Thursday, August 02, 2007

Ironside: A Modern Faery's Tale by Holly Black

Kaye, Roiben and the rest of the faerie world are back in a whole new adventure. As Roiben’s coronation rolls around, Kaye declares herself to Roiben, and is sent on an impossible quest. Kaye, not being able to see Roiben until the quest is complete, returns home. When she is caught off guard, she is forced to tell her mother about the changeling. Kaye goes to the Seelie Court to get her counterpart back. Upon going, Kaye is caught up in a plot by the Seelie queen herself to get Roiben’s throne. Kaye must outwit the entire faerie realm in order to save herself and Roiben.

This was the most believable fairy tale I have read. Between the evil faeries and the urban lifestyle, this makes an exciting read. Black’s characters are very real, even the faeries. They all have human emotions and characteristics. The way she writes is so confident, it’s descriptive and intelligent. It was like she was really in this faerie realm! This would truly be a good read for anyone who liked Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan. Black has written two other novels that I have read, Tithe, and Valiant, both of which match up to this book. All three are wonderful books.

Content: There is talk of sex and drugs.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10

Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Shippensburg, USA

Farseed by Pamela Sargent

The inhabitants of Ship are back. Now they are finally on Home and have settled down to have children. After Ho had left the group, he and his people are starting to starve. After five years of not coming to the Settlement, a group of three are sent on an expedition to find and help Ho’s group. Two of the group get lost, and one is killed by Ho, who casts out his own daughter upon seeing her with the man he killed. A second expedition is sent out from the Settlement, but what happens when things go wrong and a war starts again?

This book was unlike anything I have ever read before. The whole idea about seeding planets was a new theory to me. Definitely imaginative. The book had down-to-Earth characters, even though they were light-years away. Some of the language used seemed unnatural for the character speaking, although it did have some good dialogue and conversations between characters. Her descriptions of plants, animals, and feelings were amazing; it seemed like the author was writing from experience. This is the second in a series, and the first book is just as good if not better than this one. Earthseed tells about how the inhabitants of Ship came to be on Home. This is a book for science-fiction lovers, who are looking for a new and interesting read.

Content: There is some talk of sex and other people's bodies.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 14

May Bird, Warrior Princess: Book Three by Jodi Lynn Anderson

May Bird has been living on Earth for three years since coming back from the Ever After. No one, not even her loving mother, believes her wild stories about her ghostly friends. When she goes on her house's Widow's Walk, May and Somber Kitty fall to their deaths. They appear right away, in the Spectroplex in the Ever After. May decides to go back to where her friends Arista and Pumpkin would be, no one is there. In fact, no one is anywhere to be seen. Finally, after roaming around to different cities, May finally meets up with Pumpkin. She learns that her other friends such as Beatrice, Fabbio, and Lucious were captured by the Dark Spirits. May also learns that the Evil Bo Cleevil is even closer to taking over the Ever After, and then is going to try to capture Earth as well. May and Pumpkin set off to rescue her friends and then they form a group called the Free Spirits that are determined to beat Bo Cleevil. The Book of the Dead, the book with every answer in it, says that May won't defeat Bo Cleevil. Is the book wrong? Or will someone else step up to the plate and finally bring peace and happiness back to the Ever After?

This is the final book in the May Bird series and I thought it was wonderful. It had so much action and humor in it that I could not put it down. The characters had emotion and personalities that were extremely wonderful for a book. Compared to the two other stories in this series, May Bird: Warrior Princess, captures the reader with an even more excellent plot that will surely keep their interest. This book was different than any I have read before because of its combination of the world of the living and the world of the dead. I recomend this book to anyone interested in a book with action and fantasy.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States of America

The Candy Shop Wars by Brandon Mull

At almost the same time that Nate moves to town and meets some new friends, Sweet Tooth Ice Cream and Candy Shoppe opens its doors. Nate and his three pals make the acquaintance of the kindly (yet mysterious) old shop owner, Mrs. White. Soon they discover that her delicious sweets and yummy treats have more to them than meets the eye. Some of them actually have magical properties! And Mrs. White promises to give the candy to them free of charge - if they will do a few (very) odd jobs for her in return.

I really liked the premise of this book with all of the fun, bizarre magical candies. The characters, however, were hugely lacking in depth. Without caring about them, I found it difficult to find motivation to continue reading, despite the adventure-packed plot. After the author's extremely enjoyable debut 'Fablehaven', I expected more from this, his third novel. Unfortunately, the shallow characters and unremarkable writing resulted in a very unsatisfactory read.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 4

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

Questors by Joan Lennon

Questors is an exciting fantasy book about three kids, Madlen, Bryn, and Cam, who set out on a journey to save the worlds from an energy leak. The three travel ten years into the future to find three objects of power from each of the three worlds, Trentor, Kir and Daldrodia. Unexpected events occur, and they never know when or what will set their minds astray from the job that needs to be done. They battle zombies, strangers, dragons, soldiers, storms, apples, a plane, and themselves along the way. They struggle with the tension of the new worlds because they are not used to the climates, traditions, or people of the worlds. They find several facts of the three strangers that they soon know as family. Their journey is full of heat, snow, buildings, and a huge London House.

This book contains, laughter, suspense, fun, mystery, and magic. At first, the book seems a bit confusing, but the plot soon settles down and becomes familiar. Questors contains some mild language, but includes very unique word choices. Joan Lennon’s book will please readers who want a good laugh and who like fantasy or mystery; protagonists are similar to today’s teens or preteens. Questors is very well written, and includes surprises to readers who keep thinking about the situation. Questors is DEFINITELY a page turner. This will be a big hit in stores all over the country. (I predict that.) Join the Quest by reading this book!

