So, no review. How about I go through my all time favourite series and/or trilogies? These are the series that have left a permanent mark on me; they have shaped my childhood and my way of thinking. I carry these books in my heart.
THE LIST (Part 1)
#10: Children of the Red King Series by Jenny Nimmo- I read this series back in school and I have to say that it is such a good series!! The characters were wonderfully portrayed and the plot was interesting and kept me invested for all 8 books. Trust me, that is NOT an easy feat! The story revolves around a boy named Charlie Bone, who discovers he has a very particular magical power (unique and awesome power!) and is sent to Bloor's Academy where there are plenty of other children with all sorts of special powers (invisibility, talking to animals, hypnosis, etc.) In each book, Charlie and his friends must stop the Bloor's and their evil plans. There are some definite Harry Potter parallels here, but this book series is awesome all on its own. It's middle grade, but when a book is awesome, it doesn't really matter the category.
#9: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares - These books were all the rage back when I was in middle school. I thought they were so inspiring and fun, actually, I still think that. Basically, one summer 4 best friends gather together before they leave for their first summer apart ever and they discover a pair of jeans that fits all 4 of them, despite the fact that they are all different shapes and sizes. They decide that each girl will get the pants for a week in the summer and then send them along to the next girl. These magic pants will bring them luck wherever they need it, in love, work, family, etc. I love the individual journeys these girls go on and how they manage to come back together stronger than ever. Such a wonderful, wonderful series.
#8: A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket - I remember my grade 5 teacher reading The Austere Academy to my class. Now that I'm a teacher, I want to be able to share books that mean something to me. That matter to me. This book series is LOOOONG. 13 books I believe? (Lucky 13?) I haven't read it since middle school, but the fact that it is still a prominent force on my bookshelf, says quite a bit about it considering how drastically my shelf likes to change. This series is all about the 3 Baudelaire orphans and how nothing good EVER happens to them. There's a moment in every book where you think maybe, maybe this time everything will work out, but that hope is soon shattered beyond repair (until the next book). It's actually pretty depressing. But that's the point. Snicket consistently tells us that there is no point, but we read on anyway. We are Booklions. We always read on.
#7: The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini - I read the first book in this series, Eragon, probably a dozen times. I poured over every detail, created crackpot theories, and fell in love. By the time the fourth book appeared, I admit, the series had run out of steam for me. That being said, I still care deeply for these books. I love the story, the adventures, and the politics. The characters were a little lackluster, but I adore the world. And that's what keeps this series in my top ten. The world is simply breathtaking... and I'm still waiting for my dragon egg.
#6: Artemis Fowl by Erin Colfer - If I were a list person, this series would be on my list to reread. The Artemis Fowl series is one of my all-time favourite series when I was growing up. It doesn't quite crack the top 5, but I still love it! Artemis Fowl is a teenage criminal mastermind. He's cold, cunning, and willing to do anything for his family name. The story also follows Holly Short, an elf and the only female in the LEPrecon unit. She's sassy, intelligent, and doesn't let anyone boss her around. Holly and Artemis's evolving friendship was one of my favorite aspects in the story. Artemis's growth throughout his adventures was also something I loved. His character development was spot on. I could gush about Artemis all day, but there are other books to talk about!
There you go! The first 5 books in my Top 10.
More to come...
Peace and Love