Alexa and Holly are friends who happen to be part of two different social groups. Alexa and her boyfriend Diego are celebrating their aniversary in Paris while Holly is going to England for a track meet. Holly is devastated when she hurt her ankle and is unable to run for the rest of the meet, but then she gets a phone call from Alexa begging her to come to Paris. Taking advantage of the opportunity, she goes over and spends a guilt-filled week there, hoping she won't get caught by her coach and worrying about her relationship with her boyfriend, Tyler. Still caught up in her fight with Tyler, Holly catches the eye of Pierre, Alexa's cousin. Meanwhile, Alexa happens to meet Xavier, a famous artist. Between sightseeing, shopping and hot dates, Alexa and Holly learn the meaning of friendship and love.
I thought that this book was a fun read. French Kiss reminded me a little of Gossip Girl, and while the story is not the same, fans of Gossip Girl should pick this one up. This is the perfect book to get away from real life for a while. The fact that the story takes place in Paris makes it so much more fun to read. This is the pefect guilty pleasure for spring. I'm looking forward to reading the prequel to this, South Beach, next.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 19
Reviewer City, State and Country: Philadelphia, PA USA
Monday, March 06, 2006
The Sword of Straw by Amanda Hemingway
Nathan has problems dreaming. Not just any dreaming, but dreaming himself into another world and universe. But recently Nathan has dreamed himself into a new world he hasn't explored before, with a princess in distress. Her subjects are going away because they think they are cursed by the traitors sword. This sword might be the one out of the 3 object that Nathan needs to collect to make a very powerful spell. But when troubles arrive in both worlds with a bully in school and demons in his dream world, Nathan feels he is doomed for failure.
This was a very suspenful and action packed book. The book was written in a way that it kept me wanting to know more, and it kept me reading. This book was confusing for me because I haven't read the first of the series, and it related to it a lot, so if you're interested in this book read the first one first. This book had a great ending because events turn out in the most odd ways and things you would never believe would happen occured.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Lutherville, Maryland USA
This was a very suspenful and action packed book. The book was written in a way that it kept me wanting to know more, and it kept me reading. This book was confusing for me because I haven't read the first of the series, and it related to it a lot, so if you're interested in this book read the first one first. This book had a great ending because events turn out in the most odd ways and things you would never believe would happen occured.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Lutherville, Maryland USA
Monday, February 27, 2006
Guitar Highway Rose by Brigid Lowry
Rosie Moon, 15, is irritated with her life. Her mom treats her like a 5 year old, her dad doesn't really care, and her younger brother is a nuisance. The best thing about her life is her best friend, Pip, until a rebellious new kid, Asher, comes to school. His parents are seperated, which doesn't help with the move. Asher and Rosie want to get away from it all and when Asher is accused of stealing a wallet, their dreams become a reality. They set off for their "crazy" adventure where they find themselves...and each other.
At first, I was confused by the writing style. The book used words that I wasn't familiar with because the book originated from Australia. The book was also incomprehensible because it jumped to different characters, and I got thoughts and opinions confused. As I read more, it became clear and it was amazing. The plot was well thoughtout. Lowry used superior descriptions for the settings and people. It felt like you were there! The book showed situations that teenagers have to overcome these days. Towards the end of the book, I couldn't put it down. It was supenseful, a definite page turner. Overall, it was an exceptional book. Kids under 13 should not read this book. It had some vulgar language and usage of drugs.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Villa Hills, Kentucky USA
At first, I was confused by the writing style. The book used words that I wasn't familiar with because the book originated from Australia. The book was also incomprehensible because it jumped to different characters, and I got thoughts and opinions confused. As I read more, it became clear and it was amazing. The plot was well thoughtout. Lowry used superior descriptions for the settings and people. It felt like you were there! The book showed situations that teenagers have to overcome these days. Towards the end of the book, I couldn't put it down. It was supenseful, a definite page turner. Overall, it was an exceptional book. Kids under 13 should not read this book. It had some vulgar language and usage of drugs.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Villa Hills, Kentucky USA
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Spacer and Rat by Margaret Bechard
Jack is a kid who grew up on Freedom Station. He works in a bar and can tell the Earthies from the Spacers. He thinks he knows everything about Earthies, but that was before Kit showed up. Kit is just a normal Earthie except for what she carries with her. When Jack finds out Kit's secret, he feels he has no choice but to help her. Even if it is illegal. Even if it means risking their lives in space.
