The Walton Street Tycoons by Jim Lesczynski

Mark Hoffman with his younger brother, Sam, are financially-minded twelve- and eight-year-olds. They start their own business in their hometown, specifically on Walton Street. The entrepreneur bug quickly spreads through all the kids of the city, and soon everybody who matters has a business of their own. Even sooner, Mark and Sam are raking in 500 to 1,000 dollars each day with their dessert business, Desserts Express. This is all going on while the adult economy is dying. Their father is in jail, and their mother is living with a formal boyfriend, Frank. Mark absolutely despises Frank, and later on realizes that Frank is worse than he thought.

I found this book to be a pure page-turner. With the financial world combined with a regular kid's world, "The Walton Street Tycoons" was a refreshing view. It exposed the laws that didn't make sense, and at the same time kept up a fast-paced personal story of a twelve-year-old. It showed how the past can be mingled with the present, how a child's view differs from an adult's, and the complications that one relationship can accumulate. I think the whole family would enjoy this one.

It has some kissing and killing in parts.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Eagle Creek, OR USA

Wizards by Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois, eds.

Wizards is a unique compilation of short stories from many critically acclaimed science fiction/fantasy authors. Stories from authors such as Eoin Colfer from the Artemis Fowl series and Orson Scott Card who wrote Ender's Game are in this book and have never been published. From ancient times to magic in the modern world, Wizards has a tale that can appeal to almost any audience. This book is one in a series of short story compositions edited by Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois, and the topics of these books are very wide in variety. So if wizards are not a subject of interest, read a book from the series with a more appealing theme.

I have always enjoyed books that group stories from many different authors, and Wizards did not let me down. Many people have a very narrow view of a wizard, but once you read this book, that view will be significantly stretched. My favorite story was "Zinder," by Tanith Lee. It was about an "ugly duckling" that becomes something marvelous during the night. However, each story brings something new to the reader that leaves his/her appetite for imagination fulfilled. This book is highly recommended for all the Harry Potter fans out there and for those who enjoy fantasy.

Reviewer Age:17

Reviewer City, State and Country: Eden Prairie, Minnesota United States

In the Serpent's Coils by Tiffany Trent

Corrine has been having nightmares. In them, a mysterious and frightening man called "The Captain" has been calling to her, and soon she begins to see him when she's awake, too. When her uncle sends her to a decripit boarding school in the South, she hopes to have escaped the man and her dreams . . . but soon she is caught up in a tumult of intrigue and magic. And it's up to her to stop it.

I can't quite figure out whether I liked this book or not. I applaud the author's choice of the book's post Civil War setting and her creative choices of names (I was especially fond of "Corrine"). It had an engaging plot and characters, but was also dark and rather creepy. Perhaps it was a bit more gothic than most of the fantasy novels I'm used to reading. I'm pretty sure I'll be picking up the next book in the series, though. I look forward to finding out more about Corrinne, her friends, and the mysterious world of the Fey.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6

Reviewer Age: 16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Moscow, ID USA

Someone Named Eva by Joan M. Wolf

12-year-old Milada Kraliĉek loved her life in Lidice, Czechoslovakia with her family and best friend, Terezie. But in June of 1942, everything changed. Nazi soldiers stormed their home and took the women and children to a school gym. As later stated, all the men were immediately shot. It was here that her grandmother told her: "Remember who you are, Milada. Remember where you are from. Always." However, she was taken away from her family, and trained to become a German ideal citizen. She was told that her eyes, hair, head, and nose all fit the Aryan ideal for her to become the perfect citizen. She was to forget that she was ever a young Czech girl by the name of Milada, and was given the new name Eva. At a Lebensborn center in Poland, she spoke German every day, and soon forgot her native language of Czech, and for a while, forgot her name. Two years later, she was adopted by a Nazi family, and she had a new sister, brother, mother and father. However, she still missed her old family, and hoped they will one day come back for her. Finally, in June of 1945, three years after they were first separated, Milada and her mother were reunited. Her grandmother's words guided Milada back to her mother, and she will forever remember who she is.

Even though Wolf put powerful flows of emotion into the book, I believe that it is not quite enough. World War II was a devastating war, from all points of view. Therefore, the feelings in this book should be strengthened to make the story fully effective. However, this book opens up a different point of view: from the Germans. Usually, books about WWII are about the Jewish people, but this book is different. It is mainly about the daily lives of the Nazis throughout most the book. The research is very well done, and it was inspired by true stories. At the beginning, it was kind of easygoing, and rather simple. For example, the birthday party at the beginning seemed unnecessary. However, as the story went on, I got more engaged with the book, and it gets a little more exciting. At the end of the book, Milada went home to her mom without saying goodbye to the family that took care of her for a full 13 months. That surprised me a little, even though I knew that Milada didn't really like the Nazi family. The story never really reached the point where I thought a story about WWII should be. When I compare this story about WWII to others I've read, this seemed a bit simpler, and fit for early middle school readers. Overall though, this book was accurate, and a reader can learn a lot about the war from reading it. I enjoyed reading the book, and I'm sure others will too.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7

Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Milpitas, CA USA

QUAD by C.G. Watson

Quad is a gripping thriller by C.G. Watson. An unknown shooter is shooting out in the school quad while six students; Ranger, Christopher, Ken, Sage, Maggie, and Calvin are hiding in the student store. The book is about the events leading up to this shooting and how a person can only stand so much pressure before they snap. The book is written in first person point of view and deals with the perspectives of students from six different cliques in their high school; freaks, jocks, preps, techies, drama queens, and choirboys. Each chapter deals with a different clique, alternating between the cliques and the quad.

