The House of Djinn by Suzanne Fisher Staples

Honor, tradition, and expectations. When Mumtaz's Baba
dies everything she knows and understands is changed. She
does have a mother, though she may be hidden away from the
world. And she also has a pre-arranged marriage to her
American cousin Jameel. The marriage must be quick, as
soon as possible. What happens if Jameel and Mumtaz's
desire for a future that isn't planned out for them is
stronger then their desire to please their family and
uphold the expectations placed on them by the Amirazi
tribe?

I really liked the House of Djinn. It put into
perspective what teenagers' life in other parts of the
world may be like. I also liked the surprises that
appeared in the story, like the possibility of Mumtaz
going to Cholistan with her mother. It was surprisingly
easy to fallow, something I wasn't expecting after reading
the summary on the back of the book. This book makes me
feel as if I am in the same room as Mumtaz. Its as if I'm
there with her, and I understand what she's feeling and
what is going through her mind. This is a great book to
read as you are getting ready to start school, and it will
interest almost any reader under the age of twenty-
one.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and
Country: Casa Grande, Arizona United States

The Automatic Detective by A. Lee Martinez

This book is a science fiction mystery set in a futuristic world filled with mutants and robots. Its purpose is to entertain. The main character is a robot named Mack Megaton. He was created to be destructive, but he developed free will, as did many other robots. He is now a cab driver attempting to earn his citizenship. When his neighbors go missing and he is attacked, he decides to get to the bottom of it. Along the way, he makes new friends and enemies.

I enjoyed this book and found the plot interesting. The plot is far-fetched and comical which greatly adds to the humor and uniqueness of the book. The characters were all likable even if they were not deeply moving. The book moves quickly and is a short but pleasant read. I recommend it specifically for someone looking for a funny, science-fiction mystery, but anyone would probably enjoy it.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Royersford, PA United States

Breathe by Cliff McNish

Inhale, exhale. A simple, involuntary action that most of us do without trouble. Jack, on the other hand, has asthma: asthma that has almost killed him. But in his new house, there are things at work... things much more dangerous then his asthma. The more Jack learns, the deeper he gets into the secrets of his new home, and the more danger he puts himself and his mother in. And what he finds out, just might kill him.

Although death and theories of an afterlife might be deep and complex topics, Breathe by Cliff McNish was an easy read. The combination of simple vocabulary and phrases and the non-stop commotion caused by the colorful cast of characters practically gave me insomnia. I couldn't stop reading and I got through the 261 pages in little under four hours. I was instantly captivated by the twisting plot and the portrayal of the hero, Jack, as a brave and intelligent young man. Breathe was refreshing and simple, but one of my favorite books this summer!

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: marblehead, MA US

Rating: 8

Content Rating: 1

Jars of Glass by Brad Barkley & Heather Hepler

Jars of Glass by Brad Barkley and Heather Hepler is a story of Shana and Chloe, two teenage sisters who struggle to find ways to cope with their family problems. From a mother who is hospitalized, a father who drinks and smokes to help him detach from feeling alive, and an adopted brother who is emotionally scarred and speaks a small amount of English. These girls decide that if you don't enjoy the family you have then you should go out and make another one. They come up with their own ways to escape their family and attempt to create a separate life that will help them forget about the issues occurring at home. Through many events, Chloe and Shana come to realize: some things aren't all that they seem to be, Love (even for a family member) is blind, and that life is only as appealing as you make it.

The author gives a pretty good description of the settings but at times they became a bit hard to follow, as if maybe they were too elaborate or not elaborate enough (i.e. the families home). The tone was a bit bleak and at times suggested a feeling of despair and abandonment from both sisters. Shana, your typical misunderstood girl, turns Goth; but the author did an excellent job of explaining why she chose that path and how she truly feels about the whole Goth scene. Chloe ditches her artistic ability in fear of becoming like her mother and longs to find someone who will befriend her. The fact that the book is written in both sides of the story (alternating sisters with each chapter) makes it quite enjoyable and helps the reader to understand why each girl chose certain actions. The writing brings each character to life, from their corky smarty-pants comments to their confused and lost moments. The book was very well put together, switching chapters to the next sister at just the right moments. Fortunately, the book did not have your typical fairytale ending; but it did have a very happy-go-lucky conclusion. I would recommend this book to lovers of Lurlene McDaniel books or anyone who enjoys reading about dysfunctional families.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Raleigh, North Carolina United States

Mousetraps by Pat Schmatz

Maxie and Roddy designed hi-tech mousetraps together while in elementary school. But that was elementary school. In high school everything changes. After the change between schools they don't talk nearly as much. Now Roddy goes by Rick and he is an outcast. Nobody treats him with respect. Since Maxie's high school-best friend Tay finds new friends while snowboarding, Maxie continues to hang out with Rick like in the old days and she notices that he is nice. Maxie wonders if they are more than just friends. Then everything goes terribly wrong.
The book Mousetraps started off rather slow although it got better as I made it through. Pat Schmatz showed me that life isn't perfect for everyone, and if you can, help those kinds of people. Overall I would recommend this book to anybody, boys or girls.
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Oakmont, Pennsylvania United States

The Night Children by Kit Reed

Jule is just an ordinary girl...except for the fact that her parents have mysteriously been taken away one night. Her aunt disappears soon after and Jule decides to visit one of the biggest malls ever, the Castertown MegaMall, to escape her loneliness and fear. After being locked in the mall's biggest attraction - the WhirlyFunRide - she accidentally gets stuck in the mall overnight and discovers mysteries about lost and abandoned children and some who just ran away. No one knows about these children. They have formed different groups of night children and are staying and living in the mall with all the other groups and their leaders. What they don't know is that the evil Amos Zozz is scheming to take revenge on all the night children for an incident that destroyed his life many years ago. Even the two biggest group enemies see that they will have to work together to save all of the night children from what is about to happen.

