Matched

Matched, by Ally Condie, is about a 17-year-old girl named Cassia Reyes. Cassia lives in a futuristic society where choices are made for you – what you eat, what you wear, what your job is, even who you marry and when you die. During the Matching Ceremony, girls are shown the picture of their future spouse. At first, Xander, her best friend, appears on the screen. And then something unexpected happens. Another picture appears; another possible match. Cassia, once having no choices at all, is forced to decide between Xander and Ky, between obedience and rebellion. She must choose a perfect life or one she writes for herself.


Matched was an amazing book. The characters were well developed and unique. They showed realistic emotion and reacted to situations in ways that worked with their individual personalities. The plot kept me on my toes, because the controlling government was always there in the background watching the characters' every move. The tension between having a perfect life but wanting the right to make your own decisions is one that relates to the world now. Governments make laws, and the people are expected to follow them, regardless. Matched really made me question authority and why some people are in charge and able to make choices for everyone else. Along with the great characters and plot, I loved how Condie offered insight into memories and background information through Cassia's thoughts. Those, along with the little details about Grandfather, her parents, and Bram made the Society and story seem very real. I would recommend Matched to fans of The Hunger Games and the Uglies series, and to any teenager who is starting to question their world and how much freedom people should have.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Lederach, Pennsylvania, United States

Hope in Patience by Beth Fehlbaum

Ashley Asher is fifteen years old, and is sent to live with her father and his family, after being sexually abused by her stepfather for four years. She seems to be making progress, with the help of her therapist and her new family, but she still struggles with trying to forget the abuse she'd endured for years. With her guard built up, she starts school in her new hometown of Patience, Texas, where she meets all of these new people including her soon to best friend, ZZ. She joins the cross country team with her new friends, when a special boy catches her eye. Josh is cute, funny, and attractive, but Ashley has no confidence in things working out with him. Will she soon learn that forgetting about her past isn't an option anymore? Will Ashley see that there is still hope for her in Patience? Or will she end up losing herself, the progress she's made, and Josh to something that never should've happened to begin with?

I thought that 'Hope in Patience' was a great story about a girls struggle with sexual abuse. Once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down. I was so anxious to see whether Ashley would make it through all the craziness of what was happening in her life, or if she would end up giving up. I loved that Beth Fehlbaum was also a victim of abuse, because she could write from what she knew, and you as a reader, would know that what Ashley was feeling in the book were what real people who've went through this actually felt. I loved the way it let you see into her mind; the whole story was really tremendous. I would definitely recommend this book to any young adult reader, or victim of sexual abuse.

This book has some material that may be considered inappropriate for young readers.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Enon, Ohio United Sates

The Ruby Notebook by Laura Resau

Zeeta and her mother are wanderers; they travel across the world from a list that Zeeta's mother created whenever her mother feels too tied down. This time, they live in Aix-en-Provence, France, the supposed home of the sacred waters that are rumored to bring immortality. While in France, Zeeta's boyfriend, Wendell is to come join her for the summer. However, they have a small quarrel when it seems as though Zeeta may have fallen for the roaming troubadour who flirts with her. Zeeta makes many new friends and solves the mysteries pervading the ancient country.
The Ruby Notebook is a lovely tale of a girl who is lost in her own world, as most of us are. The reader follows Zeeta on her path to finding herself, perhaps learning more about themselves as well. The concept of the book lies in the mysteries of the fountain of eternal youth, which I find interesting. It was very easy for me to get immersed in the book and not want to stop reading. There were many plots and subplots that were all very well tied up by the end of the novel, but they kept you guessing the entire way through. I would recommend it to anyone who loves both mystery and romance genres.

Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Shippensburg, PA USA

Summer Sleep-Away by Ofer Aronskind

Mattie Kleinfeld had a typical life. He went to school and had friends, but his parents would constantly fight. Their fighting results in their sending Mattie away to summer camp so they can work out their problems. At camp, Mattie's only bragging right comes from his name, which he inherited from his relative, a famous baseball player...too bad no one believes him! Mattie hates it at camp. He doesn't know anyone and things just aren't going right. But then, he makes friends, falls in love, and finds clues that send him on a wild search through the remnants of the old decaying camp. Could this dreaded summer turn in his favor?
 I think that Summer Sleep-Away has a good plot. It starts slow but gets better. The characters are unique and well developed. The writing style is a little different; the author includes side notes, but they don't add anything to the story and make it seem a bit scattered.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Oakville, Pennsylvania United States

The Absolute Valve of-1 by Steve Brezenoff

Remember the days of simple math. Remember the term "absolute value?" Those straight and serious bars meant the distance between the number and zero on the number line. Three kids start on different places in the number line. Lily starts on zero. Lily has an ok life. Her mother is going out with a proctologist who Lily doesn't particularly like, but on the plus side, Lily excels in higher placement math. Lily has two best friends, Noah and Simon. Lily's life revolves around Simon. Lily flirts and eventually she and Simon have a positive relationship. Like math though, Lily sees the positives and negatives of life and wonders how far she really is away from going to back to zero on the number line.
Lily's friend, Noah, starts on negative two on the number line. Noah has loved Lily. He sees Lily go after Simon and just wants to be sick. Simon tries all he can to get Lily to like him, but sees that maybe even the absolute values of his success will always stay negative.
Simon starts his story on positive three on the number line of life. Simon has a good relationship with his parents and the only bad thing about them is they nag about him smoking, but he can quit if he wants to. Simon loves his sister. His sister means the world to him. Simon even has a great relationship with Lily. All of a sudden, shocking news come out about his father. Simon learns that the absolute value to friendship and love isn't always set in stone by those bars. He learns that the distance can change for the better of for the worse in a matter of seconds.

The Absolute value of -1 is a book like no other because of the writing style. The book is broken down into three main kid's point of view. The points of view are usually short except for Simon's point of view is the longest and what the book is mostly about. Also, Simon's view is the very end point of view so it does leave you with some questions as to why he was acting so strange in the other kid's points of view. Although, the good thing about having his end is that all questions are answered. This type of writing style really brings out the characters and helps you understand them much more. Most all of the characters talk about the same events, so it helps to understand why one character did something and how it affected the other character. I would recommend this book only to mature readers because of language and the use of drugs. The characters often smoking and there are a few sex scenes.

Language, use of drugs, and sex

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Brownsburg, Indiana United States

They Carry Their Own Water by Nancy Milakovic McGann

The author, Nancy Milakovic McGann, reveals her experience in Ecuador, a country in South America that borders Peru and Colombia. In particular, she writes about her one-hundred-mile journey to Quito, the capital of Ecuador. What was supposed to be a smooth two-hour car ride turned into hours of hitchhiking and walking; the people of Ecuador have placed multiple roadblocks throughout the main highway, preventing any vehicles from passing through, protesting the country’s free trade talks with the United States. As a result, Nancy and her friend must travel through the Ecuadorian countryside on foot, receiving rides between roadblocks from strangers. The book is told through a narrative and a series of full-page photos.


I have to say that this story definitely captivated me. Before reading this book, I did not have much of an idea of life in Ecuador, let alone the issues facing the country. Through this book, the author is able to give us a glimpse into the country’s daily routine, while informing us of an important national issue. The author tells the story in an informal fashion, letting the readers know exactly what she is thinking. Furthermore, I really enjoyed the vivid pictures, which gave me the opportunity to experience this journey through the author’s eyes. I can see exactly what is happening, and this is not something that an average book can claim. That being said, I believe that the book could be improved by giving a more detailed background regarding the issue of free trade. Throughout the whole story, I wondered why the people of Ecuador are blocking their own highway as a sign of protest. Although I later found out the reason to be the US free trade talks, I am still unsure of whom the road blockade is addressed towards, and was left with many unanswered questions. Throughout the whole book, I saw the story from only one viewpoint: the author’s. The story would be much more complete had the author interviewed some of the local people to give us an idea of some of the prevailing opinions in the region. Although this book describes a genuine experience in a remote country, it does not provoke any deep thoughts or answer some fundamental questions. I feel that if a deeper issue is addressed, then this book would be a much more interesting read.

Content: 1
Rating: 6
Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Palo Alto, CA USA

What Momma Left Me by Renee Watson

"What Momma Left Me" by Renee Watson is about a girl named Serenity and her brother Danny, who witnessed the death of their mother. In their father's sure absence after the incident, the kids go to live with their grandparents that orbit around the church and cooking. Serenity's grandma loves to cook, just like her momma. She avoids the kitchen in hopes of avoiding not only the memories, but the could have beens. Despite all the new found love in her life, Serenity finds herself still emotionally disturbed because she still feels she must keep her mother's secrets. Although this is a continuous thought in the back of her head, Serenity manages to make a good friend named Maria. Both girls are brilliant, but when they start opening up to each other they realize that they both carry secrets from their home life. Throughout the book there are poems included at the beginning of every chapter, coming from Serenity's English class. Each poem gives a deeper insight to her heart. The very heart that is going to have to make a potentially life-threatening decision, what secrets are really meant to be kept?

