Lamentation by Ken Scholes

This book is the first of a quintet of fantasy novels. The world as imagined in the book is divided into the Named Lands and the Churning Wastes. At the beginning, science, magic, and the entirety of the Named Lands have been controlled by the Androfrancines, a religious order, since the time of the Laughing Madness. The balance of power is overthrown when Windwir, the capital of the Andofrancine Order, is destroyed. As a result, war erupts between the different powers of the Named Lands. Lord Rudolfo of the Ninefold Forest Houses allies with Lady Jin Li Tam of House Li Tam to rebuild the library of the Andofrancines and to fight Sethbert, the man who destroyed Windwir. The war is further complicated when two popes claim power over the remnants of the Andofrancine Order. One supports Sethbert, while the other backs Rudolfo. Misinformation, intrigue, and changing allegiances abound before the war is resolved. The story has a conclusion, but a new plot twist is revealed at the end to encourage reading the next book.

This book was enjoyable but confusing. The viewpoint alternates among ten characters. The many plot twists and the various points of view make the story interesting but also keep the reader in the dark. Even at the end, not all the mysteries are solved. The postlude indicates that more answers will be found in the next novel. This book is recommended for anyone who enjoys novels filled with magic, intrigue, and complicated plots.

This book contains sexual and violent content, though most of it is implied rather than explicit. This book would be best for teenage or adult readers.

Reviewer Age:15

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

This Side of Magic by Debbie Dadey

This Side of Magic by Debbie Dadey is a quick entertaining read for kids of all ages. The book is based in a small town and the story revolves around the lives of two kids: Luke and his best friend Penny. When they offer to watch their old neighbor Mr. Leery's cat, Mo, they discover that more lies in the woods behind the neighborhood houses than they anticipated. Not only are strange things happening in the woods, but Mo himself seems to be talking to Penny and Luke. When Mr. Leery returns and is told of the unusual events and informed by the kids that they understand Mo, he tells them a secret that will change their lives. Mr. Leery informs Penny and Luke that they are two of three key holders who hold the power to go into another world when they go into the woods. He tells them this is an important power and that he has been watching them their entire lives to ensure they are ready for this challenge. Penny and Luke are amazed at the power they now hold and it is up to them whether to take on the responsibility of being key holders.

This Side of Magic was an intriguing book with a plot that makes it an easy read and will have kids turning the pages until they are done. Debbie Dadey's style of writing is extremely clear and easy to understand. Penny and Luke are likable characters who seem very real. For instance, when Luke is at school he enjoys playing basketball and Penny loves jewelry of any type. This book is the first of a series and the ending is set up for a sequel. When kids finish this book they will want to go right out and by the next one because the story leaves you wanting to find out the next part of Penny and Luke's journey. This book is appropriate for children anywhere from five up to twelve. It is great for kids who like adventure books or for those who enjoy a touch of fantasy.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Westerville , OH USA

Supergirls Speak Out by Liz Funk

"Supergirls Speak Out" by Liz Funk is a nonfiction self-help book with all the suspense of a fiction book. It follows the lives of about four identified Supergirls and several anonymous others. By defining what an overachiever is, Funk unravels the mystery of perfection in adolescent girls and how deadly it can be. She also delves into the subject of gender roles. In the twentieth century, girls are pushed to be excellent academics and pretty ideals. So, not only do female teens spend hours studying and overworking, but they also spend hours laying out outfits and straightening their hair. There is also an intriguing chapter on female dynamics and contradictions. For instance, many Supergirls don't know how to act around boys. If they are too smart, boys turn away (so the stereotype goes), and if they are too pretty, boys just use them. Many other engaging questions are prompted throughout the book, covering the controversial issues of depression, eating disorders, and more.

Funk's book is remarkably honest. It provokes readers to look inside themselves and try to love who they are. Girls need to stop dieting, stop trying to please others, stop looking for negative attention from guys, stop thinking they're never quit good enough, etc. While the book may have been more interesting if more girls' stories were included and there were more universities discussed, it is still a page-turner. The book successfully covers the pressures of high school, college, and the workplace. At the end of the book, there is an author interview that discusses Funk's own past as a Supergirl. There are loose sexual associations, but nothing is graphic (they are for the purpose of portraying negative ways to get attention). In the end, girls learn that they should embrace their femininity and ditch the like phrases.

