The Misadventures of Maude March by Audrey Couloumbis

“Mad Maude March,” is supposedly a robber and a murderer who roams the wild west with her gang. Her younger sister Sallie knows better. She knows the ladylike Maude who was orphaned twice and misses their parents, their aunt, and the house that they lost when she died. Together, Sallie and Maude are forced to flee from their hometown to avoid Maude marrying a man that is old enough to be her grandfather. They commit some wrongs, many of which they either didn’t start and were blamed for or were accidents that were embellished. However, throughout their journey to Independence to find their Uncle Arlen (that could be dead, or somewhere else entirely) Maude and Sallie hold a sisterly love and determination that just might get them to their destination. This is Sallie’s story; a story of the Wild West.

The Misadventures of Maude March is a tale that is expertly woven to depict an eleven year old girl who, through her love of dime novels, believes she can conquer the West with her sister in tow. The words paint vivid pictures and the story leaves readers on the edges of their seats wondering what else could possibly go wrong. Any lover of Wild West adventures and stories told from a different perspective than anyone expects, will love Audrey Couloumbis’s novel. Maude March is a new hero of the Wild West, as real as Joe Harden and all of Sallie’s favorite dime-novel characters.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, PA USA

Counting On Grace by Elizabeth Winthrop

This fictional account of early 1900s New England cotton mills is based on the work photographer Lewis Hine’s documentation of mill life. A spinning mill may not seem like a playground, but for children whose parents worked in the mills, this unlikely recreation center was all the entertainment available. After school the children ran to the mill where they played in corners away from the growling machinery until their parents were able to take them home. As the children grew older, their time in the mill became permanent when they, too, became mill workers whose working lives were spent weaving and spinning. Ten-year old Grace and her friend Arthur read Red Badge of Courage in school before beginning their work in the mills until French Johnny, the mill supervisor, insists that Arthur work in the mill to help his widowed mother make a living. Although Miss Lesley, the teacher, is reluctant to have one of her best readers leave, she is powerless against the insistence of the mill bosses and gives Arthur the book as a gift. Arthur’s departure shows Grace that her time in school is quickly coming to a close. Like the older workers, the ten year olds face danger from whirling machines and exhaustion from unceasing motion as they work to make fabric. The children learn to hide in dark corners when inspectors pay unexpected visits. When Mr. Hines visits the mill, the children’s lives become topsy-turvy as they endeavor to have their stories told beyond the boundaries of mill town.

Elizabeth Winthrop describes her journey from seeing a photograph to writing this story. Her list of books for further reading urges exploration of child labor laws and American history. Counting on grace is a welcomed addition to a middle school library. Students, teachers, and parents will appreciate this well-told tale. Who knew that rading about life in the mills could be so entertaining and educational? well worth reading.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 58
Reviewer City, State and Country: Timonium, MD US

Beginner's Luck by Laura Pedersen

Hallie is a 16 year-old girl who despises the school that she goes to so much that she doesn't bother to show up to 90% of the classes. Most of the time you can find her down at the horse track betting on the ponies, aka earning money to buy a car. Since she lives in a house barely big enough to house the nine that it consists of now, not to mention the new baby on the way, she plans to head to Las Vegas. She is the second oldest and is overlooked up until now,when the attendence officer "Just Call Me Dick" begins to notice that she doesn't come to homeroom, or most of her other classes for that matter. He alerts the ultimate authorities; her parents. They simply retract their offer to help pay for the car and ground her until her grades pull up. Hallie thinks, "Well that's too bad because I'm gone, I'll gamble until I have the money to go to Vegas then, so long Ohio!" Hallie is a gifted card player that goes along with her innate sense of numbers. She doesn't have a gambling problem just does it for the money. An unfortunate loss at the track forces her to take a job as a lawn person in the eccentric household of the Stocktons. This quirky family includes Olivia, the head matron, The Judge her husband, Bernard their son, Gil Bernard's lover, and the ever persistent Rocky the chimp, who is between jobs. Not only are they paying her 12 dollars an hour they soon welcome her into their home with her own room. Her parents want her back but no such luck, she becomes a permanent fixture in the lives of the Stocktons. She is now learning things that she would not otherwise learn, like how to prepare exqusite dishes, little known facts about authors and figure heads. The sarcastic humor, intermixed with exquisite vocabulary, envelope her in Ms. Olivia's rabble rousing and protesting for a greater cause. Olivia soon becomes her tutor that way she will graduate and be able to go to college. Her boyfriend, Craig, even gets along with the Stocktons. This leads to a pinch or romance among all the gambling and clearing of her name. A household that will not be forgotten easily.

