A girl named Martine parents died in a fire so she had to live with a grandma she never knew about in Africa on a wild life preserve. She hears quiet gossip about a magical white girrafe living there, but no one has claimed to see the giraffe. Her grandma didn't believe it but she had mixed emotions about it. One night Martine see's the white giraffe...
In my opinion, I really liked the book because the plot is creative. The whole concept of being orphaned and having to move to Africa with a grandma she never knew about. I also thought the "white" giraffe is a creative twist in Martines life. In those parts it was hardest to put down because it had suspense and creativeness.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Norristown, Pennsylvania United States of America
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Genesis Alpha by Rune Michaels
The book Genesis Alpha was about a boy and his brother who even though they lived away from each other always found time to play an internet game called Genesis Alpha together every night. Then one day the boy realized that his brother had left his computer in the middle of the game without turning it off so he assumed something might have happened. You then find out that his brother was accused of killing a girl that went to his school. The police began to think that he had met her on this Genesis Alpha game and that he was doing this to many other girls. The book is mostly about their family trying to figure out if he is innocent or guilty.
Genesis Alpha was a great book and a really fast read. The story line was interesting, but you expect for there to be a big plot twist in the end but really the story goes in a perfect sequence to the ending. I do not think that this book was a good one for the genre it was placed in, however. The book has a vocabulary of about seventh or eighth grade and a highschooler may become bored with it. But, for the middle school crowd it would be a good book to read. It helps you realize that your judgement of someone, even a family member, may be wrong.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6
Reviewer Age: 16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Nelsonville, Ohio United States
Genesis Alpha was a great book and a really fast read. The story line was interesting, but you expect for there to be a big plot twist in the end but really the story goes in a perfect sequence to the ending. I do not think that this book was a good one for the genre it was placed in, however. The book has a vocabulary of about seventh or eighth grade and a highschooler may become bored with it. But, for the middle school crowd it would be a good book to read. It helps you realize that your judgement of someone, even a family member, may be wrong.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6
Reviewer Age: 16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Nelsonville, Ohio United States
Bad Idea by Todd and Jedd Hafer
Uggh, a road trip! When 18-year-old Griffin Smith has to leave for college, his dad’s fiance’ decides that the whole family and his best friend, Cole, should drive up to his college in Southern California from their home in Kansas. Leaving his long time crush, Amanda Mackenzie, is really hard for him, but he is also eager to meet the mysterious Carrot, a girl he met online who goes to the same college he will be attending. On their way to college they will have to deal with many devastating problems from muggers to family affairs to a young child’s death. Once he arrives at the California college which he is attending on a running scholarship, Griffin quits his longtime addiction of burning himself with lighters and blow dryers with some much-needed help from his dad. This terrible habit started after his mom left when he was very young; he did it to punish himself for all of the horrible things he did that were not very Christian-like. Join Griffin Smith as he faces life’s tragedies and hopefully finds the best solution to solving each of them.
I think the authors, Todd and Jedd Hafer, did an awesome job at writing Bad Idea: A Novel (With Coyotes), because I didn’t think that I would enjoy this story and I ended up loving it! I thought that it was cool how the authors used coyotes as such a big part of the creation of this book, even though they weren’t actually mentioned a whole lot in the story. I didn’t overly care for the fact that there was a lot of misconduct and wrongdoing in this book, but after realizing how messed up his life was, he became a Christian. Overall, though, I thought this composition was well-written and an all-together amazing story. I recommend this wonderful book to young adults ages 12 and up, but mostly to boys who love running since it is a main topic in Bad Idea.
Content: There was drinking of alcoholic beverages, sexual content and references, smoking, burning their flesh (self mutilation),fighting, and suicide.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA United States
I think the authors, Todd and Jedd Hafer, did an awesome job at writing Bad Idea: A Novel (With Coyotes), because I didn’t think that I would enjoy this story and I ended up loving it! I thought that it was cool how the authors used coyotes as such a big part of the creation of this book, even though they weren’t actually mentioned a whole lot in the story. I didn’t overly care for the fact that there was a lot of misconduct and wrongdoing in this book, but after realizing how messed up his life was, he became a Christian. Overall, though, I thought this composition was well-written and an all-together amazing story. I recommend this wonderful book to young adults ages 12 and up, but mostly to boys who love running since it is a main topic in Bad Idea.
