“Invasion” by Jon S. Lewis :: The C.H.A.O.S. Trilogy

(This is my first review for Booksneeze. Tell me watcha’ think in the comments!) Invasion… was… crazy/mind-blowing/awesome/spectacular/fantasmal/bombastic/etc. I can’t really come up with words for this novel. Honestly, I said to my mom, “This is AWESOME.” I was on page two. 🙂

***

 Colt McAlister is the average California kid. Blond, mop-headed, blue eyes, fair skin- and he loves to surf. When on a vacation in Washington, his dad takes him to a military academy which turns out to be a training camp for potential cadets for CHAOS, a organization that protects Earth from anything not from Earth, i.e. Aliens. Six armed, fur covered, two-headed, robot melded Aliens.

But an accident makes it necessary for Colt to move, and the precious few things he learned at the academy are forgotten. Now living in Arizona, Colt struggles to fit in. But, after overhearing a conversation that, by all logical standards, did not make any sense, Colt starts to research, looking for answers. And as he soon finds, those “answers” are looking for him, too.

Nothing could prepare him for his coming discovery- Aliens are on Earth. In fact, they’ve been on Earth for quite a while, and they have gained enough control to bring the Earth to its knees. All that stands between the Aliens and world domination is McAlister. (And, perhaps, a computer hacker, a jock, and a jetpack or two.)

***

Classic Scifi, brilliant plot, and the characters were amazing. McAlister was 100% real, and the plot was engaging enough that I was up pretty late until midnight reading. 🙂 It was simply wonderous, and if I go on any longer I think I might tarnish its glory. The only thing I have left to say is “Go and buy it. And tip the cashier.” Happy reading!

 I was provided with a complimentary copy of “Invasion” through Booksneeze, a book-for-review program. This in no way affected my views or opinions of the book.

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5 of 5 stars

11+

“Gatekeepers” by Robert Liparulo :: Dreamhouse Kings

I thought that the Autumn leaves fit the season quite nicely.

“Gatekeepers” by Robert Liparulo succeeds to carry on the “Dreamhouse Kings” legacy; rife with suspense, beautiful mental imagery, and creepy old guys. (Seriously, there have been strange old guys in every book so far.) In my opinion, the book reads more than it should like an episode of the series than a whole in itself, but the picture that the series is painting over all is thoroughly enjoyable. (Read my reviews of book one, “House of Dark Shadows,” and book two, “Watcher in the Woods,” before you read this one.)

***

Xander found his mom. He left a message for her in the War portal, and she actually responded! Xander and David are ecstatic, but before they can do anything to help her, two cops are at their house and arresting their father, all while the vile Taksidian stands watching smugly.

Soon enough they are left alone in their house, with no protection but the lock on their door. (Which honestly hasn’t done them much good anyways.) With several portals into the King’s home, no room is safe. They try several methods- video surveillance, brute force (whatever force a wood club can offer), even bring in some people from the outside.

But nothing seems to work, and time is, ironically, running out. Can the Kings defend themselves from the city council, bent to the will of Taksidian? Why haven’t they found any rooms that lead to the future? Will the kids really find their mother, alive and well? All these questions are answered in “Gatekeepers.”

***

Once more: It was suspenseful, carried the story on well, and ultimately, it gave me the willies. 🙂 (If you want to read more about the series, head to the website. > http://dreamhousekings.com/) It was a little unrealistic as to the creation of the house, (“Me and my brothers built it” was the best definition given so far,) but I’m willing to forgive little details such as this.

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 4 of 5 stars

13+

“House of Dark Shadows” by Robert Riparulo :: Dreamhouse Kings

“EEeeehHh! Oh! Ah… AH! Ooooh. OoooOoOooH!” Those are the kind of sounds I made, reading Liparulo’s “House of Dark Shadows.” This book, beyond just being creepy and really, really good, gave me the chance to examine a category of literature I had not previously come across: Christian Horror. I had never thought very highly of this distinct division of Christian writing, mainly because it sounds so contradictory. I mean, creepy Jesus? Nuh-uh. NUH. UH.

But with “House of Dark Shadows,” Riparulo’s got me hooked. Here’s the story.

***

Xander doesn’t want to move. Away from his friends, his school- his LIFE. He wants to make movies, and what better place to do that then Pasadena, CA, only twenty minutes from Hollywood? But when his Dad, without spoken reason, says it’s time to move, the Kings head off to Pinedale.