Slowly but surely, a quickwitted sarcastic humor takes you into this quirky world of Hallie Palmer. This hold is not relinquished throughout the entire novel. I laughed so hard I cried multiple times. The reader is faced with a gay couple that Hallie coexists with and not all romantic scenes are backstage. For those with improving vocabulary, I suggest a pocket dictionary nearby, just in case. Morals and prejudiced thoughts are faced and delt with making you think about your own beliefs.This book is for those willing to be open-minded to other's thoughts and ideas even though you may have originally rejected them as not part of your beliefs. Not everything is black and white as it might appear, and there are two sides to each argument. It helps to see both.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Belton, Missouri USA

Catch by Will Leitch

Tim Temples is a high-school graduate. He has survived the four long gruesome years of hanging out with his posse, drinking, and meeting nearly every girl in their small town of Matoon. Okay, so it wasn't that wretched. Not only that but the Temples family are legend, for playing baseball. Tim's father, Bryan, played in the minor leagues and would have made it to the majors except for injuries. Tim's older brother, Doug, was drafted by the Cardinals, but went to collage instead. Now when Doug comes back from that four year scholarship Tim fears that it has ruined him. Since Tim is the next to go to college, he fears that he will also not finish, become fat, always be angry at everybody, along with an assortment of other things that changed his brother to the pathetic state he is in now. Tim is facing his last summer with his posse called the Horsemen, and the normal routine. At his summer job of carring crates, Tim meets Helena. Helena is 23, gorgeous (with a full rack), and hates his guts. This soon changes, and they become girlfriend and boyfriend. They spend every night together, and the Horsemen are forgotten. Things will change with college soon approaching. Will his relationship with Helena change? Will he end up like Doug, fat and lazy? Who knows until the last page.

Quick witted dry humor, cussing, romance, and the average legend in a small town. The closest thing that I can compare this novel to is J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye". I won't lie, there is quite a bit of cussing, and sex. But it is not so much that this is all that there is. It's also a realistic fiction story of a teenager heading off to college in the year 2005. It was one of those books where you just kept reading, always telling yourself that you will stop at the next chapter. Ten Chapters later you are still in the same position that you started in, saying you'll stop at the next chapter. You look deeper still. It's a story of friendship and family. Things will change but with the support of those close to you.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Belton, Missouri USA

Flush by Carl Hiaasen

Noah’s family loves the environment around their home in the Florida Keys. Noah’s dad, Paine Underwood, a fishing guide, especially has always been passionate about caring for animals and the environment—but have you ever heard of somebody sinking a casino boat in the name of Mother Nature? Even Noah’s younger sister, Abbey, and their mother think that Paine has finally lost his marbles. Now dad is in the slammer. When Noah goes to visit his dad, Paine claims that the captain of the Coral Queen, Jasper “Dusty” Muleman, was dumping sewage from the boat’s holding tanks into the ocean. Noah and Abbey are determined to finish what their dad started. Noah goes to the trailer of Lice Peeking, an ex-mate of the Coral Queen, to get him to give his testimony to the Coast Guard. Lice is willing to do it—for a price. Noah painfully offers his dad’s fishing boat in exchange for Lice’s testimony. Lice agrees and tells Noah that he’ll come for the boat the next day, with a contract. The next day, however, Lice’s girlfriend, Shelly, comes over and informs Noah that Lice has been killed! Now how will Noah and Abbey prove that their dad is right and Captain Muleman—not their dad—should be locked up?