Loving to bake myself, this books was a full cup of enjoyment. There was always something that kept me wanting to read more. The excitement of Serenity's life, Danny making hard choices, or looking to see if their father would come back and whether or not he was guilty. When I remember this book, hands down, I will always remember the poetry first. Crafted through Serenity came the sweetest most honest poems, where when you read them it felt like looking straight into her heart. The poems were unbelievably well written and truly a joy to read. In all, the book was amazing. The one thing I would change is that it came across a little play-by-play sometimes. A quality that a lot of authors take on when writing children's books. Other than that, there is nothing I would change. The book's cover is one of my favorite book covers. It's inviting and really takes on the theme of the story as a whole. From "What Momma Left Me" I've learned an important lesson: just because you share your family's flesh and blood doesn't mean you become them.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Libertyville, Illinois US

Conspiracy 365: June by Gabrielle Lord

Conspiracy 365: June is about a boy named Cal Ormond. Cal was a normal boy until his dad got sick and died. He found that if he wants to survive the next 365 days he has to lay low, and stay out of sight. But Cal wants to avenge his father, he discovered that he needs solve a double puzzle the Ormond riddle, and the Ormond jewel. The Ormond jewel was stolen and he has to find it, and his time is half way up.

This is an extraordinary book, on a scale from 1-10, I give it a 20. Gabrielle Lord is a great author, and I hope to read more of his books in the future. This book is one of my favorite. Cal is a teen and he's being blamed for crimes he didn't commit. The plot and story line are easy to follow.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: sandy, OR USA

Tuesday's Child by Carolyn Gibbs

The story begins with Lane Harris, a young girl, who lives

in Washington with her parents, Morgan and Jenna. The
story flashes back and forth at first, recapping Lane's
abusive childhood and showing her now, teenaged self.
Father Ray Keates is Lane's only friend, a sort of father
figure in her life. His brother, Richard, takes his anger
against Morgan out on Lane, threatening trouble for her.
After being attacked, Lane is left alone in Seattle and
has to fight to survive. After six months, she is the
witness to a murder and decides she must return home.
Determined to discover the identity of her attacker, she
must fight against not only nature, but herself in order
to survive.

This book was very well-written. I enjoyed the author's
writing style. She made me hate certain characters (namely
Jenna and Morgan) and love others (such as Ray and Lane).
The plot did not always move fast, but her writing kept me
interested long enough to get to the next event. The
author also does a good job of throwing in a twist or two
along the way, leading to a satisfying and slightly
unexpected ending. I would definitely recommend this book
to those who like a character-driven story.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Westerville, OH United States

The Black Pearl by Scott O'Dell

Ramon Salazar, a sixteen year old living in La Paz, a town next to the Vermillion Sea, has been in volved with the sea ever since he was born. His father, Blas Salzar who is owns one of the most famous pearling companies in the area and he plans to make Ramon one of the chairmen. When Ramon goes on his first dive he soon figures out that he won't be given any of the real jobs due to everyone's fear of the Manta Diablo, a mythical manta ray that is huge. Ramon longs to actually dive for pearls so he sneaks away to learn how to dive from a teacher who allows him to dive. As he learns to dive he begins to venture towards the cave of Manta Diablo where he finds the Pearl of Heaven, a black pearl so large that it is normally thought to just be a lie, but his teacher warns him to give it back or else the Diablo will get you and take the pearl by force. As he takes this a joke and goes home strange things begin to happen, then as his father goes out to sea his whole fleet is destroyed by a storm and no one besides a man named Gasper Ruiz survives. Now Ramon realizes his grave mistake and how his teacher was correct. How will Ramon set things right and will he have the strength to do what's right?

I really thought that this book was suspenseful, interesting, and action filled. It was a fast paced book that really brought you into the situation that Ramon was facing. Every step of the way you could feel the danger and emotion, it really made it hard to put this book down. I especially enjoyed the setting of this as it takes place at the high seas where nothing is predictable and the description of it is very beautiful. When his father dies the reader can easily see the grief and confusion going through Ramon's head. Ramon is a genuine character, the way that he acts and talks is very real and likable, he seems just like a regular teenager. The books main strength was the detailed action sequences that really kept the book flowing, they liven up the atmosphere and left the reader craving for more. This book is one the best that I have read in a long time.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Kansas City, KS USA

An Artificial Night by Seanan McGuire

An Artificial Night is a fantasy novel about a changeling named October Daye (or Toby as she prefers to be called) She is a half human and half fairy. She has been through a lot, including having lost her child. She is trying to get her life back after being turned back into a human from being a fish for 10 years, when her best friend s children are kidnapped, as well as all the children from her old flames court. As she investigates, she discovers that many, many children, both human and fae have been kidnapped, leaving hot window panes, and bad smells in the air. This makes her think that the evil Blind Michael has snatched the children for his hunt, as he does every 100 years. The only way she can possibly save them all is striking up a bargain, which is dangerous in any case, but making a deal with a dastardly villain like Blind Michael cannot possibly end well. This fantasy, mystery novel is a fascinating read about finding yourself and discovering the hidden hero in you.

This book had a fantastic plot that had me flipping through the pages. I was engrossed from page one to the end. It has the nice quality of being able to stand alone, even though it is part of a series and also working in very well with the rest of the books in the set. However, it was slightly confusing. Other than Toby, there were an astonishingly large number of characters which made seemingly random appearances throughout the book, sometimes after entire chapters of absence. This meant that unless you were paying very close attention, it seemed like random people were being dropped into the plot. Two of the male characters were very similar and sometimes were almost interchangeable to the story line, making the book more confusing than it had to be. Luckily, the aforementioned fantastic plot saved the book and made it an interesting, thought provoking, and moving book that I would recommend to all of my avid fantasy fanatic friends.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Exeter, NH 03833

Secrets: You Tell Me Yours and I'll Tell You Mine.....Maybe by Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein

Filling the pages of her beloved journal, the main character, known as the Girl, chronicles her life as she begins to make the transition into becoming a teenager. Along the way, the Girl encounters numerous life altering events. For example, the Girl writes in her journal how after she moves to a new home in a new town she must cope with becoming the new kid again as she starts at a new school. The Girl also writes about how she learns that growing up means growing apart (both physically and mentally)from former friends as she finds herself missing her friends in her previous town less and less. The Girl also describes in her journal how she now finds herself to be a daughter of three as she learns to deal with having a new baby in the house. As the Girl continues to write in her journal she finds herself becoming older and wiser as she now must face the challenges of dealing with death, boys, and other teenage drama.

Personally, I didn't really enjoy reading this book. Supposedly being a similar age as the main character of this book, I didn't find it as relatable or realistic as I would have hoped. I was also a bit confused at the time period of this book, as the Girl talks about reading Nancy Drew books, goes to Junior High, and rubs oil on herself when going out in the sun all of which seem to have been common in years past and not necessarily now. I also found the repetitive ending of "and that's the truth" at the end of many of the journal entries to become tedious and boring. Although I have not read the first book of Dr. Holstein's Secrets series, it is likely that those who enjoyed reading the first book of this series may want to consider reading this sequel, that said, I did not enjoy this book.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Potomac, Maryland United States of America

The Year's Best Science Fiction by Gardner Dozois

The Years Best Science Fiction is a collection of short stories. They are all about new worlds, future lifestyles, and adventure. Each story has a different idea of the future, and they are all unique. Some stories are about different planets, some are about government, and there is many interesting inventions. The setting is very detailed and you will feel like you have traveled in time.

The Years Best Science Fiction was pretty slow reading. It has some good stories in it, but overall I was not very interested. There is some very good description though, and you can really feel like you are in the future at times. Unfortunately, the plots were pretty confusing, and the stories did not all make sense. I wish this book were a little more exciting or at least interesting enough to keep you turning the pages. I actually had trouble finishing the book, because it was just very dull. I would not recommend this book for teenagers, but some adults might like it.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Broken Arrow, Ok united states

Orphan! by John R. Weber

In the story, Homer, a small boy of the age of 13 is told my his parents that he was an orphan. Homer was adopted by them from an orphan train, which were popular during the Great Depression. After running away for the night feeling upset and worried that he wouldn't inherit his father's farm, Homer decides to go to New York City to find his real parents. His friend Jamie and he jump on a train but end up going west. There they get caught by Blackjack, a railroad watcher. Smiling jack, an educated hobo, saves Jamie and Homer from being killed by Blackjack. Smiling Jack accompanies them on thier trip to New York City, showing them the ways of being a hobo traveling the rails.


The book I read, Orphan! by John R. Weber, was an overall great story. It took me a while to get into the story, because the begining was sorta dull. Once you get into the real story, it all happens so fast. This story has a great theme to it, many of them involving family and friendship. I recommend it to any age group.
 
Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: naugatuck, CT US

Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze by Alan Silberberg

Have you ever lost someone close to you like a family member. Milo has. Have you ever moved to at lest five diferent houses. Milo has. Have ever fallen in love with someone that was popular. Milo has. Have you ever felt so alone that you think that you have fog in your brain. Milo has. So who is Milo you say. Milo is a boy who has recently lost his mom due to a brain tumer. Also Milo has moved to a new house which means new friends, new school, and new problems. But Milo has some ups and downs like he meets two new freind named jack and heather. His dad is very lonly and keeps asking Milo the same questions. And ha has extrem problems in math like almost everybody has. So if you want to read a book you can realate to then I suggest reading Milo: sticky notes and brain freezes!

My oppinion of Milo: sticky notes and brain freezes is the book was very interesting and a good book. I think I realate to Milo beacause we both have a least one teenage sibbling, we both have weird friends that are great to hang out with, and we both have moved alot in our lives. The ending in the end was VERY sad to me because Milo looks back to when his mom died and never said goodbye. If i learned something from this book it would be that its okay to miss someone you love. I would definately recomend this book to other readers.


Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Mineola, TX America

STORYTELLER by Patricia Reilly Giff

STORYTELLER, by Patricia Reilly Giff, was written with two alternate timelines.  In the first timeline, Elizabeth is in the 21^st century.  Her dad, hoping to sell more of his sculptures, goes on a trip to Australia.  Meanwhile, Elizabeth is sent to live with her Aunt Libby.  One day at Libby’s house, Elizabeth spots a picture of her great-aunt on the wall.  Curious, she pesters Aunt Libby for information concerning her Great-Aunt Eliza, who is also known as Zee.

In Zee’s timeline, during the 18^th century, she is forced to deal with family and friends going away to fight in the Revolutionary War.  Zee’s mother dies when her house burns down, and she is left with badly burned hands.  Will Elizabeth ever learn the whole truth about her great-aunt?  Will Zee ever see her father and brother again?

The main thing I really liked about this book was the fact that there were two stories that alternated.  However, I thought this book had a lot of weaknesses.  Some of these included: the characters’ emotions were not clearly expressed, there were more details in Zee’s story than in Elizabeth’s, Elizabeth’s story didn’t seem as developed as Zee’s story, and, although it was a cool concept, I couldn’t really understand how the two timelines fit together.  I am not a big fan of historical fiction, but people who like history would probably enjoy this book more than I did.

Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Lake City, IA USA  

Brain Jack by Brian Falkner

Sam Wilson could hack into just about anything and everything. And that's exactly what he does for fun. That is, until he pulls off a hack that shuts America down for three days. Although he gets the coveted "neurohead set," a device that allows people to browse the Web by detecting their brainwaves, Sam finds himself the target of the federal government. But then he discovers that there are bigger things to worry about than the government.

I love dystopian stories, so I think I would have liked this book just because of its genre, but this is a very well-written, fast-paced novel that reminds me of Ender's Game. I liked all the supporting characters and their quirks, but I think that the main character could have been more developed. Sam was a typical main character; he succeeds in everything he does, and he doesn't really have any glaring flaws. The message of this book is pretty powerful, especially today with all its technology. The plot was full of twists, and it was one of those plots that kept you on the edge of your seat. It was so jam-packed of action, though, I think the author could have easily made it into a trilogy, rather than cramming it all into one book. The only let-down of this book was the ending; it definitely needed to be more profound, especially with a message like this. Otherwise, this book has a plot that will suck you right in and keep you on the edge of your seat--a perfect read if you're looking for something post-Mockingjay.

Rating:  9

Content Rating:  1

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country: Hinsdale, IL USA

Kiss Me Deadly by Trisha Telep

Kiss Me Deadly is a collection of love stories edited by Trisha Telep. There are thirteen short stories with in this book; all based on love. Each story deals with the classical love connecting two people but also the love of an idea, object, or state of mind. An example of this is in the first tale, "Assassin's Apprentice." Rose, our protagonist, is on a quest for vengeance for her family's murder. She stalks the demon for weeks, but she does not take the chances she is given to kill him. This is due to the fact that once he is dead she will have nothing to live for. Rose's love of her family and her love of revenge results in her being caught with a massive decision. In the end each story concludes with the protagonist having to make a decision between two or more loves.

I loved Kiss Me Deadly. The writers chosen to be included in this book amazed me. Each author had the wonderful ability to make me picture every little detail inside my head. The mood of each tale varied from one extreme to the other, which made me empathetic for the characters. The main problem I had was that a few of the tales had weak beginnings. I was completely turned off but as I read more the story became interesting. The basic fact that the authors made their protagonist love not only a person but also something else really kept me reading and helped me feel like I was part of the story. Overall I recommend this book not only to the romantics but those who get sucked into paranormal tales with plenty of conflict.


I rate this a 3 because there is reference to drugs, alcohol, and sex.
Reviewer Age:19
Reviewer City, State and Country: AZ City, Az USA

Solid by Shelley Workinger

Clio thought that she was a typical high school girl. She had been living a semi-normal life with her book-writing mom. That was before she learned that she was a victim of an experimental drug. Clio and many others had been gathered together in a special school to help them and the army learn more about their abilities. But Clio and her new friends find out that not everything was as it seemed. The group start a quest for the truth and learn a shocking secret.

Solid was a good book but it's not the best I've read. It had a great plot and some good scenes but I found
it hard to relate to since the main character was a girl.  It's a good girls book but not so much for guys. I did,
however, find that there was plenty of action and suspense to keep me from putting it down. I think girls would enjoy this book more than I did.

Reviewer Age:13
City, State and Country: Mineola, Texas America

Shadowland by Alyson Noel

Ever and Damen have been through a lot.  They've fought two evil Immortals defeating one and almost defeating the other.  But, Ever made a fatal mistake, literally.  She accidentally helped Roman curse Damen, bummer right?  Now Ever and Damen must travel into the Shadowland and beyond to find a cure, all without touching.

So Ever screwed up again.  She tends to do that a lot in this series.  Now she and Damen are separated by a new curse, this time physical.  I don't see their relationship growing or changing in anyway.  They are running through molasses, barely moving forward and then being thrust back yet again.  The book is written well enough and is entertaining enough but as for deep or complicated changes you're going to have to look somewhere else.

Reviewer Age:17

Reviewer City, State and Country: Greenwood Village, Co USA

The Magickers Chronicles: Volume Two by, Emily Drake

Jason Adrian faces many things. First, it's the normal stuff like starting high school and soccer games. Then, it's the strange stuff like fighting the Dark Hand, protecting his friends, and dealing with bloodthirsty wolfjackles. As if his life wasn't hard enough, he has to find the last Gate to anchor a save haven for the Magickers. Find out what happens in The Dragon Guard and The Gate of Bones.

The last two books of the Magickers series were great. There was plenty of action in the classic battle between good and evil. Every event was so epic that I couldn't put it down. But it seems to drop off at one point, other than that this book was flawless. Everyone would love this book, especially Harry Potter fans.


Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Mineola, Texas America

The Shifter by Janice Hardy

Nya is an orphaned girl with a strange and powerful talent. She tries to keep the talent secret, for if anyone finds out she could be in danger. Unfortunately, she must learn to use her talent when her sister, among dozens of other children, vanishes. She learns about a terrible plot, puts those she loves in danger, and must fix the other wrongs she's done.


As she faces impossible odds, she discovers her talent is even more powerful, and more dangerous, than she thought before.


This was a wonderful book that had an interesting plot and exciting storyline. While I read, I often wondered if everything would turn out right, and was alternately relieved and horrified at the turn of events, and always surprised by Nya's talents. Hopefully I can get Bluefire, the second book. I can't wait to see what happens next!

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Santa Fe, Texas USA

Sleepless by Cyn Balog

Julia, a redheaded girl who was kidnapped at age seven but escaped, is pitied by the world for her tragic past. She is a misunderstood, lonely outcast among her peers but takes to a boy named Griffin, who becomes her first boyfriend.  Griffin helps her to move on with her life and not dwell in the past. Since he always plays tricks on her, Julia believes that the phone call she receives notifying her of boyfriend’s death in a fatal car accident is just another one of his pranks. Then reality hits and she realizes it was no joke at all. Griffin’s best friend, Bret, is in love with Julia and is hopeful that after Griffin’s death Julia with fall for him. But she doesn’t feel the same way about him. 

Julia, sad, lonely, and lost, can’t sleep well anymore and her dreams are now filled with grief. Eron DeMarchelle is her sandman, a supernatural being who helps humans sleep and who was sent to her when she was a child. He helps to provide her with better nights during her troubling time. Chimere, Eron’s mentor, has been stricken with him forever and would do anything to gain his love and admiration. But Eron’s affections already belong to another. Eron longs for Julia. His 100-year term as a sandman is almost up and his return to a human is quickly coming.  Will he break his contract and risk being stuck as a sandman forever by pursuing his love for her, or will he lose his chance of a lifetime and possibly the woman of his dreams in order to guarantee his return to humankind? As the fight for Julia’s heart, and also Eron’s, gets increasingly intense the stakes involved grow even higher.

I really enjoyed reading Sleepless. From the moment I saw the delightfully gorgeous cover and read the first page, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. The author did an amazing job at developing the characters and creating a gripping tale that will hold your attention until the very end and even long after. I was smitten with Eron and I now long for a sandman of my very own. The story is written in two perspectives, Eron’s and Julia’s, and the chapters alternate between the two. I thought this added to the book’s overall appeal and allowed me to have a better feel for what was going on. I highly recommend this cute, young adult fantasy and I’m excited to read more novels by this author. Sleepless is the second novel of Cyn Balog . Her debut novel was Fairy Tale and she has yet another, no doubt enticing, novel named Starstruck, which will be released the summer of 2011.

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA USA

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Calla Tor is suppose to become the female alpha to a new pack after her and Ren mate, but Calla's life is not that easy. When Shay Doran comes to live in Vail, things go bad. When Calla offers Shay her healing blood, and saves his life, she becomes more attached to him than she is supposed to. With the matting day less than a month away, the werewolves will have to either ban together or break apart forever.

