Jumper:Griffin's Story by Steven Gould

Griffin O'Connor is completely normal in all respects - except that he can instantly teleport to any place he has visited before. When he was five, he accidentally "jumped." Since then, his life has never been the same. A group of men is out to kill him, and he and his parents move around a lot. He learns to control his jumps. One day, when he was nine, he flinched away from a bully at school - all the way home. That night, some men came to his house. They murdered his parents, but he jumped away. These men could sense whenever he jumped within a certain radius of him. Griffin is rescued by Sam and Consuelo, two hispanics who search for people stranded in the desert. They didn't turn him in, so Griffin lives with them for a while. After returning to his flat and having it blown up, Griffin is taken to Mexico to live with Alejandra, Consuelo's cousin. Griffin is happy for a few years, but then the group of people found him because he had fillings and they used his name. The group tracked him, but he escaped and they didn't know about Alejandra. Then, Griffin decides to live on his own, so as not to put others in danger. He takes an abandoned mine in the desert as his home. Griffin buys a generator and a lot of things needed to survive, and he lives there after blowing up the entrance, so only he can get in or out. Then, Griffin is happy for a while, jumping all over the world and sketching places so he can jump there again. All the while, he kept in touch with Sam and Consuelo. Then, the group of men, who Griffin now knows are called "Paladins," find and kill Sam and Consuelo. After relocating Alejandra and overcoming his grief, he decides to continue his lifestyle. In France, he meets an American, E.V. Kelson. He and E.V. fall in love over the next few months. One day, they went to a dance. Unfortunately, E.V. had been threatened by the Paladins to kill Griffin or her parents would die. Griffin talked her out of it and saved her mother and brother, but her father was already dead. Mortified, Griffin severs ties with E.V. Then, Griffin lures some Paladins to his "Hole" and traps them in it. Once they were in, he opens some propane tanks and lights a few candles and jumps out. All but one of the Paladins die. Griffin learned from one man that they were lead by a man named Roland, but nothing else.

Jumper: Griffin's Story is a great book. It takes place in the present, and it's about an ordinary kid with extraordinary powers. Griffin is such a dynamic and round character that it feels like he is an actual person. Each time someone close dies, he learns a lesson and changes a bit. It's like no story I've ever read. This book gets a ten out of ten from me.

Content: Strong language, Sexual content

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10

Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, PA U.S.

The Curse of the Campfire Weenies: And Other Warpe by David Lubar

The Curse of the campfire weenies was an exciting collection of warped and creepy tales that sent chills up your spine. The book includes thirty-five tales, some of which are scary, many funny, and others just plain odd. You’ll learn about the frightening Wanderban, what happens when parents count to three, and why some trees can be “unforgiving”. Why do pigeons live in the city, and what happens with magic chalk? You’ll find all the answers and more in the Curse of the Campfire Weenies.

This was indeed a collection of “warped” tales. I liked it because I could relate to most of the stories. Some of them were silly like I mentioned, but others I didn’t understand. I especially liked the last story, Forgotten Monsters, it was creative and hilarious and scary all at the same time. I could actually feel the chill going down my back. I would recommend this book to anyone, except for adults, it’s too silly. Since I read the first two books in the series, I really enjoyed and had respect for the Curse of the Campfire Weenies. It was definitely a great book.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8

Reviewer Age: 12

Oblivion Road by Alex McAulay

One cold, snowy day in Colorado five high school friends are coming home from a fun-filled day at the ski resort. However, the trip home does not go as planned when they hit a deer and completely tumble down the side of the huge hill. Hours later Courtey wakes up and doesn't know why she is laying in snow. Jeremy comes to help her and explains what happened. Slowly, everything started coming back to her. The other three friends were still trapped in the car and they had to go back to get them. Although they are near death, when a strange figure starts crawling towards them they decide to help him out because otherwise he would die. They learn that he is an escaped convict who got stuck in the storm. More horrible things happen including someone watching them in the woods. When surviving gets even tougher, everyone starts fighting for their lives and fighting each other. Who will be able to make it back to civilization...alive

I really liked this book by Alex McAulay. It is a really great survival book that isn't just about survival. There are problems that deal with that, but there are even more that deal with friendship and other issues. I really liked the beginning of the book because it starts out explaining that a character is very injured but we don't know why! Things like this force you to read on to figure out what will happen next. It was a pretty quick read with a great variety of vocabulary involved. Another thing I liked a lot about Oblivion Road was that at the end of each chapter, it always left you hanging so you would need to read into the next chapter to figure out your questions. Overall, this was a really great book for people who like survival or friendship stories.