I enjoyed reading FLUSH by Carl Hiaasen. It was a wonderful book about family and the environment. It is a pleasingly humorous book, too. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes funny books and books about the ocean, as well as to readers who are interested in protecting the environment. I would also recommend this book to anyone who has read Holes, by Louis Sachar.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Saugerties, NY USA

Heart's Desire by Laura Pedersen

Hallie Palmer, now a college student, has had one crazy year. She has already begun to reform her former gambler ways by concentrating on other problems, as finding the tuition money she desperately needs, dealing with her legal guardian Bernard, and trying to figure out her own relationships. As the 2nd oldest in a family of 8 children, it’s up to her to find the money to go to college. Bernard employs her as the gardener and doing yard work. Hallie also has to come up with a plan to get Bernard reunited with his ex-boyfriend, Gil. But Hallie has romantic problems of her own and can’t seem to keep any guy interested. Hallie’s freshman year is surely full of surprises.

When I first started reading Heart’s Desire, I wasn’t sure if I would like it or not. The crazy characters, including a chimp named Rocky, were entertaining and the dialogue was funny. The story got better during the middle and once I got to that point, I couldn’t put the book down. As the character is a college student, older readers will relate to Hallie more. I didn’t read the prequel, Beginner’s Luck, but I think it would be more helpful in understanding the story and the characters. I think that if you stick with the book, you’ll be glad to read it. I’m looking forward to reading more about Hallie Palmer.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 19
Reviewer City, State and Country: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA

The Borrible Go For Broke by Michael de Larrabeiti

Borribles are runaway children who don't want to grow up. They get their names from adventures. But the greatest adventure is The Great Rumble Hunt.After a note that gets passed to Charlotte about a horse that saved their life during the Great Rumble Hunt, Charlotte gets together with the rest of the Hunt members and tries to save the horse. When things go terribly wrong and they end up in Wendle territory, warrior borribles that would love to kill them, their only hope is to trust a borrible that was a Wendle. Will the borribles ever make it out alive??

This book was a very good book. It was really tense for me and there was always action so it kept me reading. There was a big plot that was unraveling and I tried to guess it but it was very hard because of dips and turns. The author wrote very well and it captured my imagination. I wish to see pictures of the borribles because it is hard to imagine them.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Lutherville, Maryland U.S.A.

True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet by Lola Douglas

Morgan Carter is a teen Hollywood actress. She becomes addicted to drinking, and almost dies from it. Her mom, Bianca, finds out and wants Morgan to get back on track with her life. She sends Morgan to go live with her friend in Fort Wayne, Indiana for a year and go to an actual high school there. Morgan is devastated. What will she do in such a lousy place like Fort Wayne? She knows it's for the best, but Morgan still thinks her mom sent her away so she wouldn't have to deal with Morgan herself. But after Morgan gets there, she finds that Fort Wayne isn't as bad as she thought it would be. So no one will realize she is actually Morgan Carter, Hollywood starlet, she dyes her hair, wears fake glasses, and calls herself Claudia Miller. Yeah, school isn't that fun, but she kind of likes staying with her mom's friend, Trudy, who is the closest thing to a motherly figure that she's ever had in her life. She finds a friend after a couple of weeks of school, and also finds out that someone might even think she's cute. But then things start going downhill again. Her grades are slipping, she's been skipping school, and there have been more reporters than usual around town. Did someone actually know where she was? After all the secrets, will she be found out?

“True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet” by Lola Douglas, was a great read!! I could not put it down. Morgan told her story through journal entries, and she told it very well. I found myself laughing at her various experiences and firsts as she tried to play the part of an average American girl. I found myself overwrought with sadness and sympathy for “Claudia” with all the secrets she had to keep, and all of her thoughts she had that she didn't belong anywhere. All I can say is, I can't wait until the sequel comes out! Anyone looking for a good book, read "True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet!"

