The Lampkins by Eve Bunting

“The Lambkins” is a story about a lonely woman and how she manages to make a family, even without her husband, Magnus the Magnificent. Mrs. Shepherd, the lonely woman, had a dollhouse that Magnus had made for her. The dollhouse was an exact replica of her real house. It even had electricity at one point! Needing to fill her house with dolls, Mrs. Shepherd decided that she could help real kids in the process. Whenever Mrs. Shepherd found a kid who was an artist of some kind, whether it was in writing, music, painting, acting, or singing, who had a struggle to continue with their passion, Mrs. Shepherd would kidnap them. She would cleverly trick the child into reaching for something in her trunk, then, suddenly, she would give them a shot to make them as small as a doll. Mrs. Shepherd would place the doll-sized kids, who she called “Lambkins”, in her dollhouse, but only four at a time to allow for each kid to have their own room. When one of the Lambkins died, another kid would be kidnapped and shrunk to doll size. The Lambkins were McNamara Chang- a baseball player who wanted to write, Tanya Roberts- a foster child who played the violin, Lupe Sanchez- a four-year-old girl who was taken because Mrs. Shepherd wanted a little girl to act, and John Ponderelli, a singer who died and was replaced with the main character, Kyle Wilson, a painter. There was also a dog named CH Pippy (CH stood for champion). These four kids and their dog try to escape many times, but fail every time. After months, they get the chance for an escape when there is a leaking pipe. Mrs. Shepherd had to call a plumber to fix the pipe, and the Lambkins were positive that she would show him the dollhouse. They painted, “Help. Mrs. Shepherd kidnapped us. We are hidden in her house”, and they listed their names. Unfortunately, Mrs. Shepherd saw the note before the plumber came and decided that she had to get rid of her present Lambkins and get new ones. Luckily, the Lambkins were able to knock her down with a stone to escape. Finally, they escaped to the neighbor’s house and were in safety for the first time in months.

The book, “The Lambkins”, is one of my favorite books that I just couldn’t put down. With the help of a great plot, this book was almost perfect. Even the beginning was interesting, as opposed to containing a long, introductory build up, which is hard to find in books. Every aspect of the book was entertaining, especially the characters. My favorite character was Mrs. Shepherd, because of her surprising personality. You never knew whether she would respond to an action kindly, with a giggle, or angrily, with a beastly roar. The character, Mrs. Shepherd, made the book a never-ending surprise. Everyone would enjoy the characters in this book. The ending of this book brought a definite surprise. The plot in the end just kept turning and turning, so you wouldn’t be able to guess what was going to happen next. When I saw the Lambkins plan failing with only a few pages of the book left, I thought the story would end with no solution to the problem. It was a shock to see how well the writer kept the suspense throughout the book, and ended it so quickly, without sparing great detail. If I were to compare this book with another science fiction book, like “Running Out of Time” by Margarot Haddix, I would automatically say that “The Lambkins” by Eve Bunting is better in many ways. The ending to “The Lambkins” was excellent, and so was the plot of the story, but unlike “Running Out of Time,” it was not the type of book that would be read over and over again. “The Lambkins” introduces new vocabulary, such as the word “retch”. The dangers of being allured by strangers are definitely well described. You are also able to learn some of the vocabulary easily because the words are defined within the book for explanation to one of the characters, the four-year-old Lambkin. The way the author grabs the reader into the book is amazing. Her writing makes you feel like you’re there, in the book. You can feel the fear and eagerness of the Lambkins to get out. There is just enough detail in the book to make you understand the struggles of the Lambkins. Unfortunately, I was hoping to find out more of what happens to the Lambkins after their escape, but it is also nice to leave the aftermath to your imagination. “The Lambkins” is an excellent book that makes you eager to read the author’s other books.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8

Reviewer: MP

Warriors: The New Prophecy #1: Midnight

The forest is home to four different clans of cats. However, they are all in grave danger. Their only hope lies with four chosen cats, one from each clan. These chosen cats are given a prophecy through a dream, and although they are from rival clans, they must learn to work together to defeat an unknown enemy or face a terrible fate - the destruction of all their clans.

