Sweet Valley High 2, Secrets

For Jessica Wakefield everything pretty much comes easy...or in other words, she gets what she wants. But now what she wants more than ever is to become homecoming queen, and more importantly, to get Bruce Patman. The one thing that is keeping her from getting what she wants is Enid Rollins. Enid is the best friend of Jessica's twin sister Elizabeth. When Jessica finds out one of Enid's deep dark secrets it's only a matter of time before the world would knows. Elizabeth is the only one who can possibly stop her sister before it's too late.

If you're looking for a good easy read at the beach this summer this is a great choice of book! It's a sweet traditional teen story which has your typical mean girl versus good girl plot line. The book could be a little more moving or have some more action just to entertain the reader. This story isn't a page-turner, however it's not boring either. You should definitely put this on your summer reading list!

There are a few swear words and some mature references.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania U.S.

The Morganville Vampires: Dead Girls Dance by Rachel Caine

Handsome. Charming. Trapped. Dead. Michael is all of those: trapped in the glass house he died in, the handsome and charming crush of Eve, and Shane’s best friend. Eve and Claire, two best friends, live in the same house as Michael while they go to school in Morganville. Life is good, until they get on the bad side of the local police, who just happen to be vampires! Between the psycho, battling vampires, Eve’s un-known brother popping up out of nowhere, and a kick-butt party, this year is sure to be very interesting.

The second in the Morganville Vampire series, Dead Girls Dance by Rachel Caine starts with a bang! As the first chapter started, I was a little wary; I hadn’t read the prequel, so I was a little unsure of the people and places, and the beginning started fast. Fortunately, Caine left little to be desired in her catch-up and I was ready to press on in no time. The ending wasn't the kind to spoil the whole book, but one that simply closes it (as in, I could tell you how the book ends, but I won't!). The entire book was everything the title evoked in me: fear, wonder at the subject, and a need to know the truth about the Morganville Vampires.

Rating:8

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Marblehead, MA USA

The Schoolboy by Tony Rosa

Sam Parma does not like to golf. He's a baseball player, not a golfer! But one summer morning, his outlook changes quite a bit. Reluctantly entered in the Schoolboy, a junior golf tournament, Sam only participates to please his mother. After all, what's the harm in a day at the golf course? But conflict arises quickly as Sam is grouped with an experienced golfer, a foul-mouthed cheater, and an intimidating bully for the day's golfing. Thus an innocent tournament soon evolves into a test of character where winning is the least of Sam's worries.

Overall, Tony Rosa's "The Schoolboy" is not a bad book, though the exposition is not convincing, and overuse of golf lingo distracts from the story. The book picks up speed as it continues. Laced with life lessons, each chapter serves a specific purpose. Though well-intended, many of these points are too preachy for its audience. That a few hours of golfing could change the main character's outlook on life is not believable, especially considering that the point of view is that of a fourteen-year-old boy. In the words of Rosa himself, "sometimes you just can't make them all."

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Tipp City, OH USA

Barefoot by Lizann Bassham

Opal spends her childhood in a small town with her mother's family and friends. Her mother died when Opal was only seven years old and Opal feels that it is her fault, because before her mother died, Opal hadn't been following directions. Her father is off traveling and Opal's dearest cousin has gone to war. Opal is always afraid that if she does the slightest thing wrong, her new family will leave her. But as she grows older, Opal learns that through thick and thin, the people who love her will always be there.

The book was intriguing, and, although slow at first, became more and more entrancing as I got deeper into the story. Lizann Bassham, an amazing author, made detailed scenes that were easy to imagine. Opal and her family went through many tragic events, in which the author captured the emotions of the family, especially when Opal's cousin went off to war. This book shows the pros and cons of small-town living in the 1960's. The realization of Opal's that her family will not leave her is built gradually, which makes for an interesting story. It a sweet, yet sometimes tragic page-turner, and I would recommend it to everyone over the age of ten.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Boothwyn, Pennsylvania USA

The Gorgon's Gaze by Julia Golding

When Connie Lionheart's great-aunt and uncle try to keep her away from the Society for the Protection of Mythical Creatures, they don't count on her being the most important member, the universal companion who can communicate with all mythical creatures. Connie has to find out why Great-aunt Godiva hates the society so much. In doing so, she discovers a dark part of her family's past. Meanwhile, the evil Kullervo stirs up trouble for the society. When Kullervo starts bringing some of the mythical creatures and their companions to the dark side, who can Connie trust?

I really liked this book. I thought that it would be confusing to someone who hadn't read the first book, Secret of the Sirens, though. The author did a good job creating a subplot with Great-aunt Godiva. The plot moves quickly. I liked how this book had many mythical creatures.

