Witch Child by Celia Rees

Witch Child was a fascinating look at the Salem witch Trials from the perspective of a girl named Mary. When her grandmother is killed by witch hunters in England, Mary must flee the country or risk the same fate. On the boat to America, she meets up with a community of puritans, which take her in like family. When they arrive, America is not what they imagined it to be. Half the puritans families are dead, and those who remain have turned into total jerks that are constantly plotting their sisters and brothers downfall. In brutal New England, rumors fly and Mary is slowly alienated. What will happen to her? Find out in Witch Child.

This book was really interesting. I have always been enthralled by the Salem witch trials, and this fresh new perspective was both scary and extremely believable. Throughout the book, I could never tell whether the book was fiction or non-fiction, and that also added to the intrigue. The author lingers on details and descriptions of the surroundings and situations and this makes the whole book seem real. Some of these descriptions really added to plot, but some, like the uneventful sail across the ocean were a bit tedious. There were some funny parts on the boat, but it was unnecessarily long. All in all, I liked Witch Child, it is a good read and would make a good resource for people who are trying to understand the culture of the 17th century.

It wasn't inappropriate, but the nature of the book may offend religious parents

Reviewer Age:12

Reviewer City, State and Country: Exeter, NH USA

The Sam Gunn Omnibus, by Ben Bova

This book is a science fiction and adventure novel. It collects all the tales about Sam Gunn that have ever been written and ties them together with the story of a reporter collecting them. Sam Gunn was an adventurer and womanizer who died just before the start of the novel. A reporter who lives on the moon named Jade decides to collect stories about Sam. She interviews people, both friends and enemies, who were involved in Sam's life. Throughout the course of the novel, Sam emerges as likable, reckless, and disrespectful of authority. The individual stories are roughly chronological in order.

I had mixed feelings about this book. It started off as enjoyable, but quickly became much more tedious. It was action packed and funny, especially during the stories about Sam. The story about Jade was also fairly well developed. However, many of the stories were too predictable, and the book in general was too focused on lust. The novel is by no means hardcore science fiction, as the book focuses on the characters and their exploits rather than on science or discovery. The novel is more of an adventure novel that happens to be set in a not so distant future. For people who have read some of the Sam Gunn stories and enjoyed them, this book is recommended. If you are interested in a science fiction story in general, this book is probably not for you
This book has strong language and sexual references.

Reviewer Age:15
Royersford, PA United States

Cheech and Chong:The Unauthorized Autobiography

This book was highly drug related. I recommend it for ages 14-20. It is all about how Cheech met Chong, and how they became best friends. It all starts with a rough road trip, and a nice meeting in a warm area. It tells the rich history of a drug filled friendship that will only end when the drugs and music are gone.

This book was really interesting. It had a few to many drug references for me. What was moving was the fact that they are still very close, even after their movies. It didn't really touch down on too many details. It could have been written more fully.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Seaside, Oregon USA

Castration Celebration by Jake Wizner

Olivia is your average girl, excepting the fact that she walked in on her father fooling around with one of his students. She is now at Yale University for the summer for the arts. Now, she hates men and is writing a musical called Castration Celebration. At Yale, she meets Max. Max loves women and everything about them. He tries to make Olivia like him, but it turns out to be just one snide comment after another from her. As Olivia's musical progresses, will reality and her work have the same ending, or will they be on opposite ends of the spectrum?

This book was overflowing with hilarious witticisms and sexual innuendo! The lewd, yet serious tone of the novel makes this such a great read and it had me laughing the whole time. The songs written for the musical have similes and metaphors that leave you wanting more. Max and Olivia have interesting conversations filled with biting sarcasm and hilarious satire. This book discusses everything from eunuchs in Imperial China to screwing a sheep.

