Wireless by Charles Stross

This book is a collection of science fiction short stories written by Charles Stross. Some of the stories are only a few pages long, but others are novellas, a category of writing between the lengths of a short story and a novel. Several stories deal with the future of Earth. Others use the Soviet Union as the enemy, even though all the stories were written after the collapse of the USSR. One of the stories uses a character from some of his novels, a demonology and computer expert. Some of the stories are funny or ironic, while others are more serious. All take place on worlds very different from our own. There are a total of nine stories, and many of them are followed by short afterwords by the author.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I love science fiction, so many of the stories and odd settings I found enjoyable, interesting, or even comical. Some of the others were too confusing. The plot twists in these are never adequately explained, and the endings are sometimes unsatisfying. However, overall I enjoyed reading this book. I recommend it to serious science fiction fans only, because the plots and settings would be too confusing and frustrating to anyone who does not genuinely enjoy science fiction.

There are several fairly explicit sexual references, but nothing too graphic or violent occurs. It is for a teenage or adult audience.

Reviewer Age:15

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

Natasha Lands Down Under by Katherine McCaughan

Natasha can no longer live in China because of the communist takeover. Her family decides to move to Australia where a family member is willing to sponsor them. There is one major problem with that: only Natasha's mother can speak English. Natasha, her father, Babushka, and sisters speak Russian. When they move to Australia they are treated harshly by the others. Even in school, Natasha is thought of as an outcast. While learning English and adjusting to their new surroundings, Natasha and her family become integrated with the people and liked by those who accept them. If only that were the end to their problems...

I enjoy learning languages and reading about different cultures. This book was a wonderful example to me of two--if not three--different cultures. Natasha was Russian at home, Australian at school, and missed her Chinese home. The vocabulary was decent and portrayed the character's emotions well. The only slight problem that I found with the book is that Natasha is very young in the story, and she is very mature. Realistically speaking, I think that she was too mature for her age. With her experiences, however, Natasha would be more mature than most children. I recommend this book to people who enjoy cultures or stories of fitting in.

Reviewer Age:16

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

Phantom Island by Krissi Dallas

Whitnee's father disappeared when she was eleven. So when Whitnee spots him on a forbidden island while mentoring at a camp, she simply has to go and find him. She sets off with her best friends, Morgan and Caleb, and two uninvited campers and they stumble upon another world. They are caught in the middle of a prophecy and suddenly Whitnee is the island's hero. She must learn all she can about the island in order to bring peace to all of its tribes.

I really liked this book, partially because it has another world in it. The description was also really good. I would definitely recommend this book to others, especially people who like fantasy. The only thing I didn't like was that Whitnee's love life became rather complicated. Overall, it is a great debut novel for Krissi Dallas. I am waiting for the sequel to come out in 2010.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Exeter, New Hampshire USA

The Color of Earth by Kim Dong Hwa

Ehwa is a young girl who lives in a village in rural Korea with her widowed mother. As each year passes, Ehwa blossoms in to a young woman as the spring rains bring a new glow to the landscape. When a new monk comes, he stirs Ehwa's emotions. Love comes to Ehwa's mom too. A mysterious artist becomes the first man to catch her mother's eye since her father died. Will love stay in their lives?

This book was not my kind of book. It was like a comic book. The characters were beleiveable. Some of the elements of the story weren't as believable as others. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy stories of first loves and second chances.

This book had a few things that might not be appropriate for all readers.
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Enon, OH USA

Recycler

Jill McTeague is very different from other teenage girls. It's not her fault though. She happens to be a scientific anomaly. Each and every month, she turns into a guy named Jack with all the guy parts. She was able to get through high school, but she had to claim she was getting blood transfusions. Now she doesn't know what to do. Everyone in her hometown is suspicious of her and there is only one thing to do, get out of town. She decides to travel with her best friend to New York where her and Jack will have to figure out relationship problems, career options, and much more. Go along for the ride as Jill and Jack have to deal with everyday problems that each teenager must deal with. For them, it just happens to be a tad more difficult.

