, with animalistic strength and tendencies, for survival; and it partially blessed him whenever he was out. He has endurance and a sharp mind, especially when he had to encrypt and decode messages; and was first and foremost, a brave boy. Psychos tried to assassinate him and wild animals waited at every turn, begging for a kill – but he knew never to let the terror penetrate and strike his heart – in example, was when he had to find necessities from the boat wreckage and got a seat cushion and water, almost being mauled by a crocodile (it went after a stinking deer carcass, instead). He was strong throughout and always maintained loyalty and trust, mostly through his best friend, Sayid. He was good, true and would never kill anyone just because, even though in some eyes’ it was seen as doable. But in the ones that supported him, he was seen as possibly ‘perfect’ just to care for his family and friends, or a nuisance by always managing to outrun mad sociopaths.