Falling by Doug Wilhelm

Falling starts you off very strongly with Matt Shaw, the high school's best basketball player, walking down the street listening to music. The reader finds out very quickly that at Matt's house there are 'losers' that come for his brother Neal. Lately Neal has been rude to Matt and he keeps to himself a lot. Katie, a girl with four main best friends called the Trust, meets Matt on an online chatroom. They find out who they actually are and begin to hang out. When Matt tells Katie his secret, and Matt's neighbor tells one of her friends Matt's secret, the whole school finds out. Matt blames it on Katie, but it really isn't her fault at all. Will they end up happily together or just a mess?

Falling was a very well written book. It had very realistic characters and a good plot. However, I think the story could have had more tiny details. It gave enough information for the reader, but maybe if it had a little more it could be even better. The vocabulary was perfect for a young adult level. The book leaves you hanging in the end, but not so much that you don't understand it. I know that if there is a sequel I will want to read it.

Content:2
In this book there is some mild swearing at times. It also talks about drugs throughout it.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States

How to Steal A Dog by Barbara O'Connor

Georgina hates the smelly, dirty, cramped space of her car. Ever since her father left leaving two rolls of quarters and a mayonnaise jar stuffed with dollar bills, her, her brother, and mother have been living in their car. She keeps asking her mom when are they gonna be able to sleep in a bed. Her mother always says the same thing, soon. It bothered Georgina until she came up with the perfect plan. That's right, steal a dog. She thinks that there will be an award and she will finally be able to have her own bedroom. She keeps record of the process on how to steal a dog. And along the way she meets some interesting characters. And in the end she realizes& crime never pays&& for a house.

How to Steal a Dog was definately interesting. There were some quirky characters thrown into the jumble. I thought it was a good/bad idea to steal the dog. It was defiantly fun to read Georgina's guide on how to steal a dog. I don't think Georgina told her entire story though. She gave her thoughts about the dog, but never about her mom, or her father, or her best friend. Were they best friends, how did Georgina take it? We don't know what she thought about Carmella, or even what Carmella felt. Did she feel sad, mad, or disappointed?

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Minooka, IL United States

Split Screen: Bride of the Soul-sucking Brain Zombies by Brent Hartinger

Russel is trying to find a boyfriend, while trying to live through his parents persecutions about his being homosexual. They even make him go to a fricken priest, to try and make him heterosexual. Em is trying to understand why her girlfriend won’t come out of the closet. Also, why her girlfriend cares about what her friends think about being gay. And Gunnar is learning what it takes to give good advice. Through stories(gasp). Yes, life isn’t easy for this group of friends. None of them can realize why the people around them cant just be themselves and accept other for who they are to. While they are trying to figure this out though, they are working as extras on a new zombie flick that will reach the cinema’s soon(in the book, not real life). But when Russel’s boyfriend comes to town, temperaments flare and choices are made. The only question is, what are the consequences?

Opinion: I enjoyed reading this book. Brent Hartinger has a way of spinning a magical web that will catch you and not release until you finish the reading book. The way that his words can relate to you in person, is a rare gift you feel when reading. I also thought that it was awesome how there were two stories in the book. One version is viewed through Russel's eyes, and the other is viewed through Em's. It really makes you think how there are two different sides to each story. All in All, Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies RULE!

Content:3
homosexual comments and relationships

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Casa Grande, AZ United States of America

The Hollywood Sisters: On Location by Mary Wilcox

It's a mystery! It's a Hollywood tale! Its (drum role please)...The Hollywood sisters, Jessica and Eva! in this new novel by Mary Wilcox, Eva is moved from country to country, to film herself for the family sitcom Two sisters! Of course Jessica and her mom are right the with her, helping her prep her lines and solving a mystery. Well that's only Jessica, but anyway. Will Jessica solve the mystery before everyone on the set thinks that she herself is the culprit? Will Their Mom ever find the right parenting book?Will Eva ever learn to express her soul when saying the line: hahahahahahahaha?Find out in The Hollywood Sisters: On Location

