Dark Boy Fire

Missing me?

2009-11-21T14:25:00.000-08:00

I'm very sorry to all my readers that I haven't posted anything for a long time. I have now built up the expectation for my next review so high that I have no way to match it. On the other hand you could just have wandered onto my site and think what is this weirdo talking about and if do find yourself in this situation do not be alarmed. To stop this problem of the 'Review Drought', I try and make a short one paragraph review, however like J.K.Rowling I end up going on and on. Then, like J.K.Rowling, I do not want to hire an editor and I find myself having to edit my work of all the errors till I think it is worthy to publish and therefore i end up in this dilemma of having a 'Review Drought'.

I know this post isn't about books and its not a review but i thought that this would be better than nothing and at least inform and entertain you into the life of darkboyfire.

Jarvis 24 by David Metzenthen

2009-10-01T03:06:00.000-07:00

Finally, a book following the life of a teenager without vampires. Jarvis 24 is about Marc Jarvis an average sort of teenager who likes girls, doesn't like school and likes his footy, however before you turn away from the book because of my above description, don't. This is because David Metzenthen has created a interesting setting and life for Marc, in which people who don't like books about blokes who play AFL football will enjoy as well.

Marc has been looking, with no luck, for work experience. So as he sees a attractive young girl leaving a car yard he decides to apply for work experience there and so the story unfolds. A enjoyable read that I liked even though its not my prefered genre. Metzanthen creates a story with more depth than the average book of its genre but still holds on to the basic characteristic of a book about a teenage boy. Suitable for teenagers. 3 1/2 stars.

Riding the Black Cockatoo by John Danalis

2009-09-24T04:35:00.000-07:00

Riding the Black Cockatoo is a non-fiction book that follows the path of a white man who experiences of the life and culture of Aboriginal people. The book is about a man, John Danalis, the author, who's parents had an Aboriginal skull at their home and this is John's journey of returning the skull back to its origins and country. However this task which appears relatively easy at the beginning of the book turns out to be complex and results in a few hundred word story, as it is very important to the Aboriginals to do the proper ceremony/pass over. The story is interesting as you are seeing the Aboriginal culture through different eyes. Not as a historian or reporter but seeing them through the eyes of somebody like us (who isn't David Attenborough) who has had this true cultural experience. An informative book that does have a few slow parts but if your bored of reading about knights saving beautiful white princesses then maybe this is the book for you. Suitable for teenagers but mainly for Adults. 3 stars.

Harry Potter by J.K.Rowling

2009-08-09T01:20:00.000-07:00

Wait, did i read the title right? Yes, you did. After watching Harry Potter 6 i thought to myself "i should read the last two Harry Potters again".Why did i think this? I'm not even sure myself, maybe is was the luring of the 1214 pages of J.K.Rowling rambling or possibly because i wanted to know the spell that made the washing up do itself, i'm not sure. I can say this after reading the 1214 pages of the last two books i am still left with one question, why does Hermione like Ron? Seriously Hermione, he doesn't even have a scar on his head! The final decision is that it's a good series but unless you have a lot of time on your hands then i wouldn't suggest reading all the books again.

P.S: The Harry Potter books don't tell you the spell to do the washing up by itself, i know were all annoyed.

The Two Pearls of Wisdom by Alison Goodman

2009-08-09T00:55:00.000-07:00

The Two Pearls of Wisdom is a fantasy set in a world like Japan hundreds of years ago. The book is about the adventures of a young girl that is trying to become a dragoneye apprentice (a dragoneye is a powerful human with dragon-like powers).

A pet annoyance i have in a book is when you know that the main character needs to do something different or the answer is so obvious that it becomes frustrating and in The Two Pearls of Wisdom this occurred. Saying this however, its still a enjoyable read that fantasy readers and people who enjoyed 'Tales of the Otori' will like. Teenagers to Adults.

Vulture's Gate by Kirsty Murray

2009-07-12T02:02:00.000-07:00

What would happen if all the women in the world died because of a disease but men learn to scientifically make boys? a) 24 hour parties b) everybody goes crazy and runs around in mad panic or c) A group rises up to power and everybody else is left to fend for themselves? The correct answer was c), unfortunately if you picked c) we're out of prizes so you don't get anything.

Vulture's Gate is set in a future where, as above, all the women have died, however there is still one girl, Bo and when Callum's life intersects with her, questions start to rise that there might be other girls out there. Through the story we are shown there are different ways of surviving in such a world. A highlight of the book are the inventions which Bo and Callem have to support them in their battle to survive, especially the animal inspired robots such as Mr Pinky. After reading Vulture's Gate you start to think if this happened now, in our world would we end up in chaos or would we find a solution. For ages 12 - adult. An intriguing story for people interested in the way society works and for those who like reading adventures with a good storyline.

