Eat Pray Love

3 stars

Find your balance in life.

Rating: PG
Stars: Julie Roberts, Javier Bardem, Richard Jenkins

What’s the story?
After a devastating divorce and heartbreak, Liz (Roberts) decides to try and find balance in her life, which leads her to go on a one-year tour of Italy, India, and Indonesia. Liz spends four months in Italy learning how to speak the sexy language and, of course, eating everything possible. The next stop is India, where she spends four months in an ashram, a place of spiritual retreat. She finishes off the year in Indonesia, which is where Liz visits an old medicine man she met several years ago.

Why see it?
Based on a memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert, Julia Roberts is once again amazing in the title role. She has incredible skill in delivering her lines so honestly and truthfully. Many people would also agree that the scenes where the camera lingers on the landscapes and spectacular sunsets are hands down the most magical moments in the movie.

Who should skip it? Problems?
Guys probably won’t want to see the film, unless they want to please their girlfriends. As well, if you’ve read the book, this movie does come across as a bit disappointing because some important scenes were not included on the big screen, and some characters were entirely cut out of the film.

All in all:
Julia Roberts embarks on a journey of self-discovery.

Piranha 3D

3 stars

The waters aren't as calm at Lake Victoria.

Rating: 18A
Stars: Steven R. McQueen, Ving Rhames, Elisabeth Shue, Christopher Lloyd

What’s the story?
Jake Forester (McQueen) is a resident of Lake Victoria, a primarily easygoing and quiet town with regular people living regular lives - at least that is until spring break rolls around and the petite population of 5,000 soon grows to over 50,000. While all the partying is in full swing, something else is happening at Lake Victoria - a random underwater tremor occurs unleashing a population of nasty and hungry prehistoric piranhas. It’s all fun in the sun until the vicious fish come to ruin the party. Jake and all his friends must fight for survival before it’s too late and everyone at the lake literally become fish food.

Why see it?
Piranhas 3D packs some intense action, with some jaw dropping death scenes. If you enjoy cheesy summer horror flicks, then this is the film for you. Piranhas 3D certainly is a fun movie to see with your friends.

Problems?
For those who cannot stomach gore, or blood for that matter, I would suggest staying as far away from this movie as possible. The director, Alexandre Aja (The Hills Have Eyes), is certainly not stingy on the violence and aims to gross the crowd out before the opening credits can begin.

All in all:
A hauntingly graphic summer blockbuster worth checking out with friends.

The Ghosts of Ashbury High by Jaclyn Moriarty

4 stars

Ashbury High students puzzle over the anonymity of two new students.

Who exactly are Amelia and Riley and why are they so mystifying? They seem to be able to do everything from swimming to acting, but they also have a secret they are keeping under wraps that may be perilous. As the students at Ashbury High are trying to figure out these two new students, things get even more interesting and unnerving when they begin to believe there is a ghost in their midst!

A ghost that leaves behind piles of mandarin peels, sabotages art and produces intensely cold draughts. Rumours are flying about who the ghost is and what it wants, and at the same time Riley and Amelia are two individuals the students can't quite figure out.

An interesting tale told through blog posts, different point of views and journal entries, fans of Moriarty’s Ashbury novels will not be disappointed. The mysteries unravel at the end and small twists are revealed that will be shocking!!

Cool Products for Back to School

Back to school can be a drag, but not if you have some of these cool items to help make it fun!

Clocky
Invented by a student, Clocky is an alarm clock with wheels. It rolls and jumps around your room until you catch it to turn off the alarm!

Available at dormco.

Bed Risers
Pop your bed up on these risers and you will create an extra six inches of space underneath your bed! In a space-challenged bedroom, you will create a place to store all your homework supplies.

Available at dormco.

Cable Capture
The cords from multiple electronic devices lying around your room can make your bedroom look a lot messier than it actually is. Cable Capture will capture those cables for you. You just wrap the long cords around it and wow! You will notice the difference right away!

Available at dormco.

Sushi Stapler
This stapler that looks like sushi is easy to find with its distinctive look and is small enough so that you can put it in your backpack pocket. Before handing in your assignments, staple the pages neatly with your sushi stapler and your teacher will be impressed!

Available at Urban Outfitters.

Sparrows Nest Paper Clip Holder
Instead of worms, this little sparrow will get you paper clips! Put all your paper clips in the magnetized bird’s nest for a sure hold. You’ll never have to lose another paper clip again.

Available at Urban Outfitters.

Unisex Athletic Right to Play Watch
With this wristwatch to help you keep track of the time and date, you will never be late for school again or forget about that big upcoming test! Featuring a sporty silicone band, you can even wear it straight through gym class.

Available at Roots.

Reversible Shipping Tote
Do something good for the environment and buy Roots’ reversible shipping tote. Once your items have been shipped in style, you can turn this bag inside out and ta-dah! It is now a cool new affordable tote bag that you can bring to school!

Available at Roots.

The Anemara Orchid by Laurie Nenson

4 stars

The Anemara Orchid is a story where decisions are made by learning through fantasy.

Willa Bell lives a stress-free, easy life. She`s a popular teenager who has the girl-next-door look. She wins a contest to see her all time favorite band with the added bonus of meeting the lead singer, who is a major hunk. This opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Problem is, she’s got two tickets and she can`t decide who to bring. It would be a great opportunity to re-build her relationship with her lifelong best friend Greta, as they’ve drifted apart. Or, she could choose her new best friend, Ava, who is popular and seems to be a good match for Willa`s quirky personality.