This book has very good visual components; you can really feel that you are there in the book. The author makes the characters come alive, and believe that what is happening to them can happen. Since this book was told in first person, it makes the book even more believable. The vocabulary was perfect for my reading level. The ending was good but it does leave you anticipating for the next book. I would recommend this book to people who liked books about werewolves, romance, and adventure.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Northglenn, Colorado United States of America

I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend by Cora Harrison

I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend, by Cora Harrison, is a captivating story of a young orphan girl growing up in the late 1700s. The main character, Jenny Cooper, struggles to find a suitable husband, despite her poverty and scandalous secret. Throughout the course of the book, she goes to many balls and parties, and also finds the family she never had in the wonderful Austen family. She and her cousin, Jane Austen, become fast friends and have many adventures together, and learn how to behave as proper young ladies in society. The main theme of the book is that true love really does exist, which classifies it as a romantic novel for young adults.
This book was written in the form of a diary, which gave an inside glimpse into the narrator's thoughts and emotions. While the main character was well-developed, the setting was a little weak. The book was more about how the main character felt than what was actually going on around her. It only focused on Jenny's side of the story, leaving out details about what happened to the other characters, like Jane Austen and her siblings. The vocabulary was at a lower level than was expected, which made the book seem more appropriate for younger readers. I appreciated the happy ending, but it left me wondering how the other characters ended up. However, it was a light-hearted and touching book that served its purpose to show what life was like for young women in that time period. I would recommend it to any girl who likes a feel-good romantic story.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Bayside , WI U.S.

Half Upon A Time by James Riley

I recently read the book Half Upon a Time by James Riley. This book is a parody on Jack and the Beanstalk. In Jack s village, you are thought highly of if you rescue a princess and then marry her. Jack, however, wants no part in rescuing a snobby princess and then marrying her. But one day, a girl falls out of the sky with the words Punk Princess written on her shirt. But something was wrong. This girl didn't look like a princess. And where was Punk?

The book Half Upon a Time was a very funny book. It was funny for me because the author took a classic fairy tale I have known since I was little and turned it into a humorous novel for our age group today. The descriptions of the settings in the story are very descriptive. I was always able to imagine myself in the place where the characters were. Even though most of the characters are from an era where knights and princesses and villages were dominant, they had traits that reminded me of how people act in today's society. After the end of the book, I was left hanging because the characters had just begun a new adventure right before the book ended. I think that this book could be the next Harry Potter. The vocabulary was definitely age appropriate. I found the book very interesting, and I would really like it if the author would continue the book and make it a series. As you can see, I enjoyed the book Half Upon a Time.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Braintree, Massachusetts United States

The Mermaid's Mirror by L.K. Madigan

Lena's life revolves around the ocean and she longs to surf with her friends, but her dad won't let her because of his near death experience with surfing. Lately though, something has been drawing Lena to Magic Crescent Cove and she doesn't know what it is until the day of her sixteenth birthday. It's a mermaid. While she continually searches for the mermaid, she'll learn about her family. When she looks into the mermaid's mirror, her life will change forever.

I absolutely loved The Mermaid's Mirror! The characters seemed real and after reading this story it made me feel like mermaids actually existed. L.K. Madigan did a good job describing the Lena's personality as well as the setting of the book and the feeling of surfing. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves the ocean, mermaids, and romance.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Brownsburg, Indiana United States of America

Angels Unawares: Fall For Grace by Sofie Couch

Angels Unawares: Fall for Grace is a young adult novel by Sofie Couch that follows Grace Breeden. She has just moved to a new town, where most of her eccentric family lives. She's going to her cousin's school, her first normal school since the accident that killed her mother and left Grace scarred. Grace isn't normal, and not just because of the scar that mars her face, she can see blue guys, which is her name for the dead people that float invisibly around us. She routinely talks with her long-dead grandmother, and has become accustomed to hiding the fact that she can commune with the dead. Then why, at this new school, are there so many blue guys? And why can handsome blue guy Salter suddenly touch people? How come Grace has never seen her mother, when she is bugged by so many other ghosts? And who, or what, is determined to see Grace dead? In this story of angels, recovery, and love, Grace and Salter must figure out what is happening in the strange town on the Porpotank river-before another person ends up dead.

This book was interesting in some parts, but I felt that it was lacking in others. The setting, a small town on the Porpotank River, is beautifully described and came off as very real. However, the same cannot be said for some of the characters. Strangely, I felt that the more minor characters, such as Grace's cousins and their friends, had more depth and personality than the two main characters, Grace and Salter. I thought that both characters didn't have much background or personality, and that the love story between the two seemed forced. The thing that disappointed me the most was the ending. Almost all of the problems are left unsolved and it seems as if the book needs another fifty pages to wrap it up. This book, however, is the first in a series, and I would hope that the problems will be solved later on, but I am not at all motivated to spend another few days reading a sequel. I found the writing to be dull in some parts and the action scenes didn't seem quite right. I would not recommend this book to someone; I found it to be forgettable and boring, and even though some parts were very poetic and well-written, and the author conveyed her theme of recovery and love well, the rest of the book was lacking.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Milwaukee, Wisconsin United States

True Tails

According to the author, True Tails is a true book about a child who at two years old mysteriously discovers that he can communicate with animals through his mind. The story follows the author all through his childhood, his high school years and into his forties. Throughout the book there are different situations with animals where Jon helps them, plays with them, or just meets them. The animals that the author meets include anything from pigeons to peacocks and from snakes to whales. The author wrote the book to share his life experiences and to let people know that you are never alone.


This book is an autobiography. The author achieved his purpose of sharing some of his life experiences with others. However, kids like me might not be able to understand or relate to some of the things they read in the book. I didn't enjoy reading the book when I came across inappropriate concepts and bad language. I wouldn't recommend this book to my friends, but some adults might like it.

Reviewer Age: 11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Dickinson, Texas, U.S.A.

No Sleep Till Wonderland by Paul Tremblay

No Sleep till Wonderland, written by Paul Tremblay, is a book that fits fairly neatly into the mystery genre. It's main protagonist, Mark Genevich, is significantly different from any other private detective you are likely to come across in any other mystery novel. Alternating between wanting to throttle him to laughing out loud because of his utterly zany and confusing lifestyle, the book is a fairly quick and entertaining read. Mark Genevich suffers from narcolepsy but this does not stop him taking on cases even though he is likely to fall asleep at the most inopportune times. At the start of the novel he is scraping the bottom of the barrel but finally, against his will, be begins to attend group therapy, which proves to be the start of a series of events that will literally change the course of his life. Through a friendship he develops in therapy, he becomes ensnared in a world that includes drugs, arson, identity theft and a host of sad and angry characters.

You will not be bored by this book, although potentially confused at times. If you live a fairly
"normal' life, you will find yourself wishing Mark Genevich, the protagonist, would just do things that made more sense, like being honest with the police. Written in the first person, his wit and "thumb your nose" attitude has a certain charm and draws you in. You find yourself rooting for this somewhat hapless though determined private eye and glad when things begin to go his way. If you are looking for an interesting and witty book, you will enjoy this novel but be warned there are mature themes and a fairly descriptive sexual encounter. This novel is the second in a series and is written in a way that does not require you to have read the first.

There are two instances of sexual encounters, one of which is very descriptive. This book did not in any way resonate with me as a "teen" book and felt more like an adult (20's) book.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: South Pasadena, CA USA

Not safe for vampires

In this novel, the main character, Thomas L. Watson, is a vampire and has been one since the Civil War.  However, unlike some other vampires, he does not drink human blood.  In the year 2037, Thomas is a scientific researcher working under Professor Goldsmith with fellow researcher Allee on a project to harness the hydrogen atom for energy.  As the research nears completion, Thomas begins feeling somewhat human and becomes increasingly ill.  He must discover what is causing his symptoms and then enlist Allee s and possibly even vampires aid.  Flashbacks to how Thomas became a vampire and interactions he has had with humans and other vampires in the past are inserted throughout the story as well.
This is not your typical fantasy novel.  The grammar, punctuation, and capitalization are nonstandard.  This is probably done to mirror the way people actually speak and has an interesting effect on the novel.  As for the plot, it was entertaining and intriguing.  The characters are varied, and there are several unexpected plot twists.  However, I found the novel a bit confusing.  It would have been nice for the story to have been longer as the plot seems too rushed.  This book, because of its unusual writing style and shorter length, may be especially good for teenagers who are reluctant readers.

Reviewer Age:16Reviewer City, State and Country: Royersford, PA United States

The Enchantment Emporium by, Tanya Huff

To a Gale girl, family is everything. But when Alysha takes over her Gran's old store, can she stand the strain of family members who want to "help"? As if a barrage of phone calls every hour isn't enough, Alysha discovers moving to Calgary may have more than a few consequences. Why are there dragons flying over the store? Is there really a wizard living in the area? And, who is that handsome newspaper man? In the race to find out what's happening before it's too late, readers, along with Alysha, will discover the strength of family ties, the wickedness of a wizard, and the strong emotions that sweep us along the path of life.

One of my favorite things about this book is Gran's store. It's a little hole-in-the-wall shop with just about everything inside. And just like the store, this novel has a little bit of everything thrown into the plot. Readers who love mythical creatures will love the sections about Alysha's special visitors and Dragon Lords. Readers who love romance will find it sprinkled throughout the pages. For me, I was drawn in by how strong the family ties between characters were. Everything---every choice, action, and flavor of pie----was determined by how other family members would react to it. While this isn't my favorite book (I was a little turned off by how the Aunties seemed to "breed" their descendants), other readers interested in fantasy books will have their hands on an entertaining novel if they choose to give it a try.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Mineola, TX U.S.A.