3 1/2 stars.

Gone by Micheal Grant

2009-07-09T03:49:00.000-07:00

When everybody disappears above the age of 15 and groups rise up and try and take control, you would think 'Lord of the Flies' has been there, done that, however, with Gone this is not the case. Not only are all the people above the age of 15 gone, henceforth the title, some people have accumulated strange powers. Lets face it, teenagers fighting for power and with powers, what more to love. However a story starts to unfold and with strange plots and interesting characters. Yes, I know you are all thinking that is what everybody says about every book but in Gone there is a private boarding school for misfit children which really does have some interesting characters. After reading through the book some more hidden mysteries are revealed and you start to realise that down below all the romance, fighting there is a good quality story.
A good book for people who like action but also want a bit of plot to a story. Does contain violence and not so nice people. 4 stars. (Cover might be different)

Malcolm and Juliet by Bernard Beckett

2009-05-23T23:05:00.000-07:00

When a mum tells her son that, "you should have sex with Juliet, she's a good place to start", you know it's going to be a weird book. So it did not surprise me that Malcolm and Juliet was weird, yet a funny and entertaining read. It includes some science, blackmail and a quirky main character. Malcolm and Juliet is a roller coaster ride, it has so many twists and turns that you won't be able to guess what will happen in the next 10 pages.

A quirky, humorous read that involves romance and a interesting cast of characters that makes Malcolm and Juliet a good read for teenage girls and boys. 3 stars

Feral Tracks by Euan Mitchell

2009-04-15T20:39:00.000-07:00

What do you do when you have nothing to read? You ask your mum for a book and she goes to her bookshelf picks out a book and blows the dust off the cover. When I resorted to this I found myself with a book called "Feral Tracks" and surprisingly it was not in old English but was a good book. Suitable for teenage boys and young men Feral Tracks takes us through the journey of a 17 year old who runs away from home. A interesting book that goes through the struggle of hitch-hiking and finding work. 3 stars.

The Essential Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson

2009-04-15T20:31:00.000-07:00

Sick of reading 400 page Harry Potter novels, then it's time to read some comics. I know, I know writing about comics on a book website is sacrilege but Calvin and Hobbes is a witty, funny comic that in this Treasury gives us the best of them. A humorous read for teenagers and adults. 3 1/2 stars.

The Hunger Games by Suzzane Collins

2009-04-15T20:21:00.000-07:00

In a dark future the authorities have set up a reality television show to remind people of their power. The T.V show however, is nothing like ones before it; it takes the phrase “Last man standing” to a new extreme. The 24 contestants are forced to play and when Katniss takes the place of her younger sister in the games, Katniss thinks she won’t return. She doesn’t know however that there are more people than she thought that are willing to help her and with her secret skill, there is still hope. The Hunger Games is an excellent read for people who like action or an adventure. After reading it your only question will be, when is book two coming out. Suitable for ages 12+.

4 1/2 stars.

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

2009-01-31T21:35:00.000-08:00

Do you ever wish you could talk to animals and understand your dog? If you do then you might want rethink that idea.

The Knife of Never Letting Go is set in Prentisstown a weird and small town. The first thing you notice is that dogs and animals can talk and everybody can hear each others thoughts. Todd, the main character is a 12 year old boy that has one month till he becomes a man, which occurs at the age of 13. Todd lives in Prentisstown but he finds something which all of Prentisstown wants, so he must flee and as his journey continues he finds that everything he knew was a lie.

A heart-stopper thriller with a great story line that teenagers and adults will both like. 3 1/2 stars.

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

2009-01-19T21:00:00.000-08:00

September 11 changed security around the world forever, but what would happen if a terrorist attack of this or bigger magnitude happened again in the U.S.A? In Little Brother, it does. Little Brother follows the story of a group of teenagers as they fight the government's new security system that is watching everybody's moves.

Little Brother explores the technology of the modern world and how it can be used, for good or evil. It shows you have to stick up for what you believe in and what is right. A very interesting book that will make you re-think the modern world. A great read for teenagers or adults who are interested in technology and how it can change the way we live. 3 1/2 stars.

Junk by Melvin Burgess

2009-01-19T20:39:00.000-08:00

Junk follows the lives of two teens who ran away from home and how they survive. Moving from place to place and people to people as they find themselves in a life where sex and drugs control them.

Junk is a fantastic book that looks at drugs and sex at a new angle. It teaches you more about drugs and sex than all the education you get from school and it's a book so your English teacher is happy.

