Devi's life has just been turned upside down. Her boyfriend of four years, Bryan, dumped her and now she has no date to the senior prom. But more importantly, Devi feels like she wasted four years on Bryan because she has no friends and slacked off at school, so now she's attending a third-tier college. But when Devi's cell phone falls in fountain after she wishes that she could change her past, she's only able to make one call: to her freshmen self. Devi is determined to tell herself what to change, so she can keep her friends and get into a better college, but she doesn't realize how much these changes will affect her present.
I loved Gimme A Call. It was so cute and surprisingly, hilarious. I actually laughed out loud a few times while I was reading. The antics that the two girls (or should I say: one girl?) get themselves into is priceless. I loved that Devi was able to talk to herself, because everyone wonders what they would tell their young self. And now Devi actually has a chance to do that. I thought at times Devi was a little hard on her younger counterpart; she made her take really hard classes and join a bunch of extracurricular activities. It was a little annoying to see how bossy Old Devi could get, but it just added to the overall funniness of the novel. I would recommend Gimme a Call to fans of humor or fans of time travel.
Reviewer Age:18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Aston, Pennsylvania United States
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
"A Little Wanting Song" by Cath Crowlery
This book, "A Little Wanting Song" by Cath Crowlery, is about two girls, one named Charlie and the other Rose. They are on opposite ends of the spectrum. Charlie is a shy and easily intimidated girl who lives and breathes music, but she doesn't let anyone hear her play. Rose, however, is outgoing, always with her two guy best friends, and has a plan to move to the city to get out of small town life.
Since Charlie's grandpa lives next door to Rose, when Charlie visits from the city she sees Rose, but she has always been intimidated her, always watching but never joining Rose and her friends. Rose doesn't want anything to do with Charlie until she gets a scholarship to a school in the city and sees Charlie as a way to convince her parents that she could go. The girls' relationship later on gets complicated, as one of Rose's best friends, David, begins to like Charlie, and Charlie starts to open up.
"A Little Wanting Song" is a cute, romantic, well-written book about a good, if slightly overused, topic. The writing is good, not perfect, with a few flaws such as minimal setting description. I get that the story takes place in an average town, but not much detail beyond that is provided. The novel makes up for that flaw with its characters and its moods. It alternates between two characters, which I've seen go drastically wrong because you get bored with one or the other, but the author carries it out flawlessly. The voices of both are distinct, and I relate to both characters of the book equally. The mood, while changing from regretful to elated, always contains hope, which is perfect for a romantic book such as this; it never gets too dark and isn't always about the romance. It includes friendships between the characters which are just as important as the romance and add to the book. Also, this book achieves its purpose as a cross between a coming-of-age story and a cute romance, and is a rather simple read. This simple style fits the book well. It will not be the next Twilight, but it is a nice read. I find it interesting, and the ending is perfect. It isn't too happily-ever-after, and it has a positive but realistic feel. Though it does not teach much of a lesson, it gives you a good story that is a nice break from your life. I would recommend this book for someone who has time to relax, but doesn't want a complete fluff and nonsense story.
Since Charlie's grandpa lives next door to Rose, when Charlie visits from the city she sees Rose, but she has always been intimidated her, always watching but never joining Rose and her friends. Rose doesn't want anything to do with Charlie until she gets a scholarship to a school in the city and sees Charlie as a way to convince her parents that she could go. The girls' relationship later on gets complicated, as one of Rose's best friends, David, begins to like Charlie, and Charlie starts to open up.
"A Little Wanting Song" is a cute, romantic, well-written book about a good, if slightly overused, topic. The writing is good, not perfect, with a few flaws such as minimal setting description. I get that the story takes place in an average town, but not much detail beyond that is provided. The novel makes up for that flaw with its characters and its moods. It alternates between two characters, which I've seen go drastically wrong because you get bored with one or the other, but the author carries it out flawlessly. The voices of both are distinct, and I relate to both characters of the book equally. The mood, while changing from regretful to elated, always contains hope, which is perfect for a romantic book such as this; it never gets too dark and isn't always about the romance. It includes friendships between the characters which are just as important as the romance and add to the book. Also, this book achieves its purpose as a cross between a coming-of-age story and a cute romance, and is a rather simple read. This simple style fits the book well. It will not be the next Twilight, but it is a nice read. I find it interesting, and the ending is perfect. It isn't too happily-ever-after, and it has a positive but realistic feel. Though it does not teach much of a lesson, it gives you a good story that is a nice break from your life. I would recommend this book for someone who has time to relax, but doesn't want a complete fluff and nonsense story.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Milwaukee, WI United States
Bone Rattler by Eliot Pattison
This novel is a fictional mystery set in colonial America
during the French and Indian War. It combines aspects of
the cultures of the Highland Scots, Native Americans, and
European settlers in the New World. The main character is
Duncan McCallum, an exiled chief of a Highland Scot clan.