Nonna's Book of Mysteries by Mary Osborne

Fourteen-year-old Emilia wants nothing more than to become a painter, but during the fourteenth century in Italy, that's near impossible. That is until Makarios, a foreign painter, recognizes her talent and asks her to become his apprentice. As Makarios's apprentice, Emilia gets more worldly exposure and maturity, and, through an old family treasure, she gleans wisdom.

At first, this book seemed really interesting; it's talking about Renaissance Italy! How could someone write a boring book in that time period? Apparently, Mary Osborne can. The author certainly did her research, and she tries to show this by cramming a copious amount of factual information into her novel. Did she really need to put Italian words in every other sentence? Not only that, the author has no writing style; as my English teacher would put it, she needs more showing and less telling. The book is a huge mix of cliched storylines, and the plot is not captivating. She uses so many foreign names for the characters that I had a hard time remembering who is who. The author's characterization is faulty; even her main character is flat. In her historical fiction novel, Mary Osborne's certainly got the historical part down, just not the fiction.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Hinsdale, IL US

The Midnight Charter by David Whitley

The Midnight Charter is a realistic story about how everything was for sale, even people. The story begins with Mark being sold to a doctor by his father. Soon after being sold Mark meets Lily who teaches him to read and write. Upon learning of these abilities Count Stelli makes him his apprentice. From there things get both much better and worse for Mark. Meanwhile Lily still tries to uncover the answer to the question that has plagued her whole life: Who am I?

This was a decent book for people who enjoy reading. The state of Angora was fairly believable and the wording was good. It was fairly easy to picture the places and people. There were some scenes that it felt like I was there but others where there wasn't much to it. I would recommend this to people who love to read and have good imaginations.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Machesney Park, Illinois USA

I, Emma Freke by Elizabeth Atkinson

This is a story about a girl Emma, whose last name is Freke. She hates her name and how she looks. She feels like a freak. She is freakishly tall has freckles and orange hair. She knows nothing about her father or his family. Then one day she receives and invitation to the Freke family reunion and that's when everything changed.

I give I, Emma Freke a 10/10! It is one of the best books I have read in along time. It had very good imagery, I could see the places and people when I closed my eyes. I felt like I was the main character, Emma. I felt the pain and loneliness she felt. It had just enough detail. I would recommend this book.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: braintree, ma usa

The Boneshaker by Kate Milford

Natalie Minks know that strange things happen at crossroads, but the crossroads at Arcane, Missouri seem awful boring, until Dr. Jake Limberleg and his medicine show come to Arcane and turn everything upside down. When her mother becomes ill, whispers engulf the town in uncertainty and Limberleg prescribes odd medicines, Natalie knows something is up. She uncovers "bone shaking" secrets and finds that the town's future rests in her hands.

This book is not one I particularly liked, it tended to jump from one subject to another. I found myself rereading a lot to figure out what was going on. The characters were not very well-described except for the main character Natalie. The book had a very slow start. I wouldn't recommend this book.

Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: boothwyn, PA USA

Dracula by Nicky Raven

Dracula by Nicky Raven is the abridged version of the classic, Dracula by Bram Stoker. It is a lot shorter, one tenth of the original. On each page are added illustrations, depicting certain scenes in the book. It is written through a narrative, following two main characters, as they live through their encounters with the vampire, Dracula, and his followers. It is very fast pace, compared to the original, and a definite thriller.

Honestly, the book wasn't very interesting. Opening the book, my attention was not grabbed, and I had a hard time completing it. Desptite that, the pictures were pretty, and did help add to the experience. Although not as captivating as the original, Raven organized the book in a better way. It was very easy to follow, and I thought everything transitioned well from journal entry's to a narrative. It was a fairly small book, and the character developement was done well. I would recommend this book to a lower age audience than suggested, because it seemed to be more of a story book, despite some of the content. I would also recommend this book to someone who has already read the original Dracula and had a hard time keeping up with it, or got bored. Overall, it wasn't a horrible book, but it also wasn't outstanding.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Springtown, Texas United states

Dark and Stormy Knights

With this novel, P.N. Elrod has compiled a collection of nine short stories written by many of today's hit "urban fantasy" authors. All of the stories have a paranormal-like quality to them. One hit story was A Questionable Client by Ilona Andrews. Readers of her Kate Daniels series can see what Kate's life was like before she met the shapeshifter, Saiman. I especially liked the Russian mythology woven into this tale. Another story that stood out for me was Rachel Caine's Even a Rabbit Will Bite, which was about a young dragon trainer. Other stories involve ghost hunting, vampires, and knights in shining armor, so there is something for everyone included here.

I'm not much of a short story reader, but I wanted to give this collection a try. There was a good variety of authors and stories to keep me interested throughout reading, even if I didn't enjoy some stories as much as others. This was also a great introduction to the urban fantasy genre. After reading this, I found some new authors that I would like to read more from. While this genre isn't for everyone, it's worth giving this collection a try. This would also make a perfect fall read.

Has some sexual content

Reviewer Age:23
Reviewer City, State and Country: Philadelphia, PA USA

Jump by Ginger Rue

Brinkley Harper is Miss Popular at her high school. She is
a beautiful cheerleader with a football player as her
boyfriend. Brinkley always gets the lead in school plays -
whether she deserves it or not. When Brinkley is almost
expelled, she has to go to therapy as an alternative.
Brinkley thinks she is perfect and that is an issue with
her counselor. Brinkley has never known what the life of
an unpopular girl was like - that is, until she wakes up
in a poor, Goth girl s body! Will Brinkley learn her
lesson?

This book speaks the truth! Brinkley is
described as a disdainful, upper-class cheerleader who
walks right over the underdog. It is only fitting that
Brinkley has to live the life of a girl she considers a
nobody . I found myself relating to this story. All
teenagers will be delighted with this book's wit and
humor. After all, everyone knows a Brinkley!

Content: 1

Rating: 10

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Panama City,
Florida United States

Efrain's Secret by Sofia Quintero

Efrain Rodriguez is a senior this year, and he has high hopes for college. He is hoping to get into an Ivy League school, but he can't afford it. He has some money saved but it's not enough. His mom is already working two jobs to put food on the table, and his dad left their family for a younger woman. Efrain has to resort to other options to get where he wants to go. He needs to get money fast with graduation around the corner, and that only means one thing: the last thing anyone suspects.

Sofia Quintero did a stunning job expressing how hard it was to stay on top, and what the pressure can do to you. I now have a new respect for teens living in the slums, and who are having a hard time. The characters in this book were perfect. Efrain is the perfect example of someone who will do anything to make everyone proud; he makes mistakes, but still stays positive. Quintero did an outstanding job writing this book.

Content: 1
Rating: 7
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Enon, OH USA

The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Downing Hahn

Florence Crutchfield moves from an orphanage in London to Crutchfield Hall, her uncle's house out in the country. When she first arrives, she doesn't think she will have a happy life at Crutchfield Hall because her aunt hates her. She has other things to worry about too, like her dead cousin, Sophia, coming back from the grave! Sophia thinks her brother James should be dead instead of her so she tries to kill him to revive her life. Florence is part of Sophia's plan to try to kill James.

The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall, in my opinion is a great book that is written in a fast moving pace. It was one of those books that you can't put down until you're done--I know I couldn't! If you like stories that are very suspenseful, you will like this book. It wasn't as scary as I thought it would be, but the ghost was gross. It was a short book compared to what Mary Downing Hahn usually writes.

Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Friendswood, Texas United States

Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel

When Lenah becomes human after hundreds of blood-sucking vampire years, she doesn't know how to fit in. Although she is free from ruling her coven, taking innocent humans lives, and staying hidden, the real world is definitely different for her.

Going to high school is no challenge to Lenah. Lenah entered high school during the middle of the year but going to school is no challenge for her as she is one of the smartest students who knows practically every language. When she meets Justin Enos, she has a feeling she'd never felt before. Soon they are dating and Lenah learns to live. While they are at the winter dance together, something happens to Lenah which leaves her heart broken, but not by Justin.

Infinite Days is a very good book. Although it is about vampires, it has a different scenario; normally it's a human turning into a vampire but this book is the complete opposite, a vampire turning into a human. Readers who enjoy non-fiction books with lots of action and suspense with a little romance would love this book. This book is very detailed and written very well, and it seems like it is happening right in front of you! Infinite Days is a very fun and interesting book.


Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Fairborn, Ohio USA

A Family Secret by Eric Heuvel

"A Huge Allied Assault of the most important bridges by Arnhem and Nijmegen took place on September 17, 1944..." Says Mrs. Helena to her grandson, Jeroen. One day, as Jeroen was digging through some old things in his grandmother's attic, he had noticed some old newspapers that were dated back in the 1940s and an old Jewish star. He had gone and asked his grandmother what the papers said. He couldn't read them because they were in German. When he asked about the star, Helena had told him that the star had belonged to her best friend because she was a Jew. She had started to tell Jeroen about the Nazi war, about how a crazy guy called Hitler was trying to take over. Helena had also mentioned to Jeroen that her dad worked for the German police, meaning that her dad was the one who took her best friend from her and sent her to a concentration camp. In a way this story had really helped me, because normally when you hear about the Nazi war in Germany it is usually always from a Jewish persons point of view, never from a German person. It was based off the point of view of the Grandma that had lived through that time but all she had to deal with was losing her best friend to the Nazi s. But seeing as Helena didn't want to remember it, she had never really mentioned this to her grandson, thus making that the Family Secret.