Every once in a while there is a little bit of swearing.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States of America

The Tree Shepherd's Daughter: The Faire Folk Trilo by Gillian Summers

When fifteen-year-old Keelie Heartwood’s mother dies, she is forced to leave her adored California home to live with her insane father at an unrealistic renaissance faire in Colorado. Once she and her escort Mrs. Talbot arrive they start their pursuit for Keelie’s dad in the enormous faire. While searching, Keelie strays and ends up in a majestic fragranced herb shop, but before she gets to explore it, she hears the already angry Mrs. Talbot yelling for her. Once outside she meets many strange people including: mud wrestlers, a snobby, stuck-up fairy princess, an outrageously handsome prince, and of course her father, Zeke. Keelie and her longtime best friend start working on a plan to get her out of this bizarre medieval world filled with freaks-of-nature and back into her beloved state of California. While in the process of plotting her great escape, strange and mysterious things start to occur, and after learning the hidden secret that she’s half elf she doesn’t think she will ever get to return to California. Instead she’ll be discovering the mysteries of the faire, fighting bad guys, and trying to win the heart of her knight in shining armor. So if she thinks she’ll get to sit back, relax, and enjoy the faire, she had better guess again.

I really enjoyed the plot that the author, Gillian Summers, chose for this fantastic fantasy called The Tree Shepherd’s Daughter: The Faire Folk Trilogy. This is one of my favorite books that I have ever read because it was a pretty “clean” book, it had a wonderful plot, and was an overall spectacular novel. I really like how the author decided to make this book into a series and it had a great ending that makes you want to know what will happen in the next story. I can’t wait until the next book comes out and I want to read it ASAP! This is a must-read for all of the book lovers like me out there. I recommend this fabulous novel to everyone but mainly to those who are intrigued by fantasy.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9

Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA USA

The Chess Set in the Mirror

The book starts out with a bored young boy sitting in a room. He seems to be in punishment, and has received instructions to not break the mirror in the room, which otherwise only sports a chess set and a chair. Bored, he appears to begin daydreaming, or hallucinating, or actually dreaming, and the white king piece begins talking to him. Events lead into events, and very soon, he's in the mirror, talking to the chess pieces, his mysteriously young grandmother, and a thief. It's only then that he learns that inside the mirror are all the reflections of a person when they first looked into it. Eventually, though, he's awakened, and let out of the room by his mother.

I wonder if the translation is word for word; occasionally, artistic merit can be lost if that's done. I really wasn't terribly fond of the book. It was, perhaps, too redundant, and the storyline seems a little too much like Into the Looking-glass to seem terribly original to me. However, it's written in a very nice way, considering the narrator, and it's clear that it's more of a memory than something that's actually happening. The redundancy does seem a lot like memory, and I appreciate this, although it wasn't my favourite book.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6

Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Mahomet, Illinois United States of America

The Lacemaker and the Princess by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

The Lacemaker and the Princess follows the story of Isabelle, a girl from a family of poor lacemakers who are trying to make ends meet. When she is spotted by the Queen at the palace and taken to be a playmate for the young princess, she is glad to be free for a while at least of her strict grandmother and poverty-stricken home. The princess (daughter of Marie Antoinette) is like the rest of the royalty, oblivious to all the needs and suffering of the French people. Whispers of rebellion and revolution swirl about spurring discontentment, even in Isabelle's own brother. Can the two girls remain friends even when their classes clash?

