Book Review: The Invention of Hugo Cabret

This is a children's book unlike any other I've seen. The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a book about an orphan boy who tends the clocks of Paris, having learned the trade from his alcoholic Uncle, who has long been missing. He steals things not only to survive, as his Uncle cannot provide for him (he's missing, remember?), but also to repair the mysterious Automaton, a mechanical man which he found in the burnt out ruins of a museum, one of the clues to an unfolding mystery that has been driving him all his life.

The book has it all, serious yoink-ing (the avant-garde of thievery), the history of early cinema (and presented in a non-boring way), a French girl who has a taste for books, an old man who makes clockwork toys, and a guy with an eyepatch who befriends our protagonist.

I give this 9.5 "Clockwork Gears" out of 10, minus 1.5 for the constant thievery which may set a bad example for younger children.

Book Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is like what the Moon Landing Footage in the 1960s was to that generation, only for our generation. In BOOK FORM. Hundreds of pages long, it is a mammoth epic, that leaves no questions unanswered about the characters. Wizards and Witches will die, One who cannot live while the other survives will fall, and an epic battle over many pages that left me half expecting King Leonidas from 300 to turn up to say "THIS... IS... HOGWARTS!", will blow your mind.

Unexpected plot twists are justified in this final Harry Potter installment, and do not feel unnecessary at all. Provided that nobody spoils this book for you (however, you will be pleasantly surprised), you will be shocked, relieved, shaked, rattled, and of course, Rolled, by J.K. Rowling's send off for the boy wizard that earned her millions.

I give this 10 out of 10 "Horcruxes".

Sincerely, Jacob Martin, TeenAuthor.

Book Review: Train Man

Train Man by Nakano Hitori is a book of collected posts from a real internet chat network concerning the process of a young Japanese otaku (geek) into a courageous date worthy machine, beginning with his saving of a girl from a drunk on a train, and continuing in his posts about his experiences trying to ask the girl he saved out. He is helped by the chat network, and the otakus online become inspired by his metamorphosis into a man who is able to express his feelings and go out with a girl without feeling anxious or ashamed.

This is a story all geeks, nerds and the like can appreciate, as well as non-geeks/nerds who can learn just how much quality there is in such individuals if they are given a chance. Finally there is a book where a geek ends up with the girl.

I give this book Five "Benwaas" out of Five.