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Celestine, Indiana USA

Darrien's Rise by Paul McCusker

When Anna and Kyle’s uncle comes over for a visit he tells them about an abandoned haunted house in the woods. Kyle and Anna decide to go find it but they never thought about what would happen when they found it. When they enter the house, they decide to explore throughout the house. Kyle looks through the keyhole on a door upstairs and sees what he believes is a ghost. He tells Anna to look for herself and he backs away from the door. Anna looks but doesn’t see anything. All of a sudden, the floor cracks and Kyle falls through the floor. Anna runs into the only place she can, which is the door with the ghosts behind it. After running through the door and the bright white light she realizes she’s not in Odyssey anymore. Kyle also wakes up and realizes that he isn’t in Odyssey anymore either. How will they ever get back to Odyssey, or is it even possible to return? Find out in this awesome book called Darrien’s Rise.

I loved Darrien’s Rise, the first book in the Passages Series by Paul McCusker. It was one of the best books I have ever read and I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in this series. I didn’t want to put this book down because it was so good. It is a Christian-based book and very adventurous. The characters had many different personalities that made the story even more interesting. I recommend this book to all ages. I hope and think that whoever reads Darrien’s Rise will enjoy it as much as I did.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA US

The Dark Flight Down by Marcus Sedgwick

In the Dark Flight Down, Boy has survived while his old master Valerian, a powerful magician, is dead. He is saved by Kepler, Valerian’s enemy. In Kepler’s possession is The Book, the most powerful and dangerous thing in the world. And the Emperor Frederick wants it to become immortal. Boy is kidnaped by the imperial guards and taken to the palace, and it’s up to Kepler and his friend, Willow to save him. In the palace, he finds himself in danger from the Phantom, a creature housed in the palace. In time, Boy finds out the truth about his past and it’s up to him and Willow to find a way to escape.

I thought that this book was really interesting. I haven’t read a good horror book in a while, so it was a nice change. I actually didn’t know that there was a prequel to The Dark Flight Down, but I’m curious to check it out now. I loved the setting of the book and the characters were interesting too. Once I started reading, I wanted to find out about Boy’s past. This may seem like it’s for younger readers, but everyone should give this a try!

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 19
Reviewer City, State and Country: Philadelphia, PA USA

The Mark of Zorro by Johnston McGulley

In old California with the missions, there is a new highway man abroad. His name is Senor Zorro. Rumor says that he punishes those who have done wrong. Though the Govenor and his captain and general track him down, Senor Zorro Always finds a way to escape and continue his mission to bring justice back. As the crimes for Senor Zorro reach an all-time high, the town is in turmoil, and there is more injustice than ever. Who is this Senor Zorro, and will justice ever be returned?????

I loved this book. This book had a lot of adventure, which is the biggest reason that I loved it. Every second there is a big, exciting event happening, and it didnt seem as though the book was dragging on. There was also aa mystery to who Senor Zorro was, and even though I figured it out early in the book, it was still enjoyable.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Lutherville, Maryland U.S.A.

The Good, the Bat, and the Ugly by Paul Magrs

A story laced with the twists and turns of British humor, The Good, The Bat, and The Ugly is the latest book written by Paul Magrs. Jason’s father was a famous puppeteer in his day, but now he is a washed up old grouch. When he implies Jason to take up the family business of puppets, everything goes mad. Soon everything is in a mess when his father is dragged off to jail, and Jason’s older half-brother Barry gets involved. On top of that, Jason’s father’s old puppet is calling to him from the attic, and mysterious puppet murders start happening all over town. The web becomes even more tangled when the devil himself gets involved. It’s a story of insanity, betrayal, ‘fancying’, hell, and most of all, puppets.

