Chatterbox: Blab About Books

 Two weeks ago, I finished a TOTALLY. AMAZING. book called The Lost Island of Tamarind, by Nadia Aguiar. I was so stuck to it, that I stayed up till 1:00 A.M. to finish it. Next morning I tried to write a book report on it to have ready to give to people I think might like it. But.. I gave up. No words can describe how awesome it is. My heart rushed just to think about it. The summary as in the book:Maya Nelson isn't your typical thirteen-year-old. She's spent her whole life living on the sea with her marine biologist parents, her younger brother, Simon, and baby sister, Penny. Maya used to love living on a sailboat, but lately everything feels terribly claustrophobic. Maya longs to go to school on land. To make friends. To lead a normal life. But when a violent storm hits and Maya's parents are washed overboard, life becomes anything but normal. The children manage to steer the boat toward a mysterious island, to a place that doesn't exist on a map. Welcome to Tamarind, where fish can fly, pirates control the waters, jaguars lurk, the islanders are at war, and an evil, child-stealing enchantress rules the jungle. Maya never imagined she'd have to face so many dangers. But then, who could have imagined a place like Tamarind...?That's the best it gets. The characters are sooo lovable. Every single one. Though Maya, Simon and Penny are technically all three the main characters, Maya is the one that the author writes our her thoughts and feelings, etc.
I have to say, Maya is EXACTLY LIKE ME. Our thoughts and feelings are completely identical. So if you know me, you'll see me  in her, and if you don't then you'll know me better! All through the coolest heroine ever; Maya. Though our actions aren't quite alike. When she meets her soon-to-be best friend, a boy named Helix, she decides to go on her own way with her siblings, instead of follow Helix, even knowing that he knew the way better. So.. that part was a bit off from the way I'd have done it. You come to care so much about the characters, and Maya and Helix should get married, in my opinion. They were just meant for each other. The author even DOES hint that they are in love. Nothing too serious, they're my age, but very obviously slight romantic signs here and there. I don't know how to really tell you what I thought of this book..... no words strong enough come to me. This does mean that this is my FAVORITE BOOK EVER... this book aaandd.... THE SEQUEL!!!!!!!! Named "Secrets of Tamarind", it is currently coming in the library, but I am itching soo badly to read it!!!! We had found out about these books in the first place, when we were randomly browsing in the library, and we had stumbled across the sequel first. But I had become so wrapped up in this book, that I forgot there was one! When I finished it, and realized about the 2nd book, I almost had a heart attack! I couldn't believe that my favorite characters would not leave me just yet, I almost cried!This is turning so long and I you probably don't have time to hear my gush about this book. So: GO READ IT.
The true.. awesomeness, epicenes, wonderfulness, beauty, and amazement and whatnot of this book cannot be expressed unless you read it! (I'm even forcing my mom to read it!)I've never been touched by a book more, but this is a true treasure!