This book is a wonderful story for young and old. It is a little confusing in the beginning and the plot is slow to develop. However, the further you read, the clearer and more addicting it becomes. The end is a real surprise. After reading this book, you find yourself wanting to immediately pick up the next book in the series to find out what will happen next. If you have not yet begun this series, this book is a great place to start.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8

Reviewed bt a Flamingnet Student Reviewer (www.flamingnet.com)

A.D. 62: Pompeii by Rebecca East

Miranda, a Harvard scholar volunteers for a time travel experiment back to the ancient days of Rome. Equipped with only a signal device implanted in her arm to return home and a wooden flute, Miranda is whisked back to Pompeii where she is given the opertunity to study ancient life as a slave in a wealthy household. Although promised that she'd be able to return home at any time, Miranda soon realizes that she is trapped in the ancient world. As she works her way from a laborer to a musician and storyteller of the household, Miranda falls deeply in love with her Master. Eventually her intelligence and spirit earn his adoration in return. Miranda learns to love her new life in Pompeii, earns the respect of her fellow Romans, and gets the biggest reward of all, a loving husband.

A.D.62:Pompeii was a magnificent book. It kept me reading until the very last page. I loved the heroine of the story, she was very likeable. The author painted a very good picture of ancient life in Pompeii, I felt like I learned a lot of history, but the history made it all the more real. The ending of the book was perfect, not your typical happily ever after, it was unexpected, but still cheerful. I think the author could have done more with the women's rights part of the story. The title and cover were very deceiving. It looked like an average history book, but it wasn't at all like that. Overall, I think that this was a great story. It is so unique, that is why I really loved it.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10

Reviewed by a Flamingnet Student Reviewer

Sign of the Raven

Tom isn't pleased when his mom's recovery from cancer takes him from his home to his grandmother's. Soon memories of Tom's first visit to his gram's begin to surface. What did he see in the basement? What did he hear down there? Now, he thinks he's seeing the raven on the neighboring pub sign move! Is Tom going insane, or are strange things happening? Stranger still is Tom's gradual discovery of "the gap", a portal in time that allows Tom to travel back to the year 1717 where he stumbles into a group of prisoner circus attractions. According to Tom's new friends he is their only hope of getting their deceased friend, the giant, to his wanted resting place, but should Tom trust them?

Hearn's novel is excellent. In my opinion, I agree with Hearn's placement of the secret Tom discovers early on in the book. On the other hand, others might think it was given away too early. I could go on and on about the ending to Sign of the Raven, but talking about it might give it away. Understand this, if you don't understand the ending read it over until you do! It is hidden well, but it is easy to give away. This novel was spectacular the whole way through, and I've never read anything like it, so I declare it my favorite book of all time even with some English sayings and passages that are difficult to understand.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10

Jay by W. Royce Adams

Four years have passed; more than can be imagined has changed. Jay, now sixteen, is a hobo living a life on the tracks. Having nowhere to live after the death of his mother, the only remaining member of his family, he must ride the freight trains to escape a foster home. After being caught by the bulls, or Freight Train Police, he needs to be more careful on the tracks. The bulls robbed him; he was left with no money, food, or weapons to defend him or to cut food. He hops a train to escape the bulls and jumps on a flatbed car. He tries to hide under a tarp so he is not seen, and in the darkness of it, he feels a leg. “Hey!” is all that is said. A hobo, called by the name of Liberty Two, is the leg’s owner. They are introduced to each other and they are astonished to find that the two of them are the same age. They befriend and start out a life of hobos.

Jay, the sequel to Me and Jay, is a very good piece of children’s literature. This book is not as graphical as Me and Jay, so it is a book that a child can read without getting frightening images in his head. From the ending to Jay, it is obvious that a sequel to Jay is in order. Jay, the sequel to Me and Jay, should be a book on everyone’s bookshelf because of the unforgettable characters, their friendship and shared adventures.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8

Reviewed by a Flamingnet Book Reviewer

Autobiography of My Dead Brother by Walter Dean Myers

When Jesse meets his friend Rise, they become more than friends. But when Rise leaves his side and orders shootings and deals blow, Jesse gets out of Rise's company. As more and more tragic events happen, Jesse, an aspiring artist, continues drawing. But when he compares his drawings of Rise with memories of his past, Jesse starts questioning this change of persona. Little does he know that tragedy will soon be present once more.

Autobiography of My Dead Brother was the best book I have read this year. The beginning was slow and boring, but that soon changed. I enjoyed the emotion poured into the book and I almost cried at several parts. The "blackcent" was accurately portrayed. The ending especially tugged at my heartstrings. Despite the young-looking cover and "cartoony" art style, this book is very mature with a lot of violence. I just can't believe how emotional this book was.