He is being transported on a British convict ship to the
American colonies, where he will be forced to do manual
labor. While on the ship, several murders and suicides,
as well as a bizarre ritual, occur. Because of Duncan s
skill as a doctor, his captors force him to investigate
these acts. His findings indicate that the cause of the
disturbances is tied to a larger mystery involving aspects
of both America and Europe. After his arrival in America,
Duncan continues to try to unravel the mystery and
understand the cultures of the Native Americans and
settlers while remaining true to his Highland Scot
roots.
This book was definitely enjoyable and engaging.
The mysteries kept me guessing and motivated me to keep
reading. The characters are interesting and varied, and
the backdrop of colonial America and the clash of
different cultures were intriguing and informative.
However, I felt that I never had all of the clues to solve
the mystery because the main character had knowledge not
shared with the reader until the very end. Therefore,
when the mystery was solved, it seemed abrupt. I would
recommend this book as a fun read that is good for those
who enjoy adventure and history. However, mystery fans
might be disappointed because the mystery is not always
easy to follow.
This book has some violence that can be
moderately graphic at times.
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Royersford, PA United States
during the French and Indian War. It combines aspects of
the cultures of the Highland Scots, Native Americans, and
European settlers in the New World. The main character is
Duncan McCallum, an exiled chief of a Highland Scot clan.
He is being transported on a British convict ship to the
American colonies, where he will be forced to do manual
labor. While on the ship, several murders and suicides,
as well as a bizarre ritual, occur. Because of Duncan s
skill as a doctor, his captors force him to investigate
these acts. His findings indicate that the cause of the
disturbances is tied to a larger mystery involving aspects
of both America and Europe. After his arrival in America,
Duncan continues to try to unravel the mystery and
understand the cultures of the Native Americans and
settlers while remaining true to his Highland Scot
roots.
This book was definitely enjoyable and engaging.
The mysteries kept me guessing and motivated me to keep
reading. The characters are interesting and varied, and
the backdrop of colonial America and the clash of
different cultures were intriguing and informative.
However, I felt that I never had all of the clues to solve
the mystery because the main character had knowledge not
shared with the reader until the very end. Therefore,
when the mystery was solved, it seemed abrupt. I would
recommend this book as a fun read that is good for those
who enjoy adventure and history. However, mystery fans
might be disappointed because the mystery is not always
easy to follow.
This book has some violence that can be
moderately graphic at times.
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Royersford, PA United States
Friday, June 25, 2010
Enigma by C. F. Bentley
Sissy is the high priest of all of Harmony, and is therefore expected to have an intense connection with the goddess. However, in her previous adventures, she lost her sacred bond as a result of an attempted murder. One of her closest friends had died in the bombing, and left her with the prophesy to fix her connection with the Goddess among the stars. So began Sissy's adventures aboard the Labrynithe Station. These adventures include a forbidden love for a man who is not born of her planet - a love ominously threatening to destroy her reputation among her people. However, she is not prepared for a monumental discovery about her origins, aliens who desire to take over the station, or double-crossing humans prepared to leave no trace of their passing.
I found Enigma to be a fascinating read, a bit boring at the beginning, but quickly picking up speed as the plot developed. It only really had two settings though, and this could become drab if you prefer variety in the books you read. However, the two settings were very intriguing, one being a complex space station in which invaders could seemingly move about undetected, and the other an imaginative planet not too different from our own. The tone of the book was mysterious; you never knew when a critical event was about to take place. Thus, I was on the edge of my seat for the entire book. Another factor that contributed to my overall enjoyment in the book was the main characters. The human characters were very true to their race; they felt anger, pity, love, hate and other human emotions. They believed in a higher being, such as a god, as many humans do in the real world. Interestingly enough, the alien beings experienced very similar emotions to those of humans. I found this to be a fascinating aspect of the novel, and it caused the book to further appeal to me.