Content: There was drinking of alcoholic beverages, sexual content and references, smoking, burning their flesh (self mutilation),fighting, and suicide.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA United States
Friday, September 07, 2007
Vampire Island by Adele Griffin
'Vampire Island' tells the story of three siblings - Lexie, Maddy and Hudson. These siblings aren't your normal kids - or, I should say, your normal vampires. They're fruit-bat hybrids, so they only eat fruit. Although Maddy is starting to develop a further taste for protein. . . . Mysterious (and possibly dangerous) neighbors aside, these three are mostly just trying to survive there normal lives. Masking their identity and special-powers at school is harder than you'd think.
I have very mixed feelings on this book. On the one hand, I loved its dark humor - reminiscent of 'Pure Dead Magic' by Debi Gliori. I thought it was very cool to have a teenage heroine who quotes dead poets. Almost immediately I developed a sort of fondness for some of the characters, Maddy in particular. All that aside, this book was not exactly satisfying. It seemed to leave off too suddenly with too many loose threads. Obviously there's going to at least one sequel if not more, but this particular episode of the story didn't feel finished. The writing was not spectacular to begin with, and this leaving-off made me even more disgruntled. It was an OK read. If you're in the mood for an easy-read with slightly-ridiculous Gothic settings and situations (which I was, strange as it sounds) then you'll have fun with this. Just don't go into it expecting something great.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 5
Reviewer Age: 16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Moscow, ID USA
I have very mixed feelings on this book. On the one hand, I loved its dark humor - reminiscent of 'Pure Dead Magic' by Debi Gliori. I thought it was very cool to have a teenage heroine who quotes dead poets. Almost immediately I developed a sort of fondness for some of the characters, Maddy in particular. All that aside, this book was not exactly satisfying. It seemed to leave off too suddenly with too many loose threads. Obviously there's going to at least one sequel if not more, but this particular episode of the story didn't feel finished. The writing was not spectacular to begin with, and this leaving-off made me even more disgruntled. It was an OK read. If you're in the mood for an easy-read with slightly-ridiculous Gothic settings and situations (which I was, strange as it sounds) then you'll have fun with this. Just don't go into it expecting something great.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 5
Reviewer Age: 16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Moscow, ID USA
Rahta's Creature by Clare Bell
Ratha is a member of the Named, a tribe of cats that has culture and language. However, when lightning strikes and Ratha tames the Red Tongue, she is made an outcast. She runs in with one of the Un-Named, whom she names Bonechewer. She grows up and learns the way of the hunter from Bonechewer, whom she then mates with. She and Bonechewer then go to a meeting of the Un-Named where she pretends to be mute. Much to her dismay, the Un-Named decide to attack her old clan. She is forced to take part as she cannot rejoin them and be accepted. However, Ratha is recognized and then kept from the fighting. Once the clan has been ousted, she and Bonechewer get a den where they stay for the winter. Come Spring, they returned to Bonechewer's territory where she gave birth. Unfortunately, because Bonechewer, although his mother was a Named, was part Un-Named, so Ratha's children were as dumb as many of the Un-Named. In her disappointment, Ratha attacks here children and Bonechewer, who banishes her. Ratha wanders until she runs into Thakur, one of the Named. Thakur takes her to the clan, where she is once again cast away. When lightning strikes, Thakur finds her and convinces her to defeat Meoran, the leader, with the Red Tongue. Ratha does so and becomes clan leader. Using the Red Tongue, Ratha and the other Named drive off the Un-Named raiders, among whom was Bonechewer. Bonechewer dies, and Ratha grieves for him. Then, Ratha takes full leadership of her clan.
Although at first I didn't believe I would like this book, it was surprisingly good. The way that the author makes the cats understand what cats would understand, and not as much as humans, makes it much more realistic. A little foreshadowing goes a long way to make the book a lot better. Each main character is like a real person, changing with the way the plot moves. Ratha's Creature gets an 8 out of 10 from me.
Content: Graphic descriptions of burning and injuries.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, PA United States
Although at first I didn't believe I would like this book, it was surprisingly good. The way that the author makes the cats understand what cats would understand, and not as much as humans, makes it much more realistic. A little foreshadowing goes a long way to make the book a lot better. Each main character is like a real person, changing with the way the plot moves. Ratha's Creature gets an 8 out of 10 from me.