The book was good, but somewhat weird. I didn’t find it to be as wildly hilarious as it was made out to be. I believe that the whole situation of the book is what is supposed to be funny. Although it is told in an enchanting first person, the book dips in and out of utter madness. I tend to be more attached to the protagonist when they tell the story. Therefore, it is harder to enjoy the calamity that Jason goes through. I also find the circumstances of him falling in love with a grown woman sort of weird, and maybe it’s supposed to be that way. Although, by far, my favorite sequence is the ‘mamazon.com’, epilogue which features different characters of the book making comments. Overall, the book is enjoyable and holds your attention from start to finish, but it is not the most mainstream. Those looking for an offbeat British read are sure to find what they are looking for in The Good, The Bat, and the Ugly.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Greencastle, PA USA

Invisible Threads by Annie and Marie Dalton

Invisible Threads, by Annie and Maria Dalton, is the story of a mother and daughter dealing with all the trials and tribulations that they went through when they were 16. Carrie-Anne is having trouble at home trying to get along with her adopted parents, and trying to find her place in the world. She thinks that if she has a chance to find her biological mother, she could get a better sense of who she is and where she's from. Meanwhile, Naomi, Carrie-Anne's biological mother, tells us the story of when she was 15. She lived with her unsteady mother, trying to keep a grasp on reality, trying to be a normal teenager, but always having to comfort her mother after her mother had a sort of mental breakdown. After Naomi's mother found an on again-off again boyfriend, Naomi decided that she shouldn't have to be her mother's babysitter. She chose to go have some fun at a party with some of her friends, and did something she knew she shouldn't have done. So Invisible Threads takes us on through their separate journeys, reminding not only Carrie-Anne and Naomi, but also the reader that even if we may not want to acknowledge it (as in Naomi's case), we are all connected by invisible threads that make up our family tree and our history.

This was a very good book. It really took you through all the controversy and all of the emotions that Carrie-Anne and Naomi went through at specific moments in the book. I thought that Invisible Threads very well written, and anyone who's ever been seeking answers to who they are and where they came from, should read it. I recommend, though, to be about 13 or 14 before reading this book.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Celestine, Indiana USA

I Am The Wallpaper by Mark Peter Hughes

When Floey Packer writes something in her diary, you know it's the truth. (In her diary, she writes about everything from her crush on her friend Wen to her plans for the future, supercool, noticeable Floey Packer.) That is, until her two gross cousins come over to her house to stay for a month! Within days, the contents of her diary are on the Internet for the world to read. Within hours, www.floeysprivatelife.com has gathered thousands of readers from all over the country. Floey must not only deal with the results of these disastrous web postings, but also decide whether or not the new and improved Floey is better than the old, wallpaper Floey. Along the way to enlightenment Zen-style, she finds humor in many situations, uses a jar of Deep Wild Violet hairdye, and even gets a bit of romance!

I enjoyed reading I Am the Wallpaper because it was a fun and lighthearted book that nevertheless had a solid storyline that kept me wondering how on earth Floey would overcome her latest batch of problems. I would recommend this book to almost anyone looking for a sweet story, though it may be a bit mature for the younger readers. I could not change anything about this book to make it better! Mark Peter Hughes has really mastered the "13-year-old-girl's-diary" style...I found myself drawn into the trials of Floey's life from page one.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Ellicott City, Maryland USA

Upstream by Melissa Lion

Melissa Lion tells a very real story about an Alaskan girl named Marty in her senior year of high school whose joie de vivre is somewhat diminished by a summertime tragedy that has made the rest of her town uneasy and awkward around her. Marty feels trapped in her current life and unable to escape the judgments of her fellow villagers until she meets Catherine, a new arrival from California. Catherine encourages Marty to apply to college, to gather up her life, to start living again. Now all that remains to be seen is...will Marty allow herself to move on?

I thought that Upstream was an interesting read because it gave me a look into the daily life in a place I've never been. I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to try out a book that, while not challenging, moves past what one normally would read in a book. Melissa Lion gives readers the essential details that allow them to connect somewhat to the characters. Although the ending was the best possible for this book, I was still left "hanging" because all characters, save for one that the book closes on, were introduced in the final chapter of the book. Other than this, the ending fit the book very well.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Ellicott City, Maryland USA