Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

When senior Tyler Miller gets sentenced to community service for putting graffiti on his school, his world turns round. Suddenly, he has a hot body and the school's hottest girl, Bethany Milbury, all over it. This was what he wanted, right? Bethany, the respect of his fellow students for doing the stunt, and popularity. But what happens when good things turn bad and suddenly his world is TWISTED.

This was one of the best book I have ever read. It is about true teen struggle to cope with the odds of life. It also creates a comedy around what is going on with Tyler. This is could keep the attention of almost anyone, even someone who never reads. Anderson has done it again, another book, just as good as Speak.

This book has some content only intended for teens. This includes sexual things such as porn, raping, and some bodily functions.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Shippensburg, usa

Horse Sense: The Saddle Club by Bonnie Bryant

Stevie, Carol, and Lisa are looking for a new member to add to the Saddle Club but they are having difficulty finding someone who meets their two qualifications. The first qualification is that the new person has to be horse crazy and the second is that she has to help others. Stevie and Carole had been very busy with their projects and had been forgetting about Lisa and the club meetings that she scheduled. When a new girl named Estelle starts horseback riding lessons with the girls, Lisa starts to become friends with her. Lisa votes Estelle into the club without her friends' approval, but when Lisa tells Estelle and her other friends that Estelle is now a member, why doesn't anyone but she seem excited?

Horse Sense is the third installment in The Saddle Club series written by Bonnie Bryant. I really enjoyed this book the best of all out of the three Saddle Club books that I have read so far. The reason is because much more went on in this story than in the others and there was almost always a constant problem going on which had to get solved. Bonnie Bryant did a fantastic job of using descriptive words and with writing this excellent story. Horse Sense is an excellent book for girls who love horses and who are looking for a quick read.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA United States

Exploits of a Reluctant Hero by Maureen Fergus

Exploits of a Reluctant Hero by Maureen Fergus is the story of a young teenager’s journey to save the local soup kitchen from shutting down. The beginning of the story paints a picture of an adventurous teenager and his many unusual endeavors. His family moves to Winnipeg because his father is taking over the family business in town, and he joins the local business manager association. After a failed attempt of swindling over $900 from his dad’s business, our “hero” is sentenced by his parents to serve at the local soup kitchen. Here he meets and gets to know Jerry, the head of the Holy Light Mission. As the story progresses, the protagonist begins to see past what is best for him and starts to do the right thing. After a near death experience with a local business owner, the business management organization blames the people who seek refuge at the mission. This sparks a debate that divides the small town into those who support the mission and those who want it closed. With his heritage on one side and his mentor on the other, our hero has to decide between his interests and what is right. With a surprising ending and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, Exploits of a Reluctant Hero by Maureen Fergus is a great story of a boy rallying support and of excess fried chicken eating in front of the TV.

This book was one of the most enjoyable, hilarious, and insightful stories I have ever read. The author uses humor and a story almost everyone can relate to in order to send a wonderful message. The subtlety of this message allows it to be entrenched in the reader's mind instead of pounding the typical "let's save the world" idea in our heads. Using the format of journal entries by tape recording, the story allows readers to enter the mind of the protagonist and understand his thinking. The end of the story was perhaps my favorite part. Even though things didn't work out, it didn't stop the "hero" from continuing to make a difference. This book made me laugh, and it made me realize that anyone, regardless of who you are, can make a difference for someone else. A fun and hysterical book that I definitely recommend.

Content:3 Sexual humor and references.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10
Reviewer Age: 17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Eden Prairie, Minnesota United States

Cam's Quest by Dian Curits Regan

Cam's Quest is the long-awaited sequel to Princess Nevermore. In this book, it's time for Quinn to follow Mandrian tradition and choose a husband. She isn't the least bit interested in any of her noble suitors, though. She can't forget Adam, the boy from Outer Earth she used to love. And what about Cam, her childhood playmate? Cam has a problem of his own, too. He is no longer the wizard Melikar's apprentice. His quest is now to discover his past, with only a few mysterious objects from his childhood. His quest might take him to the most unexpected places...and lead to such drastic changes in his life that he can't even imagine them.

This book will not disappoint fans of Princess Nevermore. The characters readers grew to love in the first book are back, and their adventures are even more interesting this time around! Cam's Quest is a page turner written by a talented author. Like Princess Nevermore, Cam's Quest is a fairy tale that readers of all ages will enjoy! I'd love to see another sequel, but I didn't feel like one was really being set up at the end...But you never know!

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Asheville, NC USA

The Thief Queen's Daughter by Elizabeth Haydon

The Thief Queen's Daughter continues the adventures of Ven Polypheme, a Nain who is travelling in foreign lands by himself, having all sorts of adventures. In this volume, Ven is sent by the King himself to visit the Gated City. The Gated City is where all sorts of criminals live, and it is ruled by the Queen Of Thieves. Ven and his friends enter for market day, planning to leave at the market's close--but when one of their number is kidnapped, they are forced to remain behind and try to rescue her. Once you're in the Gated City past market's closing, though, chances that you'll never get out increase drastically.

Elizabeth Haydon's wonderful characters, those who are human and those who are not, are all incredibly three-dimensional and interesting. The situations she puts these characters in will have readers turning pages as fast as their fingers allow! Haydon's skill at creating the fantastic world to which her characters belong is obvious. She's a brilliant writer whose words really come to life. I for one cannot wait for the next installment in the journals of Ven Polypheme!