Content: Graphic descriptions of burning and injuries.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, PA United States
The Sam Gunn Omnibus by Ben Bova
Sam Gunn, the most notorious bussiness man, womanizer, adventurer, and friend in the universe, has been lost in a black hole. Jane, the young reporter, is going after the story of his amazing life. She feels this strong connection to him, that propels her onward through all her hardships and obstacles, to get the full story. As the story of his life unravels, Jade comes to admire this man, and all the greatness that he has done and not been given credit for. On and on she interviews, and closer and closer to Sam she gets. But how is this possible when Sam is thousands of miles away, sucked into a black hole?
This was a very good and entertaining book. At the begining however, it was a little slow to start. Once it started speeding up I couldn't stop reading. The book was exciting and very suspenseful. I would try to guess what would happen next, and what would happen in the end. When it was finished, i truly appreciated the book and realized how great of an intricate plot it was. The detail was perfect so that I could clearly paint a picture and see exactly what happened in my head. The book was definetly too mature for kids younger then 13. There was lots of inappropriate references. Overall, if your looking for a book that really gets your mind going, this is a great choice.
Content: Bad language, sexual terms, and multiple other more mature topics.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Lutherville, MD USA
This was a very good and entertaining book. At the begining however, it was a little slow to start. Once it started speeding up I couldn't stop reading. The book was exciting and very suspenseful. I would try to guess what would happen next, and what would happen in the end. When it was finished, i truly appreciated the book and realized how great of an intricate plot it was. The detail was perfect so that I could clearly paint a picture and see exactly what happened in my head. The book was definetly too mature for kids younger then 13. There was lots of inappropriate references. Overall, if your looking for a book that really gets your mind going, this is a great choice.
Content: Bad language, sexual terms, and multiple other more mature topics.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Lutherville, MD USA
Bone by Bone by Bone by Tony Johnston
It’s 1951 in a southern town when young Malcolm and David meet. The boys quickly become comrades, and share countless, unforgettable adventures. Although the boys are as close as brothers, there is one barrier that eternally separates them: race. Malcolm is black; David is white. David’s father immediately forbids the friendship, which continues in secret throughout their adolescence. Even as their camaraderie persevered, run-ins with the Ku Klux Klan (not to mention David’s father) constantly jab at their unique bond. All the while, David is preparing to follow his father’s footsteps into the medical profession. When doubts about family, goals, and core values arise, David must make a life-altering decision, one that will cost him everything he’s ever known.
Bone by Bone is a work of literary art. Tony Johnston’s empathy towards the characters is apparent, and each individual is seemingly brought to life. Needless to say, the characterization is brilliant. I was captivated by her word choice; her voice throughout the book was smooth, truthful, and at times breath-taking. Though the plot may seem rudimentary, Johnston’s style brings the story to life in a whole new light. Bone by Bone is an outstanding contribution to the historical fiction genre. I was hooked by the first sentence, and mesmerized throughout the rest of the book. I would recommend this book to lovers of language, to those who love becoming the characters, and to all who have ever had a best friend.
Content: This book includes racial violence and language inappropriate for young readers.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Tipp City, Ohio USA
Bone by Bone is a work of literary art. Tony Johnston’s empathy towards the characters is apparent, and each individual is seemingly brought to life. Needless to say, the characterization is brilliant. I was captivated by her word choice; her voice throughout the book was smooth, truthful, and at times breath-taking. Though the plot may seem rudimentary, Johnston’s style brings the story to life in a whole new light. Bone by Bone is an outstanding contribution to the historical fiction genre. I was hooked by the first sentence, and mesmerized throughout the rest of the book. I would recommend this book to lovers of language, to those who love becoming the characters, and to all who have ever had a best friend.
Content: This book includes racial violence and language inappropriate for young readers.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Tipp City, Ohio USA
The Secret Life of Josephine: Napolean's Bird of Paradise by Carolly Erickson
Everyone knows about Napoleon, the guy who wanted to take over the world and conquer everything. Well, what do people know about his first wife, Josephine? Not much, really. She’s always in the wings; no one ever thinks about her and her past. When Josephine was a girl, her name was Rose. It actually was Rose until she married Napoleon—he changed it because she needed to sound more French. Rose lived in a tropical paradise, moving to Paris when she was a teenager to marry her cousin. Eventually, her husband dies in “The Terror”, with Rose narrowly escaping the guillotine. After the Terror, Rose marries Napoleon, a famous general with a commanding presence. After that, the rest is history.
Carrolly Erickson made history come to life, but in a new way. I have always heard of Napoleon, but not his wife. She really influenced Napoleon in ways I didn’t think of. Carrolly Erickson’s novel made me think of all these things, and I learned much more about the time period. Because Erickson wrote so descriptively, I was never left in the dark how bad things were during “The Terror” and Napoleon’s rule. Erickson has other historical novels about wives of great rulers, and since I enjoyed The Secret Life of Josephine so much, I have ordered copies of her other books.