In my opinion, Quad is a remarkable book that showcases raw feelings and expressions. It portrays the pain and grief some cliques inflict upon others and shows what can happen when a bottle of emotions inside a person pops. I thought that the book was very moving and illustrated just how cruel people can be, how sometimes people can be heartless and completely unsympathetic. The book itself was very well written and had a suspense to it that kept you reading until the very end. The only part of the book that was a little disappointing for me was the ending. I think that C.G. Watson should have showed us the feelings of each clique once they found out who the killer was and who died. That would have made the ending a bit more complete, even though it was already pretty good. Overall, the book was a wonderful eye-opening read that everyone should read, at least everyone old and mature enough.

The language is strong and isn't appropriate for some ages.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Champaign, Illinois USA

Johnny and the Bomb by Terry Pratchett

Blackbury, a small town near London, is where a young teen named Johnny Maxwell lives. After dreams of the night Blackbury was bombed during WWII, nearly 60 years ago, his friends think he is starting to lose it. While walking back from the movies one night, Johnny and his friends, Wobbler, Bigmac, and Yo-less, stumble upon a homeless woman named Mrs. Tachyon. She appears to be injured, so while she is in the hospital Johnny keeps her cart in his garage. Later that day he discovers that the cart can be used to travel through time! While at the mall, they travel back in time to evade the authorities, Johnny realizes he is on the very day Blackbury was bombed! Only to make matters worse, when they head back to the present they notice they forgot Wobbler! Can Johnny get back to the past in time to save Wobbler and innocent people from being bombed?

I thought this was a very entertaining book. It was fast paced and very funny in parts. My family has been reading Terry Pratchett for a long time, so I was happy when I realized that I had read the first two books in this trilogy. Since the book was set in 1996, I don’t understand why it wasn’t a little more up to date. His characters were very “teenage” like, unlike some writers whose younger characters are much too adult-like. Again, this was a great book and should be enjoyed be readers everywhere.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8

Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Denair, California America

A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson

When the beautiful countess Anna Grazinsky’s father dies and she has to flee Russia, she is in for an adventure. Anna must find a job to support her mother and brother. She finds just the job working for the Earl of Westerholme. He is returning home from the war and brining his beautiful fiancée, Muriel, with him. Anna has to keep her identity secret, but what happens when she falls for the earl and he finds out her secret?

Truly a most surprising remake of the story of Anastasia. This was a wonderful love story. I especially loved the ending. The way Anna fought for her rights as a woman was also an amazing point in the story. Two thumbs up to Ibbotson!

Content: There is a brief moment when the book discusses nudity.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9

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

The Wolf by Steven Herrick

One day, Jake and Lucy, two friends, set off to find a wolf that both of their fathers want to kill. Lucy doesn’t intend to come back to her abusive father and Jake has every intention of coming back to tell his father where it is. Jake ends up twisting his ankle and he and Lucy must spend the night in a cave. Something happens that night that will change their whole lives.

This was a very unique book. The whole story was written through poetry! I have to admit that it did get a little annoying after a while, but overall it was clever. I especially liked the little love scene between Lucy and Jake. This was a very good book!

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7

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

Dream Factory by Brad Barkley and Heather Hepler

Luke and Ella are just two ordinary people who work at the magical kingdom of Disneyland. Maybe the magical Kingdom isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Between drunk and hung over employees to secret love stories behind the scenes, there is nothing ordinary about it. Luke, who plays the fur-character, Dale, has a super-hot girlfriend named Cassie, who by the way, is Chip, who he thinks he loves. Ella plays Cinderella and is going out with Prince Charming, ironic, huh? Luke and Ella fall for each other. Something happens to make them fall back apart, maybe Dale and Cinderella just weren’t meant to be.

This has got to be one of the best books I have ever read. I loved how it took place in Disneyland and actually seemed real. It wasn’t one of those cheesy love stories you just happen to read, this one actually held my attention. I could hardly put down the book out of excitement of what would happen next. Two thumbs up to Barkley and Hepler!

Content:There is some mild language and some things that younger children shouldn't be reading.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9

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

Rise of the Golden Cobra by Henry T. Aubin

This coming of age story follows the adventures of Nebi, an Egyptian boy. He is in the employment of Setka, an important official of the King Piankhy. When Setka is ambushed by a traitorous count, Nebi is the only witness alive. Nebi braves the desert to reveal the count's actions, and to deliver an important message. Nebi gets caught up in King Piankhy's battle to reunite Egypt against foreign invaders. He meets many influential people, such as the king himself, and gets many good friends, as Nebi struggles to be reunited with his family, and get revenge for Setka.

This book is a wonderful historical fiction novel. The action is fast-paced and exciting, with intriguing characters. The ancient Egyptian setting is very well detailed, and feels lifelike. The book is a great way to learn about ancient Egyptian customs and history, while still having fun. I learned more about ancient Egypt from this book than I ever learned in a history class.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9

Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Urbana , Illinois USA