I really enjoyed this mainly. It's one of my favorite times in history that I love to read about, WWII. This book has a lot of historical facts in it about the Nazis and a lot of fictional things. I do prefer that you read this book if you like things on history. Seeing as it is a graphic novel, it tells alot more with the pictures than I think it could have if it was just a novel. It shows you the reactions on the faces instead of just describing how they looked. I think this would be a great book for all ages to read. Historical or not it is a very good book.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Casa Grande, Arizona United States

Almost To Die For by Tate Hallaway

Being a dhampyr brings its struggles for Ana. Her controlling witch mother tries to restrain her from seeing anyone but witches, and her vampire father tries to reclaim her for the vampire throne. What is hard about satisfying both parents? Vampires and witches are enemies and will do anything to stop each other. Ana must choose to side with her over-protective mother or her father who she only just met. Through high school drama, magic, and boys, Ana Parker goes through the craziest time of her life.

Almost to Die For is a novel that follows current trends. Vampires, boys, and action are in many new teen books. Tate Hallaway made her novel unique by incorporating witches as characters as well as normal humans. The plot is fun and interesting but rather predictable near the end. Though it is not a perfect piece of literature, this novel is worth reading to the teenage girl. Up-to-date vocabulary and slang make the dialogue seem realistic, and the first person narration draws the reader into the protagonist's mind. I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys the Twilight series and other vampire novels.

Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States of America

Secrets of the First Daughter by Cassidy Calloway

Secrets of the First Daughter by Cassidy Calloway is about the first daughter of the United States, and the problems that follow her everywhere - including England! Senior, Morgan Abbott, the first daughter, is perfectly happy. She gets to see her boyfriend, although it’s in secret, and she takes the role of class president after her enemy Brittany Whittaker is removed from office! Unfortunately for Morgan, nothing can go smoothly. With a secret relationship, Brittany, and now colleges, Morgan has her hands full. This is a sequel to Confessions of a First Daughter.

Secrets of the First Daughter is a perfect summer read full of love stories and hilarious mishaps. Although it doesn’t grab your attention at the beginning like its prequel, Morgan quickly gets herself into such a mess I found it impossible to stop reading. The author describes Morgan’s feelings well and makes the situations mostly believable, but still somewhat comical. There isn’t a complicated, intense plot or hidden symbolism. The morals are relatively simple. For me, this made it a nice book to read in between harder ones. It is a fun, easier summer read.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA

Web of Lies by Jennifer Estep

Strong, confident, courageous, and dangerous is what Gin Blanco is, also known as the Spider. Being one of the most dangerous assassins and one of the most gifted elementals, she has a reputation of being the most feared -until Gin Blanco retires from her life as assassin. Being bored with
her new retirement, she tries to find out why Fletcher, her tutor in the assassin world, left her a mysterious file after his death. This file has everything she would want to know about her life previous to becoming an assassin. It does not take long after her retirement, however, for trouble to find her again. After having a curious girl, Violet, asking about Fletcher, her restaurant being robbed, and then being shot at soon after, she has to find out what is going on. With the help of her Goth dwarf friend, Sophia, Fletcher's son, and an attractive detective she goes after one of the well known dwarfs in Ashland. While going on her next
killing, she keeps finding information that is making her second guess everything.

Web of Lies is the second book in the An Elemental Assassin series, and a good book to read if you like a little action. Set in a town called Ashland with giants, dwarfs and elemental magic such as ice, fire, earth, and stone powers, it is a good book for those who enjoy a perspective of a magical world.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Naugatuck, CT United States

eBully by David Conifer

Scott Halifax is a kid who knows the system. He never knew his parents, has been through four foster homes, and is now doing time at the County Youth Detention Center for shoplifting. Steve Lukather is a vice principle at Lakeland Middle School. One of his students tried to commit suicide after a horrific incident of internet bullying the previous year. Now, another student is a victim of an eBully and she appears to be going the same way. Lukather approaches Scott with a deal. Work undercover to find the bully and Lukather will clear Scott's juvenile record. Carly Gillette is the bully's victim. She does not know why this is happening and has never done anything to warrant this type of treatment& right?

As a past victim of internet bullying and a resident of an area where a high school student recently killed herself due to bullying, I was quite eager to read this book. It is simple to read and keeps the reader hooked. The characters are likable and the reader feels as if they, too, are experiencing the pain that Carly does as the bully becomes more and more vicious with their taunts and threats. This book is a good read, not only because of the story but also, the message behind the story. Bullying, online and otherwise, is a serious problem. This book does a wonderful job of illustrating that in a way for everyone to understand makes it so the reader is capable of entering the head of the bullying victim.

Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Leverett, Ma USA

Windblowne by Stephen Messer

Windblowne is an engaging adventure story starring a boy
named Oliver. Oliver must stop his great uncle's evil
counterpart who is killing the oaks. Along the way he
discovers the secret of the oaks and learns that if your
talents aren't in one area, they're in another area. The
story has a message that technology can be bad, if in the
wrong hands. The story is also somewhat medieval in its
wording because of words like towne.

When I first
started reading the book, I thought it was going to be an
absolutely ridiculous story, partly because the cover shows
someone flying on a kite. Then when I started reading it, I
couldn't put it down because the chapter breaks practically
stop between letters so it's hard to stop reading because
you're so curious about what happens next. It's written in
a way that makes you feel like you're part of the story and
like you know the characters. It is written with
awesomely-worded descriptions that make it feel like you're
remembering a movie that you saw; for example, one great
visual description in Chapter 4 is Oliver thought the winds
sounded angry enough to rip the treehouse from the tree's
embrace and send it spinning away. I highly recommend this
book to everyone.

Reviewer Age:11

Reviewer City,
State and Country: Sammamish, WA USA

SOLID by, Shelley Workinger

Clio thought that she was a typical high school girl. She had been living a semi-normal life with her book-writing mom. That was before she learned that she was a victim of an experimental drug. Clio and many others had been gathered together in a special school to help them and the army learn more about their abilities. But Clio and her new friends find out that not everything was as it seemed. The groups started a quest for the truth and learn a shocking secret.

"Solid" was a good book but it's not the best I've read. It had a great plot and some good scenes but I found it hard to relate to since the main character was a girl. It's a good girls' book but not so much for guys. I did, however, find that there was plenty of action and suspense to keep me from putting it down. I think girls would enjoy this book more than I did.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Mineola, Texas America

The Search For WondLa by Tony DiTerlizzi

The Search for WondLa by Tony DiTerlizzi is an adventure/fantasy story. Eva Nine has lived her whole life underground. When the evil huntsman Besteel ravages her underground Sanctuary, Eva's guardian, a robot named Muthr, tells her to go above ground. All that Eva takes with her is a strange item she found with the letters w-o-n-d-l-a on it. When Eva reaches the surface, everything she sees is strange to her. She meets a blue creature called Rovender and a giant water bear, which she names Otto. Eva knew the planet was called Earth, even though Rovender insisted that they were on planet Orbona. Riding on Otto, Eva and Rovender return to Eva's Sanctuary and rescue Muthr. They travel through many towns and Eva is captured by Besteel and is trapped in the queen's castle. With the help of Otto and a pillar guard, Eva uses her wits to escape the castle and find the rest of her friends. They finally arrive at the ruins they have been heading for, but Besteel has tracked them, and he brought some friends. Can they outwit Besteel a second time? What is WondLa? And will Eva ever find other humans like her?

The setting of this book is almost indescribable. The mood was very E.T. (extra terrestrial). It was different from other adventure or fantasy stories I've read because it had more of a mixed main point. There were always two or three main things happening at the same time. Eva was an amazing character. I liked the way she argued with the omnipod when she met Otto because it insisted that water bears were microscopic but she knew she was seeing a giant water bear big enough to ride on. I could hardly pull myself away from this book; it was too good to stop reading! I think it would nice if there was a sequel to this book. I would recommend this to anyone who likes aliens, long journeys, odd friends and mysteries. The webcam idea was cool because it unlocked a 3-D map of their journey.

Reviewer Age:11

Reviewer City, State and Country: Lake City, IA USA

The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

Living in the small conservative town of Snope City, Tennessee, Haven Moore has lived a quiet and sheltered life. Simple and easy going as her life may seem, since Haven was young she has had visions of a past life. In her visions, Haven lives as a young girl named Constance whose life is filled with both a fairytale romance with a boy called Ethan, as well as her untimely and mysterious death. After several years without thought of her past life, while Haven watches television, she sees an image of infamous socialite Iain Morrow. Despite never having met, Haven feels an alarmingly surprising sense of familiarity towards Iain and rushes to New York to find him. Immediately, Haven and Iain begin an avid love affair, but despite their seemingly destined relationship, Haven is hesitant to believe that the mysteries of her past life have been solved. Seeking help to uncover the mysteries of her past as Constance, Haven takes on help from the influential Ouroboros Society, but unfortunately for Haven she has no idea what distorted reality she has just gotten herself into.