Reviewer Age:17

Reviewer City, State and Country: Staten Island, NY USA

The Secret Life of Prince Charming by Deb Caletti

Deb Caletti's The Secret Life of Prince Charming
tells the story of Quinn, daughter of a heart-breaking
Casanova. With the status her mother, grandmother, and
aunt all women scorned, Quinn and her sister Sprout are
brought up to distrust men and shield their hearts. While
at her father's house, Quinn learns about her father's
dirty little secret involving his past relationships. Her
disgust with her father combined with her own recent
breakup drives Quinn to connect with her stepsister,
Frances Lee. Together, along with Quinn's sister Sprout
and Frances Lee's boyfriend's brother Jake, they set out
on the road to right their father's wrongs. Along the way,
Quinn is able to learn for herself the true meaning of
sisterhood and love.


Deb Caletti truly outdoes herself in The
Secret Life of Prince Charming. As a fan of all of
Caletti's books, I would say that this one is even more
touching and powerful than her others. Quinn's voice
connects with the reader almost immediately, allowing her
exploration to reach deep into the heart of the reader.
While the premise of this book had the potential to get
overly heavy and preachy, Caletti avoids this by managing
to draw in the wisdom of multiple generations in such an
optimistic and endearing manner. My one complaint with The
Secret Life of Prince Charming is that the diary insets
are unclear when they are first encountered. However, once
the reader is able to connect the names of the women to
those that Quinn comes in contact to, these insets
heighten the significance and universality of Quinn's road
trip and Caletti's message.

Content:1


Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10
Reviewer Age: 19
Reviewer City, State and Country: Farmington, CT USA

The Hidden World by Paul Park

"The Hidden World" by Paul Park is a science fiction book. It follows an army general, a fragile princess, and a lascivious hermaphrodite. In an epic war between Germans and Turks, the characters are in the middle of many battlefields. They must try to survive attacks from soldiers, as well as spies. In the end, the characters are victorious, enjoying their splendor.

It is a shame that Park had to ruin his book with explicit material. He writes well, but he just can't stray from the blue material. As the fourth book in a series, the plot is a bit hard to follow. Also, the ridiculously spelled names of minor characters don't help the reader keep track of everybody. The gore is not too comforting, either.

Inappropriate objectification of women and harsh language

Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Staten Island, NY USA

Heartbreak River by Tricia Mills

As a new summer begins at her family's whitewater- rafting company, sixteen-year-old Alex can only hope that things will improve. After her father's death and breaking up with her boyfriend, Sean, last year, she feels as if her life is out of control. As the summer progresses, things seem to be looking up for Alex, that is until Sean returns to work as a river guide for her grandfather. Things heat up as Sean and another employee begin to compete for her affections, ultimately ending in tragedy. As Alex is forced to choose between her once-true-love and a new flame, the two face-off in a fatal battle of the elements. However, no matter who she chooses, someone will get hurt. Join Alex in this coming of age novel as she finds out who she is, and what she is to become.

Excellent detail, vivid characters, and complex situations are ever-present throughout this adventure of a novel. I found Heartbreak River to be an inspiring, yet enlightening, novel, and I was able to easily put myself inside of the story. Through the author's descriptions, I could actually picture the river that Alex is so afraid to enter! My overall evaluation of this book would be that it is a must-read for anyone looking to grow as a person. Through reading this novel, readers will learn to comprehend the complex mazes that a death can weave, along with observing the development of a love story that rivals that of Romeo and Juliet. It is safe to say that this summer-adventure will become the next "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants".

I gave this book a content rating of two because of its sexual situations. Although they are not extraordinarily descriptive, these situations may be slightly grown-up for underaged minds.
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Elkview, West Virginia United States

My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters by Sydney Salter

My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters was a great narrative by an average teenage girl with some acceptance issues. (Who doesn't have those?)
After finishing her junior year of high school, seventeen year-old Jory Michaels has three things on her summer to-do list: get rid of the Super Schnozz, find her passion (aka land Tyler Briggs as boyfriend), and learn to drive a stick-shift. When both Jory's friends Hannah and Megan find their "passions", Jory feels she must speed things up a little. When she does, natural disaster follows. If only she can get rid of her big nose everything will be peachy....right?
In this comedic drama about every girl's worst nightmare comes the story of accepting yourself and getting the guy without causing natural disaster.

