Eva to the Max

Eva loves motocross but when she gets relentlessly bullied about it she is forced to change schools, and keep her motocross career hidden.  But when Eva pushes herself and her bike to hard in a race Eva finds out the truth behind the cost of her decisions.  There is also a new girl at school that not only threatens Eva’s secret but also her chances to get sponsored by company that will help with the cost of her beloved sport.

I never thought I would like a book in verse, but the subject matter kept me going and I loved every lap of this book.  I love any book were the female out plays the guys and wins.  I guess I see myself there as when I grew up there weren’t enough girl to make a league or their own motos, so we always got mixed in with the guys.  Like Eve there was always to ones to bully girls about playing sports with the guys, and like her I am sure many hide the fact that they played to curtail the bullying even though they might have been better than the guys.  I found Eva to be everything a girl athlete is and hopes to become she is very believable as are all the characters.  I did like the writing style and found it flowed well and with the short subsections made it easy for a dyslexic reader.  I am glad there are more books out the where girls get to break out of their shells.  I loved Eva and hope to see more stories like hers.

 

Griffin Speaker

Rain is an orphan living with her Aunt who keeps and trains animals for others.  Rain has one rule to follow, do not go into the barn, of course she does and finds a griffin, a wild griffin which no one has seen in many generations and thought to be extinct.  The griffin bonds with Rain and when the high up officials find out they set out to capture the griffin and do the unthinkable to Rain make her start to take the meds.  There is only one thing that can save them both and that is if they can get to the academy and make it past the trial set before them then even as an orphan she will be provided the education of the academy and hopefully become a griffin rider.

So much action and suspense right from the start and continuing on until the very end, however now I can’t wait to see what the pair will get up to next.  These characters each and everyone are well thought out and the story is just wonderful.  I really loved it and hope to see more of the duo as they move along the ranks.

 

Wombat Waiting

First of all, Wombat isn’t really a Wombat but a dog, one that has been on the street’s way to long.  But the day everything seemed wrong to Wombat and he wanted to run away from all the strange smells and sights a voice told him to go the other way, “the wrong way is the right way”.  Wombat follows the voices directions and his heart tells him what it wants only it is driving off in a blue car.  Wombat’s voice tells him to wait, he does for a very long time.  But he isn’t much used to people and the ones he’s been around have not been nice so the people feed him but think he is dangerous so they stay away.  But as Wombat talks to animals he starts to warm up to the people but the one he really wants is the one he is waiting for the one scared some of dogs.

My heart broke for Wombat through each section of the book, and it did bring back the smells I have smelled many times while living in California.  I love how Wombat helped others while trying to find what he is looking for.  Wombat turned out to be a unofficial therapy dog to those in need, and without being taught, he just knew, and that is very special.  Even though it was clear to all that Wombat was waiting for something no one knew what it was, but the kindness in the humans even when they thought he was not friendly was to make him comfortable too.  There was just so much kindness and love in this book it should be a testament to all in how to be even when you are losing everything.  I loved this book it is a true Applegate book.