Re-cycler is a very different book, but in a good way. I enjoyed every last word that I read. It was very interesting compared to other books. Lauren McLaughlin does an amazing job on all parts of the book. She is very creative and an amazing author. Even though I knew that this plot could never truly happen, it felt real. This book is very entertaining and I recommend it to every young adult reader out there.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Fairborn, Ohio USA

Winter Song by Jean-Claude Mourlevat

Winter Song by Jean-Claude Mourlevat is a fast pace novel of loss, courage and strength. Four orphaned teenagers become outlaws after fleeing the hellish boarding school that had detained them for fifteen years, but only three make it safely out. After their friend fails to escape, it becomes the three teen’s plight to rise up against the oppressing Phalage government; trying to save their friend and avenge the death of their parents. Escaping vicious hunting dog-men set out to kill them, the trio joins a secret resistance group. Throughout their suspenseful journey they learn whom it is wise to trust and that the strength of friendship and that of a single voice in a crowd can withstand masses.

This was a very well written but unusual book as it would fit into many genres. It was a mixture of pumping adventure, startling action, subtle fantasy and budding romance that made Winter Song interesting. It was an enthralling read, with action and adventure themes and scenes similar to those that Australia’s John Marsden portrays. Jean-Claude Mourlevat weaves a thick web of questions that are gradually answered throughout the book. He also creates a world that has such realism you are left questioning our own humanity. This was definitely a book that teenage readers would relish because they are able to closely relate to the characters, but I wouldn’t restrict Winter Song for any age group to enjoy.

Violent Scenes

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Melbourne , Victoria Australia

The Stolen One by Suzanne Crowley

Kat was never satisfied with her life. She couldn't see herself staying with her guardian, Grace and Grace's daughter, Anna. She couldn't see herself spending day after day embroidering for the beautiful London ladies she would never see. And she couldn't see herself settling down with the local pear farmer no matter how handsome and sweet. She wanted something grander and most importantly, she needed to find answers to her true identity.

When a strange guest arrives at her small cottage, Kat learns some clues into the mystery of her past and decides to run away to London to uncover her true identity. But London is a wild place full of dangers and luxury, romance and drama. Kat will definitely cause some commotion; what will happen when she catches the eye of the queen? How will she find her true identity and all the secrets to her past in all the glamour and lies of the London court? What is it Kat really wants to gain from her journey? This Elizabethan tale of self-identity, adventure and romance is sure to capture audiences from beginning to end.

I am a huge fan of Tudor and Elizabethan era novels. Suzanne Crowley's novel, The Stolen One, is one of the best historical fiction novels I have read in a long time. I have such great respect for Crowley's story-telling ability. Her novel is beautifully written, engaging and has such a creative and imaginative story line. She takes the genre "historical fiction" to a new level. It was honestly a wonderful read that was enjoyable from the very beginning. The characters came to life on the pages, and the plot was original and captivating. I anticipated every page turn, and enjoyed every bit from the adventure and journey to find one's identity, to the romance and glamour of the Elizabethan court. Crowley has a genius imagination and I can't wait to read more of her novels!

Reviewer Age: 18

Reviewer City, State and Country: Phoenix, MD United States

Night Hoops by Carl Deuker

Nick Abbott loves basketball. Anytime he can play, he does. Nick is starting tenth grade and high school. His older brother Scott had played on the school's varsity basketball team the year before and dominated their dad's attention. Nick wants to play basketball on the varsity team so he can gain his dad's attention, too. But that summer Nick's dad rips up his mom's roses to put in a basketball court in the backyard and Nick's family life begins to fall apart. Everyone in Nick's family is fighting when Nick's dad finally moves out of the house. Scott decides to give up basketball for music, angering their dad, who begins to pay more attention to Nick. Then Nick begins hanging out with the kid across the street who isn't a great influence. Trent Dawson and Nick have nothing in common until Trent's mom's boyfriend asks if they can play on Nick's court at night. At night, Nick and Trent begin to play with each other and become an intimidating duo on and off the court. But choices have to be made about school, friends and the center of Nick's life: basketball.

