Miss O and Friends Write On! The Miss O & Friends Collection of Rockin’ Fiction

The book is dedicated “For all the girls out there who love to imagine, create, and write!” What a great idea! Girls visit the website (www.missandfriends.com) to submit poems and short fiction. The winners are published. The collection includes stories about friendships, growing pains, and family concerns. Sometimes writing ideas are right under your nose and sometimes you find them in poems “at the edge of the universe.”

This book is a creative addition to a middle school writing program. Teachers could use suggestions for submission for lesson plans on writing. These short stories and poems told in middle school voices are sure to appeal to girls, their teachers and parents. Hermine Brindak’s illustrations are delightful and engaging. This is the most exciting book of children’s writing that I have seen in a long time.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10
Reviewer Age: 59
Reviewer City, State and Country: Timonium, MD US

Diva by Alex Flinn

Caitlin McCourt has plans to be a diva- but not a pop star, an opera singer. With this goal in mind, she auditions for the muical theater program at Miami High School of the Arts. Her amazing voice sweeps her in the door, but at this new artsy school, she just doesn't feel as interesting as the other students, who are all self-confident and inhibition-free. Caitlin, who spent the first fifteen years of her life overweight and uncomfortable with herself, spent her first year in a newly thin body with an abusive boyfriend, a perfectionist mother, and a lot of self doubt. After spending so much time just trying to blend in, its a huge challenge for her to learn to be herself again, but her new friends and voice teacher are there to help her out. As she finally has a chance to discover her full potential, will she be able to overcome all the fears and doubts she has had in the past and head for the stage?

I really enjoyed reading Diva. I could associate with Caitlin and grew to really like her, despite her self-deprecation and sometimes grating issues. The fact that she is an opera singer, not an actress or dancer, sets her apart from the slew of books about artsy kids. My only issues with the book come at the very end. While its true I would not have liked Caitlin to continue suffering in her abusive relationship with Nick, I felt like the resolution was a little too abrupt and was unrealistic. I was, however, very excited to see her start a new section of her life, and I was left hopeful for her future as a singer.

Content:adult guidance, for some more mature relationships and problems

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Edina , Minnesota USA

The Loud Silence of Francine Green by Karen Cushman

Patience, self control, and moderation. These are the qualities that Francine Green has too much of and Sophie Bowman needs a little more of. Francine is a quiet girl who is afraid of trouble and speaking up for what is right. Sophie is a very outspoken individual and takes pride in standing out in the crowd. These two girls make an unlikely pair but become best friends when Sophie transfers to Francine’s school. And in turn each learns a lesson from the other. Francine learns more about what’s going on in the world, especially the Communist Scare, and starts speaking out for what she believes in. Sophie learns the value of friendship and love. Sophie’s father and friend are put on the “suspicious” list as being possible Communists and Francine is warned to stay away from them. Inevitably, Francine loses her best friend when Sophie leaves for a safer place.

I thought this was a wonderful book. Karen Cushman does a great job of describing the world situation and home life of that time period. This book was very thought provoking, which I really liked. It also addressed some of the normal teenage problems, crushes, being overshadowed by an older sibling, and feeling like your parents don’t understand you. Adding period slang was the finishing touch on this remarkable book.

Content:Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Erlanger , Kentucky United States

Chance Fortune and The Outlaws by Shane Berryhill

Superheroes are people that protect the weak from villains, injustice and other evil things. That is exactly what 14-year-old Joshua Blevins wanted to be. His only problem was that he didn’t have any superpowers. After being denied entry to the “Burlington Academy for the Superhuman” he gave up all hope. Then he used his mentors help, Captain Fearless, to give Joshua a new identity and a false superpower. Now, posing as Chance Fortune, he enters the Academy. He rises in social status and in combat teams, becoming his team’s captain. But then an evil enters the Academy and threatens to take over the universe! Can Chance and his team, the Outlaws, defeat this evil, and stay alive themselves?

I enjoyed this book, although I feel it is appropriate for a young age group. It was very suspenseful and exciting. I always wanted to know what happened next. Chance Fortune was a fun read, and I look forward to the next one.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Denair , California U.S.A.

Firegirl by Tony Abbott

Tom had a plain, normal, boring life consisting of going to school and to his friend’s house, but one day all of that changed. That day was the day a new girl named Jessica showed up in his class. Jessica isn’t your average schoolgirl because when she was younger, she got severely burned in a fire and is still suffering from its aftereffects. No one likes her, no one talks to her, and they barely even look at Jessica for they are afraid of her and how she looks. A few weeks after arriving, Jessica left school early and the teacher forgot to give her her homework assignments. Lucky Tom was the one who got asked to take them to her since she was his neighbor. Will Tom accept the teacher’s request to take Jessica’s homework to her house or will he turn her down and possibly lose a new friend?

