Conrad's Fate - A Chrestomanci Book by Diana Wynne Jones

Series Seven is one of eleven parallel universes. That is where Conrad Tesdinic, the main character, lives in the small village of Stallchester. As he turns twelve, his uncle, who is a magician, tell Conrad he has horrible karma. Then he is sent off to become a servant at Stallery, the mansion in the mountains above Stallchester. His uncle tells him that that is where he can settle his fate. There he meets a boy about his age named Christopher. Christopher reveals to Conrad that he is an enchanter from Series Twelve and is looking for a lost friend. Can Conrad succeed in settling his fate, or is he doomed to have bad karma forever? Find out, by reading Conrad’s Fate.

I enjoyed reading this book because it has a little bit of everything. It had just enough humor, suspense, and magic. It has twists and turns that kept me reading long into the night. I also liked how the author intertwined the alternate worlds. But, I think that the author should have made it a little less modern. Televisions and sports cars are, to me, a little too much. However, I think that many fantasy readers will really enjoy this book.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Denair, California America

The Crystal Doors by Rebecca Moesta and Kevin J. Anderson

The Crystal Doors is about two "twin" cousins, Gwen and Vic. The story begins with a visit to a water park in California. Where Gwen is nearly killed. Early the next morning, the cousins find Vic's Dad arranging crystals. The cousins walk in the room and are sucked into another world. This dimension has flying carpets, intelligent talking animals, and is ruled by magic.

The Crystal Doors is a good book for what it is: a fourth/fifth grade adventure book. The storyline doesn't have nearly enough depth to pull off the "young adult" characterization. Many of the twist are obvious and predictable, provided I am an avid young adult reader, lower school students will definitely find the story intriguing. The plot is fun, unique, and magical adventure. What kid wouldn't enjoy that?

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Starkville, Mississippi United States of America

Monster Blood Tattoo by D.M. Cornish

In the beginning of Monster Blood Tattoo, by D. M. Cornish, a foundling boy who has a girl’s name, Rossamünd, is selected to be a lamplighter, a special soldier who lights and dowses lamps in the hours that monsters and thieves are on the prowl, in a town called High Vesting. However, when Rossamünd boards what he believes to be the ship that will take him to High Vesting, he discovers that he has instead mistakenly boarded a ship that deals in the dark trades! Rossamünd eventually escapes the ship by jumping overboard. When he pulls himself to land, he meets two people in a horse-drawn carriage: Europe, a female fulger (a person who has surgery done to his or her body in order to cast bolts of lightning and wields this power to fight monsters), and Licurius, who is a leer (a person with super-enhanced senses). Rossamünd notices that Europe has a series of X’s tattooed on her arm, inked in the blood of each of the monsters she’s killed. Europe and Licurius agree to take Rossamünd to High Vesting. On the way to High Vesting, Rossamünd watches Europe kill a monster that hadn’t even harmed them. This makes Rossamünd feel bad for the monster, which is illegal because monsters and humans are at war. Later on in the journey, when Europe, Rossamünd, and Licurius are ready to rest for the night, they are awakened by a sound in a nearby thicket. Licurius goes to investigate and monsters leap from the bush and kill him. Europe tries to fight them but her body spasms and she cannot summon her bolts of electricity. Rossamünd barely manages to save her by throwing some monster repellant at the creatures. Now that their driver, Licurius, is dead, how will Europe and Rossamünd reach High Vesting? Read Monster Blood Tattoo to find out!

I LOVED Monster Blood Tattoo! The whole time I was reading it, I was wishing I could write a book just like it! The author used really good details and described things well. The book also has an “explicarium,” which includes a helpful glossary of terms and appendices that have maps, drawings, and other useful things that help the reader understand details of the story. I’m sure this book will be a best seller. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy books. I would also recommend it to anyone who has read The Edge Chronicles.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Saugerties, NY

Being A Girl Who Serves by Shannon Kubiak Primicerio

Do you live to serve God? Well, whether you do or not this book tells you how you can serve Him and others with your time and your talents, the importance of praying, and much more. It also points out that it doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from, God can use you to serve Him and others. Shannon tells interesting real life stories of how God has been working wonders in her life and others’ lives as well. At the end of each chapter there are also review questions that let you look at the way you’re living your life and can help you to make it better. This is the second book in Shannon Kubiak Primicerio’s Being a Girl Series.