The author achieved an excellent novel that explores the ideals of religions, as well as exposes the unfavorable characteristics of many humans. However, this is done in a very captivating fashion, one that was not boring in the least bit. Sure, the book had a few weaknesses, like its slow beginning and slightly complicated and confusing setting, but overall it had many more strengths then weaknesses. It had strong, realistic characters with very real emotions. The book had a strong plot that kept you guessing where it was going next. It had romance infused with drama. Because of these traits, it was one of the best books from the science fiction genre that I have read. However, I don't believe it was better than its prequel, "Harmony", but it was still very good. My personal response to Enigma is that it was a thrilling novel with mystery intertwined into the plot, and thus deserving its title. I would definitely recommend Enigma to most anybody, as it is very age appropriate, as well as exciting.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Baltimore, MD United States
I found Enigma to be a fascinating read, a bit boring at the beginning, but quickly picking up speed as the plot developed. It only really had two settings though, and this could become drab if you prefer variety in the books you read. However, the two settings were very intriguing, one being a complex space station in which invaders could seemingly move about undetected, and the other an imaginative planet not too different from our own. The tone of the book was mysterious; you never knew when a critical event was about to take place. Thus, I was on the edge of my seat for the entire book. Another factor that contributed to my overall enjoyment in the book was the main characters. The human characters were very true to their race; they felt anger, pity, love, hate and other human emotions. They believed in a higher being, such as a god, as many humans do in the real world. Interestingly enough, the alien beings experienced very similar emotions to those of humans. I found this to be a fascinating aspect of the novel, and it caused the book to further appeal to me.
The author achieved an excellent novel that explores the ideals of religions, as well as exposes the unfavorable characteristics of many humans. However, this is done in a very captivating fashion, one that was not boring in the least bit. Sure, the book had a few weaknesses, like its slow beginning and slightly complicated and confusing setting, but overall it had many more strengths then weaknesses. It had strong, realistic characters with very real emotions. The book had a strong plot that kept you guessing where it was going next. It had romance infused with drama. Because of these traits, it was one of the best books from the science fiction genre that I have read. However, I don't believe it was better than its prequel, "Harmony", but it was still very good. My personal response to Enigma is that it was a thrilling novel with mystery intertwined into the plot, and thus deserving its title. I would definitely recommend Enigma to most anybody, as it is very age appropriate, as well as exciting.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Baltimore, MD United States
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Two Moon Princess by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban
Princess Andrea has always been the rebellious outcast of the family, having preferred instead to spend her time riding her horse Flecha, shooting her bow, and training to be a squire. Her sisters, on the other hand, are everything her mother wishes Andrea would be: perfectly beautiful and proper, just like ladies should be. So when Andrea gets banned from attending the Spring Ball for fighting with her older sister Rosa, she decides to spy on the occurring events from her favorite oak tree. There she meets Don Alfonso de Alvar, a prince and an enemy of her father, the King of Montemaior. He tells her of the ancient Xarens and how they had discovered a door leading to another world. Andrea is sick of her fancy life of frills and dresses and curtsying and once Don Alfonso departs, Andrea runs away on a search to find the door. She has no idea what she is getting into and what will be the outcome of her decision when she finds the door and meets a boy who will change her life forever; but maybe not in the way that she was hoping he would.
I absolutely loved Two Moon Princess by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban. It was an enchanting and enthralling story full of adventure and romance, history and intrigue, full of battle and war, and lies, love, royalty, and more. I was highly impressed with this engrossing novel, definitely since it was the first book the author has ever written. I would definitely recommend Two Moon Princess and I read this story all day long in hopes of finding out the conclusion to the intricate web of romance and deceit the author had woven. She did a wonderful job with using foreshadowing but still had me guessing as to what would happen next. I was greatly content with the ending and thought that it would be a perfect book to create a sequel to. I definitely would read a sequel and am curious as to what would happen to them next since the ending opened up to what could be an entirely new story. The characters were fairly well developed, but Sebela, Andrea's oldest sister, was lacking a few details. Overall though, I really enjoyed this novel and Two Moon Princess is a definite must-read for adventurous romance lovers.
