Silent Boy by Torey Hayden

'When someone sort of hates you,' he said, 'They do things to you. You never know when it's going to happen. You never know exactly what. But when someone hates you, you always know they'll do things.'

A book I bought in KK that cost $85.69. A story about a child psychologists, named Torey Hayden tries to help a 15 year old boy to speak again for he had not spoken a word for 8 years.When Torey breaks the 'silence', she learns about his horrible past.

The story started with Torey being introduced to the boy named Kevin, hiding under a table. She tries to make Kevin talks in several methods or ways, then bring him to the outside world, teach him swimming and meeting new people. Torey's heart will not rest until she helps Kevin to be 'alive' young boy who could talk again and live his life like all normal boys would do.

This story is a true story and Kevin does exist. If don't believe me, check here. This book kind of inspiring and I get to learn how terrible events/past such as child abuse, broken family can affect the growth of a child emotionally and how, for us people, could help this children in need and be patient.

When I read this book, after reading several pages it's become so addicted because you want to know what's going to happen to Kevin, if Torey manage to help this poor boy and if Kevin finally have his happy ending.


Ps. This book is also under the name 'Murphy's Boy'

Kampung Boy by Lat

I grew up reading Kampung Boy and not only Kampung Boy but also other comic books by Lat. What appeals to me about Kampung Boy is the distinct feeling of living in a "kampung" or village. I can always relate to the main character which is the kampung boy himself, Lat who always hang out with his pals and his little sister.

Whenever I read Kampung Boy, I would remember the time when I was living in the Kampung somewhere in rural Tutong and I remember taking a bath in the river near my grandmother's house and being told by my cousins that there might be a crocodile lurking nearby. Nothing can compensate for living in the Kampung.

Back to Kampung Boy, another thing that I like about it is the unique features of the characters and I also find it funny sometimes. Lat, the main character seem to have his eyes covered by his hair everytime and I remember one of his pals whom I can't remember his name, is cross-eyed and has front teeth which too forward. This book has been made into a TV show and I remember it was shown a few years back at Astro but for me reading the series is a lot more fun. Although now it is difficult to find this book but If manage to find it, I would highly recommend you to buy it or any books by Lat.

AS and A Level: Oxford Revision Guides

This Oxford Revision Guides book series is a must for A Level students or perhaps those who are keen to know more about any particular subjects covered by this series. The subjects covered by this series include Economics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Government and Politics and so on.

This series is a must if you want to know learn and understand a subject in a short period of time because this books uses a lot of diagrams to convey the important points of the subject. It is similar to using a mind map while learning but the only thing is the mind map is already provided and it is only depend on us to understand them and try to register the points in our mind.

But the only drawbacks is since it uses a lot of diagrams, the information given are very brief and not enough. This book would be suitable to those who are very familiar with the subject of their interest but needed to freshen up their mind and recall back what their had learned and that is when the diagrams on this book will be useful.

In Siberia by Colin Thubron

First of all, I wouldn't even take notice of this book if it is not because of the book's attractive cover and the beautiful illustration at the front. Furthermore, I am not really a big fan of travel books genre. To sum up this book, it basically tells about Colin Thubron's experiences travelling through Siberia aboard the famous Trans-Siberian Railways or taking a ride on a bus while passing along some of the majestic landscapes of Siberia. But this is no ordinary Travel book.

The writer managed to combine History as well as Travel into the story. In every places the writer stopped by, there will be some interesting characters that seems to appear out of nowhere. And also for every places, the writer would mentioned the history of the places and some unique facts about them. After reading this book, I feel like I have been there along with the writer in Siberia. That is how powerful the words used to describe Siberia by the writer. The writer managed to describe Siberia eloquently. Every I used to think Siberia is just a dull country covered with ice throughout the year. What a mistake! Reading this book gives me an insight into the real Siberia that I never knew existed.

What I Was by Meg Rosoff

"Without the first school, I would not have ended up at the second. Without the second, I would not have attended St Oswald's. Without st Oswald's, I would not have met Finn.

Without Finn, there would be no story."

I love how the words were written BUT this is so not 'my type' of books. It's about a 16 year old boy who has problems with school. He is so unfriendly until one day, when he was lying against a shack and someone asked him what he was doing. And he looked up to see a boy his age staring down at him.

He started to befriend with this boy whose name is Finn and trying to live the life Finn is having. That is having freedom, no school and etc. He thought he could trust Finn as the character become obsess with him until one day Finn suddenly got sick and truth came out and boy was he really in trouble.

I bought this book last year because of the cover (don't judge the book by it's cover, anyone?) and I try to finish it ASAP as I find it really boring and couldn't understand what this author trying to deliver. It is really hard to understand because it's almost classical. Though, I try to buy other books that is written by the same author.