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 15Reviewer City, State and Country: Asheville, NC USA

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

The Thief begins the adventures of Eugenides, or Gen, who once bragged that he could steal anything. He stole the King's seal ring--but got caught doing so, and was thrown in prison. Now, he's out, as the King's magus needs a talented thief. What's he going after? Only an ages-old treasure in a foreign kingdom that gives its owner the right to the throne. The magus believes Gen is only a tool--but this thief has plans of his own.

While this book was a little slow pulling me in, it quickly made up for that with wonderful adventures, three-dimensional characters, and amazing writing. Gen is a character readers are sure to fall in love with, and I know I won't be alone in reading his further adventures in The Queen Of Attolia as soon as possible. Megan Whalen Turner keeps her readers guessing--just when you think you've got it all figured out, Gen surprises you! She's a talented writer, with a gift for world-building and characterization that readers will love. This book is one that shouldn't be missed!


Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 15Reviewer City, State and Country: Asheville, NC USA

Princess Nevermore by Dian Curtis Regan

Princess Quinn of Mandria, one of the hidden underground kingdoms that magical beings fled to long ago, has always been curious about Outer Earth, the whole other world on the surface. She has seen many Outer Earth people come and go from the footbridge above the wishing pool in the wizard Melikar's chamber, the only window between the two worlds. She and her childhood playmate, the wizard's apprentice Cam, have long dreamed of a fantastic journey to Outer Earth, but when Cam finds the spell to send them there, things do not go as planned. First of all, only Quinn makes it to the surface. Secondly, and most gravely, she does not know how to return to Mandria.

Princess Nevermore is a wonderful modern-day fairy tale sure to be a hit with readers of all ages. I think I would have enjoyed it just as much at age nine or ten as I do now, and it'll surely remain a favorite of mine! It's full of magic, adventure, mystery, and wonderful, relatable characters. There's also a nice love story mixed in! Quinn's world is a fascinating one, created by a talented author, and one to which I will be glad to return when I pick up the sequel to this book, Cam's Quest.

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

Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes

Martha Boyle had never known Olive Barstow very well. She had always known her as the quiet on in the class of which she had to feel sorry for. No one really liked Olive and now, she was gone. Not much of a disappearance to anyone though, such a shame to find such a young and beautiful girl on the side of the road. She had been hit by a car one day while riding her bike. Olive's Mother found her way to Martha's house with a diary entry that she had written. Never seen the Ocean? How did she think Martha was so nice since, she had never really talked to her before. Martha visits her GrandMother, Godbee, near the ocean and finds far more than she ever thought she would. Love, betrayal, confusion, and fear surrounds her trip. Soon she finds her heart's desires and without a doubt, a heart desires her. It's no use lieing to the world anylonger. Martha's secret will dwell no longer!

Olive's Ocean was a very quick read and I must admit that, this book did not catch my interest quite as I had hoped. This book is definately for younger readers. It was a beautifully written book although it did not quite catch my interest for a few reasons. The character in the story is 12 years old and young romance is too slow moving for older teenagers. When you find yourself further in the book, it definately starts to get Juicy!

This book is meant for younger readers but does mention subjects such as sex but in a modest manner. Kissing and holding hands is also in the book but that is of no matter.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States of America

The Shalamar Code by Mary Louise Clifford

This book is about Mumtaz's adventures in Pakistan's criminal underworld. Mumtaz is a girl from a wealthy family in Pakistan. Her brother likes to gamble, and he owes fifteen thousand rupees to his bridge friends. In order to make up this debt, he promises to deliver a package of cigarettes to a seedy character who calls himself Moocher. However, when there is a mix up, Mumtaz is forced to help her brother get out of a tight spot. She enlists the help of her friend, Rashid. Mumtaz and Rashid discover that there is more to the package of cigarettes then what first meets the eye. Hidden in the package is a secret message. Together, Mumtaz and Rashid discover a plot that could endanger none other than Mumtaz's father. They create a plan that will destroy Moocher's plot. However, when the plan backfires, Mumtaz and Rashid are in serious trouble. They will have to do some quick thinking if they wish to save Mumtaz's father and themselves!

This book is a quick read; it is very fast paced. The description of life in Pakistan seems very realistic. The characters are also well-developed. I especially liked the author makes the criminal Moocher's character believable. I also really liked that the author shows the reader some the motives of the criminals. It gives the reader an unusual perspective. However, I thought the plot was rather predictable. The book's plot seems like a thriller, but the action in the book is slow.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Urbana , Illinois United States

Private by Kate Brian

Reed Brennan has waited a long time to get away from her family problems, so when she receives a scholarship to Easton Academy, she leaves as soon as possible. She immediately stands out as the new kid, not as smart, or rich, or beautiful enough as everyone else. But when she is allowed to hang out with the Billings Girls, the most exclusive girls on campus, Reed jumps at the chance and does their every bidding. The more Reed spends time with the Billings girls, the more she realizes how dangerous they really are. But the girls aren't her only problem. She also isolates her roommate and has bad luck with boys on campus. But when Reed realizes what she's gotten into, it's too late to get away.

I thought this book was great! Kate Brian gets better and better with every book she writes. Private exceeded my expectations. Once I started this, I finished it in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. Reed was an interesting character to read about. The story really sucks you in as well. I was really excited when I found out that there are 3 three other books in the series. I'm giong to pick them up as soon as possible.

Reviewer Age:20
Reviewer City, State and Country: Philadelphia, PA USA