Spacer and Rat, by Margaret Bechard, is an amazing sci-fi story that will keep you not only entertained but surprised as well. I have never read another book like this, but I am hoping more will come out. The characters fit in very well with the story. The description of the scenery was thorough but sometimes difficult to understand. I recommend this book to any reader who is looking for a good sci-fi book.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, Pennsylvania United States
Spacer and Rat, by Margaret Bechard, is an amazing sci-fi story that will keep you not only entertained but surprised as well. I have never read another book like this, but I am hoping more will come out. The characters fit in very well with the story. The description of the scenery was thorough but sometimes difficult to understand. I recommend this book to any reader who is looking for a good sci-fi book.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, Pennsylvania United States
The Bungler's Paradox by R. M. Wilburn
In an excellent beginning to what one hopes will be an excellent series, R. M. Wilburn creates a realm of realistic characters caught in a world directed by imagination - literally. Buggy, heroine of The Bungler's Paradox, is on the brink of turning twelve when her family is "summoned" to Lloyd's Hollow. What follows next is an eye-opening crash course into The-World-Is-Not-What-You-Always-Thought-It-Was 101. Faced with the reality of magic, the indomitable, impressively imaginative Buggy must rely on her budding skills and new-found friends to guide her through what may very well be the coming apocalypse of the world, the final battle between good and evil. Challenged on every side, never completely sure of on whom she can rely, Buggy must "Dream big!"
Imitating the creative style of her protagonist, Wilburn writes as one might dream. Her characters are real, but with a touch of the other-worldly. Similarly, the emotions and reactions in the book are what one would expect in real life, while the events that jump-start them are anything but. Her writing style includes a lot of humor, though her characters can become a bit caustic and brusque in their responses to each other (certainly real-to-life!). And if that's not enough, Wilburn also provides her characters with meaningful relationships, that develop and change as the book progresses - not the least of which are those relationships that Buggy shares with her parents and brother. As the start of her imaginative series, Wilburn simply could not have done better.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 21
Reviewer City, State and Country: Salt Lake City, Ut USA
Imitating the creative style of her protagonist, Wilburn writes as one might dream. Her characters are real, but with a touch of the other-worldly. Similarly, the emotions and reactions in the book are what one would expect in real life, while the events that jump-start them are anything but. Her writing style includes a lot of humor, though her characters can become a bit caustic and brusque in their responses to each other (certainly real-to-life!). And if that's not enough, Wilburn also provides her characters with meaningful relationships, that develop and change as the book progresses - not the least of which are those relationships that Buggy shares with her parents and brother. As the start of her imaginative series, Wilburn simply could not have done better.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 21
Reviewer City, State and Country: Salt Lake City, Ut USA
Anyone But You by Lara M. Zeises
This book is about the lives of a "mixed" family. Sea is a girl that is taken in by her father's ex-wife when he leaves. The story is based on the interchanging of lives between Sea, and her 2 step-brothers; Critter and Jessie. They are all at an age of trying to figure out who they are and where they are going in life. When Sea feels threatened by a new person in Critter's life, she becomes withdrawen and looks for other ways to fill her time. She meets up with a boy named Scott, who shares her interest in skateboarding. During the summer the couples learn that life is not easy, no matter whether you are a boy or a girl. Eventually Sea's father comes back into the picture after many years, and that is when Sea turns to Critter. During the course of this Sea finds herself drawn to Critter as more then just a brother. The book leads to a conclusion that is both understandable due to the closeness of the family, but also that sometimes love is where you least expect it...