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA USA
I absolutely loved Two Moon Princess by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban. It was an enchanting and enthralling story full of adventure and romance, history and intrigue, full of battle and war, and lies, love, royalty, and more. I was highly impressed with this engrossing novel, definitely since it was the first book the author has ever written. I would definitely recommend Two Moon Princess and I read this story all day long in hopes of finding out the conclusion to the intricate web of romance and deceit the author had woven. She did a wonderful job with using foreshadowing but still had me guessing as to what would happen next. I was greatly content with the ending and thought that it would be a perfect book to create a sequel to. I definitely would read a sequel and am curious as to what would happen to them next since the ending opened up to what could be an entirely new story. The characters were fairly well developed, but Sebela, Andrea's oldest sister, was lacking a few details. Overall though, I really enjoyed this novel and Two Moon Princess is a definite must-read for adventurous romance lovers.
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA USA
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
The Wide-Awake Princess
As Princess Annie walks through the castle, everyone bows away from her. But this gesture is by no means a sign of respect, but one of caution. You see, when her elder sister Gwendolyn was born, she was graced with amazing beauty, but cursed by an evil fairy. In order to prevent Annie being cursed, her parents asked that she never be touched by magic. Now that Gwendolyn's curse has taken hold, Annie must find her sister's true love to kiss her awake. Will Annie finish this quest...or will she be doomed to failure?
The Wide-Awake Princess is an enchanting tale of magic, princes, and possible love. E.D Baker spins a wonderful tale that incorporates new and old fairy-tale friends. I especially liked this book because it reminded me of all the tales I read in my younger youth. The story moves along at a good pace, with enough details so it's realistic, but not so much you feel like skipping over full paragraphs. I'm suggesting this book to young girls looking for a pleasant magical read.
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Seaside , OR USA
The Wide-Awake Princess is an enchanting tale of magic, princes, and possible love. E.D Baker spins a wonderful tale that incorporates new and old fairy-tale friends. I especially liked this book because it reminded me of all the tales I read in my younger youth. The story moves along at a good pace, with enough details so it's realistic, but not so much you feel like skipping over full paragraphs. I'm suggesting this book to young girls looking for a pleasant magical read.
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Seaside , OR USA
Monday, June 21, 2010
Prisoners In The Palace by, Michaela MacColl
Becoming an orphan after your parents die in a tragic accident is hard enough, but after learning she must pay her father's debts, Elizabeth Hastings' life begins to deteriorate. Elizabeth, also known as Liza, must become a lady's maid to Princess Victoria in order to cover her father's debts. As a worker at Kensington, Liza begins to see things in a different light. Who is Annie that everyone whispers about? Is Sir John truly trying to become king in all but name? For those who love historical fiction, pick up this book and join Liza as she struggles to help the future queen.
I loved this book. It is an interesting mix of mystery, secret motives, and romance. My favorite character, besides Liza of course, was a teenager who went by the name "Inside Boy." He lived inside Kensington and no one knew he was there. As the story progresses the action's pace picks up and brings everything to an amazing climax that will leave readers satisfied. I think the most interesting part of this book is that it takes a look at what would most likely happen to a maid who had been dismissed from Kensington and how some of the newspapers operated at the time. The most amazing thing about this book, however, is that many of the plot lines have some truth in them. At the back of the book, the author gives her reference books and websites so that the reader can further explore the life of Queen Victoria. This book is a definite read for anyone who likes romance, historical fiction, or just a good plain book.
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Mineola, TX U.S.A.
I loved this book. It is an interesting mix of mystery, secret motives, and romance. My favorite character, besides Liza of course, was a teenager who went by the name "Inside Boy." He lived inside Kensington and no one knew he was there. As the story progresses the action's pace picks up and brings everything to an amazing climax that will leave readers satisfied. I think the most interesting part of this book is that it takes a look at what would most likely happen to a maid who had been dismissed from Kensington and how some of the newspapers operated at the time. The most amazing thing about this book, however, is that many of the plot lines have some truth in them. At the back of the book, the author gives her reference books and websites so that the reader can further explore the life of Queen Victoria. This book is a definite read for anyone who likes romance, historical fiction, or just a good plain book.
