The Sisters Club: Rule of Three by Megan McDonald

"The Sisters Club: Rule of Three" by Megan McDonald is an uproarious book for girls. The middle child Steven does the narration, discussing her intereactions with her yougner sister Joey and her older sister Alex. Alex is the breathtaknig actress, Joey is the "Little Women"-obsessed writer, and Steven is the singing cupcake maker. Tempers flare when Steven wants to try out for the lead role in the school's musical--in direct competition with her sister, who is also auditioning. The ending is happy but anything but predictable.

This book has everything. The cover is eye-catching with glitter, doodles, and cake (judging books by their cover is discouraged, but this one doesn't help the arguement!). The characters are three-dimensional with emotions and feelings that seem plausible. Issues like boys and beauty are confronted while still being age-appropriate and kid-friendly. Also, in between chapters, McDonald inserts lists/drawings by Joey and scripted dialog from Alex (often including her stuffed monkey). This book is a winner.

Reviewer Age:18

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

Goblins! by Royce Buckingham

Two boys, Sam and PJ, meet guardians of the underground while they are tracking escaped goblins. Their curiosity leads them to follow the guardians back underground. Soon Sam and PJ find themselves in an underground world full of strange creatures. On their adventure they meet good goblins, try to escape from bad goblins, and are part of an all out war between good and evil. Sam and PJ are in a lot of trouble as they try to escape from the underworld and make their way back to civilization.

Goblins! was an excellent book. Royce Buckingham wrote the book with a strong plot and it was fun to read. He really made the characters stand out, and the scenes and settings were unlike any other book. It was cool to try and picture the scenes in your mind. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Randolph, NJ United States

Girl on the Other Side by Deborah Kerbal

Lora Froggett has many problems at home on top of those she faces at school. Everyone bullies her despite the fact that she is the most intelligent student in their grade. Tabby Freeman, the most popular girl in school, is beginning to realize that she also has problems. Her father's business is being investigated by the police, and she feels like her parents are never there for her. Both girls are holding more pain than either one can handle, but when they come together--perhaps by fate--they seem to be able to hold on for just a little longer. They come from completely different families, so why are they exactly the same?
It is unusual to find a high school student who is not in a clique or some sort of social group. Something even more unusual is to find the groups connecting together. This book tells a story that sets a perfect example of why teenagers should not judge each other and try to be friends with those who are different than themselves. Girl on the Other Side was highly emotional and therefore a great motivator for humans to try to understand each other. The vocabulary was accurate with what teenagers would actually say, and the way that the chapters were organized (going back and forth between the two girls) helped the flow of the book. Also, readers would be able to get inside both of the heads of the characters and make connections.
I recommend this book to high school females.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States of America

The Twilight Companion by: Lois H. Gresh

The Twilight Companion: The Unauthorized Guide to the Series by Lois H. Gresh is an assortment of all things related to the Twilight series. From tips on what to expect if you fall in love with a mythical creature like the vampires and werewolves of the saga, to interesting legend and facts about their history, it has a large variety of materials. This book also includes many quizzes ranging in various vampire related subjects such as whether you would be compatible with some of Twilight’s characters, or what type of vampire you would be. You can also read the true story of the real life Vlad “the impaler” Dracula who the Dracula legends are based off. Another feature is the comparison of the twilight vampires and werewolves to those in other stories. This book is, as it title states, a guide to all things Twilight.

