Holly Wade, her sister Judy, and her brother Crockett are in a bad mood. Their mother is sending them to live with their grandparents while she goes and works in a different town. While Judy and Crockett start to adjust to living in a junkyard and going to school, Holly refuses to enjoy anything. When she and her siblings find a magical pillow and mysterious maze things start changing drastically, but not necessarily in a good way.
It took me a little bit to get into this book, but once I did it was a cute read. Mazes have always interested me so I enjoyed reading what Andre Norton thought up. Another thing I liked was the insights into African-American culture. Some very good lessons I got from this book were how to distinguish good and evil, listen to your heart, and believe in your family.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: , North Carolina USA
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Love, Cajun Style by Diane Les Becquets
Lucy and her 2 best friends, Evie and Mary Jordan have one of the most eventful summers of their lives. Everything changes when the artist Mr. Savoi and his son Dewie move into their small Louisiana town. All of the girls get a taste of summer love. Lucy begins a relationship with Dewie, yet she also has to make sense of her feelings for her older drama teacher, Mr. Banks, whose daughter she babysits. Then, her mother keeps disappearing for long periods of time, suspiciously at Mr. Savoi's house and Lucy thinks that her mother is having an affair. By the end of the summer, Lucy and her friends learn that love turns up in the most unexpected places.
I thought that this book had some very entertaining scenes. It was a little slow in the beginning, but it definately picked up as the story went on. By the end, I couldn't put the book down. The characters were very interesting and I loved that the story was set in Louisiana. Love, Cajun Style is the perfect summer read and I'm looking forward to seeing what Diana Les Becquets will cook up next!
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 20
Reviewer City, State and Country: Philadelphia, PA USA
I thought that this book had some very entertaining scenes. It was a little slow in the beginning, but it definately picked up as the story went on. By the end, I couldn't put the book down. The characters were very interesting and I loved that the story was set in Louisiana. Love, Cajun Style is the perfect summer read and I'm looking forward to seeing what Diana Les Becquets will cook up next!
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 20
Reviewer City, State and Country: Philadelphia, PA USA
The Dream of the Stone by Christina Askounis
The book starts with Sarah’s parents being very suspicious about Sarah’s older brother’s job. Sarah’s parents go to check on Sarah’s brother in California and end up dieing in a plane crash. Sarah then has to go to New York and live with her aunt and uncle. When a dark stone appears in the mail from Sarah’s brother Sam, Sarah and her friend Angel are taken to the planet Oneiros. Unfortunately, Sarah loses the dark stone that can save Sam from the Institute he used to work for. This is where Sarah must become the stone-bearer and Angel king.
I thought the book was very well written. It was a little slow at times but very good over all. The author mixed mystery with a little action in this book to make readers want to keep reading. The book had a surprising amount of tricky vocabulary. There where words like wormholes, quantum, continuum, and antimatter. The author must have put a lot of thought in to writing this book.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Hamilton, OH USA
I thought the book was very well written. It was a little slow at times but very good over all. The author mixed mystery with a little action in this book to make readers want to keep reading. The book had a surprising amount of tricky vocabulary. There where words like wormholes, quantum, continuum, and antimatter. The author must have put a lot of thought in to writing this book.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Hamilton, OH USA
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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