I thought this book was very fun to read. I liked reading and learning from all the characters and different sides of the story. The author created a very fun and exciting book for anyone to read. I think the book is very unexpected in a good way. This book was hard to put down. I got involved in the story within the first few chapters. The book gave few details in the beginning and made me want to read even more. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes a little mystery and adventure.

Reviewer Age:12

Reviewer City, State and Country: Midlothian, VA, USA

Forever Changes by Brendan Halpin

Inspirational, emotional, heartfelt, and vivid. These are all words that describe the book, Forever Changes. Brianna is in her golden years. She's in high school, has a social life, and a parent who cares about her a lot. Even though Brianna has an illness that is hard to cure, she does her best in whatever she sets her mind to. Ever since Brianna started her third year of high school, something seems to be missing. Her father keeps nagging her about college and her best friends push her to the limit with things she doesn't care about. On the other hand there's Mr. Eccles, her math teacher, who gives her the idea that solving infinity is possible. Brianna seems to struggle to pull the pieces of her life together, but stops when she see's that her future may be coming to an end.

At first when I started the book, I knew I couldn't put it down. Every one of those words were sinking into me deeper and deeper as I read along. Forever Changes really made me think about all the challenges that a person might have to face in life and how they deal with them. When I finished that book, I realized that I was a really lucky person. I'm healthy, athletic, and I have friends and a family that care for me very much. If I lost any of those things, I don't know how I would survive. Forever Changes truly showed me that there isn't always that perfect little world out there for everyone. There will always be people who get the short end of the stick and others who are more fortunate and get the long end of the stick. No matter what kind of obstacles are out there, a person can always make them into journey's that they will never forget.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Gearhart, Or U.S.A.

The Last Patriot

The Last Patriot by Brad Thor marks the next chapter in the Scot Harvath saga. The former Navy SEAL and Secret Service agent finds himself back in the fray when he witnesses a car bombing outside a French cafe. Under Harvath's protection, the bomb's intended target reveals to Harvath that the most powerful threat to Western Civilization, Fundamentalist Islam, could be eliminated without a single military offensive. This revelation sends Harvath in search of the the prophet Mohammed's last revelation. With the help of Islamic scholars, the FBI, and Thomas Jefferson's diary, Harvath must obtain the revelation before it is found by fundamentalists who see the future of the United States as a nation under Sharia law.

In The Last Patriot, Brad Thor provides all of the characteristics necessary to deliver a great thriller: character development, plenty of plot twists, and an unexpected ending. However, Thor also adds something else that may distinguish the novel from others. Political thrillers have examined the threats to the West (specifically the United States) for many years. We have read about Soviet conspiracies, nuclear war with North Korea, and terrorist cells in the Middle-East. But Thor's observation of the foundation of Islam is a place few authors have gone. This concept embedded into the plot contributes to the thought-provoking nature of the novel as we step into an uncertain future. A fast read with plenty of punch, I recommend The Last Patriot to readers who enjoy secret-agent storylines along with political intrigue.

Violence and religious examination

Reviewer Age:18

Reviewer City, State and Country: Eden Prairie, Minnesota United States

Violet in Private

Violet Greenfield knows she's supposed to be a super-confident nineteen-year-old because she's done runway shows in New York and internationally. But now that she's finally headed to college, she's afraid she'll turn back into that girl who blended into the walls in high school. Vassar is just two hours away from New York City--her friends in fashion think she's crazy to stop modeling now. And her old friend Roger is there...but things have been weird ever since they kissed. The real question is if she's not going to be "Violet on the Runway" anymore...who is she?

I absolutely loved reading Violet in Private. Melissa Walker did an exceptional job, with unique characters and plot, and interesting details and dialogue. This book teaches readers to follow their dreams, whether it is becoming a model or going to college. It also shows you can be happy with your body, no matter what size or shape you are. I think every girl should definitely read this book.

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country: Leopold, MO USA

The Eyes of a King by Catherine Banner

Leo North is a gifted child. Though it is not apparent, his magical gifts must be suppressed under the laws of the kingdom. Leo lives in Malonia, a land ruled by the worst of kings who puts all his people under worry and strain. Leo's life has no prospects and appears bleak until he finds a plain blank book in the snow. From the first time writing appears in the book, Leo is thrown into the minds of others, and his life begins to change. Through the black book he is shown the life of Aldebranan, an exile who has similar, yet stronger powers than Leo. This opens Leo's eyes to the hidden world just out of his reach. He must balance experiencing these secrets with striving for a normal life in the broken down kingdom he lives in. Leo's life becomes even more stressful when his brother falls critically ill and Leo is taken to fight the war. When everything goes wrong and you can't live another day, anything seems possible.

This was a very complicated book. It took me a while to get enthused about it as it is rather slow to start. However once it became riveting and exciting, which it did, it was very hard to put down. The Eyes of a King was a creative and intriguing read which provoked a lot of thought. Leo is faced with decisions and situations which would be terrifying in reality, watching them unfold in his life was extremely confronting. I felt that I really related to this book and it both made me cry tears for the characters and become truly happy when things went their way. I found a few errors in the text, more than in most books, and I often found myself lost with unnecessary complications in how the story was written. The Eyes of a King was written by a girl of only fourteen years old and was her first novel. Knowing this, it was an exceptional debut and I will expect great things to come from this young author.

General mature content

Reviewer Age: 14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Melbourne, Victoria Australia