After reading the first chapter I was hooked! The humor was great, the issues surrounding Jory were so-true and easy to relate to, but she was a little too obsessed with boys for my taste. She was getting rather ridiculous and getting way too desperate. This was the only downside to the book.
Not only do you get to read a fun teenage novel, but you get to be introduced or re-introduced to those life lessons we keep ignoring. Now if only there was a book on how to accept those pesky black-heads. Talk about best-seller....

I recommend this book for teens ages 15+ because of some sexual content/references and teen drinking.
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: NM USA

Darling Jim

Imagine picking up a newspaper and reading that 3 women, the Walsh sisters, along with their aunt, are found brutally murdered in their house. As you're reading you find out that the aunt was secretly keeping her nieces locked away in the attic all because of one man, by the name of Jim Darling. Jim Darling is a "Seanchai" or story teller, who travels to different cities in Ireland and tells the same story. As he moves around from city to city, women are mysteriously being murdered. As the story unfolds you find out why the Walsh sisters risked everything, and if "He would love her or kill her".

WOW! This book was amazing, and I could hardly put it down. The characters are so well written, and the plot unfolds beautifully. This is one murder mystery that should be read by everyone. I absolutely loved the Walsh sisters, and as I was reading the book I was fighting for them to succeed in their quest. Unfortunately, I also was fighting for Darling Jim. Christian Moerk makes such a likeable narcissistic male you almost feel bad for him...almost. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy plots that are full of exciting twists and murder mysteries that actually have depth to them.

I rated it a 3 because it has a few sexually explicit scenes, and the language could be viewed as mature, as well.

Content: 3
Rating: 10
Reviewer Age:19
Reviewer City, State and Country: Dundee, Oregon USA

Doom Lake Holiday by Tom Henighan

This is an exciting book about a seventeen year old boy named Chip who goes on a family vacation. His dad has rented a cottage by a lake to spend the time, but crazy, unanticipated things happen and the family moves over to an island where Chip and his family suspect the house is haunted. They get tied up in a mysterious past and Chip is determined to find out what is going on. This is an amazing mystery full of detail and adventure.

I think the author is good at describing the surroundings and the characters appearances. It feels like you are on the island. The main character, Chip, is very realistic and is kind of heroic. He sounds like a nice boy that is determined to find out what is going on on the spooky island. Overall it was a good mystery book. It was a little confusing at the beginning, but once I got into it I couldn't put it down. I think that almost anyone would like this book because it has a little bit of everything: mystery,adventure,ghosts,some history,and even some romance.

Our rating
(0 - 10 scale)
8

Age Level
9-12

Reviewer Age:12

Reviewer City, State and Country: Brownsburg, Indiana United States.

The Diamonds by Ted Michael

At Bennington High School, the Diamonds rule. The Diamonds are the most popular girls at Bennington. They're the ones that guys want to date and who girls want to be. Being a Diamond is the best thing Marni Valentine could ask for. She's best friends with the ring leader, Clarissa. Life seems perfect, until Marni gets too close to Clarissa's ex-boyfriend, Anderson. Big mistake. Now Marni has gone from Diamond to a lower class loser. Even worse, the Diamonds are the new mock trial team and they're delivering their so called justice to anyone in their path. There seems that nothing can be done about the Diamonds. Marni has some dirty secrets about the Diamonds, though, and she's not going down without a fight. After all, the one way to break a diamond is another diamond.
The Diamonds by Ted Michael is not only outrageously funny, but it keeps you on the edge of your seat, wanting more and more. The Diamonds has believable characters. This book shows that sometimes friends aren't always what they seem and sometimes aren't always truthful. The Diamonds teaches you that even if you're an outcast, you can stand up for what you believe in and triumph over all. I recommend this book to all young adult readers.
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Fairborn, Ohio United States