I think Being a Girl Who Serves is a well-written book that teaches you life-changing lessons. I think it was neat how the author divided the chapters into different sections, which made the book easier to read. This book is a pretty slow-paced book that takes a while to read but in the end, it’s worth it. I think that Shannon is a great role model for teen girls to look up to. I greatly recommend this book to Christians of all ages, but I think it would also be a good book for non-Christians to read.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA US

How to Speak Dragonese by Cressida Cowell

How to Speak Dragonese begins as Viking heir of the Hooligan Tribe, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, the protagonist, is in pirating school. He is attending a lesson on boarding an enemy ship, with his friend Fishlegs; his pet dragon, Toothless; and the rest of his classmates. Unfortunately, Hiccup, Fishlegs, and Toothless stray in their homemade boat (the Hopeful Puffin) away from the rest of the class’s boats, and instead of boarding a peaceable fishing boat, they board a Roman boat of war! There, Hiccup and Fishlegs find out that two Romans--a fat consul and a thin prefect--are planning to steal all the dragons from the Viking tribes. Although Fishlegs and Hiccup escape from the Romans’ boat, Toothless remains behind, captured. Will Hiccup and Fishlegs rescue Toothless and stop the Romans from stealing the Vikings’ dragons? Read How to Speak Dragonese to find out!

How to Speak Dragonese is a hilarious book. The author came up with clever solutions for the characters to use whenever they got into sticky situations. The story keeps the reader on the peak of excitement so you keep turning the pages. This is a book you’ll want to read in one sitting! I thought this book was excellent. I would recommend it to those who enjoy Viking stories, as well as those who like humorous fiction.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Saugerties, NY

The Bad Mother's Handbook by Kate Long

The Bad Mother’s Handbook by Kate Long is the story of three generations of women experiencing very different times and how they cope with one another. Charlotte is a struggling seventeen-year-old who finds herself pregnant in the middle of her junior year with the father consciously ignoring the baby’s existence. Meanwhile, Karen, Charlotte’s mother has problems of her own. Aside from finding the perfect man, and becoming a grandmother when she’s only thirty-three, she has just unearthed a huge secret about her past. One that she’s hoping will explain the current funk she can’t seem to shake. Finally, Nan, Karen’s mother, the eccentric and often perceived as crazy old woman has to cope with her past and learn to deal with her future. When you put them all together in one small English home, the hormones rage and out of the mixture comes three beautiful and strong women who learn lessons that will aid them throughout life.

This book was fantastically imaginative in that it was about everyday life. Someone once commented on how families are really just individual people with separate lives living together under one roof and loving each other. If so, this book contains the perfect example of a family. Each person brings something different to the story; Charlotte and the way she accepts her pregnancy, Karen and the way she discovers the importance of the people in her life, and Nan in the advice and wisdom she offers when it truly matters. This book reeks of English countryside, though the backgrounds and setting easily become familiar. Withholding the fact that I’ve never been to an English club, the club in the story brings memories of clubs I have known. The same goes for Charlotte’s school, the family’s home, and even the home of Charlotte’s friend, Daniel. Part of this book contains sexual material and there is one pretty horrible incident of violence, but other than that it’s marvelous. Part coming-of-age tale, part witty comedy, part bitter tragedy, this is an utterly enjoyable book, indeed.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 15

Chainfire by Terry Goodkind

ChainFire continues the story of the New World’s struggle against the troops of Jagang and the Imperial Order. Through the prophecies, it is understood that Lord Rahl must be present for the final battle. But much to everyone’s dismay, Richard Rahl seems to have suffered mentally after Nicci uses Subtractive magic to heal him from an arrow wound to his chest. Richard believes he was married to Kahlan, the Mother Confessor, and in reality he was. But the Sisters of the Dark have made everyone forget Kahlan using ChainFire, a dangerous magical power that eventually may lead to the destruction of the World. Only Richard understands the true danger of what is happening and that the final battle is fighting this unpredictable threat. Richard must convince his friends and family in time to save not only Kahlan but also all that they have fought for until now.