However, though I would consider this book to be a good read for all the Twilight obsessed teens out there, it repeatedly strays from the basics of the series. From statements such as how werewolves are man-eating beasts to suggesting that characters could make themselves less appealing to vampires by simply wearing gothic makeup it is filled with inaccurate accounts of the saga’s details. It does have some redeeming qualities, though. Some of the quizzes- though very biased- are entertaining and some of the legends included in it are interesting to compare to those of the chronicles. Though I personally wouldn’t likely read it again, others may enjoy this unofficial companion to the Twilight series.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Marble Hill, MO USA

Change-Up: Mystery at the World Series by John Feinstein

"Change-Up: Mystery at the World Series" is the story of Stevie Thomas, a freshmen in high school who also happens to be a world-class reporter. He and his girlfriend, Susan Carol Anderson, are asked to cover the World Series for the Washington Post and Washington Herald. When they get there, they learn the story of Norbert Doyle: a 30-something rookie pitcher who's wife died in a fatal car accident years earlier. He pitches well in his first Major League start and he's suddenly the story of the series. But Stevie and Susan Carol find out there's more to Doyle's story than he's letting on. What could it be?

This book was not as good as I hoped it would be. I had read the three books preceding this one (Last Shot, Vanishing Act, and Cover-Up) and they were all fantastic! This one, however, was disappointing. Several choices the author made concerning the story and the characters were unpleasant and unnecessary. Eventually, everything worked out, but it seemed as if the author was attempting to make a secondary conflict carry the entire story, which made it fairly boring and tedious. I would still recommend this, but it is important to know that the first 100 pages are extremely unpleasant to read.

Reviewer Age:15

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

Ravenheart by Kendra A. Thomas

Ayla is just a normal 17-year-old girl... that grew up in a dwarf community. Although she knows that she is a human, her knowledge of the human world is severely lacking. She is ugly by dwarf standards; too tall and too slender with black, unruly hair, and nearing the end of her years of eligibility. It seems that all hopes for her future are lost, until one night she runs away, distraught from the other young dwarves mocking her. She falls into the river and is carried down to the human world. There she is found by an arrogant prince named Noland and his solemn captain, Roderick. Noland is determined to make Ayla his bride because of her beauty, yet he thinks she is simple minded and making up where she comes from. Roderick on the other hand, will not tell her who he thinks she is. A captivating story ensues, and Ayla embarks upon a journey of self-discovery, romance, faith, friendship and adventure.

I really enjoyed reading this book! It hooked me in and I couldn't stop reading it, in fact, I printed pages of it and took it with me overseas! It is slightly similar to the worlds of Eragon, The Book of Lies and Rangers Apprentice, however some themes will appeal to girls moreso. Readers can immediately relate to Ayla and the common situations and insecurities involved in becoming a young woman. The other characters are also very believable and easy to love or hate. Kendra Thomas is really descriptive, especially when it comes to emotions and the awkward situations and small details that girls love. It is really refreshing to finally read a good fantasy novel with a girl as the main character and heroine! I would highly recommend this book to all girls who enjoy the fantasy genre and those who enjoy stories about romance, friendship and adventure.

Quite a few parts of the book deal with religion and belief systems, and whilst it is fantasy, it can be related back to the real world in some ways.

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country: Brisbane, Queensland Australia

Sylvie and the Songman

All of London is growing quiet, animals are losing their voices. Then Sylvie's dad, a songwriter, mysteriously disappears. Sylvie, her best friend, George, and her dog, Mr. Jackson set out on an adventure to solve the mystery. Along the way they encounter animals of all shapes and sizes, who help them in their search. All the while running from the mysterious songman and the woodpecker man. Together they attempt to save the world from silence.

Sylvie and the Songman took a while to get into, the beginning of the plot was slow. But once the adventure got underway I couldn't stop reading. Overall the book was interesting, it makes you think and ponder the ideas of animal-human interaction and the power of voice. I think this book is like "indie" music, it's unique and interesting but it most likely will not be a mainstream hit. The text of the book was inter-woven with illustrations. These illustrations showed the setting but still let me imagine. The illustrations are in black and white, and beautifully add another element to the book. The author does a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life. I felt like I was on the adventure with them. The ending wrapped up the story well, except it didn't fully explain the teachers whereabouts. Reading this book makes you think, it is beautifully powerful and exciting at the same time. I would recommend this book to people who like to wonder, but I would tell them it takes time to get into.