I very much enjoyed reading this book. It was exciting, thrilling, and always kept me on my toes. I found the idea and storyline behind Kirsten Miller's The Eternal Ones to be new and original, like nothing I had ever read before. Despite how much I enjoyed reading this book, I found it to go back and forth a bit too much. At one point the story would have you thinking that Iain was a good and loving character while the Ouroboros Society was evil and conniving and then in the next chapter it would have you think the opposite. It would constantly have you switching your opinion so that it becomes easy to get lost and confused. Despite some confusion in the middle of the book, the end wraps it up and answers all previous questions. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who seeks to read something new and exciting.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Potomac, Maryland United States of America

Primeval by David Goleman

Being the fanatic that I am, I cannot, in good conscience, tell you the whole plot. However, the book opens some 22,000 years ago, in a flashback to the crossing of man from Russia to America via a long flooded land bridge. The mysterious They Who Follow are ever present throughout the trek. These intriguing creatures then settle in a valley, the valley of the They Who Follow, throughout the book, these beasts preserve their secrecy. We then launch forwards, thousands of years, to 1918, in the last days of the Romanov dynasty, a conspiracy is afoot. The They Who Follow make another appearance to return the silence of their presence. We then leap forth in time once again, to 1962, where the United States has authorized a nuclear strike on Communist Russia, the pilot crashes in a valley, yes, the valley of the They Who Follow claims another victim.

I was struck at the beginning of the book, if only because of the hunters of old stalking their prey. I first decided to read this book because of the Sasquatch-esque creatures, but as the book progressed, the multiple flashbacks gave me a little trouble. It was difficult to keep track of what was going on. I found the writing style to be rather history book-ish, and therefore difficult to stay on track. The multiple characters were all decently put together and the action was well coordinated. It was difficult, at first, to discern the outcome/direction of the story. Personally, I did not adore this book, but it was not pointless, either.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Loves Park, IL United States of America

Venom: This is an ebook

This book takes place in a world where supernatural powers and beings are not uncommon. Gin Blanco is a young woman with those kinds of powers. Her family was killed by Mab Monroe. The family had been a target because of the feud between Gin Blanco's mother and Mab. Gin saved her baby sister, but doesn't know where she is. Flash forward, one of Mab's "friends" is having a problem with one of Mab's workers. Gin sees the problem. She decides to take action. When all is said and done, Gin decides that she will take out Mab's workers one by one until she can get to Mab to take her revenge.

In my opinion, this book was okay. It had some good parts where there was action and it was unpredictable. I had a hard time liking the "good" character Gin. She swears and kills. There were spots where the story seemed to move a bit slowly, but it picked up again. I would suggest this book to people who like action and fantasy books, especially to those who like strong female characters. It did leave me wanting to know more about the characters.

There is killing and swearing.

Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Jamestown, ND United States

The Julian Game by Adele Griffin

Raye Archer hates being known as the scholarship student at the prestigious private school she attends. She also wants to be noticed more by the other girls. So when queen bee Ella Parker starts paying attention to her, Raye will do anything to gain popularity. Even if it means pranking Ella's ex, the handsome and crush-worthy Julian Kilgarry. But when Raye starts falling for Julian, the consequences could be extreme, especially when you have mastermind Ella planning the revenge.

For the most part I enjoyed The Julian Game. The plot sounds pretty standard: girl pranks boy, girl falls for boy, boy eventually discovers the truth. Rinse and repeat. But The Julian Game took a different approach, which I liked. Raye actually does what I want every character to do in this situation: she tells Julian the truth. And that act has very desirable consequences. I liked Raye a lot because she was tough, smart and wasn't afraid to go after what she wanted. Even at the end, when some of the other characters weren't treating her very nicely, Raye was still able to stand up for herself and preserve her dignity. It was nice to see a confident character, and this is the reason why I enjoyed The Julian Game so much. The plot was also interesting, the dialogue was witty and this book ended up being a very good read.

Reviewer Age:18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Aston, Pennsylvania United States

The Cowgirl Way by Holly George-Warren

"The Cowgirl Way" by Holly George-Warren is a fun book. It goes from the nineteenth century to the modern day in revealing cowgirls. Stories of rebels, rodeos, bounty hunters, trick riders, explorers, and more are given. Quotes from cowgirls themselves are included. This is really a nonfiction book but reads like a fiction book due to its excitement and excellent storytelling.

With striking images and colorful pages, this book will get young ones' attention. While it is aimed at girls, boy may pick it up. The women profiled--for the most part--are feminine with a wild streak. Costumes and horses are shown for history and equestrian buffs. References to older movies or people may not be recognized by young readers, but they are explained enough not to leave younger generations confused.

Reviewer Age:19
Reviewer City, State and Country: Staten Island, NY USA

Life Blossoms Like a Rose in Thorns by Raghavan Jayaprakash

Two reviews:

Review 1: This book was a very great and inspirational read. Smitha
is the main character and she is a rebel. She cannot stand
the way that the women of her Indian culture are treated.
She speaks to her mom about her opinions on the matter and
her mother just says there is nothing they can do about
it, our culture has always been this way. Smithas father
dies and her mother leans on her son in law for support.
He treats her unfairly, due to the way women were treated
as inferiors to men at the time. Smitha gets very upset
about the sittuation and goes out and speaks of how men
and women are equals. Smitha ends up getting married and
settles down. She has one son in the book and she is not
treated as an inferior by her husband. I really liked this
book and found it inspirational to women of every
background and culture.
This book was very inspirational with the way Smitha stood up for what she believed in. This book can be inspirational to women everywhere. It
realates to many womens problems. Smitha is like an average teenage girl who rebels and so teenage girls can relate to this book as well. Teenage girls can learn independence from Smitha's story. This book was a great
read and very inspirational.
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Keiser , Arkansas America

Review 2: Thoroughly thought provoking and truthful, this is the story of a young Hindu woman named Smitha, following her through her teenage years, and then onto her adult life. She does not agree with her religion's (Hindu's) view on arranged marriages, and watching as her sisters marriage falls and crumbles, she wishes to have a choice in whom she marries, and so sets out on a quest to become someone in the world.
Written in four sections, each follows a different part of her life, it switches in part three to following her son Bhaskar's storey. Set in the late 1940's and onward, it is a storey that fully reminds the you, the reader, of the free life we have ; women treated with equal status and rights not just a possession of their husband. Like books such as '(un)arranged marriage' by Bali Rai, as a reader you come to understand a little more of what it would be like to have you're life planned for you. As in the books mentioned above, Smitha is determined not to be shaped and moulded by her parents and influential figures around her, and this is what she sets out to do. The 'voice' in which it is written, is not amusing or soft, but quite the opposite ; it tell it like it is.

Personally, I found it hard to relate too, due to the fact it is written so bluntly, but it does get to the point quickly. The ending comes together well, with only one question left un-answered but then the question in it's self is a little confusing! Even though the pace of the storey is rather fast, it's a light read and short too, at approx 160 pages. I would recommend this book for you if you enjoy religious books about other culture or storeys about women's rights and it would be a great study tool in Religious Education!

I would only recommend this book to mature readers, due to the sexual content that it contains.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Swindon, Wiltshire England

The Freak Observer by Blythe Woolston

Loa Lindgren's life was ALWAYS centered around her little
sister, Asta. That's how life was, that's how the days
went. Asta suffered from a disorder that kept her a
baby...forever. But, with Asta dead, Loa is struggling.
Her best friend has also died. How can 16-year old Loa
carry out a normal life? The answer is, she can't. She is
suffering with flashbacks and bad dreams. Chaos, hardship,
and death best describe Loa's life. No wonder she is a
freak observer.

Two Hundred One pages of astounding literature. The book was a page turner, a new tableau at every paragraph. From the moment I was two words into the book, I could hear myself saying Instant Classic. This
horrific and stunning novel is perfect for the mysterious teenager! I grew up with Nancy Drew and Encyclopedia Brown as my best friends. I've always been drawn to dark, depressing, mysterious things. That is probably why the book was such a hit with me. Although this is an amazing book, I recommend ages 12 and up, because it is creepy and spine tingling!

For the creepiness, deaths, and sadness.

Reviewer Age:12

Reviewer City, State and Country: Panama City, Florida United States

Web of Lies by Jennifer Estep

Gin Blanco ( A.K.A The Spider) is one of the most
deadliest assassins in the world. She owns a restaurant
called the Pork Pit, which was given to her when her
beloved mentor Fletcher was killed. In giving her the
porkpit Fletcher also left behind a file. The file
contained information on Gin before her assassin days. In
finding more about the file and agreeing to help out
Violet Fox, Gin finds herself caught up once again in the
trouble she used to encounter. With the help of her
friends, Sophia, Finn, and Donovan Caine, Gin sets out to
kill a very famous dwarf.

This is the second book in the Elemental Assassin series. It was a page turner and had me up late each night, and early each morning reading
the words that drew me in. I was like a bug, and my book a light. Everywhere I went my nose was hidden between the two covers and they stayed there through out the day. I didn't want to put it down and miss the excitement of whatever trouble Gin got into. Each page had me attached
and I kept finding myself telling my mother time after time, not yet I am at the good part, or Five more minutes please! You can bet that when the third book Venom comes out I will be the first in line to buy it.