I would recommend this book to all teenagers. 3 stars.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

2009-01-14T16:48:00.000-08:00

An old classic and after reading it you'll know why. Imagine a classroom full of primary school boys with no teacher for 15 minutes. Chaos? Yes, there would be chairs kicked over and nobody could get control. Now you have to imagine all those boys by themselves with no adults for a bit more than a week and not in a classroom but a deserted island. That's basically the setting for the Lord of the Flies.

A well written book about how power can corrupt anybody and how people will fight for it. Even in the present it's still a great book even though it's a bit offensive to all Non-Brits, it's definitely worth reading.

A must read for all teenagers and adults. 3 1/2 stars. (there are heaps of covers so don't just look for this one)

The Declaration by Gemma Malley (and the sequel, The Resistance))

2009-01-14T16:31:00.000-08:00

"My name is Anna and I shouldn't be here. I shouldn't exist. But I do." reads the first part of this books blurb. I know what your thinking, and no the story isn't about a cyborg. In fact it's actually about one of the current problems the world is facing at the moment, which is over population and running out of resources. As well as that in the story somebody has invented a new drug called longevity, that can prevent old age.

A interesting book that skips a few hundred years and sends us into the world that could be where our children's children live. Raising lot's of moral questions The Declaration sends us into the life of a girl, a surplus, who has been "brainwashed" by the authorities. The one bad thing about the book is the love scenes BLARGHHH!!!!!

A interesting book that I think teenage girls and boys will both like. 2 1/2 stars.

My New Rating System

2008-12-18T01:13:00.000-08:00

I am now going to tell you how my new rating system is to work.

The amount of Stars of of 5:
1 = How did this book get published, however, good present for somebody you don't like
2 = Save yourself some money don't buy it
3 = A good book but just missing that wow factor
4 = Give yourself 4 hours free time before touching it
5 = Harry Potter would have been the second best seller this month

Bonus:
6 = There will only be one book that gets this and that's if I write it

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaimen

2008-12-18T00:55:00.000-08:00

When you think of a Graveyard you think of death, zombies and ghosts. You don't think of a graveyard as a home but could you raise a boy there.

A baby boy appears at the graveyard gates and the ghosts of the graveyard take him in. They name the baby Nobody Owens, Bod for short. The Graveyard find out that Bod's family have been murdered and the boy is in threat so they must keep him safe and raise him only in the graveyard. With the help of the boy's guardian, Silas, who can leave the grave yard and get food for Bod, they raise the child. A story about a how he grows up and the adventures that arise.

I myself didn't overly enjoy the book but it was well written and I think that if you enjoy a quick read that builds character and has a original storyline then you will enjoy it. A good read for adults. 3 Stars.

The House of the Scorpian by Nancy Farmer

2008-11-24T01:05:00.000-08:00

The House of the Scorpion is a entertaining tale that focuses on the life of a clone, Matteo. In his fight to impress and achieve he makes friends with his bodyguard and in the following years has adventures.

A non-stop read that raises questions of morales while still being entertaining. Nancy Farmer has cleverly made a realistic future and makes us wonder does money make us happy?

A great read for all ages above 13 that adults will enjoy as well.

The Land of Silver Apples by Nancy Farmer

2008-11-08T18:02:00.000-08:00

Jack is back, in the entertaining sequel to "The Sea of Trolls". As before Jack is learning to be a bard, which is a type of mage who uses the life force to conjure spells. Lucy, Jack's sister, as usual is ignorant, spoilt and basically a brat, but she makes you wonder if her character would work without that personality. The storyline is that Lucy macks up a special ceremony and the ugly slave girl Pega has to do it instead. This causes Lucy to fall ill and has to be cured at a relatively faraway monastery. So Jack, the Bard, Pega and co have to go on an adventure.

A action filled story that shows courage, determination and fighting for survival. The book shows originality while still bringing back some old characters from The Sea of Trolls. at some points the 496 page novel can bore you but in the long run it won't let you down.

A good read for fantasy and adventure lovers.

The Boys Who Saved the World by Sam Mills

2008-10-14T00:47:00.000-07:00

"The boys who saved the world", the title of the book first made me think of Alex Rider and CIA agents. After reading the book I have to admit I was wrong, there was no CIA mentioned.

The story is based on a group of boys who have formed a new religion based on there leader's teaching, who god supposedly speaks through. At first you might think what a boring book, but I have not mentioned that these are devoted worshippers. When Jeremiah, the leader says there is a terrorist planning to plant a bomb in the school the group believe him and they agree, they must kidnap the terrorist.