I think Firegirl is an awesome book that teaches you that no matter what someone looks like they have feelings so you should be nice to them. In my opinion this book would make a great book to have a sequel to because the ending leaves you with so many different possibilities for the characters’ futures. Firegirl is an interesting book that keeps your attention until the very end. This book is different from most books I have read and it is very realistic. I recommend this somewhat sad but enjoyable fiction read to ages 8-12.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA United States

My Not-So-Terrible Time at the Hippie Hotel by Rosemary Graham

The summer has arrived in New York and Tracy's divorced father decides to take the family up to Cape Cod to a hotel for divorced people and their kids. The owner of the hotel, who herself is divorced with a son, has planned activities for the three families sharing an awkward vacation. Tracy, very unhappy about her situation, has taken to eating as a solace. At the Hippie Hotel, she meets Beka, another teenager near her age but nothing like her. The owner's son works for his mom and tries to befriend their guests. Tracy, after going on trips with the group, meets Kevin. Kevin, a skateboarder, appeals to Tracy, especially as she had given up her music. At the end of the summer, the owner requires that everyone take part in a talent show. This presents a challenge for Tracy, can she bring out her true self and her talent once again?

Rosemary Graham presents an emotional situation (the divorce of their parents) that kids can relate to through the media if not real life. The book is positive in the sense that Tracy finally overcomes the stress she was put under emotionally with the divorce of her parents. This book seems to be aimed at pre-teens and Graham does a good job telling the story from a teen-ager's perspective. It's a quick read that doesn't have a complex plot.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6
Reviewer Age: 18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Kansas City, MO USA

Laguna Cove by Allyson Noel

Anne is a city girl moving to a laid back west coast area. She's left her friends and her boyfriend, to move to Laguna Beach to live with her dad. At first she doesn't fit in and she doesn't know why but she meets some girls that help her through it, and her dad's paid male helper also gives her some tips while pushing her to try surfing. Finally Anne gives in and she finds that Surfing is really what pulls people together on the West Coast.

I really didn't think I was going to like this book because I don't really like the types of books that are about snobby rich girls in mini skirts and driving BMW's. This book has a way different angle on their life style and it shows them as human beings and not rich witches. I really enjoyed Laguna Cove and I would recommend it to any girl who was interested in a book about a girl moving away from her comfort zone.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Dundee, Oregon USA

Soccer Dreams by Leah Lauber

The book Soccer Dreams is about a 12 year old girl who loves soccer. It tells about her soccer years on a select team and how much fun she had with her friends. When Leah was 10 her friend found out about a compotation to become a member of the X-press. That was a local newspaper that was having kids be reporters. So Leah went to all kinds of events and she met so many people. When she went to women’s world cup twice and some other soccer games, she got to go down on the field and interview the players. She got a cool pass too. In 1999 the women’s World Cup was happening so she when, and saw Mia Hamm’s last game. She also broke the world record. Then the U.S. won it all.

This book was great! If you like soccer you will love this book. It tells a lot about the U.S. women’s soccer team. It is an easy book to read but it is filled with information. I like soccer so I enjoyed this book a lot. I would read this book any day.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, Pennsylvania United States

Out of Patience by Brian Meehl

Jake Waters has a hard life. He lives in the small town of Patience, Kansas. His father is crazy with the idea creating the ATM (American Toilet Museum). He’s working hard to win the World Series of Workup. Plus, he has to save his small town from complete destruction! All the trouble began when Jeremiah Waters (the founder of Patience) made the first plunger to unclog his Dolphin Deluge Washdown Water Closet (indoor toilet). A very religious man named Andars Cass didn’t like the idea at all, and then trouble followed. Cass was banned from Patience, not before he placed a curse on the town: ‘The day the Scepter of Satan (a.k.a. the Plunger of Destiny) returns, the final destruction will begin!’ Now that the Plunger of Destiny has returned, Jake and his friends are trying to save Patience and everyone in it. Will they succeed?

I found that it was a bit hard to stay focused during the beginning of the book. This book may be a little confusing to readers who don’t understand much about baseball, but the author does explain about the competition called the World Series of Workup. The book began to gain interest as I read on. The plot was very good. There were many exciting parts that leave you wondering what will happen next. I would definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy thrillers and those who understand a bit about baseball.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg , Pennsylvania United States of America

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Child prodigy Colin Singleton has only ever dated girls named Katherine. No Catherines or Katrinas or any other name; only Katherines. Nineteen of them, to be exact. When K-19, the one he really loved, breaks his heart, he and his best (and only) friend, Hassan, set out on a road trip, and end up in, of all places, Gutshot Tennessee, where Archduke Franz Ferdinand is supposedly buried. In Gutshot, Hassan and Colin meet some interesting people, but Colin has other things to worry about as well. He's always wanted to have a Eureka moment, and now he's had one. Colin thinks he can come up with an equation to predict how a relationship between two people will go. People are, after all, predictable.

As a fan of John Green's first novel, Looking For Alaska, I had high expectations for this book, and I was not disappointed. While very different from the more emotional (not to say this book is never emotional, but it's also quite amusing), it's a fabulous book, with very funny, well-written, and unique characters, not to mention a very creative and interesting plot. After all, how many books do you read where a guy thinks he can predict romance using math? Perhaps there's another one out there, but I haven't read it. Every aspect of this entertaning novel is funny (but without being stupid); it's a real page-turner!

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Asheville, NC USA