And The Oscar Goes to... Hollywood sisters! I thought that this book was a classic Hollywood tale. Back-stabbing girls who steal other stars boyfriends; Someone sabotaging the set. Really classic story. But just because it was classic, that doesn't mean that there isn't a twist to make it original. I was with the book the whole way, never asking questions because I could fallow the story line easy. This book was enjoyable, and a story I felt I could relate to. I would recommend this book for anyone who wanted a good story about the fancy lives of the rich and famous. Not a guy book, nor a tomboys. This book is totally, Full-Fledged, Girly girly! but that's why I enjoyed it so much.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Casa Grande, AZ United States of America

Ace of Spades by David Matthews

Ace of Spades is an memoir of David Matthews’s search for racial identity in an America that is obsessed with skin color. David Matthews was born on November 8, 1967 to a black nationalist father and a white Jewish mother. His mother was mentally unstable. Matthews’s father had to rescue him from his mother. His mother then moved to Israel. David lived with his father and sometimes with his father’s abusive girlfriends near Washington, D.C. for many years. David and his father then moved in with David’s grandmother in Baltimore, Maryland. When David entered the fourth grade at his new school in Baltimore, he had to choose between being “black” or “white”. Only one student offered him the choice of being “mixed.” David chose “white” because he always imagined that his white mother had a life of luxury. David pretended he was Jewish; he got away with it because there were very few Jews in Baltimore. David became a white supremacist in response to the fact that in Baltimore black children targeted white children for fun. He and one of his friends even burned a cross in the style of the Ku Klux Klan. When David entered high school, he was caught trying to be Jewish by some Jewish students. When David was older, he became a black nationalist. David started lecturing his white friends about their prejudices of black people. David finally reached a peace between his “white” side and his “black” side in the atmosphere of equality in New York City. The memoir ends in the spring of 2002 when David Matthews’s father was dying and David decided to do some last minute research on his mother. David found out that his mother had suffered from severe schizophrenia. Both of her parents had severe schizophrenia, which did not help her. David discovered that she really loved David’s father and never gave up her married name of Matthews. After she left David’s father, she had a daughter with the mayor of Jerusalem that she put up for adoption. The daughter, Mari, was severely abused by her adopted family and her life was a wreck. David’s mother died in New York City on May 1, 1977 from choking. David realized that his mother had really loved him and that his parents had truly loved each other. David realized that he had had a good life and that things could have been a lot worse for him. At the end of the book, David Matthews saw a picture of his mother for the very first time.

Ace of Spaces by David Matthews reflects the nightmare that really exists, as opposed to the dream that Martin Luther King, Jr. had, for a color blind America. As David Matthews crudely illustrates in his book, America is anything but color blind. I could have done without the crude language and the brief sex scenes. Despite that, the end of Ace of Spades is very touching and it was worth reading the entire book for that one part. David Matthews writes with true honesty and a bit of anger about the state of race relations in the United States. As a white person, this book gave me insight on how it must be to be a “mixed” person, because they don’t belong to either white or black culture. Some people may find his writing style and life choices crude. I found it a must read for anyone who wants to find out about race relations in the United States.

Content:2

I suggest that adult guidance be recommended for the Ace of Spades by David Matthews. This book has sexual content, crude language, child abuse, and a disturbing scene about Matthews and his friend where they burned a cross in the style of the Ku Klux Klan.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Urbana, Illinois United States of America

The Misadventures of Benjamin Bartholomew Piff by Jason Lethcoa

Ever since his parents died in a tragic accident, poor Ben has been stuck at Pinch's Home for Wayward Boys, scrubbing pots and eating mush and other normal orphanage-type stuff. He even forgot his birthday, until a kind friend brings him a cake. When he sneaks a slice to eat, he stares thoughtfully at the candle a moment. Finally he closes his eyes, blows, and makes a wish. Little does he know that his wish could change the whole world.

This was a fun, cute book that I zipped right through. The characters were disappointingly flat, but the plot was inventive and the story over-all engaging. A light read that young children who enjoy "wishes-go-wrong" stories are sure to enjoy.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Moscow, ID USA

Booth's Daughter by Raymond Wemmlinger

Edwina Booth has just reached her 18th birthday and is beginning to experience the benefits of adulthood. For one, her father, the famous American Shakespearian actor Edwin Booth, is finally allowing her to see him in his title role in King Lear. For another, she's being invited to all sorts of social outings and parties for young people. The advantage of the latter is obvious - in Edwina's practical mind, she already has plans to find a husband (an artist, preferably) who she can marry and support. In fact, it seems her entire life is planned out precisely the way she wants it. But meanwhile her stepmother's illness worsens, her father has to keep up with his life as an actor, and there's always The Subject that threatens to interfere with the lives of the Booth family. You see, Edwina is the niece of John Wilkes Booth, the man who assassinated President Lincoln.