It had a lot of mature content and killing

Reviewer Age:12

Reviewer City, State and Country: Panama City, Florida United States

The Limit by Kristen Landon

The Limit. It's a simple system, really. All you and your family have to do is not exceed your limit. Don't spend more than you limit, don't spend more than you make. For Matt Dunston, it seems as if his family has all the money in the world. They don't even have to worry about exceeding their limit, right? Wrong. When Matt's family suddenly and unexpectedly goes over their limit, something has to be done to get them out of their debt. In this case, the Dunston's oldest child, who happens to be Matt, gets taken away to a workhouse. He never knew anyone who was taken away and doesn't know what to expect. When he arrives at the workplace everything seems perfect! But Matt has his suspicions. Is it all too good to be true?

The Limit by Kristen Landon was a good book! The eeriness of the world Matt lives in keeps you interested and hooked through every chapter. What was happening in this alternate world was enough to keep me captivated and turning page after page. This book was filled with surprises and deception. It kept me wondering who was wrong and who was right. It also made me question whose actions were wrong and whose were right. The Limit by Kristen Landon was a great read!

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Harleysville, PA USA

November Blues by Sharon M. Draper

When teen November Nelson finds out she is pregnant with her dead boyfriend's baby, everything she knows changes. Her mother is disappointed,her college dream crushed,her schoolmates judging her. In the struggle she discovers what it's like to have real friends, supporters through hardships. And what is like to be sad and scared. In this story of ups and downs, Sharon Draper shows how things can change in a blink of an eye.

November Blues explores the truth of becoming a pregnant teen or even pregnant at all. Before I read this book I thought pregnancy looked a lot easier than it seemed in movies or books. But this book didn't cover up all the negatives of being pregnant, it showed what it was like to struggle with money, with peers, with eating the right food, and deciding on what to do with your future. Overall I think this book gives a truth and reality to becoming pregnant, losing what could have been, but finding something golden in the end.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Richmond, VA USA

The Education of Bet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Bet Smith is just a girl who grew up with tragedy and just wants one thing in her life, an education. Unlike her foster brother Will, who will do anything but go back to school. When Bet comes up with the intriguing idea to switch places with Will, Will thinks she is insane and could never do it. As Bet starts to convince Will that she can do everything that he does, he starts looking at this as his way out to the military, where he really wants to be. Will and Bet make an interesting meaning to switching places as there lives switch because they fool everyone. Bet finally got her way to what she really wants but maybe at the cost of losing her foster father and brother.

This book wasn't really one of my favorites. It was well written however, very predictable and not an original idea. While reading it, it will seem as you have already read this story before.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Naugatuck, CT United States

Draw the Dark by Lisa J. Bick

Christian Cage is a very...different 17 year-old. He has lived with his uncle ever since his parents disappeared when he was a baby. When Christian grew older he realized he hears voices from a place he calls the sideways place where he believes his mother and father are trapped. Christian obsessively draws his mothers eyes hoping he can somehow get to where they are and save them. While Christian is trying to figure out what to do he stumbles upon a mystery in the small town he lives in, Winter, Wisconsin. A dead baby is found in a house that has been abandoned for years and know one knows how it got there. Christian also starts seeing visions of a boy from the same town only from years ago in the past. As he learns more about the secret past of Winter and the little boy, Christian knows that these events are connected somehow and that by figuring out about the buried secrets of the small town of Winter things will be unearthed and shaken that some people have kept secret since WWII.

The way the author wrote this book makes it very confusing until all the pieces are revealed. This book is a very dark book which is good for some parts but sometimes just makes the book eerie and creepy. Good parts about this book are that the author is very descriptive and places you right in the setting of the book. Also that the plot is very thought out and every bit of information you get is placed there for a reason. I think this book would have to be one of those books that you have to read at least another time to fully understand all the parts that you didn't pick up on the first time around. Over all it was an okay book, better than some books I've picked up on Flamingnet and one of the better written ones I've read on this site but not the best book I've ever read.
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Loves Park, Illinios United States

Kakapo Rescue by Sy Montgomery

"Kakapo Rescue" by Sy Montgomery boasts of its saving the world's strangest parrot. Terribly endangered, the bird is flightless and burrows holes in the ground at night. Okay--pretty strange. The science behind the bird is given in some biological detail that is not too hard for younger readers to grasp. Biographies and anecdotes of volunteers are given. Processes like finding / tracking the birds, as well as feeding and nursing from birth are expounded upon.

This book is great for any animal lover. While the main focus is on the kakapo, other creatures in New Zealand are gone over. The pictures are amazing in their clarity. They show both the animals and the science behind the volunteer methods. Suitable for all ages, this book will definitely teach readers something new about a parrot they probably didn't even know existed.

Reviewer Age:19
Reviewer City, State and Country: Staten Island, NY USA

Xilse by Steve Augarde

It's the near, dim future and the earth has sprung into an epidemic of floods. The whole surface is flooded, only the roofs of old abandoned houses are left in the horizon with the exception of vast never ending sea. One island is a beacon of hope for young boys with the right goods. Baz is one of these boys and he is ready to flee from the mainland. Little does he know that the island is no vacation? In fact it is hard work. Preacher John, the cruel island leader, is a whole new level of creeper. He thinks human sacrifice is the answer. Baz and the other boys must band together and stop this crazed man before things go too far. Baz, riding on pure survival instincts and hope, must stop the evil workings of Preacher John.

The setting is almost pirate-like with all the boats and endless water. You definitely feel like you are in the setting, I can see it with vast clarity. The mood was tricky to depicter; I would say it is a dark dystopian feel. Like the world is in a panic state. Everything is gloomy. Even the main character is a downer. Most characters fly off the page but Baz just seemed to be flat. The author just seemed to write the story, perhaps the type of narration is the cause for this, but it doesn't seem exciting. No humor was used in the writing of this story. I love a book that has funny jokes spread throughout it and this one didn't.

I think the author's goal in writing this was achieved because it's a world plagued by destruction it won't be very happy or exciting so my opinion is merging with the facts, thus I must clarify. This book was a decent read, though not entertaining to me and my likes it could captivate another reader beyond their ability to contain it, they may yell from the rooftops proclaiming their love for this book. I just don't feel it. I think the writing was very effective in its purpose, to covey a sorrowful story of a world in peril. Not beautiful but meaningful, it promises light at the end of a dark and damp tunnel.

One strength this book conveyed was its impeccable setting description, you could feel the setting around you, a major plus. One weakness I found was the fact that it didn't hold my attention. Like the Hunger Games and Inside out there is a disrupted leadership, that when the people combined they concur, but again the main character wasn't bold enough to stand with Katniss or Trella.

I must be frank about this book. It wasn't very exciting at all in the beginning. I had to keep kicking myself to read it. And after awhile I got tired of king myself so I skipped pages to get to the end. Perhaps the book was just too slow or I was expecting a faster story none the less it didn't hit the spot for me. I enjoyed the twisted ending and all the surprises thrown in, it was the kind of adventure I was looking for. To improve this book I would say shorten it up and leave some details to the imagination.

What I learned from this book is that despite the looming fog and darkness that there is land looming near, that light at the end of the tunnel will be close. I might recommend this book but it depends on the person really. Most likely I will recommend it to somebody but not now.

Reviewer Age:18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Peoria, Arizona US

The Unidentified by Rae Mariz

The Unidentified is a story about the Game--a mall converted into a school run by corporate sponsors who watch the students 24/7 on camera and use them for research to create new consumer products marketed directly at them--told from the point of view of fifteen-year-old Katey (AKA Kid) who doesn't fit well into this existence. One day after witnessing a shocking and controversial anti-corporate prank, she tracks down the people behind it and traces it back to a group called the Unidentified, named so because they refuse to be labeled by corporate sponsors. Kid eventually intermingles with them and learns their true purpose. But what happens when the Unidentified and Kid are turned into another corporate marketing fad? They do something even bigger--something that could change the way the Game is played forever.

I rather enjoyed reading this novel and particularly liked the sort of Orwellian Big Brother (see the novel 1984 by George Orwell) theme behind the Game, combined with the notion of popularity being based solely on marketing, and marketing depending on the consumers--people trying to be famous or popular . It is an obvious statement about teenage culture and popularity, and a subtle statement about not only marketing and the consumer, but the government as well. Despite the political connotations, however, it is also told from the point of view of a typical teenage girl with teenage girl problems that those who would not normally read a book like this can relate to and understand, which in turn, can help you understand the book as a whole. Overall, I give this book a 7/10 rating and recommend it for teenagers ages 14 and up.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Sykesville, Maryland, United States

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

When Tessa Gray's brother sends for her, she is excited to start over with her beloved brother in England. After the death of her aunt, her brother is all Tessa has, and upon arriving in England she discovers that he has gotten himself into another sticky situation, thanks to his gambling issues. This throws Tessa into a whole new world complete with not one, but two extremely desirable men.

Cassandra Clare's Clockwork Angel is an amazing prequel to The Mortal Instruments series. Every character has amazing depth and the entire story is full of twists and turns and plenty of romance. If you like the tortured soul type, and who doesn't, you will immediately fall for Jem, the beautiful brooding Shadowhunter. If you like the open book, sweet and quiet type, and who doesn't, Will will pull on every one of your heartstrings. Throw in vampires, demons and Magnus Bane, and you have one amazing book!

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Greenwood Village, Colorado USA