Has a lot of talk about sex and mature ideas.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: , PA USA

GakuenPrince I by Jun Yuzuki

Azusa Mizutani is the new kid at a school that used to be an elite private school only for girls. Now there are a few guys there, but they are really outnumbered. So the girls need to satisfy themselves in a competition for the guys in the school. Azusa is almost molested, but manages to save himself through a loophole: should he so chose, he could pledge himself to one girl, and no other girl would be allowed to have sexual contact with him. And this is what he does, against the girl's will.

This book was totally engrossing! I couldn't stop reading and finished it in one sitting. The characters had depth and their feelings were shown very well throughout the book. It was very funny and made me laugh. The book grabbed my attention through to the end with its interesting plot and intricately drawn illustrations. However, it has a lot of talk about sex and has some very inappropriate images for younger people in it.

This book had a lot of talk of sex and some VERY inappropriate images.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: , PA USA

Perpetual Check by Rich Wallace

Brothers Zeke and Randy Mansfield don't get along at all. Zeke is the older brother and is stronger and plays sports. Randy is the younger brother and spends most of his time making up words and being himself. However, they share one interest: chess. They both have made it to the regional competition and have the chance of facing each other. Randy can beat Zeke nine times out of ten, unless Zeke actually tries. Which one, if either, will make it to the next level?

This was a fast, simple read. The concept of the novel and the emotions weren't deep and the character's feelings were not expressed very well. The author had a chance to elaborate when talking about the boys' home situation; he never quite explains everything with it. The entire book could have been expanded and more detail could have been added. It jumped from one event to the next without much transition and made for a choppy read. On the other hand, the chess games were explained in somewhat easy to understand terms. All the names he used were explained.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: , PA USA

Wings of Wrath by C. S. Friedman

Wings of Wrath by C.S. Friedman is an exciting story, with several different events occurring and intertwining at the same time. Kamala is the first woman to become a Magister, an order that can draw upon humans' souls to use magic. She has just killed another member of the order, and is hunted for it. To save herself, Kamala flees to the Northern Protectorates, where she meets Rhys, who, with his Lyr blood, is immune to the Wrath, a sorcerous boundary that warps magic used by anyone and causes terror in all who approach it. It was formed to keep Souleaters, creatures who feast on the souls of humans, away from civilization. After saving Rhys from a traitorous tribe of the Northern Protectorates, the Alkali, they together search for a disturbance in the Wrath which Rhys had been sent to find. They find one of the stones that forms the Wrath had been broken, and a witch was inside, having been sacrificed to create it. This causes Rhys to doubt his people's beliefs, as they believe that the Gods had created the Wrath to help them, not to torture their people. Rhys is unsure of what to do when he returns to his leaders, as telling them the truth could ruin their morale, as their beliefs will be shattered. Meanwhile, another story takes place south, in the High Kingdom, where Salvator Aurelius take the throne from his father. He renounces his vows as a Penitent monk, and takes his role as ruler of the Kingdom. He is faced with trouble when reports of attacks from the Northern Protectorates come in, as his mother is half Lyr, and is Rhys' mother as well. The third thread of the story is centered around the Witch-Queen of Sankara, Siderea, whose use of magic has brought her to the end of her life. Her soulfire, which is used to make her magic, has almost expired. She is saved when she is shown a group of Souleaters hiding in the mountains near her home. She is paired to one, and it renews her soulfire, while she sets it free from its prison. Siderea is concerned with allying her home country with the High Kingdom to ensure peace. Meanwhile, in the High Kingdom, Salvator finds out from Rhys that the Alkali had betrayed the other Protectorates, and they are the ones that attacked the High Kingdom in an attempt to start a war between the Protectorates and the High Kingdom. However, Salvator allies himself with Rhys' tribe and the other tribes, and they begin a campaign against the Alkali while Rhys and Kamala sneak through to the main city of the Alkali on a secret mission.. Will the fighting be enough to distract the Alkali and allow Rhys and Kamala to succeed, or will Salvator and the others fail and doom the entire Northern Protectorates? Read Wings of Wrath to find out.

