Kids Books - Science Fiction

The final battle. The one we've all been waiting for. Riordan once again does an absolutely, utterly fantastic job with giving the characters depth. The seven are all on board the Argo II, and are heading towards Rome to stop the end of the world. Jason, the blond Superman whose mother died when he was two, and went missing from his family that included Thalia Grace. His character isn't as fleshed out as the others, but what we do know: He's afraid of breaking the rules, doing the wrong thing that will eventually cause the end of the world. We can all relate to this; Jason is perfection that has taken on a human form. Percy, all of our faves. the one we know most, has played as a pawn for the Gods Of Olympus like Jason. After losing his memory thanks to Hera, he is part of the huge plan to unite the two camps. His fatal flaw is not being able to let his friends take a blow, and this will cost him soon enough. He wants nothing more than to enjoy a quiet life with Annabeth, but it looks like the Fates have a different idea in mind for him. Although he has lots of boiling emotions inside, he hides it with all of that slapstick humor on the outside. Which brings us to Leo. He's the dude that could possibly become the new favorite, constantly cracking jokes, building things, and making awesome tacos. He has a dark past, too. His mother died in a fire when he was young, and he has always felt resentment and hate against the Fates for that. But you couldn't possibly tell, with all of the constant wisecrackers he dishes out. He may be scrawny and a little too obsessed with mechanics, but in the end, he's a very lovable character. But he's the 7th wheel. He'll never be able to fit in, and that is what disturbs him a lot during the mission. Frank, the shapeshifter, the clumsy dude with the baby face. Looking at him, you wouldn't think that he's been through that much, but his mom died at war when he was small. Also, his life depends on a stick. That's what you get for being able to shapeshift like the definition of awesomeness. Annabeth is the wise girl, the tactician of the team. She ran away from her house at seven, and has constantly gotten more powerful and wiser since then. Only second to building and architecture than Leo, is able to get absorbed into the laptop Daedalus himself had given her, and like Percy, just wants to spend a quiet life with him. She's really annoyed at Hera for taking Percy away, and her resentment may be a danger to the team later. Hazel has been given a second chance at life and intends to use it to the fullest. But rescuing the world might mean dying again, and she is afraid of this. She's a brave warrior, nevertheless, with a sick cussing supersonic horse that can reach the speed of sound. Piper, the girl whose ashamed of her heritage. She never wanted to be a daughter of Aphrodite, and tries to downplay her beauty with eccentric styles. However, there's more to her story than just that. The world is at risk of ending, and everything she'd ever known and loved would be gone. And the fact that she can't exactly fight is also what she thinks makes her a misfit on her team. All she has is a charming voice, a blade that shows gruesome scenes, and a cornucopia that is hardly worthy of respect. She's afraid of failing her team, and not being able to participate the right way. And Nico, the 8th. He isn't exactly a part of their mission but he will be helping Reyna and Coach Hedge transport a mad golden statue, the Athena Parthenos, across the Atlantic, using his power of shadow travel. He's in danger of fading away, but he doesn't care what happens to him as long as he's able to save the world. Reyna, the girl that has experienced a lot of heartbreak. Hera transported Jason to the other camp without warning when she was trying to get him. And Percy turned her down when she proposed. "No demigod shall heal your heart", Aphrodite had said. And now she has to transport the Athena Parthenos across the Atlantic with Coach Hedge and Nico. But it's worth sacrificing her life to save the world. She is Roman to the core. And lastly, Coach Hedge, the violent satyr with a soft heart. His wife, a cloud nymph, is pregnant, and he is ready to save the world, no matter what comes in his way. All of these demigods (and a satyr) area brave group working to save the world together. They will do anything to save their precious world, even if it means sacrificing their lives. But will they also be able to stop the Romans in time as well as Gaea? Octavian poses a serious threat to them in addition to the Evil Mother Earth, and makes things even more difficult than anyone could have imagined. Riordan's best novel yet; it's a crackling page turner. Don't miss this one. 5/5!

In The House of Hades, by Rick Riordan, Percy and Annabeth have fallen into Tartarus, and they are struggling to stay alive, minute by minute. They need to find the Doors of Death, and quickly. There seems to be no hope for them—Tartarus is the home of thousands of monsters that would kill them in seconds. As they travel through Tartarus, they never know what could be hiding in the shadows. Meanwhile, Percy and Annabeth’s friends are sailing on the Argo II to rescue them from Tartarus. As Gaea starts to wake, the monsters are becoming more powerful and numerous. If Percy and Annnabeth aren’t rescued, the Argo II and its travellers will be in big trouble. In Rick Riordan’s latest book in the Heroes of Olympus series, The House of Hades has more action and adventure then ever before as Percy and Annabeth journey through Tartarus. Unsurprisingly, I really liked this book. Rick Riordan is one of my favorite authors, and I have been reading his books since I was in second grade. I love how he continues to mix mythology with the modern world. It is so cool to imagine the classic myths surrounding us in everyday life. This is a great series, with as much excitement, or more, than the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series. I love Riordan’s writing—each book in this series has been incredible. The only thing that I wasn’t very fond of was the book’s length. Sure, it’s full of action and battles and monster-killing, but after a few hundred pages there are just too many monster battles, and it can drag on. Riordan could’ve made it a little shorter than 583 pages. Other than that, I loved it. The setting and battles were very well described, and the characters’ physical conditions and emotions were cleverly portrayed. This book was a great fourth installment in the Heroes of Olympus series. I am so excited for the fifth and final book in the series to come out, but I am sad for the end of Percy Jackson’s story.