The book is very well written and goes at a good pace, you look forward to the next page to see what happens between the characters. I could see from the beginning that Sea and Critter where heading down the path that led them to each other. It's just a matter of reading the book to follow the growth of that relationship. Both their hearts have to be broken before they realize that they have each other both as friends and companions. I would have likes to have had Jessie play a bigger role in the story. Also, the relationship between Critter and Sarah, was much more developed story line then that of Sea and Scott, when it seems that teenage girls go through alot more emotions when it is the beginning of a relationship. I would have liked to have read more on their relationship. Overall the story was well written and all the characters belonged where they were written in. I liked the dynamics of the varying relationships and how they twisted and turned throughout the story.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Dilworth, MN USA
The book is very well written and goes at a good pace, you look forward to the next page to see what happens between the characters. I could see from the beginning that Sea and Critter where heading down the path that led them to each other. It's just a matter of reading the book to follow the growth of that relationship. Both their hearts have to be broken before they realize that they have each other both as friends and companions. I would have likes to have had Jessie play a bigger role in the story. Also, the relationship between Critter and Sarah, was much more developed story line then that of Sea and Scott, when it seems that teenage girls go through alot more emotions when it is the beginning of a relationship. I would have liked to have read more on their relationship. Overall the story was well written and all the characters belonged where they were written in. I liked the dynamics of the varying relationships and how they twisted and turned throughout the story.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Dilworth, MN USA
The Greenstone Grail by Amanda Hemmingway
A world is dying. Its only chance for survival lies with a Great Spell that nobody knows how to perform. What they do know is that they need three objects of power- a cup, a sword, and a crown. Strange things are happening in Eade, a peaceful English town that is home to a boy called Nathan. Nathan has dreams of a world that is contaminated by magic. He gradually realizes that he is dreaming of a real world, a world completely different from his own. The Grimthorn Grail is a cup that once belonged to the Thorn family that is said to have strange powers. The only remaining Thorn descendant wants the cup back and is trying desperately to prove that the original sale was illegal. As Nathan’s dreams become more and more real and he learns about this other world, he realizes the fatal problems that it is facing. The cup comes from the other world, he is sure of it, but he also thinks that it was sent to his world for safekeeping until a need to use its powers arose. Where does the cup truly belong? Can the world be saved?
“The Greenstone Grail,” is the first novel in a trilogy, each focusing on in turn on one of the three powerful objects, each full of unanswered questions. Vivid descriptions bring the story to life as Nathan, his mother, and his best friend discover knew dangers and complications in their quest to set things right. Amanda Hemmingway weaves the story of a world that has an unbelievable problem and a young boy who just might have the power to set things right. Advanced mystery readers will enjoy the many unanswered questions of the book as each different character encounters fears and problems of their own.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, PA USA
“The Greenstone Grail,” is the first novel in a trilogy, each focusing on in turn on one of the three powerful objects, each full of unanswered questions. Vivid descriptions bring the story to life as Nathan, his mother, and his best friend discover knew dangers and complications in their quest to set things right. Amanda Hemmingway weaves the story of a world that has an unbelievable problem and a young boy who just might have the power to set things right. Advanced mystery readers will enjoy the many unanswered questions of the book as each different character encounters fears and problems of their own.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, PA USA
In High Places by Harry Turtledove
In High Places: A Novel of Crosstime Traffic, by Harry Turtledove, is an exciting science-fiction adventure. Khadhija, the daughter of a wealthy Muslim Moorish merchant, is not all that she seems to be, and neither is the world that she is currently in. Khadhija is actually teenager Annette Klein, from the 21st century United States. She and her family are working for Crosstime Traffic, a business that trades merchandise from the alternate timeline- a world where history has taken a different path- to their modern timeline. In this alternate world, Europe is still engulfed in the medieval Dark Ages and greatly contrasts to the “home” timeline. For example, technology is basic, and the Muslims rule and occupy most of Europe, which is disunited into small states. The most significant difference is that in the alternate timeline, slavery still exists without any controversy. Annette and her family are preparing to return to the home timeline, so they travel in a caravan to locate the Crosstime Traffic portal that will send them home. However, bandits capture Annette, her local friend Jacques, and other travelers, and sell them all as slaves. Separated from her family, Annette’s situation becomes even worse: her captors take her and the other slaves and transports them through an unauthorized Crosstime Traffic portal into a land ruled by Khadhija’s own people. She must escape, but it seems as if she will be a slave forever.
