Weather Eye

Rating:
Summary: Help Wanted
Review: I found out that Weather Eye was a futuristic science fiction set in October 1999, so I thought it would be interesting to read it at the time when it was actually meant to be happening. Actually, it turned out to be a very good story for itself--not only because of why I originally picked it up. It is quick-moving and very readable. The author tends to employ very unusual adjectives and imagery, which is occasionally annoying but often startling and appropriate. By the end the plot does not fulfill all the promise of the beginning and becomes too controlled by the message the author wants to get across (Kids can do it! Everyone work together and let's save the environment!) and the writing gets a little preachy. This is unfortunate but does not spoil a mostly great book. The characters are well-drawn and interesting, and it is refreshing that there are no bad guys or perfect people--they are all human. Overall, a very good book for ages 10-14. Recommended. Actually, I'm a little surprised it isn't more famous than it is.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, especially the beginning
Review: I found out that Weather Eye was a futuristic science fiction set in October 1999, so I thought it would be interesting to read it at the time when it was actually meant to be happening. Actually, it turned out to be a very good story for itself--not only because of why I originally picked it up. It is quick-moving and very readable. The author tends to employ very unusual adjectives and imagery, which is occasionally annoying but often startling and appropriate. By the end the plot does not fulfill all the promise of the beginning and becomes too controlled by the message the author wants to get across (Kids can do it! Everyone work together and let's save the environment!) and the writing gets a little preachy. This is unfortunate but does not spoil a mostly great book. The characters are well-drawn and interesting, and it is refreshing that there are no bad guys or perfect people--they are all human. Overall, a very good book for ages 10-14. Recommended. Actually, I'm a little surprised it isn't more famous than it is.

Rating:
Summary: Help Wanted
Review: I'm sure its a good book, but I really can't get past the first page! I think it's so bad or badly written that i am able to get distracted so easily and it the subject really doesnt appeal to me

Rating:
Summary: Dissappointing
Review: This book is unusual. It has no clear ending (if you like this read "The If Game") and the blurb rather conflicts with the real message. The message completely overtakes the ending (note how a moral can be properly pulled off: "Power of Three") and I felt as annoyed as when going to see the Evolution film and finding that Head & Shoulders shampoo had completely overtaken the actual film. The back of the book suggests light-hearted reading, lots of happy fantasy etc. (Diane Duane's Young Wizard series style - or, in fact, Harry Potter) But this didn't really come through as the ending was so completely overtaken by the moral. Ray appears for basically no reason at all, and reading about Race's life doesn't really make me very warm-hearted. The book also sometimes moves quickly while at other times having such a slow narrative that I skipped paragraphs.