The Mark of Athena is an amazing book. Sure it has a cliffhanger at the end but who cares. The Mark of Athena is a really good book it has lots of mythology, has characters that are easily relatable to kids, and is really interactive to a reader. This book is best for kids 5th grade - 8th grade. If you like a book with battles and adventure this is a book for you. The characters resemble kids with ADD, and ADHD, those are things. About 4.4 percent of kids have ADD, or ADHD. ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, a condition with symptoms such as inattentiveness, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, and ADD is the same thing just a shortened version, it stands for Attention Deficit Disorder. The reason this is mentioned is because all kids need role models when reading. It is really easy for kids that do not have ADHD to find role models in books. The main characters in this book are Leo, Frank, Hazel, Annabeth, Jason, Percy, Piper. They are all early teens and have unique personalities. They all have ADHD, but you will see Leo has it worst.

Piper McCloud could fly. This the reason her overprotective parents kept her shut away from the rest of Lowland County. She was always on the farm, except for Sunday, when she was rushed in and out of church. She wasn't even allowed to go to school! She was homeschooled (like me!). Until one day she decided she wanted to fly. She took a leap of faith... right off the roof! She flew! She practiced flying everyday, until... the Lowland County picnic. Her parents were letting her go! She couldn't wait to make friends, eat ice cream, and play with other kids her age. But then, during the game of baseball put on by the kids of Lowland County, Piper ran to catch the ball. It was just a bit to high and so... she flew. She caught the ball but nobody cheered wasn't this what they wanted? The people who had seen her fly told everyone, and when Letitia Hellion found out, she knew Piper just had to come to I.N.S.A.N.E. , her school for gifted children. Piper doesn't hesitate in saying yes, but Letitia now asks her not to fly for a while. If Letitia was helping her, why would she ask her not to do her favorite thing in the world? This book was AMAZING! You can really relate to Piper! It was a beautiful book that kept grins and tears on my face! I recommend it to absolutely anyone and everyone, no matter how old or young! Seriously, read it! Like right now.

This is the best book ever in the Warriors series! It’s so sad, but also heartwarming! I loved Bluestar, because she’s such a brave and headstrong cat. She faces her fears in a way that I can only call exemplary, and I think she’s a great role model for all readers. The story starts with her as a kitten named Bluekit. She has always been peaceful and safe with her sister, Snowfur, and her mother, Moonflower. But when she becomes an apprentice, receiving the name Bluepaw, and begins her training to hunt and fight like the wild cat she is, Moonflower dies in a terrible battle. Angry and grieving, Bluepaw feels like she can never become a true warrior. And when a cat named Goosefeather gives her a prophecy—“You will blaze through the forest like fire. Only water can destroy you”—she gets even more frustrated. What are these cryptic words supposed to mean? No one knows...except for Goosefeather, of course. Meanwhile, tensions are rising between Bluepaw, (now a warrior named Bluefur) and her sister, Snowfur. When Snowfur gets hit by a monster—a strange object that the two-legged creatures near their territory drive around in—Bluefur’s heart is torn in half. The only thing that makes her happy is seeing Oakheart, a tom. But their relationship is forbidden...and if any cat finds out, they might be banished from their homes, and everything they have ever known. Can Bluefur make the right decision? Read this book to find out!

Stormkit has always wanted to be the leader of Riverclan, maybe even more than his brother Oakkit. But one day, while sneaking out of camp and onto the stepping stones, Stormkit and Oakkit are chased by Goosefeather, the Thunderclan medicine cat. Stormkit falls on the edger of a stone and breaks his jaw. All of a sudden, almost every cat in camp hates him. Even his mother Rainflower tells Hailstar to change his name to Crookedkit. Will Crookedkit ever achieve great things? Then, Crookedkit meets Mapleshade, a Starclan cat. She explains to him that to become a great warrior, he must be loyal to his clan above all other things. Crookedkit soon finds out how this promise can impact his life, and not just in positive ways. I was instantly persuaded to love cats after reading this book!

