The Night Wanderer: A Native Gothic Novel by Drew Hayden Taylor

Tiffany tries to fit in with everyone in her school, but she’s the only Native American around. When her boyfriend, Tony breaks up with her and blames her father as part of the reason why, Tiffany gets really mad. She’s already mad at her dad for driving her mother to run away. He puts a lot of pressure on her and finally Tiffany’s decided that she’s had enough. What Tiffany doesn’t account for is the mysterious stranger who’s staying at her house. While he looks like any other Native in the reservation, he is in fact a vampire who has come home for the first time in many years. When Tiffany runs away, it is her encounter with the vampire Pierre that helps her to make the right decision.

I’m a fan of vampire novels, and this one was different from any other that I’ve read. I loved how the main characters were Native American. Not many stories are about Native Americans and it was a nice change. Also, the plot wasn’t a typical vampire story. It was a bit confusing to follow, but overall, it was good. This book isn’t for everyone, but I would recommend this novel to fans of vampire and gothic novels.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8

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

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little by Peggy Gifford

Moxy Maxwell likes to read. The thing is, she likes to read what she wants to read, and not what someone else tells her to. Now it's almost time for school to start back up, and Moxy has STILL not read her assigned book, 'Stuart Little'. But it's not as if she hasn't been trying to - the book's been everywhere with her all summer. She just hasn't found a good time to actually get to it.

Short, simple, and sweet, 'Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little' is an adorable story. Moxy is a winning heroine who you can't help but laugh at and with. The book revolves around one day, August 23rd, and is accented with photos (taken by Moxy's brother) that give the story a nice touch. I would highly recommend this as a fun, easy read for early readers. It would also make a good read-aloud.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10

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

Before I Die by Jenny Downham

Tessa has been diagnosed with leukemia, and doesn't have much longer to live. So, to take advantage of the time she has left, she makes a list of all the things she wants to do before she dies. Enlisting the help of her friend, Zoey, Tessa tries things she's never dreamed of doing before, like breaking the law and trying drugs. But as her leukemia progresses, Tessa things about the more important things in life. She helps her parents get back together and she falls in love for the first time and she really begins to appreciate the everyday things in life.

Reading this book makes you realize how great everyday things are and that we shouldn't take them for granted. But the novel wasn't what I expected it to be. I was hoping for it to be inspirational, like Lurlene McDaniel books. But instead I didn't really like the characters and I had to force myself to get through the book. The story wasn't interesting enough to keep me wanting to read more, but I did manage to get to the end. And while I understood the point of the ending, it was a bit confusing so I tended to skim through that section rather than read through it. Overall, this book was touching, but not something for an everyday read.

Content: There are some passages about sex in the book, so it's definately for older readers.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 5

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

The Big One-Oh by Dean Pitchford

Charley Maplewood has never been one for parties--that would require friends, which he doesn’t have. But now that he’s turning ten--the big one-oh--he decides to throw a birthday party for himself, complete with a “House of Horrors” theme and a big birthday cake. Of course things don’t work out as Charley plans. In trying to make friends, he ends up inviting the class bully Cougar to come, and that’s before he ruins the cake and burns down the garage. By the time of the big day, Charley’s home really is a house of horrors. Will Charley be able to pull it all together before the big one-oh becomes the big OH-NO?

The Big One-Oh was an extremely hilarious book. From start to finish, I found myself laughing out loud. I even finished The Big One-Oh in one sitting! This is only Dean Pitchford's first book, but I was very impressed. It had a really great plot and orignal, funny characters. Even though this book was meant for younger readers, I really enjoyed it and think other older readers would like it too. The Big One-Oh gets a big one-oh from me. Too bad I wasn't invited to Charley's party!

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10

Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Leopold, Missouri USA

Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Stargirl has moved and left everything behind: Arizona, Mica High, enchanted desert places--and Leo, her once (and future?) boyfriend. He's all she can think about, and her life begins to feel like a parade of unhappy anniversaries. Then Stargirl meets her wonderfully bizarre new neighbors: Dootsie, the curly-headed five-year-old "human bean"; Charlie, who sits among the tombstones; hot-tempered Alvina with that one glittery nail; and Perry Delloplane, the blue-eyed thief who soon lays his own claim to Stargirl's heart. In letters to Leo over the course of a year, Stargirl comes to find hope in new places: mockingbirds, donut angels, moon flowers, and the Winter Solstice--that turning-point day when dark tips to light. But what's life without Leo? Will he--can he--answer that one crucial question she asks every morning to the rising sun? In this companion novel to Stargirl, Newberry Medalist Jerry Spinelli continues his beloved heroine's story in a tale of hurt and healing, promise and revelation, solstice and sunbeams.

Jerry Spinelli has done it again with another wonderful book. There was nothing I didn’t like about it. I would even say that I loved the whole entire thing! In this amazing page-turner, there is a little bit of everything: there’s comedy, there’s romance, there are heartfelt moments and there are even a few tear-jerkers. It was very well-written, had realistic characters, and a great plot. From page one I fell in love with the zany, hilarious characters. The vocabulary in this book was perfect for young adult readers. It would even be good for younger readers. The ending was great. I was not left hanging, just left wanting more. The author’s style for writing this book was great. The first book was from Leo’s point of view, so I liked that this book was from Stargirl’s point of view. Everything about this book was just wonderful!! It is a must-read for boys and girls of all ages.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10

Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Leopold, Missouri United States

The Sisters Grimm Book Four: Once Upon A Crime by Michael Buckley

The Grimm sisters, their grandmother Relda, Puck and Mr. Hamstead (one of the Three Little Pigs) are off to New York City! Puck is very sick from his injury at the end of the third book of this series, and the Grimm gang need to find their way into the Faerie kingdom in order to find his fairy family who can help heal Puck. They arrive at their destination, but soon everything is mayhem when a murder occurs, and the Grimm detective sisters Sabrina and Daphne are once more thrown into the search for a criminal. Meanwhile, Sabrina is re-thinking if she even wants to be a fairy-tale detective and live such a wild, dangerous life.

