The Runaway Dragon by Kate Coombs

The book The Runaway Dragon by Kate Coombs is a mixture of romance, courage, mystery, friendship, and comedy. In Kate's first book, The Runaway Princess, the main character, Meg, runs away when her parents lock her up in a tower to attract suitors. While Meg is away and trying to have some fun for once in her life, she finds adventure on the same path as a dragon named Laddy, her old friends, and she meets some new friends along the way. Now Meg is back with a grown-up Laddy and the horror of her life; Laddy has escaped! She and her friends must find Laddy and save each other's necks; all the while defeating the evils of the land. Can Meg complete her quest and be with her love, or will she come to an end as well?

This book was the perfect sequel to its starter. In the first book there wasn't a ton of action or anything to really grab your mind, but now in the second book, you don't even want to set down the book for a second!The only weakness I felt this book had was how it ended. It left you hanging on the edge of your seat, hoping for more to happen. So by this observation, I can only hope and wish for there to be a third book coming to complete the first wonderous two. I learned from reading this book that things aren't always as they may seem, and that you just have to keep thinking(and being) optimistic to acheive the greatest. I have to admit its not the best book in the world because compared to the Talking To Dragons series, this is nothing; even though it is a good comedy/action book that all ages can enjoy.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Fresno, California USA

I Am Jack by Susanne Gervay

A young boy, named Jack, lives with his sister and his
mom. Jack has a lot of hobbies from photography to fixing
things. His mom is dating Rob and Jack likes him but he
thinks that they are doing fine on their own. On top of
his problems at home, at school, a bully named George Hamel
got everyone to call Jack "Butt Head". Jack can barely get
up in the morning. He won't turn to his mom for help
because he doesn't want to make her unhappy. When Jack's
grades and participation are slipping, he thinks he must
find help. Will Jack ever conquer the bully?

"I am Jack" is such a wonderful book to read. I really loved seeing
the point of view of Jack. He is a very sweet kid and
doesn't anyone to get hurt. Jack has a lot of hobbies and
I had a little trouble keeping up with all of them.
Susanne Gervay did a great job capturing the harm of
bullying. "I am Jack" is an awesome book for a child to
read and learn.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State
and Country: Oakmont, Pennsylvania United States

Wolfsbane and Mistletoe by Charlene Harris and Toni L.P. Kelner

"Wolfsbane and Mistletoe" by Charlene Harris and Toni L.P. Kelner is a book of short stories all about werewolves and Christmas. All of the stories take you to different places and through different emotions. Each tale has a complete story that leaves you wanting more when you have to move one to the next. The plots vary from biblical figures, well known book series and good old family values. Some of the stories are hilarious with connections to other things in the world, logical with explanations and serious with mystery.

I found the book enjoyable and interesting. Some of the stories had me laughing, and others were more serious. But all in all a very good read if you want mystery, humor and connections. Some of the stories were so outrageous, I had to tell someone to see their reaction and if it was similar to mine. All of the authors that wrote for this book did an amazing job and should be commended for this collaboration.

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country: Schenectady, New York United States

The Human Corpse Trade: Byron Carmichael Book One by J. Eric King

Fifteen years after his father's disappearance, Byron Carmichael is accepted to a summer study program at the prestigious Bradenburg University. There, he meets the Winston family: Dr. Winston, Nick and the beautiful Gracie. It is Dr.Winston who introduces the three teenagers to their summer assignment: to research Byron's father's work. He had invented a highly realistic simulation, a huge technological advance. When the young scientists accidentally find themselves trapped in early America, it is up to them to solve the mystery of the grotesque human corpse trade of the time and to get themselves out of the increasingly dangerous game before they are trapped inside forever.

Overall, The Human Corpse Trade was a mediocre read. The plot had the potential to be interesting but wasn't well developed. The characters were flat and unrealistic. The way they spoke was awkward and grew bothersome over the course of the novel. Nick was the only character with much substance, but even he tended to be uninteresting and was shoved into the background when Gracie and Byron interacted. The high point of the novel was the well researched and realistic-seeming historical content. The author's use of vocabulary was unvaried and didn't add anything to the story. The romance between Byron and Gracie feels contrived and unnecessary to the plot. I wouldn't recommend this book and I don't plan on reading any of the follow up novels.

Reviewer Age:17

Reviewer City, State and Country: San Diego, CA USA

Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore

In the magical world of Lorinar, Nimira is an exotic and dark-skinned trouser-girl who sings and dances in music halls for money. She's away from her homeland of Tiansher and is extremely poor, so when wealthy Hollin Parry offers her a job singing with an automaton, she readily accepts. But rumors that the automaton is haunted cause Nimira to closely examine it, and she discovers that a fairy is trapped in the mechanical body! As she talks to Erris, the fairy, he tells her how the current Ambassador of Magic killed the previous Ambassador and how fairies are being tortured by a council of sorcerers that Hollin is a part of. As Nimira tries to help Erris, she can't help falling in love with him and is determined to find a way to save him.

I thought that Magic Under Glass was an okay book. The synopsis makes it sound like it will be an action-packed romantic fantasy, but I think it fell short of its expectations. I liked how the author created a new magical world, but it had parallels to history, like Lorinar resembling England and Tiansher, where Nimira was born, resembling India or Africa. I also liked the similarities to Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, which I am currently reading. However, I didn't think the relationship between Nimira and Erris, the automaton, was believable. She was supposed to be in love with him, but there wasn't much development, character- and relationship-wise, between the two of them. Even though there were things I disliked about Magic Under Glass, I still enjoyed reading it, and I think fans of fantasy will find this book to their liking.

