The Book of Dragons by E. Nesbit

This book, originally published in 1900, is a whimsical book for grades 4-7 about dragons. There are eight short stories that pertain to dragons. Each one is different, from evil dragons to kind dragons. Did you know cats were originally dragons? If you make cats eat mice and other rodents, they may turn back into dragons, but milk and bread will keep them as cats. Other stories include princes and princesses having to go against dragons. A kind blonde princess with a heart of gold will not be harmed by dragons.

I read this book as an audio book.
Narrator: Bill Delaney
Time: 4 hours, 23 minutes
ISBN: 978587171055
Pages (Per ISBN connected with the book used to create audio book): 180

Turn of the Screw by Henry James

This book, published in 1898, is an old ghost story regarding a new governess, her charges, and the two spirits that seem to haunt the estate. This was a very ambiguous book in some areas and detailed in others. How old is the boy, Miles? Why was Miles expelled from school? Why is the uncle the main contact and why does he want nothing to do with anything? Why are these spirits haunting the estate? I still don't know! I am much more fond of Edgar Allen Poe in regards to haunting tales. This book was hard to know what was going on in some areas, and easily understandable in others. The story reminds me why I have an English degree in creative writing instead of literature (I would love to re-write this story!).

I read this book as an audio book.

Narrator: John Brewster
Time: 4 hours, 7 minutes
Pages (Per archived version of first edition of the book): 213

I found a scanned PDF of the original book (the story was published with another story by Henry James: "Covering End").

https://ia902303.us.archive.org/26/items/twomagicsturnofs00jameiala/twomagicsturnofs00jameiala.pdf

Sex on the Moon: The Amazing Story Behind the Most Audacious Heist in History by Ben Mezrich

Thad Roberts is a genius, so how did he end up in prison? Thad Roberts one day decided to become an intern at NASA. He became known by his fellow pears as a thrill-seeking daredevil. One day he hears that scientists at NASA believe the moon rocks contained in the facility are considered "junk." After hearing this, Thad starts planning on how to steal the moon rocks. Little does he know that a potential buyer has connected with the FBI to try to catch Thad in the act. But selling "worthless" moon rocks couldn't possibly get Thad into trouble, right? Though everyone knows the end result, as the saying goes: "It isn't the destination; it's the journey."



I read this book as an audio book.
Narrator: Bill Delaney
Time: 9 hours, 21 minutes
ISBN: 9780385533928
Pages (Per ISBN connected with the book used to create audio book): 322

Of Neptune by Anna Banks

Emma and Galen take a much needed vacation. With a suggestion by Emma's grandfather, Emma and Galen end up in a town called Neptune.

The town of Neptune is full of half-breeds like Emma, which bothers Galen. The two get into a fight and Galen leaves.

Emma begins to learn more about the citizens of Neptune, but begins to miss Galen, even with being around those like her.

Galen is caught by someone from Neptune and is tortured for information.


Will other Syrena find out about those from Neptune? Will a war break out between the factions?

I read this book as an audio book.
Narrator: Kerry Dukin
Time: 9 hours, 9 minutes
ISBN: 9781250039606
Pages (Per ISBN connected with the book used to create audio book): 336

The Syrena Legacy:
#1-Of Poseidon
#2-Of Triton
#3-Of Neptune

Of Triton by Anna Banks

Emma has been confirmed a half-breed Syrena, which are considered abominations by the salt water dwelling Syrena. She also finds out that her mother is a Poseidon princess and was originally mated to Galen's brother, the king of the Triton faction of Syrena.

Galen's brother is about to be mated to an impostor. Emma's mother see's Galen's brother for the first time in many years, and things between them seem to go back to the way they were. Without Emma, the others go to the sea to try to get Grom out of being mated to the impostor. When they reach the Syrena kingdom, they find that the royals are being questioned on their ruling.

Emma must come to the rescue to try to bring the kingdom back to order, but this could end up being deadly for Emma.

I read this book as an audio book.
Narrator: Kerry Dukin
Time: 7 hours, 37 minutes
ISBN: 9781250003331
Pages (Per ISBN connected with the book used to create audio book): 256

The Syrena Legacy:
#1-Of Poseidon
#2-Of Triton
#3-Of Neptune

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

Emma is a klutz with odd violet eyes. And of course, while on vacation with her best friend, Emma falls into Galen, the only boy she has ever met with her same eye color (with the exception of Galen's twin sister). Disaster strikes when her friend is attacked by a shark and dies.

Galen gets a sense on Emma, who he is now sure is Syrena (a mermaid, though don't call them that), like him. Galen ends up following Emma back to her home in New Jersey and puts himself into all of her classes. Galen is not just drawn to Emma because of the possibility that she is Syrena, he believes he feels a pull to her.

The question on whether Emma is answered as well as who her actual parents are.