From a performer's point of view, I rather enjoyed reading a non-performer's view of an actor (Edwina's father) and his struggles and triumphs. The book itself is one that you have to be in just the right mood for, otherwise I suppose it might drag a bit. Edwina's voice seemed just a little flat. Yet I was quite drawn into Booth's Daughter; it was a refreshing and interesting historical tale of one girl's struggles into womanhood. A relaxing read to curl up with.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Moscow, ID USA

More Horowitz Horror by Anthony Horowitz

Horrowitz has done it again! In this new book, chiller tales that will send a shudder up your spine await the reader, as normal everyday people(*cough*) go through expierences that you would only immagine to be found in story books. From a man being baked alive, to a house intent on killing all woman who set foot in it. Of course you cant forget about the the lost boy, and the cannibals can you? More Horowitz Horror has it all! Perfect for people who love to be scared by things that could actually happen.

I enjoyed reading this book. However, some of the stories were a little bit dull( like the phone call from the dead), but overall, this book takes the cake as far as scary stories are concerned. I think this book would be perfect for most guys, and girls who love to be freaked out. I thought some of the storries the author could have done a better job on, like the one with the girl and her hearing aid, but other then that this book was as good as gold.What surprised me the most was that the book actually got me thinking, "Hey! What if this actually happened! It is possibile, of course." So in my opinion, two thumbs up for More Horowitz Horror

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Casa Grande, AZ United States of America

Billy Creekmore by Tracey Porter

Billy Creekmore has a pretty low life. He believes his mother died and his father ran away because of his birth. His nurse admitted him to an orphan boarding house, but he is forced to work on his “masters” land all day long. Fortunately he has a couple of very good friends. One day, actually, the day he was planning on running away, his long lost uncle came to the orphanage to take him home. Billy thought that all his problems were over. But, unbeknownst to him, they were just starting. With blood thirsty mine owners and lying, cheating circus managers, Billy has to learn what his true identity is, and if he wants to accept it or not.

Tracey Porter does a wonderful job bringing her readers into the past with believable characters and a fitting vocabulary. Even though this book was a very entertaining read, it had a lot of sad happenings and in the end I didn’t feel that her character had solved all his problems. As a writer, I was very interested to know that Tracey named all of her boy characters, besides Billy, after boys that had died working in coal mines. I would describe this book as a “revised version” of Oliver Twist.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: , Idaho USA

Horse Crazy: The Saddle Club by Bonnie Bryant

“OMGosh, the MTO (Mountain Trail Overnight) is coming up and I just HAVE to go!” Stevie and Carole have been planning to go on the MTO together for a very long time and now Stevie might not be able to go! Stevie’s mom said that if she didn’t raise her math grade then she wouldn’t pay the fifty dollars for Stevie to go. The only way to raise her grade is to do a dreaded math project, but Stevie comes up with a brilliant idea; instead of doing the math project she could earn the money she needs to go by doing chores for other people. When she tells Carole at the stable where they take horseback riding lessons, Carole doesn’t think that Stevie could possibly go through with it since she hardly knows the definition of “work”. A new girl named Lisa joins horseback riding but when a couple of pranks are pulled on her and she thinks Stevie did them, things turn from bad to worse as the girls try to get back at one another.

Horse Crazy, the first installment in The Saddle Club series written by Bonnie Bryant, is a pretty good book that could keep your attention for a while. The characters were enjoyable and I liked Stevie Lake the best because she had a lot of personality. I didn’t overly like Veronica though because she acted like a stuck-up snob whom I definitely wouldn’t want to be friends with. The Saddle Club series is a wonderful series for horse lovers to read. If you’re 9-12 years old and looking for a quick read, then Horse Crazy is for you!

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA United States