Reviewer Age:18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Aston, Pennsylvania United States

The Twilight Gods by Hayden Thorne

London was a beautiful place in 1851. It attracted people near and far to see the Great Exhibition full of new inventions, and exotic treasures. Fifteen-year-old Norris discovered mysterious shadow folk among the crowds of people. His life was starting to bore him until a strange widow became a renter of one of his parent s vacant rooms. She slowly revealed the secrets of the shadow folk, and his connection to them. In the end, he is faced with a life-changing decision.
The characters were wonderfully drawn by Hayden Thorne. Her writing was very impressive, and she makes this story very captivating. The Twilight Gods was a real page turner in the end. The story's characters were so real, I feel like I actually met the family. I recommend this book to YA readers who like a fun, supernatural, history read.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Springfield, OH USA

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

Regina Afton used to be part of the Fearsome Fivesome, a girl-only clique. The Fearsome Fivesome is feared and admired by the students of Hallowell High. When a brutal rumor is started about Regina and her best friend's boyfriend, she is kicked out of the clique. Now her ex-best friends are out for vengeance and the bullying gets worse. Regina tries to set things right with her friends, but they only believe the intense rumors around school. She takes comfort in the company of Michael Hayden, a boy with a grim past that she used to bully. Regina realizes that Michael could be more than friends and she tries to make things right from her past. Can Regina set things right or will the Fearsome Foursome send Regina to rock bottom?

Some Girls Are is a very intense novel. As the bullying increases, you want to keep reading to figure out what will happen. This book seemed realistic because sometimes rumors get out of hand and you can get bullied. This books makes you realizes that, in high school, you really need good friends that will have your back. If you enjoy romance, suspense, or drama you should pick up this book and start reading it.

Some Girls Are contains some sexual content that may not be suitable for some readers

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Enon, Ohio USA

Silver Shoes by Paul Miles Schneider

Donald Gardner's family takes a summer road trip through Kansas, which is the most boring way Donald could imagine spending his summer. On their trek home, his family is on its last roadside stop when Donald's mother meets a poor woman. To get money, this poor woman sells the only thing she has to Donald's mother: a single silver shoe.

When the school year begins, Donald brings the shoe in to show his classmates, and the connection between The Wizard of the Oz by L. Frank Baum and the shoe is made. One girl from his class relates how in the book by L. Frank Baum the shoe is silver as well. Later when Donald walks home from school with his friends, he is dared to try the shoe on, and from then on strange things happen around Donald. A man, George Clarke, comes out of hiding and meets Donald. Together they untangle the true secrets behind Baum's story.

The beginning of the book was a little slow but quickly jumped into the rush of the story. Otherwise, it was an upbeat and fast paced read. It brought in elements from L. Frank Baum's book and added a new story that will please Baum's fans. When I began reading the book I couldn't put it down. I recommend this book to not only to fans of Baum, but also to people who want a thrilling ride.


Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, PA United States

The Pillow Book of Lotus Lowenstein by Libby Schmais

The Pillow Book of Lotus Lowenstein by Libby Schmais is a realistic-fiction journal about a teenager named Lotus who is an anything French addict. Her greatest aspiration is to live in France and live as an existentialist. She is not looking for love, but when a cute boy walks into to the French Club she created, she is head-over-heels. When Lotus hears that her best friend, Joni, feels the same way about the new boy, Sean, she hides her feelings, for she doesn't want to stomp on the socially awkward Joni's first crush. This book talks about how insane a teen's life can be and shows how boys can test friendship.

It is necessary to say that this book will not be the next literary masterpiece of the decade, but it is a truly "livre intressant." I loved how the author decided to use French continually during the book; it really brought out the main character's character! While the book did move fast enough, I felt there was really no plot line. The book really didn't go anywhere. Also, I didn't like many sexual comments that littered the pages, even though I am a teen, and this is a teenage book. Overall a "merveilleux" read!

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Lake Bluff, IL The United States of America

Day of the Assassins by Johnny O'Brien

Jack Christie and his best friend Angus enjoy playing
their Point-of-Departure World War 1 video game although
they do not realize what an impact World War I has on
their present day lives. How could something in the past
affect the present? After Jack and Angus discover a secret
library in Jack's house that used to belong to Jack's
father, their adventure begins. When the boys bring in an
artifact found in the library to show their history
teachers, they learn about things that they thought were
impossible and somehow end up in 1914. They learn that
time travel does exist. They also learn about how the
scientists who invented this amazing, or maybe terrible,
method of time travel have entirely different viewpoints.
The VIGIL group does not want time travel to be used
because of the unknown consequences. The Benefactor wants
to use time travel to change history by preventing the
assassination of Franz Ferdinand. It's up to Jack, stuck
in time before WWI, to decide. Who will he side with?

Day of the Assassins, by Johnny O'Brien was a pretty
good book. It had some aspects of historical fiction and
science fiction so if you like either science fiction or
historical fiction you would probably like it. Part of
this book takes place right before WWI and the
assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. If you are
interested in that period of time you would probably like
this also. The beginning of Day of the Assassins was a
little slow but after I got into it I couldn't put it
down! This book showed a different side of the trigger of
World War I, the assassination of Franz Ferdinand. You see
the assassination through the eyes of the assassins.
Overall, Day of the Assassins was a good book!

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Harleysville, PA USA