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Mineola, TX U.S.A.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Nocturne, by L.D. Harkrader
Vampires, magic, a child abandoned in the night. These are the forces you will encounter as you enter the world of Flannery Lane; a 15-year old girl who was left on the doorstep of Monsieur Anatole's Books, Wonders, and Charms when she was only a year old. She has always wondered who she is and where she came from, and it seems as though Uncle Anatole does not want her to discover the answers to these questions. She possesses a powerful magic and has secretly been studying her art and practicing all the while keeping her actions a secret from Uncle Anatole who happens to be the town's resident wizard. Life progresses normally until, one night, a young vampire hunter arrives at the shop begging for an exceptionally strong talisman, a Talisman of Undead Mastery. She fulfills his order, falling for him along the way, and it is not until her friends and neighbors start to disappear that she really starts to wonder about who he is and what his intentions are. And when a long lost Lord Blakely returns, she takes matters into her own hands and sets out to save her village, her uncle, and the family she never knew.
L. D. Harkrader's "Nocturne", a companion novel to "A Practical Guide to Vampires", grabbed my attention the moment I picked it up. The adventures and personal struggles of Flannery Lane, or Flan, are remarkably similar to choices ordinary teenagers will have to face; such as love, losing friends, and discovering who you really are. The plot was engaging and had several twists that I never would have expected. I would recommend this book to anyone with a taste for adventure and fantastical creatures. However, this is a fantasy book, and if you're looking for something with a bit or reality, this wouldn't be my first choice. It's a wonderful read and I enjoyed every word of it.
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Braintree, MA United States
L. D. Harkrader's "Nocturne", a companion novel to "A Practical Guide to Vampires", grabbed my attention the moment I picked it up. The adventures and personal struggles of Flannery Lane, or Flan, are remarkably similar to choices ordinary teenagers will have to face; such as love, losing friends, and discovering who you really are. The plot was engaging and had several twists that I never would have expected. I would recommend this book to anyone with a taste for adventure and fantastical creatures. However, this is a fantasy book, and if you're looking for something with a bit or reality, this wouldn't be my first choice. It's a wonderful read and I enjoyed every word of it.
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Braintree, MA United States
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Why Dogs Eat Poop by Francesca Gould
Do you know what species of bird can sew? Do you know what
species of octopus has females that can be 6 feet, 6
inches long, and males that are 1 inch long? And, do you
know the answer to the question that baffles many pet
owners, why do dogs eat poop? This book answers all of
these questions and many more. It also talks about
interesting and disgusting characteristics of animals,
even some species you probably have never heard of.
species of octopus has females that can be 6 feet, 6
inches long, and males that are 1 inch long? And, do you
know the answer to the question that baffles many pet
owners, why do dogs eat poop? This book answers all of
these questions and many more. It also talks about
interesting and disgusting characteristics of animals,
even some species you probably have never heard of.
I enjoyed reading this book, however at some points, I
wished that the author had explained how or why something
happened in more detail. It's written in a question-answer
format, so it gets you curious about a topic, and then
dives into it. After reading the book, I think that it
would have been more enjoyable if I had skimmed through
the questions in the book, and only read the ones that
made me interested in the topic. Overall, this was an
interesting and informal read, but not a cover-to-cover
one.
This book talks about mating rituals, and
reproductive systems.
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country:
Leawood, KS United States of America
Friday, June 18, 2010
The Tilting House by Tom Llewellyn
You don't understand. YOUR house is straight. Aaron and
Josh never had that option- at least not in this house.
Their house is tilted, but not only that. Beneath its
normal exterior, the house holds many secrets of its past
owner. Aaron and Josh, assisted by their neighbor Lola,
discover somthing extraordinary in the house. Good thing
their dad insisted on buying the house...read the book,
and you'll understand how strange staring neighbors,
different writings on walls, and previous secrets can
be.
Josh never had that option- at least not in this house.
Their house is tilted, but not only that. Beneath its
normal exterior, the house holds many secrets of its past
owner. Aaron and Josh, assisted by their neighbor Lola,
discover somthing extraordinary in the house. Good thing
their dad insisted on buying the house...read the book,
and you'll understand how strange staring neighbors,
different writings on walls, and previous secrets can
be.
In my opinion, the book was haphazardly insane! It
was hard to follow in my opinion. I did not like the
characters, and quite frankly - the story's background
annoyed me. I may sound a little harsh, but I did NOT like
this book. The author did not achieve the "Edgar Allan
Poe" theme he was going for. The author should have better
explained things.
1
0
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Panama City, Florida United States
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