I loved this book and the reason I did was because it raised morale questions and what is right and what is wrong. My favourite line in the book is when Jeremiah says "People who do bad don't realised there doing bad but they think there doing good". The reason this is so significant is because he is doing what most of society thinks as wrong but he is convinced he doing good.

I would recommend the book to people interested in cults or the world we live in. The story is set only over 7 days but it will be the most exciting 7 days you have ever remembered.

Dusk by Kenneth Oppel

2008-10-07T15:56:00.000-07:00

Dusk, the book, is set in the dinosaur period when man was still an ape, yet who needs humans to make a exciting story when you have a small species fighting for survival.

Dusk, not the book, is a newborn chiropractor, a species that uses their gliders (like wings) to glide through air and eat insects (yummy). Dusk however is a bit different with strange looks and a overwhelming urge to fly. He is avoided by other chiropractors apart from his sister, mother and father, the leader of the colony.

I did enjoy reading Dusk but the main downfall was that it was 400 pages (approx). I found that even though I don't mind reading that many pages it dragged on a bit. The interesting parts I found, without giving away all the book was the way the chiropractor colony reacts to different situations such as being attacked.

An interesting book that readers who like books that have some plot and action.

Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox by Eoin Colfer

2008-09-19T23:33:00.000-07:00

Artemis Fowl. A child genius who finds the fairy race, makes a lot of money and outwits his foes. In this book however you might say he has met his match, himself.

After disappearing for three years, Artemis returnes home to find he has two brothers and a sick mother. His mothers health continues to decrease and has only hours to live. So as you would expect Artemis calls in the "Calvary", the faires. They soon find that Artimes' mother has a old fairy apedemic that killed heaps of people, brought devestation to everybody, caused world wide panic and... you get the idea. The only place that has the cure for the disease is the past, so guess what Artemis and Holly do? They go to the past.

The Time Paradox is a typical Artimes Fowl book that gives you some action while also building and developing the characters. There are some clever plots even if the time paradox thereoms may confuse some younger readers. A well writen book that shows a new side to Artemis.

Cherub:The General by Jack Muchamore

2008-09-05T00:05:00.000-07:00

I love the cherub series. Why? Because it is action-packed, witty, funny and brilliant, all put into one. Yet the last book, Sleep Walker was in my opinion terrible compared to the rest. So I wondered, has Cherub had its time now into it's 10th book? But as I started to read The General the old Cherub came out and reminded me of the first few books of the series.

The General is about James and all the main characters going to a American training facility and playing out the terrorist's. The Ukrainian, American hater, Cherub trainer comes along as well and the party kicks off. The story has a few jokes and plenty of action making the cherub series proud.

P.S: DO NOT READ THIS BOOK WHEN YOU HAVE LOTS OF HOMEWORK TO DO BECAUSE YOU CAN'T STOP READING IT.

Peak by Roland Smith

2008-09-04T03:26:00.000-07:00

An action-packed adventure about friendship, sacrifice and risking everything for Everest. That was the publishers review, and Peak is basically that. It's about a teenage boy who gets caught climbing a skyscraper, you know, like we all do. He is faced with the choice of going to live with his father in Thailand or Juvenile detention. As you would expect he chooses to live with his father. The only thing is that his dad wants him to be the youngest person to climb Mt.Everest.

The story has lots of suspense and you seem to be one of the characters, which is good. The real life facts about climbing I found interesting but some bits in the story made my teeth grind. An easy book to get into with it's fair share of action, Peak makes a good read for ages 12-15.

Money Run by Jack Heath

2008-09-04T00:57:00.000-07:00

Jack Heath has written a third novel called Money Run. This story is about two teenagers, a hit man, the government and a very smart billionaire. As soon as I heard of this book I wondered would it live up to the expectations of his other popular books, The Lab and Remote Control and after reading it, I can say it did. This book starts with action and then there's some more action and then guess what, more action again. I found that even though it was interesting and well written it was a bit to fast with no real introduction but a few glimpses of the characters past life. It's not until near the end that you start to think that you know the character, but that was in my opinion the only major floor in this story. There are lots of complicated problems in this book that characters have to work out, but the reader, from past chapters knows the answer to them. Yet that character has the answer to a question that the other character does not know. Its like a murder mystery, but there's no murder and you don't know what your trying to work out (it's confusing but interesting). Everything is explained in the end and they give you some time to marvel at Jack Heath's genius before the 24 hour story is concluded. After reading it, though there are some problems, I found that it was a great and interesting book that I will happily recommend to anybody who likes the other Jack Heath books, Anthony Horowitz or the Keys to the Kindom series.