RATING (out of 10): 9

Flamingnet Reviewer: Josh McLucas

Dragon Blade By: Andre Norton and Sasha Miller

Nordon rulers Gaurin and Ashen have thought that the Great Foulness is over. However, when they get a present for their new son, they find out that they were wrong. The Ice Dragons they faced in the war were just babies, and the mother still lives. Gauring immediatly sets out to destroy the Mother Ice Dragon, hoping to find a certain sword that will help destroy her. After Gaurin leaves, Ashen finds new information about the Dragon Blade. She rides out to try and find him and give him this new piece of information. Meanwhile things back in Nordornlands aren't going to well. A huge troll is attacking and destroying everything in sight. Ashen finally catches up to Gaurin just in time. The next day they battle the Mother Ice Dragon. Even with the legendary Dragon Blade, will Gaurin be able to kill the dragon?

This book was very exciting and full of adventure. You switch off between the Nordornland affairs and the Mother Ice Dragon affairs. Normally it would be confusing, but with this author it wasn't. There was a mystery involved also. You never know a huge part of the story until the end. This book had me reading hours at a time. The author had a great flow of words, which kept me intrigued.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10

Review by: MY

Sam I Am By: Ilene Cooper

In this book, a boy named Sam has a very diverse family. His dad is Jewish. His mom is Christian. His grandmas are very religious, and don't appreciate the other religion. Sam is very confused about his religion, and trys to talk to God. He doesn't get the answers he expected. Then Sam's class starts learning about the Holocaust, which greatly upsets him. Meanwhile, Sam is acting like any other teenage boy. He is fantasizing about going out with a girl (he eventually gets his dream), who everyone else thinks is snobby.

This book was all right. I liked it because I can relate to Sam because my household has two different religions in it, and I think that other people could also relate to Sam in this way. The book had faults though. There were parts where it could have ended, and I would have been pleased. It just seemed to keep going on and on.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6

Review By: RC

Trick of the Mind By: Judy Waite

This book is about the lives of two teenagers, Matt and Erin. Erin is a magician and loves being one. Matt is a sensitive boy, who is considered by basically everyone he knows a stupid troublmaker. Then one day Matt and Erin both go to the castle, a popular hang-out place, Erin goes to the castle to put on a magic show and Matt goes to see the girl of his dreams. At first sight of Matt, Erin sees love, and at first sight of Erin, Matt sees a very good magician, and nothing else. Matt starts to hang-out with Erin out of pity, and Erin, in hopes of getting Matt to like her teaches him magic tricks. But when life at home takes an unexpected turn for the worse for Matt, he runs away, and finds the only way of survival for him is to use the magic tricks Erin taught to him. During Matt's time on the streets, he starts to learn of a special talent he has. However, Matt is in deep trouble at home, and the only person who can defend him is Erin.

I thought "Trick of the Mind" was a very well written book that had many surprises in it. The parts after Matt ran away really shocked me, and those parts really showed you what the characters in the story were like when they were under pressure, caught off guard, or had their feelings hurt. When those things happened, you would get more insight into what Matt and Erin were really like. The best part of the book, in my opinion, would have to be the ending, mainly because it never explained what would happen to Matt or if the police would believe Erin. The book left you to imagine what would happen next. The only thing that I didn't like about the book was the fact that Erin kept falling for Matt and then how that love she had for Matt ended up hurting her. The book really shows you that things aren't always as you want them to be no matter how much you try to make them that way.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8

Review by: VB

Small Eternities by Michael Lawrence

What if there actually are realities existing at the same time as ours? What if that one choice you made so long ago created another world of simultaneous but slightly different events that overlaps your own? And what if you somehow found a way to cross over to that parallel universe and meet someone on the other side?

That's exactly what happened in the first of Michael Lawrence's trilogy of novels, "A Crack in the Line," where Alaric and Naia – two teens with the same parents, same house, and only slightly different lives – accidentally and irreversibly switched places. In the sequel, "Small Eternities," each is living the other's life, and they're the only ones who remember the way it used to be. Three months after they switched, Alaric is happier than he's ever been, but Naia is barely learning to survive. At the same time – but in a different time – a young boy named Aldous unknowingly moves along toward a fate that seems inevitable, existing only in a "small eternity," a short time in 1945 right before he dies. Or does he? Because Alaric and Naia have met up again, within this small eternity, and anything they do can change the future of the past.

Sound confusing? It is, at first. "Small Eternities" asks a lot of its readers. You might have to re-read a few pages every now and then, or go back and check something you thought you noticed a couple chapters ago. In fact, the moment I finished the last page I just had to start again with the first page, reading with a new understanding.
This isn't some lazy summer read, but it's definitely worth the extra work. This is a book to read with a couple of friends; a book that inspires discussion; a book that you'll have to set aside a few hours to finish because you won't want to have to put it down; a book that definitely deserves praise.

Rating (0 - 10): 9

Reviewed by Beckie Sheffield for Flamingnet Book Reviews
www.flamingnet.com