I really enjoyed this book. I play basketball and found it very easy to follow and exciting. Even if you don't play or understand basketball you would understand what is happening in this book. Nick and Trent become believable, like they live next door. Once I started reading this I couldn't put it down. I would recommend this to anyone to read. It is a fast-paced, exciting page turner that makes you want to find out what will happen to Nick and Trent.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Finksburg, MD USA

Green Dragon Codex

The world of Krynn in Green Dragon Codex by R.D. Henham is full of mystery, adventure, magic, and, of course, dragons! Green ones are known to be extremely evil. When young Scamp Weaver comes across a dead green dragon that has a locked chest by its carcass, Scamp can't help but take the chest and find out what's inside. Scamp's brother, Mather, disapproves of Scamp's curiosity, and Scamp's female friend, Dannika, also questions whether Scamp should take the chest. She eventually suggests taking it to her teacher, Peda, a monk of Majere, one of the various gods of Krynn. Upon taking it to Peda, a force of dragonhunters ransack Peda's hut and kill him. On the day of Peda's funeral, Scamp, Mather, and Dannika travel to the ruins of Peda's hut and find a prayer candle. Dannika lights it, and Peda's ghost appears. Peda's ghost then sends the friends on a quest that Scamp will remember for the rest of his life.

Henham's Green Dragon Codex is a very good read. It is a shorter novel, the vocabulary is age appropriate, and the fantasy itself is very entertaining. The setting of Green Dragon Codex was the same as another series that I have read before, The Dragon Lance Chronicles by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. The magical world of Krynn comes to like in both books. The gods of the land of Krynn and the principles of magic (white, red, black) However, the characters of all these books are different. This is a good thing. Scamp, Mather, and Dannika are all wonderful main characters in Greed Dragon Codex. Each of the three has a unique, distinct personality so that when they are together, the trio has quite a humorous result. I wasn't impressed, however, with the fact that the supporting characters didn't have bigger roles in the story. For instance, the character Anden first appears when the trio ends up in a wagon heading east. Anden gives Mather some gifts and then disappears. Later on, when the trio arrives at the Thaen Thamateurgical Academy and College of Mystic History and a battle breaks out, Anden is suddenly there to save the day. I would have liked to see more about Anden from this talented author. At the end of the story Anden briefly tells about his past; it is quite intriguing and could have greatly added to the impact of this book. Green Dragon Codex is a very worthwhile read and I recommend it to anyone who has read The Dragon Lance Chronicles or any books about Krynn. Green Dragon Codex is an interesting continuation of what happens in Krynn, perfect for those who enjoy the fantasy genre.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Paynesville, Minnesota U.S.A

The Memoirs of Mary Queen of Scots by Carolly Erickson

"The Memoirs of Mary Queen of Scots" by Carolly Erickson is a very well-written historical fiction book. It centers on Mary Queen of Scots, from her life as a pre-adolescent girl all the way up to womanhood. The reader is filled in on all the details of her life--both the good and the bad. There is a monumental journey as Mary marries, becomes queen, is widowed, is married again, has murder strike close to her heart, is not with her true love, marries her true love, loses her true love, is betrayed by family, learns what trust is, and accepts death. The whole book is a rollercoaster of details that will make readers interested in European History.

This book can be understood by all, regardless of their historical background. While the title has the word "memoir" in it, the book reads like an ordinary novel. There are several characters, but the main ones are clearly identified. The book has rape, consummation, and other mature themes included. There are some graphic parts that are not suitable for young children. Most of all, readers will enjoy learning that women from years ago still faced similar challenges of growing up, learning how to love, being hurt, and facing fear.

Mature themes

Reviewer Age:18

Reviewer City, State and Country: Troy, NY USA