In the groundbreaking last installment of the bestselling Divergent trilogy, Tris and Tobias' fates balance on the point of a knife. Evelyn Johnson, Tobias' mother, now rules Chicago along with the rebels, but life is the same as when the factions thrived - possibly worse. Even after Tris risked her life to reveal the truth about the creation of the factions, Evelyn refuses to do anything about it, continuing to lock everyone inside the city at the hands of the rebels. In the midst of riots and confusion, Tris and Tobias join the group of people ready to break out of Chicago called the Allegiant. But they meet several casualties along the way, including immobilization and deaths. And even when the Allegiant cross Chicago's borders, the truth about the world is uglier than they ever imagined. Chicago's factions were simply an experiment by the American government; Divergents are pure-blooded, and everyone else is considered "genetically damaged"; and every single thing the city of Chicago went through was orchestrated, including the Abnegation massacre. From there on, it all begins to deteriorate. Secrets, rumors, and betrayals fly as bonds of love are tested. The Allegiant rises against the all-powerful US government. Friends are imprisoned and die. But in the end, all it takes is one choice. And though Tris is a genetically-pure Divergent, she is far from invincible. A gorgeous, shattered, heartbreaking story, Veronica Roth weaves the last Divergent book with lost kisses and the salt of tears.

Harry Potter starts another year at Hogwarts, knowing it will never be the same. Voldemort's reign of terror is in full force. Dumbledore has been mysteriously leaving Hogwarts for personal business. And we have yet another Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. This time it's... SNAPE! Dumbledore has held Snape from teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts for a long time, but there is no other choice. Meanwhile, Dumbledore has recruited a new Potions teacher. Professor Horace Slughorn. Harry finds the old potions book of The Half-Blood Prince. With the new tips and tricks The Prince provides, he quickly becomes a potions whiz. The potions book not only holds tips for potions, but also made-up spells. Harry is brought with Dumbledore on a mission. A mission to find Horcruxes. Harry and Dumbledore come back, only to find Death Eaters in Hogwarts! What will happen next? You'll have to read the book to find out. I cried while reading this book. I LOVE HARRY POTTER!!!!! This book was absolutely stunning! This is my fourth time reading it, but my first time reviewing it. I love how J.K. Rowling is able to convey a story line that makes you think without getting you frustrated or confused. If the Harry Potter universe somehow came to life, I know Hermione and I would become instant BFF's. This book is great. Everyone should read it, especially if they like fantasy, but even if they don't they should give it a try!

It is the summer holidays and soon Harry Potter will be starting his fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry is counting down the days; there are new spells to be learnt, more Quidditch to be played and the Hogwarts castle to continue exploring. But Harry needs to be careful – there are unexpected dangers lurking… I absolutely love the Harry Potter books and out of the seven I'd probably say that The Goblet of Fire is my favourite, and this is mostly down to the creatures and other wizarding students we meet in the novel. As a lover of Hogwarts it's interesting to know what other wizarding schools are like in the world of Harry Potter, and to explore further the seemingly endless list of creatures. I can never find a boring or uninteresting moment in The Goblet of Fire and I never get sick of reading it again and again as it's so easy to lose myself in Harry Potter with the astounding events and distinctive characters. I really like how Hermione Granger strives through in this book as not just a clever girl, but as a girl with passion and determination. I like her complex personality; normally she is typecasted into just being 'intelligent', but Hermione is shown with a more girly and emotive side in this book, giving her more depth than just being Harry's clever friend. She is well-rounded and is more accessible as a regular person (though a witch) with feelings and a personality. In this book we regularly come across Cedric Diggory, a Hufflepuff, who allows us to see the Hufflepuff house in more depth rather than just briefly touching upon it as it has been in other books. I like how we can see the fairness Cedric strives to uphold throughout this book, showing us the value of Hufflepuffs. Anyone who hasn't read up to The Goblet of Fire should definitely re-think that decision as this is the book where it all changes and it's then impossible to not continue reading the rest of the books. The Goblet of Fire definitely deserves a 5/5 in my opinion.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the third instalment in the Harry Potter series, and is by the incomparable JK Rowling. The Harry Potter series are described as 'children books', however, in my opinion, whether you're twelve or twenty two, I highly recommend them!! Now after a long summer (and some aunt abusing antics), Harry is back at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, with his trusty best friends: Ron and Hermione. Yet, secret and mysterious things are happening in the wizarding world, and Harry is not safe from the dark and dangerous people at large. Who is the infamous Sirius Black, who escaped from the notorious wizard prison: Azkaban? And what could the fugitive Black possibly want with Harry? Harry, Ron and Hermione, spend another magical year at Hogwarts, where Harry learns far more about his past then he could have expected. As always with Rowling's books, I loved Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban! JK Rowling's words have a curious habit of coming to life, and her characters are funny, and realistic. One of the greatest things about Harry Potter, is that they improve with each book, and you can clearly glimpse the clever, intricate plot Rowling has wove, with cleverly placed foreshadowing and seemingly innocent hints. This book is undoubtedly darker than the previous ones, as Harry learns more and more about the sinister forces that threaten the wizarding world. The characters begin to get more developed and more complex, and an awful lot more interesting. I must warn you though, that once you begin, you'll find it almost impossible to stop! Once you finish, you'll be skimming through it again, finding seemingly obvious clues, thinking 'How did I miss that?!'. If that wasn't enough to get you interested, the Harry Potter covers have recently been redesigned, and they are even more stunning than ever! The Prisoner of Azkaban cover is by far my favourite: Harry heroically brandishing a wand, from which a silver stag has erupted! To no one's surprise, I give Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 5/5 stars!