In High Places was adventurous and page-turner. The historical analysis was very interesting and this book is perfect for any history buff. It did seem, however, that the author could have addressed the topic of slavery better. The argument made against slavery could have been more complex and powerful. All in all, a good read with an excellent plot, especially on a rainy day.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Aurora, Colorado United States
In High Places was adventurous and page-turner. The historical analysis was very interesting and this book is perfect for any history buff. It did seem, however, that the author could have addressed the topic of slavery better. The argument made against slavery could have been more complex and powerful. All in all, a good read with an excellent plot, especially on a rainy day.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Aurora, Colorado United States
Thursday, February 23, 2006
The Center of the World by Andreas Steinhofel
A coming of age story set in a remote mountain range in Germany; Steinhofel weaves the elegant tale of a seventeen-year-old boy named Phil. Although the novel does deal with Phil's sexuality, it primarily illustrates his tumultuous relationship with his unconventional mother, Glass, and reclusive twin sister, Dianne. From the birth of Phil and Dianne by their teenage mother in the prologue of the story, the family occupies a large estate, called Visible, on the outskirts of a socially repressive and ultra-conservative town. The town not only discriminates against Glass because of her promiscuous nature, but they transfer their criticisms to her two children. Therefore, throughout Phil's childhood, he feels ostracized despite his mother's advice to ignore the harshness of the "Little People," or the people who inhabit the town. Phil does discover refuge in the form of a young and vivacious girl named Kat, who becomes his one and only ally. However, despite Phil's seeming acceptance of his sexuality, he does not believe that his family or his friends would approve of his relationship with a charming and attractive runner, named Nicholas, who becomes his first boyfriend. The novel is written in a first-person narrative with intermittent flashbacks that describe the roots of Phil’s personality.
Steinhofel's greatest accomplishment is that he portrays homosexual relationships as the equivalent of heterosexual relationships. By demonstrating that the journey toward self-discovery of a young gay man is the same as that of a young straight man, Steinhofel shows that discriminatory views on homosexuality are completely unfounded. In addition to vividly depicting Visible’s breathtaking surroundings, his crisp and graceful prose provides insight into Phil’s complex thoughts and emotions. Satisfying the reader with Phil’s self-discovery, Steinhofel does an excellent job of balancing the scales between satisfaction and misery, having and wanting. By the end of the novel, one aches with a confused combination of happiness and grief. Steinhofel and his novel deserve every word of praise!
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Kansas City, Kansas USA
Steinhofel's greatest accomplishment is that he portrays homosexual relationships as the equivalent of heterosexual relationships. By demonstrating that the journey toward self-discovery of a young gay man is the same as that of a young straight man, Steinhofel shows that discriminatory views on homosexuality are completely unfounded. In addition to vividly depicting Visible’s breathtaking surroundings, his crisp and graceful prose provides insight into Phil’s complex thoughts and emotions. Satisfying the reader with Phil’s self-discovery, Steinhofel does an excellent job of balancing the scales between satisfaction and misery, having and wanting. By the end of the novel, one aches with a confused combination of happiness and grief. Steinhofel and his novel deserve every word of praise!
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Kansas City, Kansas USA
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Georgie's Moon by Chris Woodworth
After Georgie Collins moves to Glendale, Indiana, her dad leaves to go off to Vietnam and promises to send his undying love to her through the moon every night. Georgie becomes friends with Lisa Loutzenhiser and is forced to work with her at the nursing home every Saturday because of the good deeds program the school set up. After Georgie visits Lisa at her house she begins to wonder why Lisa won’t tell her what happened to her older brother, Alan. Is it because something bad will happen to their friendship if Georgie finds out? Find out the answers as Georgie battles through life one day at a time in this fantastic book called Georgie’s Moon.
This book was really good. I’m not a really emotional person but this book almost made me cry, it was so sad. I recommend this book to kids ages 8-12. I think this book was well written and thought out. I think Georgie’s Moon is a page-turner and I couldn’t put it down because I wanted to see what would happen next. I hope to read more of Chris Woodworth’s books soon.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA US
This book was really good. I’m not a really emotional person but this book almost made me cry, it was so sad. I recommend this book to kids ages 8-12. I think this book was well written and thought out. I think Georgie’s Moon is a page-turner and I couldn’t put it down because I wanted to see what would happen next. I hope to read more of Chris Woodworth’s books soon.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA US
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