This book was an OK read. I was not able to connect to the characters very much. I felt that the princess would be an intriguing character if the author had let us see into her mind now and then the same way as Isabelle's. I had a hard time finding motivation to continue reading. However, fans of historical fiction or Marie Antoinette may find it interesting and fresh. It is a quick, easy read that young readers will probably enjoy for the glimpses it gives into the time period.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 5

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

Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

This book is about two best friends, Naomi and Ely, who grew up together in the same apartment in New York City. Ely loves Naomi, but Naomi is in love with Ely. The friends have been through a lot together in their lives, mainly with family problems, but the problem that faces them now is much different. Naomi's boyfriend, Bruce The Second, wasn't on the No Kiss List, but Ely kissing him was inexcusable. This one action puts Naomi and Ely's relationship over the edge and may end "Naomi and Ely" forever. The chapters point of view switches between characters, which is done very well, you are able to get an idea of what each character is thinking in a simple way.

Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List was an interesting book. It was not my favorite, but it was written very well. It talks about the bonds of friendship and betrayal. It was funny and sad at the same time, and I feel that a lot of people can relate to this book.

Content: This book has a lot of sexual content therefore I do not recommend it for young readers.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7

Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: East Islip, New York United States

Manderley Prep by Carol Culver

We know and love Cinderella, the beloved fairy tale that has been made into multiple movies and mutiple versions. And here is a version of the cinderella story that all teens and young adults will love. Maderley Prep is the newest, twenty-first century story of a girl (Cindy Ellis) who dreams of being someone big and great, while having to live with her super evil stepfamily. Oh ya, and in this version of Cinderella, Prince Charming is a hot soccer-playing jazz pianist, And he likes Cindy! Will Cindy be able to survive her rude, snobby private school long enough to go see her Prince Charming at the Masquerade ball? And what about after the dance...

Manderley Prep is a refreshing new version of Cinderella that captivates everyone who picks up the book and won't let go until you finish it. It was a delight to read, and is a book to be enjoyed by many in the near future. Carol Culver relates to what high school is like today, and how hard it is to deal with those snobby brats that populate the school hallways. Plus I loved how insted of Cindy losing a glass slipper, she loses her cellphone! It's just another way to prove that Culver knew what she was doing when she wrote the book.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9

Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Casa Grande, Arizona Unites States of America

What If You Broke All The Rules by L. Ruckdeschel and S. James

The book I read was What If You Broke All The Rules by Liz Ruckdeschel and Sara James. This was a different type of book than usual. It's called "a choose your destiny novel". This basically means that you get to choose what the main character, Haley, does by turning to the specific page. There is still a plot, though. It starts out on Christmas Day. You get to choose which New Years' Eve party Haley goes to, what she does on her birthday, and where she goes over Spring Break. All the while, her parents are absent, too busy with work to pay attention to Haley and her younger brother, Mitchell. Utimately, you get to decide Haley's fate as she continues on during her Sophomore year.

Even though this book read differently than most books, it's still a good read. Some books of the same type aren't well written and can be boring. But this book actually had a plot. I was able to relate well to the main character because we are the same age. Even if you don't like this type of book, you should still read it because the protagonist, Haley, is very likable. Also, you can read this book many times, choosing different things for Haley to do.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8

Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Aston, Pennsylvania United States

The Band: Holding On by Debra Garfinkle

The band is barely holding it together. With there latest stunt over with, everyone is trying to pick up the pieces. Tracie is going to do whatever it takes to get her ex-boyfriend Carter back. But will she get hurt in the process? Mark is the luckiest guy alive. He and his girlfriend Lily are getting more serious but will one mistake cost him his girlfriend and the band? Sienna can barely hold it together. She is trying to help Tracie with Carter, but she falling for him herself. Will the band be able to hold it together or will it all unravel?

Opinion: This is the second Band book in the series, and having read the first one I know what’s going on. I liked it just as much as I liked the first book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about these characters and what they are going through. But the author also seems to put some suspense in there. It’s like a soap for the teens!

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8

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