Content: Josephine slept with a lot of guys in this book, and Erickson described it. There is also crude language.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Boothwyn, PA United States
Carrolly Erickson made history come to life, but in a new way. I have always heard of Napoleon, but not his wife. She really influenced Napoleon in ways I didn’t think of. Carrolly Erickson’s novel made me think of all these things, and I learned much more about the time period. Because Erickson wrote so descriptively, I was never left in the dark how bad things were during “The Terror” and Napoleon’s rule. Erickson has other historical novels about wives of great rulers, and since I enjoyed The Secret Life of Josephine so much, I have ordered copies of her other books.
Content: Josephine slept with a lot of guys in this book, and Erickson described it. There is also crude language.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Boothwyn, PA United States
Monday, September 03, 2007
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
Book of a Thousand Days is a novel based on the fairy tale "Maid Maleen." A lady's maid and mucker (a nomadic peasant with the ability to heal through song), Dashti narrates her story of serving the doomed Lady Saren. Trapped in a tower for seven years unless she agrees to marry Lord Khasar, Saren begins her long imprisonment with Dashti by her side. Dashti writes of the lonliness and desperation she feels as Saren throws herself into silence of sobs or staring blankly at the surrounding brick walls. Visited by the terrible Lord Khasar and the gentle and kind Khan Tegus, Dashti determines that the girls must leave the tower. Book of a Thousand Days is the diary of a young teen who embarks on the adventure of a lifetime.
Shannon Hale writes a beautiful story about a determined young girl. Dashti has mottled features along her face and arms, she is deemed ugly and unlucky. Lady Saren is gorgeous but the spirit of Dashti overpowers Saren's. Based in ancient Mongolia and surrounded by fictional realms, the story of Dashti is a lyrical novel. An adventure that has its readers turing pages with excitement and fear, Book of a Thousand Days is a fantastic fairy tale for teen readers. Twisted with romance and dark fantasy, Shannon Hale writes a story that leaves readers with a slight tingle in their toes.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Concord, Massachusetts United States
Shannon Hale writes a beautiful story about a determined young girl. Dashti has mottled features along her face and arms, she is deemed ugly and unlucky. Lady Saren is gorgeous but the spirit of Dashti overpowers Saren's. Based in ancient Mongolia and surrounded by fictional realms, the story of Dashti is a lyrical novel. An adventure that has its readers turing pages with excitement and fear, Book of a Thousand Days is a fantastic fairy tale for teen readers. Twisted with romance and dark fantasy, Shannon Hale writes a story that leaves readers with a slight tingle in their toes.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Concord, Massachusetts United States
They Came From Below by Blake Nelson
Emily and Reese spend their summers in South Point in Cape Cod. Arriving from different areas of the country the two girls can't wait to see each other and spend hours relaxing on the beach and spying on potential boyfriends. When seventeen year old Emily reunites with Reese they begin a summer that is different from any they have ever experienced. Strange occurences prove something eerie is happening in the ocean. When the girls come across two beautiful boys and learn that they are not truly who they say thay are, Emily and Reese's summer turns upside down. Aliens from the depths of the ocean, Steve and Dave have come chasing after a friend that washed up on the beach only recently. Emily and Reese begin to help these strange creatures and what seems like a surreal dream suddenly becomes an effort to save Earth.
They Came from Below is a science fiction/fantasy novel that binds together realistic characters with the strangest of stories. Blake Nelson writes in a rather primitive way, sentences are short and abrupt. There is no feeling of emotion from the novel, just complex and interesting thoughts about life and living. Nelson does a poor job with a female narrator, Emily lacks any real feeling--there is no passion in the novel. Though an interesting storyline and adventure novel, They Came from Below could have used more personality.
Content: Brief mentions of sex and drinking.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Concord, Massachusetts United States
They Came from Below is a science fiction/fantasy novel that binds together realistic characters with the strangest of stories. Blake Nelson writes in a rather primitive way, sentences are short and abrupt. There is no feeling of emotion from the novel, just complex and interesting thoughts about life and living. Nelson does a poor job with a female narrator, Emily lacks any real feeling--there is no passion in the novel. Though an interesting storyline and adventure novel, They Came from Below could have used more personality.
Content: Brief mentions of sex and drinking.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Concord, Massachusetts United States
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