I read this book as an audio book.
Narrator: Kerry Dukin
Time: 10 hours, 54 minutes
ISBN: 9781250027368
Pages (Per ISBN connected with the book used to create audio book): 384

The Syrena Legacy:
#1-Of Poseidon
#2-Of Triton
#3-Of Neptune

Queen of Zombie Hearts by Gena Showalter

A lot of crazy things have happened to Alice since her parents and sister passed away. She has been with on again off again bad-boy Cole and has the ability to kill zombie spirits. Things get crazier when Alice finds out her name is actually Samantha and the mom she thought was her mom was not her real mother. Alice and Cole's group gets together with another pack of slayers (people who can kill zombie spirits) in order to defeat Anima, an institution that has been trying to control zombie spirits. Though this was originally supposed to be the final book in the series, fans begged for more and the author has obliged. The fourth book is to come at the end of September 2015.


I read this book as an audio book.
Narrator: Martha Harmon Pardee
Time: 12 hours, 5 minutes
ISBN: 9780373211319
Pages (Per ISBN connected with the book used to create audio book): 464

The White Rabbit Chronicles:
#1-Alice in Zombieland
#2-Through the Zombie Glass
#3-Queen of Zombie Hearts
#4-A Mad Zombie Party (Coming September 2015)

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn is a crazy,  suspenseful, emotional roller coaster ride. It is mostly based in Carthage, Missouri. On their 5th anniversary, Nick finds out that his wife Amy has gone missing. Of course the husband did it, correct? Yes? No? Maybe? You find out more than you would ever want to on the psyche of the couple, and you hope these types of people do not exist! I have never felt so much emotion (mainly anger) for a book before. I will wait for the movie to come out on DVD before I see it.
I read this book as an audio book.
Narrator: Mare Trevathan and Erik Sandvold

Time: 17 hours, 55 minutes
ISBN: 9780307588364
Pages (Per ISBN connected with the book used to create audio book):432

Cress by Marissa Meyer

Cress is the third book in the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. It is hard to fully describe what goes on in Cress without providing spoilers, but here it goes. Cress is based on the fairy tale "Rapunzel." Cress (Rapunzel) was placed in a satellite at the age of 10. She has been spying on Earth for the Queen Levana. Cress is torn between helping the queen, who she does not want to help, and helping Cinder and her gang overthrow Queen Levana. A lot of different and exciting things happen. Cress has fallen for Thorne, Cinder is still in love with Emperor Kai, and Scarlet is Wolf's Alpha Female. At the very end, we learn who Winter is, the princess of Lunar. Winter seems to be on the heroes' side, but we will have to wait until November 2015 to find out! :-(
I read this book as an audio book.
Narrator: Mare Trevathan
Time: 13 hours, 42 minutes
ISBN: 9780312642976
Pages (Per ISBN connected with the book used to create audio book): 560

The Lunar Chronicles:
#1-Cinder
#2-Scarlet
#3-Cress
Prequel-Fairest (Coming January 2015)
#4-Winter (Coming November 2015)

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Scarlet is the second book in the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. It is hard to fully describe what goes on in Scarlet without providing spoilers for Cinder, but here it goes. Scarlet is based on the fairy tale "Little Red Riding Hood." Scarlet and her grandmother own a farm in a small southern town in France. Scarlet's grandmother has been missing for over two weeks. She finds a man to help her find her grandmother who goes by Wolf, a very accurate name. The book goes between what is going on with Scarlet, Cinder, and Kai. Unlike the book Cinder, the book Scarlet does not include as many predictable events. There are still portions of the book that remind one of Little Red Riding Hood, but it is not quite as forced as Cinder. Of course we have a guy named Wolf and Scarlet has a red hoodie and red hair, but once you overlook that, the rest is not as fairy tale-like. It is a very good second book that makes you want to start the third one right away!
I read this book as an audio book.
Narrator: Mare Trevathan
Time: 10 hours, 11 minutes
ISBN: 9780312642969
Pages (Per ISBN connected with the book used to create audio book): 454

The Lunar Chronicles:
#1-Cinder
#2-Scarlet
#3-Cress
Prequel-Fairest (Coming January 2015)
#4-Winter (Coming November 2015)

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Marissa Meyer puts an amazing and unique spin on the tale of Cinderella in her new book Cinder. Cinder is the first book in the Lunar Chronicles. Cinder is a teenage cyborg who lives in New Beijing. She works as a mechanic, which is the only source of income for her step-mother and two sisters. Her best friend is an android named Echo. Unlike the traditional Cinderella story, Cinder's youngest step-sister is very fond of Cinder. As a bit of background for the setting, it is in a future Earth that had a terrible World War III, Beijing was demolished and therefore, New Beijing was created. There is a group of people called Lunars that live on the moon, and their current queen has been threatening to start war with earth of the prince of the Asian Commonwealth, Prince Kai, will not marry her. There is also a very dangerous plague that has been spreading across the Earth called letumosis. This plague cannot be spread to Lunars. There are certain points in the book that are predictable and others that are surprising. One can definitely tell that Marissa did research on this book to provide well detailed information.
I read this book as an audio book.
Narrator: Mare Trevathan
Time: 9 hours, 20 minutes
ISBN: 9780312641894
Pages (Connected to ISBN of book used to create audio book): 390