Content: It has mild language.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8

Reviewer Age: 11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Ocala, Florida United States

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Stray by Stacery Goldblatt

Stray is about a 16 year old girl named natalie who has been under her mothers claws ever since her father left them for another woman. To get away from her mom she spends most of her time with her dogs at home and at her job at her moms veterinary clinic. To make matters worse her mom has invited her friends son, Carver to stay with them for the summer, and she has given the room over the garage to him as well. Even after her mom promised it to her. expects the worst summer of her life little does she know Carver and her have a little bit more in commmon than she thought.

I really enjoyed this book. It's a very cute story that mainly is about how a 16 year old teenager deals with her overbearing mother. Natalie has to make a lot of hard decisions throughout the book, and most of them are against her mother's decisions. I really think by reading this book you realize how a mother should and shouldn't act towards a teenager. Sometimes being overbearing doesn't always work out.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8

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

Starnge Relations by Sonia Levitin

Strange Relations is a book of faith and believing in yourself. Marne’s parents are going away for the summer and Marne has no where to go. Then she remembers her mysterious Aunt Carol in Hawaii. What Marne finds there is not what she expected. Everything is different, the girls wear long skirts and long sleeved shirts, they have way too many kids, and the are very religious. When an accident happens Marne finally learns what it is like to have faith.

This book for me was especially interesting because I was born and lived in Hawaii for a short period of time. And so it is fun for me to read about Hawaiian religion. But it wasn’t what I expected. It was good but I don’t think the author really thought about other things like all the characters feelings etc. I just had a feeling that the author rushed into things.

Content: fatih-based

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 5

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

One Way Ticket by Malin Alegria

Even though seventeen-year-old Sofi Mendoza was born in Mexico, she's lived in California for most of her life. But on a spring break trip to Tijuana with her friends, Sofi gets an unexpected crash course in local culture. Then, on their way back, their car gets stopped at the border and Sofi is shocked to learn that she's not a U.S. citizen so she isn't allowed back into the country. Fortunately, there are relatives Sofi can stay with while her green-card situation is sorted out. Unfortunately, her cousins live on a ranch with no indoor plumbing. Confused and abandoned, Sofi is forced to adapt to her surroundings, but as she faces--and overcomes--her challenges, she comes to appreciate her place on both sides of the border.

One Way Ticket was an awesome read. You could definitely say this book was a page turner, because I stayed up all night finishing it. I thought this book was great because it was based on a true story. It was very interesting to read about the problems Sofi dealt with and then realize that real people have had the same experiences. Reading this book made me appreciate my life and see how lucky I am. This book has a great plot, filled with humor, drama, romance, and sorrow. The characters were very likeable and realistic. I also liked that this book had some Spanish in it and that there was even a "Spanish Survival Guide" in the back that translated what the characters had said into English. The ending was also good, because I wasn't left hanging. I think all young adult readers would love reading One Way Ticket!

Content: This book contained underage drinking, profanity, and sexual comments.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9

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

The One Where the Kid Nearly Jumps to His Death by Mary Hershey

In this novel by Mary Hershey, you’ll meet Alastair, an amputee who is forced to visit his ex-father in California. While living with his dad, Alastair tries to come up with a plan to make his father regret leaving his family. Alastair also meets his step mom, a double amputee who tries the best she can to be a great step, but Alastair is determined to find a way to get back home. Alastair (or Stump) meets Jesse, who encourages him to enter in an athletic race. Since he has only one leg, and he likes Jesse, he goes through intensive swimming training with Coach, the local high school swim coach. When Stump discovers that Jesse’s “secret” boyfriend is on their team for he race, it suddenly becomes more than just a race. The story ends with a tragic death, and Alastair forgiving his dad.

The One Where the Kid Nearly Jumps To His Death and Lands In California was probably the best book I have ever read. With the main character’s sarcasm, this book was hysterical! I couldn’t put it down at all, especially at the end. The event was completely unexpected and made me cry. The plot was fantastic with its twists and surprise. I’d have to recommend this novel to anyone who likes adventuress love stories.

Content: It contained many rude words and critcism

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9

Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Coatesville, Pennyslavania U.S.A.

An Unexpected Aprentice by Jody Lynn Nye

Orphan Tildi Summerbee's family is working when her brothers are kidnapped by thriks, giant bird-looking creatures. On the same day of Tildi's loss, the town decides that Tildi must marry to keep the family land. They decide that she must marry someone she hates, so Tildi decides to run away. Disguised as one of her dead brothers, Tildi runs to a wizard named Olen. She takes up an apprentinceshp with him and pretends to be her dead brother for three months. During that time, she learns about runes: markings that every object in existance has. All runes are kept in a book called the Great Book. At the end of three months, she tells Olen she's a girl and finds that the Great Book has been stolen. She is requested to go on a quest with others to find the Great Book and return it to Olen. Once they find the Great Book and its kidnapper, Tildi and the kidnapper, a man named Nemeth, magically fight for the book. Tildi wins and at the end of the book has to return the Great Book to Olen.

The book reminds me of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, except that the main character is a girl. I liked the book, though I think the book could extend its action scenes. Out of all the characters, I would have to say that I liked Nemeth and Tildi best of all. Tildi showed that women CAN be the heros of the story, though her town decides that women aren't capable of taking care of themselves. I like Nemeth because he shows loyalty to his master. I think the ending was good, though the author could have extended it. I think it was a good book for it showed women in a different light; as heroines.

Content: The beginning of the book contains a lot of death.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8

Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Pottstown, PA United States