I would recommend adult guidance for this book because it can be scary at times. There was some graphic descriptions that are slightly disturbing but very important to the plot.

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country: Amherst, MA USA

Buggy Crenshaw and the Deadwood Principle: Evolution

Buggy Crenshaw and the Deadwood Principle: Evolution begins exactly where Buggy Crenshaw and the Bungler’s Paradox ended. In The Bungler’s Paradox, Buggy defeats the first of five Dark Lords of the Underworld. In this next installment, Buggy is exhausted after fighting off Evil. When she goes into her room, she is met by an unexpected visitor, the Rebel Phoenix Alabaster. He guards one of the doors to the Nexus, (a place where good and evil meet). The Deadwood brothers, Cypress and Cedar, have a theory that if one of the doors to the Nexus is destroyed, like in The Bungler’s Paradox, the world would become unbalanced and fall into cosmic chaos. Guided by a mysterious message given to her by the Rebel Phoenix, Buggy and her friends find themselves thrown into another adventure. Will they be able to save the world?

To understand Buggy Crenshaw and the Deadwood Principle: Evolution, you really have to read the first book Buggy Crenshaw and the Bunglers Paradox. I thought there were still a few confusing parts, but I think if you keep reading, you’ll figure them out. Buggy Crenshaw and the Deadwood Principle: Evolution was interesting and action-packed from beginning to end. It was a fun book to read and there were a lot of twists in the plot. I thought it was even better than the first book! I would recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure, but read The Bungler’s Paradox first. Just watch out because Buggy has an addiction to adventure. Happy reading!

Content: 1
Rating: 9
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Harleysville, PA USA

Elissa's Quest by Erica Verrillo

Thirteen-year-old Elissa has a very special gift: she can speak with animals. She doesn't think much of her unique ability but keeps it a secret as her nana advised. Not knowing who her real parents are, she stays with an all-knowing healer in the quietly pleasant valley of High Crossing. News arrives of a royal guest coming and Elissa is invited to the royal banquet. There she meets a mysterious nobleman named Lord Falk who says that he has come for her. Having no choice but to go with him, Elissa leaves her beloved home to travel across the desert to the Citadel many miles away. After learning that she is a bargaining tool for Lord Falk's kingdom, she is held captive by a devious Khan who wants her hand in marriage. She meets and makes friends with a very unusual servant girl and together they run away to try to find their way home. Along the way Elissa learns of her fate from the wise Blue People and the Healers. Will Elissa be able to take on her destined duty or will she choose to go home while the chance still exists?

Elissa's Quest is a unique fantasy full of talking animals and rivalry that will surely appeal to young readers. I think that the author did a very good job at being descriptive and unfolding the scenes. It was hard for me to get into the story at first and I found it somewhat boring and slow-paced since I am of an older age. I thought that a lot had occurred throughout the story but it felt like not much had really happened because the events only lasted a few pages at most and there wasn't a lot involved with each event. I think that the idea for this trilogy was pretty very different and Elissa being able to talk to animals made it more interesting. There wasn't enough action during each scene and the setbacks were solved too quickly and simply but she did add some very silly parts, which added a good laugh to the read. The wording was well-chosen for the reading age suggested, which was 9-12. Overall, I recommend this story to younger children who are looking for a fun and amusing read.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, Pennsylvania United States

Alein Feast by Michael Simmons

In this science fiction, William comes home one day to find his parents eaten by aliens. All that is left of his parents are their feet. Planet Earth has been invaded and the aliens are destroying the human race. Sophie, one of Williams's friends, is also shocked to find her parents gone. They were not eaten though; Sophie's parents were kidnapped by the aliens. William and Sophie, with the help of Uncle Maynard, worked together to find Sophie's parents and save the world from disaster.

I found the storyline to be a little slow. This book is definitely for basic readers. A young reader might be okay with the plot. However, I think anyone over nine will find the book boring. I felt the writing to be unimaginative and lacking detailed descriptions.

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country: Lemoore, CA 93245