I have only read the third and now fourth of The Sisters Grimm books, but really ought to go back and read the first two. They are such pure, unadulterated fun! Fast-paced, thrilling plots and a unique writing style make them enjoyable for all ages. And since I love anything to do with fairy-tales, reading these books filled with characters and creatures from all sorts of classic tales is nothing short of a blast. If you are a fan of light-hearted mysteries and mixed-up fairy-tales, make sure not to miss this series.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9

Reviewer Age: 16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Moscow, ID 83843

Outside The Box by Dan Allosso

Reid Anderson's dad works for a video game company, so he's not surprised when a new Wii console shows up in the rec room. Despite his lack of interest, Reid, bored, pops in the supposedly family-friendly game Simulacrum and picks up the Wii's controls. After seeing some not exactly family-friendly content, Reid meets another being inside the game--one whose threats if Reid does not cooperate could really mess up his real life. On a search to find out what or who JCN really is, Reid, for the first time in his life it seems, actually has real interactions with other people. Reid, the loner whose cell phone speed dial list is full of guys who don't even pick up upon seeing his name (and the feeling there is mutual), is making friends. And, of course, learning how to play weirdly enhanced video games.

Not being a gamer, I was unsure what to expect upon picking up this book. I ended up loving it and anxious for the sequel! Dan Allosso's fleshed-out characters and considerable writing talent make Outside The Box plenty enjoyable even for those of us who have played video games maybe three times ever. The highly original book is fast-paced and exciting, making it a quick read that even reluctant readers will love. I was very impressed with Dan Allosso, and I'm really looking forward to his next project (and happy to see that a sequel to Outside The Box is in the works)!

Content: A little bit of (not graphic or gratuitous) adult content and violence.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10

Reviewer Age: 16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Asheville, NC USA

The Decoding of Lana Morris by Laura and Tom Mcneal

Lana Morris is 16 and living in a world full of confusion. She lives in a foster house full of mentally handicapped teenagers, her evil foster mother, and her foster father (who she thinks she might have feelings for.) She so badly wants to know where she fits in, that she'll do about anything. That is until she discovers a drawing book. The drawing books includes 13 blank pages that seem to hold magical powers. Lana finds that whatever she draws on the paper comes true, and whatever she erases may change peoples lives.

I really enjoyed the basic idea of the book, but I felt like the authors didn't really focus on the whole point of the book, and that is the magical drawing papers. It seems like the authors wasted a lot of the magical papers throughout the book. Instead of making Lana go crazy and try to change the world. She barely touched the magical papers, and I felt like it really wasn't enough. I just wish that the authors had included more wishes from Lana Morris.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7

Reviewer Age: 18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Dundee, Oregon USA

A Field Guide to High School by Marissa Walsh

Andie has just finished eighth grade and will be starting high school in the fall. The good news: Her super-popular valedictorian big sister, Claire, is graduating and won't be there to put Andie in the shadows. The bad news: Her super-popular valedictorian big sister, Claire, is graduating and won't be there to help her. But Claire hasn't forgotten Andie. For her little sister, Claire has put together a guide that covers everything a freshman needs to know but didn’t even think to ask. Andie reads every word and even shares it with her best friend, Bess. But sometimes they wonder if Yale-bound Claire got everything right! In this hilarious and honest look at one girl's heroic attempt to conquer high school, readers will get all the benefit of Claire's wisdom about making those four years more than bearable--and absolutely memorable. Fortunately, high school happens only once in a lifetime.

I absolutely loved A Field Guide to High School. From start to finish it was definitely a page turner. It was an informative book that had many humorous, memorable, and heartfelt moments. I liked all the characters in the book, from 'Normal' Andie to her valedictorian big sister Claire, the writer of the Field Guide. I loved the author's style of writing. It was neat how I was reading a book that the characters were reading at the same time. I think that is what made this novel even better. The vocabulary in the book wasn't hard at all, very appropriate for young adults. I would recommend this book to every girl (and maybe even boy) that is nervous about starting a new school. This book would make them feel a lot better about beginning high school knowing that other people feel scared and nervous too. The only things I didn't like about this novel were that it seemed too short (I loved it so much that I wanted it to keep going!) and I really wanted to see how high school turned out for Andie. I definitely wish I had this guide before I started high school!

Content: This book has some profanity that may seem inappropriate to younger readers.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9

Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Leopold, Missouri United States

Second Fiddle by Siobhan Parkinson

Second Fiddle is told from the point of view of Mags Clarke, aspiring writer. Mags comes across a girl playing a violin in the woods one day - a girl with remarkable musical talent. Her name is Gillian, and soon Mags takes it upon herself to help Gillian along with her quest to go to a famous (and expensive) school for musicians. But as Mags writes in the beginning, "This story is mainly about me. It was going to be mainly about Gillian, but I have to admit that, when it comes down to it, I find me more interesting."

This was the best book I read in all of June. What captured me from the very beginning of this book was the voice the author gave to Mags as the narrator. Mags was smart, honest, and she felt completely real. It seemed as if the story was actually being written by this imaginative young girl. With its lovely descriptions and witty humor, Second Fiddle was an altogether delightful read.

Content: Some brief language

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9

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