Rating:7

Reviewer Age:12

Reviewer City, State and Country: Exeter, New Hampshire United States

Toto! The Wonderful Adventure

All Kakashi wants to do is go on an adventure. Ever since his dad left for one and never came back, Kakashi has been trying to leave his island. When he finally gets the opportunity to climb aboard an airship to leave, the Man Chicken Family (a gang of criminals) tries to stop him. Kakashi is strong enough to stay on the airship, and he eventually lands on the mainland. With a map of the world, his new found dog, and a friend named Dorothy he takes off on the first adventure of his life -- with quite a few complications.

Toto! The Wonderful Adventure was a really cool story. It was an extremely quick read for me, so it would be good for a short wait or in the car. I liked how the beginning introduced so much about the main character, Kakashi. He is unique because he will do anything to take after his father and go on an adventure. The ending leaves you hanging for the second book in the series, but it is definitely a good finish! I liked how there were little references to Wizard of Oz because they were funny. I think most teenage readers would enjoy it and I look forward to reading the second book in the series."

Reviewer Age:14

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

From Alice to Zen and Everyone in Between by Elizabeth Atkinson

When Alice Bunt moves from the city to the suburbs, she thinks life is going to be perfect. Boy, is she wrong. Alice runs into Zen, a boy from down the street, and he gives the tomboy some information about middle school. They take some magazine quizzes to figure out who Alice should be friends with. It turns out that the results are way wrong and Alice learns not to be what everybody else is, but to act as an individual.

I think From Alice to Zen and Everyone in Between is a great book. Elizabeth Atkinson convinced me that the characters were real. Plus, I can relate to Alice and her adventures. This book has a very interesting story line which led to me not being able to put it down. I would recommend this book to anybody who is looking for a nice, easy summer read.

Reviewer Age:12

Reviewer City, State and Country: Oakmont, Pennsylvania United States

Beyond The Orphan Train by Donna Nordmark Aviles

Oliver Nordmark has run away from his foster family in
search of his brother who was given to a different
family. On his way, he learns to build sod houses,
harvest wheat, build a barn, grow a garden, and work in
the navy. He also does exiting things like hopping
trains! But when he finally reaches where his brother
was, he's not there. Now Oliver has to relocate him!
Will he ever find him?

This book was very good because it was interesting to
learn about the early 1900's. Although it was an easy
reader, all the facts were true because Oliver was the
author's grandfather! I would highly suggest reading the
first book, "Fly Little Bird, Fly" first so you can find
out more about the orphan train; it was a little confusing
because I haven't read it. Other than that, I loved this
book!

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Gearhart, Oregon United States

Fading Tracks by: Kristi Holl

This book is about Jeri McKane, a girl who attends a fancy
boarding school on a scholarship. Jeri is already having
second thoughts about going to the boarding school when
her best friend's bus never returns from a field trip.
When Jeri tries to help, she gets yelled at. Though
malicious principals and meddling reporters try to stop
her, she never stops trying to do the right thing. She
eventually discovers that the saying "never judge a book
by its cover" is completely true, and that praying can
solve even your most daunting problems.

Okay, let me start by saying that if you start reading
this book, you MUST finish it, be cause the last 3 chapter bring it all together. Holl's unrealistic characters are
very confusing. They seem to change personalities too
quickly, perhaps to make the story line work out the way
the author intended. One example is the boarding school's
principal, who is mean at the beginning, then half way
through turns nice, seemingly overnight. Also the rest of
the characters are either good or evil, there isn't any
gray area. In the end of the book you find out that
everyone and everything is good except the one 'bad guy',
and that all the problems of the book were just
misunderstandings. I think that at least 1 or 2 of the
problems should have been real, because it would have made
the rest of the book more satisfying.

Reviewer
Age:11

Reviewer City, State and Country: Exeter, New
Hampshire USA

Fran, The Second Time Around by Amy L. Bernstein

As this book opens, Fran is dreading the first day of high school, a place full of new people she has never met. Mystery surrounds the reasons why she has not continued on with the schoolmates she has known all of her life. Eventually, it emerges that a tragic accident has occurred, one that shocked her family and friends, and dictated her decision to switch schools. The book is divided into three parts, the first describes her life after the accident, the second her life as a popular and carefree middle schooler before, and the third occurs right before, during and after the tragedy. Her parents are supportive, her younger brother Tobey, seems oblivious to her suffering, and her former best friend Tracey has totally rejected her. To help Fran fight her overwhelming depression, her mother introduces her to Peter, who has learned to use meditation to survive the death of both of his parents. Although she initially resists Peters advice, Fran gradually learns to forgive herself. In this book, the reader will discover how people cope with challenges in different ways, and how one girl works to overcome a dreadful situation, and make herself a whole new life.

This book was gripping, from the moment I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. I would highly recommend it, especially to middle schoolers or older. The author pulls you into Fran's life by starting the book in the middle and then working backwards. Sometimes it is a little hard to keep track of the characters and time that everything takes place. However, overall it was a really great book. The ending could have been better, it was a little predictable.

This book includes death so some readers maybe react strongly to it.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Hingham, MA USA