While I have never read the first book in the trilogy, Feast of Souls, Wings of Wrath is a very confusing book, with a plot that has good ideas, but is hard to understand. The author refers to places and events from the first book too much for someone who hasn't read it to understand. The different threads of the story based on different characters, along with the constant flashes to the past, make it very difficult to follow as well. Even if I had read Feast of Souls, I feel that Wings of Wrath would still be a confusing and difficult read. However, if you can read through the confusing points of the book, the plot is good, and can keep you interested if you understand it. While I would not recommend this book to someone who has difficulty concentrating while reading, I do think that anyone who has read Feast of Souls and enjoyed it should definitely consider reading Wings of Wrath.

ViolenceSexual Themes

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, PA US

Everwing by M.J. Grothoff

EverWing is the story of a man named Gavee. Gavee is just like any other person, except for one tiny detail: he has wings. He is a part of a race of people known as the Masura. He finds out that what he sees as right and wrong aren't the same from the group of people he lives with (his clan). He must decide whether he will follow his heart or go with what his clan wants. EverWing follows his so-called gripping adventure.

I really tried to get into this book. Unfortunately, this book turned out to be far less gripping than the back cover promised. The author spends way too much time describing what Gavee planned to do rather than describing him doing it. For instance, Gavee was about to fight a dragon and he dropped his sword in the tall grass nearby. He spent four pages trying to find his sword and reflecting on memories. He spent a half page surprising and killing the dragon. It just seemed like a horrible balance. The storyline really captivated me at the beginning, but the thrill soon wore off. It does not come through on any front and I would definitely not recommend it.

Reviewer Age: 15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Westerville, OH United States

Dragon Wishes by Stacy Nyikos

After the death of their parents, Alex and Isa move to Northern California with their Auntie Ling and Uncle Norbert. Isa has stopped talking and Alex's art skills have been limited to drawing only dead trees. Alex is unhappy with her new school but soon makes a new friend, who also loves art. To afford art classes, they begin painting faces at school soccer games until Alex tries to leave early one day. 

Dragon Wishes is a wonderful story about a girl dealing with the death of her parents. Nyikos captures true sorrow, love, friendship, and the concept of home. Auntie Lings story is inspiring. It completes the book, and defines real magic. Many people will be able to relate to Alex and Isa's problems. You laugh, cry, and read until the story is finished. On a scale of one to ten, I would give it about a nine.

Reviewer Age:11

Reviewer City, State and Country: Fortuna, CA USA

Stepping Up by Mark Fink

 This book is about a 14-year-old boy who goes to a summer basketball camp. Ernie Dolan talks with a lisp and is the average guy. He struggles with the fact that his best friend, Mike Rivers, is better than he is in more than one thing. Sports, girls, and all the things in between seem to come to Mike like breathing, and that bugs Ernie. At the beginning of the plot, Ernie feels like a geek and feels out of place next to his sporty BFF. But, by the end of camp, he feels like a man who has reached his full potential.

Mike Rivers has been Ernie's best friend since they were little. But once Camp NothinButNet comes along, Mike accepts a better group's call to join them. However, that group of friends find themselves in a sticky situation. Will Mike go back to Ernie and his other roommates, or will he continue to hang out with that popular group?

Rick Craig is the man behind Mike's new group, and because of Rick's popularity, he is Ernie's least favorite part of camp from the first time they set eyes on each other. Rick is the jock because of his skills, and he frequently lets that go to his head. After an accident, Rick gets benched from all movement and that puts his life into a better perspective. The team makes it to the camp championship, and the boys gain new friendships in the most unlikely people.

The setting of this book is the shore of Lake Michigan at NothinButNet Basketball Camp. The technique that Mr. Fink uses in his descriptions of events is effective in creating the mood, as well as allowing you to finish painting the picture the way you want. The perspective of the book allows you to get more of an insight to what the average person would see and say in a particular position. In addition, the author makes you feel like you are every bit as involved in the plot since it's written from Ernie's point of view. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys realistic fiction, sports-especially basketball, and high-quality adventure stories. 

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Knoxville, TN USA