Overall, ChainFire is a pretty compelling and dramatic novel. Terry Goodkind does explain everything in great detail, which is great for someone who may have started this series in the middle, but for a reader who has been following the novels, it really slows down the action and thrill of the events. There are a couple of subplots that I would have enjoyed reading more about, but this novel seemed dedicated to following Richard Rahl in finding Kahlan. And although the ending is disappointing after reading such a long book, it really creates excitement and anticipation for his next novel.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Kansas City, Missouri United States

Sleeper Code by Tom Sniegoski

Government conspiracies, assassins, action, adventure, and narcolepsy. What's not to love? From the mind of novelist Tom Sniegoski comes The Sleeper Conspiracy, a two-book series packed with action. For as long as he can remember, a young boy named Tom has struggled narcolepsy, a sleeping disorder that causes him to fall asleep for days at a time. Fearful that he will have an attack in public, his parents have homeschooled him for years. Now in his late teens, his calm but sheltered life is shattered when he discovers that everything he believes is a lie. He isn't narcoleptic - he is an assassin created by an anti-government group. Now his life and the lives of everyone he knows are in danger. The Sleeper Conspiracy by Tom Sniegoski is a page-turner. These books have the makings of a high-velocity action movie. It will definitely appeal to readers of Tom Clancy novels and the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz, as well as fans of Alias and 24. Who are the good guys? Who are the bad guys? What will happen to Tom? Start the story with Sleeper Code, finish it with Sleeper Agenda - and keep looking over your shoulder as you read.

LBD Friends Forever ! by Grace Dent

****** The LBD has always been there for each other, but right now the girls from the LBD are braving the world alone. Can Ronnie take her summer from a bore to a major party with the help of the LBD? ****** The LBD has always been Ronnie, Fleur, and Claude; however, when Fleur and Claude get in a stupid fight it seems like the LBD will just be Ronnie. When summer rolls around, Ronnie has nothing to look forward to, because of Fleur and Claude’s fight, her mom is constantly at her throat, she has no boyfriend, and possibly a job at “Wacky Warehouse”. What could there be to look forward to? Suddenly, a tragedy strikes Ronnie’s family. Claude and Fleur put aside their fight and come to Ronnie’s side. Yet, it still seems like their summer’s going to be a wreck, but Fleur comes up with other ideas. With some quick thinking, the LBD figures out how to get a job in a dreamy location. When they get to their destination though, they suddenly find their job isn’t as dreamy as they had hoped. With an awful boss, a haunted hotel room, some nerve-racking customers, and barely anytime for social or romantic fun the girls’ job is really starting to take a toll on them. Just when things can’t look any worse another tragedy strikes. Can the girls master their jobs, have some fun, get their love lives together, and save the LBD? Find out in this novel by Grace Dent.

I really enjoyed this book. It is a fun read for the average girl teenager. Grace Dent did a wonderful job of making the reader feel like she was there with the characters. I felt their happiness, anger, and their sadness. This book is definitely on my read again list.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Fayetteville, Pennsylvania USA

Flirt by Nicole Clarke

Kiyoko Katsuda is a confident 16 year old living a life everyone dreams of. As a FLIRT intern she's constantly brushing elbows with celebrities and going to clubs with her friends. Kiyoko loves anime and seems to love trouble just as much. Her love life is just as exciting as her daily adventures which never seem to end.

As I was reading the book i found myself getting restless and fidgety. It failed to hold my attention, but it did have some funny lines. Although I did not like this book, I do think that people who like anime and people who are not particularly fond of reading will like this book.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Fountain Valley, Ca United States