After the family’s arrival in the new town, it doesn’t take them long to find a big, old, Victorian looking mansion. Sure, it’s a little bit of a fixer-upper; the electricity’s out, the floor is thick with dust, and cobwebs cling to every visible surface. But it shows potential, and that’s enough for the King family.

But something makes Xander and his brother David (Dae to his family) uneasy about the place. Sounds made in one room come out from another. Huge footprints are found in the dust. And a shady figure is seen, watching from a window. They ignore these things at first, but as their situation gets stranger and stranger, the Kings start to investigate.

And what they find will change their lives forever.

***

GOOD STUFF! Robert Riparulo, you made my day. (A day that I spent most of reading your book.) This man wrote a book that I would suggest to a random kid on the street, then turn and suggest to said kid’s mother. The suspense was intense (call me Dr. Seuss) the characters were believable, and the ending left me aching for more. I borrowed this book from a neighbor, and I now plan to bribe him for it. 🙂 GO. Go, and buy it.

(Negative content was small, as you can see by comparing this paragraph with the last. There was suggestion of nicotine use, as well as some graphic descriptions. Might not be suitable for younger kiddos.)

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5 of 5 stars

13+

“The Dangerous Days of Daniel X” by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge :: Daniel X

I would call this book jaw-dropping, but I don’t think that image is adequate. Imagine my jaw hitting the floor, grabbing a shovel, and digging down another several feet. James Patterson, Michael Ledwidge, I have one thing to say to you: WOW. 😯

***

“Spider-man, Spider-man, does whatever a spider can! Spins a-” Woah, woah, woah! Hold up! Just a spider? Can he shape-shift? Uh, no. Can he communicate telepathically? Nuh-uh. Bo-riiiing.

Daniel X is a superhero to top all superheroes. No gear necessary, just him and his mass-manipulating self. School is just to help him blend in, as his telepathic and encyclopedic knowledge of all things on earth makes an education superfluous.

Daniel’s real objective is to capture and terminate an illegal alien. Literally, “alien,” with the head of a horse, and a rotting, corpse-like body. Talk about creepy. Oh, and as a result of his alien hunting, Daniel is also the #1 Most Wanted by alien criminals throughout the galaxy.

If you’re looking for suspense, and in large quantities, then believe me when I tell you: you found the right book.

***

My, my, I never knew I could be so entertained. Loved it! Humor, action, and (as previously stated,) plenty of suspense. I look forward to the next! (Caution: There were some themes that were suggested that I was opposed to, but they were very brief.)

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4.5 of 5 stars

10+

“Science Fair” by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

Can you see the review in the bottom right corner of the book?

“Hilarious.” -The New York Times Book Review

You know the first thought that popped into my head after reading that review? “Cheaters.”

I mean, come on. That’s all? No, “This book was wonderful and I stayed up all night reading and it was just like an addiction and I couldn’t stop. I read it three times in one night, I just couldn’t control myself.”

Just, “Hilarious.” Seriously?

But, after I read the book, I found myself at the same conclusion. It was, quite simply, hilarious.

***

Toby Harbinger is an average 8th grade boy. He has average friends, and goes to an average school. (The only thing about Toby that isn’t average is his Star Wars fanatic parents.) But when the school Science Fair comes around, everything blows up.

You realize, I do not mean this literally. The frog doesn’t blow up. Only the Coke. But I digress.

At Hubble Middle School, children will give anything to win the prize of the Science Fair: $5,000. And when parents with money get involved, you can bet that the projects will get pretty interesting.

Toby Harbinger’s family doesn’t have lots of money. He could use a $5,000 dollar prize. But this year, the prize could be the least important thing. Somebody’s using the parents’ connections to get at top-secret devices; devices that, if used offensively, could annihilate an entire country.

The destruction of the United States of America is imminent, and the only people who can stop it are three 8th graders, a mad scientist, and a foreigner in a Wienermobile.

We’re doomed.

***

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! HAHAHA! HA!

Funny stuff. I love the ideas that Dave and Ridley packed into this lovely little novel. Smerk cheese, Washington, D.C., floating amphibians. The pure randomness had me laughing for several minutes on end, and that was after the first 3 pages. VERY good.

I did not, however, appreciate several unnecessary uses of bathroom related humor. Come on, guys. I’m not seven. 😦

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4 of 5 stars

10+