Stressed about the decision, Willa decides to leave school and go home. When Willa falls asleep, she is introduced to Mella of Elancera, who takes her on a journey where she lives a completely different life and meets Mara, who is an Otis, the ugliest of the people in the world. Willa’s experiences in Elancera are unlike any other, but the same decisions need to be made – choosing between friends.

This novel shows how true friendship really is important, no matter what you look like and how different you are. The switch between Mara`s life and Willa`s life in the beginning was a bit confusing, but overall, the book was easy enough to follow. Descriptively written, it’s easy to picture the strange world of Elancera and you will not want the book to end. The book will most likely appeal to teen girls who enjoy reading fantasy novels.

Wayfarer by R.J. Anderson

3 stars

Wayfarer is an interesting, but predictable book full of loopholes.

Linden is a 15-year-old faery from Oakhaven. Her people have lost their magic and she sets off on a journey to find a way to restore their magic. She makes friends with a human boy, Timothy, and discovers a terrible empress who rules over almost all the other faeries. Linden’s queen dies and the only hope left is a legendary group of faeries called the Children of Rhys. Timothy and Linden must race against time to search for a group they’ve only heard of in legends.

Wayfarer is a fast-paced, attention-grabbing book that keeps you hooked even when the plot line is entirely predictable. When I first read the back cover of the book, I realized that I had seen the same storyline a thousand times before. There were a couple of unique ideas around faeries and small twists that kept me interested, especially the interesting ideas about magic. But many things were left unexplained and by the end of the book, I still didn’t have a good understanding of the characters. I would recommend this book to dedicated fantasy/action readers. It’s a fun book that will really get you into the story and the setting, but it’s not a book that’s going to make you think or ponder afterwards, unless it’s about the various loopholes.

Starlighter by Bryan Davis

4 stars

Would you risk your life trying to save strangers lost in another world?

Jason Masters is an expert teenage sword fighter and survival professional on the planet, Major Four, a world filled with lethal talking bears, dungeons and advanced technology run by a tyrant. The brain to Jason’s brawn is his best friend Elyssa, who as a “Diviner” is practically a genius, not welcome in the tyrant governor’s nation.

For years, people on Major Four told stories of a mythical land where humans are enslaved by dragons. When Jason’s brothers end up trapped in the dragon world, it all becomes real and it’s up to him to save them and the enslaved “Lost Ones." Meanwhile, in the dragon world of Starlight, a slave with magical storytelling abilities, Koren, begins her own adventure that soon intertwines with Jason’s adventure. Koren first sets out curious to find the truth about imprisoned humans on Starlight, but stumbles upon much more than she bargained for.

Starlighter takes you on an odyssey-like saga, where characters are tested time after time and challenged to sacrifice everything for others. Bryan Davis demonstrates how one person can make a difference in a world, however overrun with evil, and that it’s within any creature to do good or bad; there’s always a choice to be a hero. Written with detailed description, the whole adventure plays out in your head, taking you deep into this intriguing fantasy universe!

Havoc by Chris Wooding

4 stars

Havoc is a thrilling new addition to the Malice series.

If you're looking to experience an action-packed, disturbing and perilous journey, read Havoc by Chris Wooding and live vicariously through its characters. In this second book of the Malice series, Seth is a daredevil teenage boy whose best friend, Kady, is trapped in a sinister comic book world called Malice. While attempting to find his way back into Malice to save Kady, Seth encounters a new character, Alicia, who is also tangled up in the mysterious world, ruled by its terrifying leader, Tall Jake. Meanwhile, Kady tries to contact the Havoc, a group of rebels that is taking a stand against Tall Jake. Plunging into their adventures, the fate of the world depends on these teen heroes.

This is without a doubt one of the best books of the year, with a finely knit plot line and incomparable characters. The author, Chris Wooding, uses descriptive words and colourful imagery to make this book a must-read for all ages. Featuring a unique plot and exceptional writing, Havoc is definitely a page-turner.

The Secret Diary of Ashley Juergens by Ashley Juergens

5 stars

Secrets are unveiled to fans of The Secret Life of the American Teenager through Ashley Juergens' diary.

Based on the popular TV show, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, this novel is both hilarious and insightful. When Ashley Juergens gets in trouble at school, her principal forces her to keep a journal. At first she doesn't want to write in it, but soon it turns into a way to deal with her sister’s unexpected pregnancy and her parents’ separation.

Whether you’re a teen who watches this show or not, I’m sure you will enjoy the novel. However, I would recommend this book more to girls than to guys since it is written from a girl's perspective. For those who do watch The Secret Life of the American Teenager, it's interesting to see a different view on all the events that took place in the first season of the show, and it also answered some questions I had after watching the TV show. The Secret Diary of Ashley Juergens is a very funny and suspenseful book that you will not want to put down.

Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters by Natalie Standiford

4 stars

Some secrets can keep families close together while others can tear them apart.

This Christmas, the Sullivan sisters are in for a surprise. Their wealthy grandmother informs the family that she will die soon, and she has cut them all out of her will. Apparently, someone in the family has seriously offended her, but if the offender confesses to the crime by New Years Day, then she might reconsider her will. Since all the family money comes from the grandmother, the Sullivans must come together, set aside their differences, and figure out a way to save the family.

I would recommend this book to any teenage girl looking for an entertaining and exciting book to read this summer. Funny and mysterious at the same time, Natalie Standiford did an amazing job of describing the setting, while not giving away too many details of the mystery and ruining the surprise twists. I did find that the ending of the book was a little confusing and awkward, but other than that I loved the book!