Not safe for vampires

In this novel, the main character, Thomas L. Watson, is a vampire and has been one since the Civil War.  However, unlike some other vampires, he does not drink human blood.  In the year 2037, Thomas is a scientific researcher working under Professor Goldsmith with fellow researcher Allee on a project to harness the hydrogen atom for energy.  As the research nears completion, Thomas begins feeling somewhat human and becomes increasingly ill.  He must discover what is causing his symptoms and then enlist Allee s and possibly even vampires aid.  Flashbacks to how Thomas became a vampire and interactions he has had with humans and other vampires in the past are inserted throughout the story as well.
This is not your typical fantasy novel.  The grammar, punctuation, and capitalization are nonstandard.  This is probably done to mirror the way people actually speak and has an interesting effect on the novel.  As for the plot, it was entertaining and intriguing.  The characters are varied, and there are several unexpected plot twists.  However, I found the novel a bit confusing.  It would have been nice for the story to have been longer as the plot seems too rushed.  This book, because of its unusual writing style and shorter length, may be especially good for teenagers who are reluctant readers.

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

The Enchantment Emporium by, Tanya Huff

To a Gale girl, family is everything. But when Alysha takes over her Gran's old store, can she stand the strain of family members who want to "help"? As if a barrage of phone calls every hour isn't enough, Alysha discovers moving to Calgary may have more than a few consequences. Why are there dragons flying over the store? Is there really a wizard living in the area? And, who is that handsome newspaper man? In the race to find out what's happening before it's too late, readers, along with Alysha, will discover the strength of family ties, the wickedness of a wizard, and the strong emotions that sweep us along the path of life.

One of my favorite things about this book is Gran's store. It's a little hole-in-the-wall shop with just about everything inside. And just like the store, this novel has a little bit of everything thrown into the plot. Readers who love mythical creatures will love the sections about Alysha's special visitors and Dragon Lords. Readers who love romance will find it sprinkled throughout the pages. For me, I was drawn in by how strong the family ties between characters were. Everything---every choice, action, and flavor of pie----was determined by how other family members would react to it. While this isn't my favorite book (I was a little turned off by how the Aunties seemed to "breed" their descendants), other readers interested in fantasy books will have their hands on an entertaining novel if they choose to give it a try.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Mineola, TX U.S.A.

Nonna's Book of Mysteries by Mary Osborne

Fourteen-year-old Emilia wants nothing more than to become a painter, but during the fourteenth century in Italy, that's near impossible. That is until Makarios, a foreign painter, recognizes her talent and asks her to become his apprentice. As Makarios's apprentice, Emilia gets more worldly exposure and maturity, and, through an old family treasure, she gleans wisdom.

At first, this book seemed really interesting; it's talking about Renaissance Italy! How could someone write a boring book in that time period? Apparently, Mary Osborne can. The author certainly did her research, and she tries to show this by cramming a copious amount of factual information into her novel. Did she really need to put Italian words in every other sentence? Not only that, the author has no writing style; as my English teacher would put it, she needs more showing and less telling. The book is a huge mix of cliched storylines, and the plot is not captivating. She uses so many foreign names for the characters that I had a hard time remembering who is who. The author's characterization is faulty; even her main character is flat. In her historical fiction novel, Mary Osborne's certainly got the historical part down, just not the fiction.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Hinsdale, IL US

The Midnight Charter by David Whitley

The Midnight Charter is a realistic story about how everything was for sale, even people. The story begins with Mark being sold to a doctor by his father. Soon after being sold Mark meets Lily who teaches him to read and write. Upon learning of these abilities Count Stelli makes him his apprentice. From there things get both much better and worse for Mark. Meanwhile Lily still tries to uncover the answer to the question that has plagued her whole life: Who am I?

This was a decent book for people who enjoy reading. The state of Angora was fairly believable and the wording was good. It was fairly easy to picture the places and people. There were some scenes that it felt like I was there but others where there wasn't much to it. I would recommend this to people who love to read and have good imaginations.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Machesney Park, Illinois USA

I, Emma Freke by Elizabeth Atkinson

This is a story about a girl Emma, whose last name is Freke. She hates her name and how she looks. She feels like a freak. She is freakishly tall has freckles and orange hair. She knows nothing about her father or his family. Then one day she receives and invitation to the Freke family reunion and that's when everything changed.

I give I, Emma Freke a 10/10! It is one of the best books I have read in along time. It had very good imagery, I could see the places and people when I closed my eyes. I felt like I was the main character, Emma. I felt the pain and loneliness she felt. It had just enough detail. I would recommend this book.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: braintree, ma usa

The Boneshaker by Kate Milford

Natalie Minks know that strange things happen at crossroads, but the crossroads at Arcane, Missouri seem awful boring, until Dr. Jake Limberleg and his medicine show come to Arcane and turn everything upside down. When her mother becomes ill, whispers engulf the town in uncertainty and Limberleg prescribes odd medicines, Natalie knows something is up. She uncovers "bone shaking" secrets and finds that the town's future rests in her hands.

This book is not one I particularly liked, it tended to jump from one subject to another. I found myself rereading a lot to figure out what was going on. The characters were not very well-described except for the main character Natalie. The book had a very slow start. I wouldn't recommend this book.

Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: boothwyn, PA USA

Dracula by Nicky Raven

Dracula by Nicky Raven is the abridged version of the classic, Dracula by Bram Stoker. It is a lot shorter, one tenth of the original. On each page are added illustrations, depicting certain scenes in the book. It is written through a narrative, following two main characters, as they live through their encounters with the vampire, Dracula, and his followers. It is very fast pace, compared to the original, and a definite thriller.

Honestly, the book wasn't very interesting. Opening the book, my attention was not grabbed, and I had a hard time completing it. Desptite that, the pictures were pretty, and did help add to the experience. Although not as captivating as the original, Raven organized the book in a better way. It was very easy to follow, and I thought everything transitioned well from journal entry's to a narrative. It was a fairly small book, and the character developement was done well. I would recommend this book to a lower age audience than suggested, because it seemed to be more of a story book, despite some of the content. I would also recommend this book to someone who has already read the original Dracula and had a hard time keeping up with it, or got bored. Overall, it wasn't a horrible book, but it also wasn't outstanding.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Springtown, Texas United states

Dark and Stormy Knights

With this novel, P.N. Elrod has compiled a collection of nine short stories written by many of today's hit "urban fantasy" authors. All of the stories have a paranormal-like quality to them. One hit story was A Questionable Client by Ilona Andrews. Readers of her Kate Daniels series can see what Kate's life was like before she met the shapeshifter, Saiman. I especially liked the Russian mythology woven into this tale. Another story that stood out for me was Rachel Caine's Even a Rabbit Will Bite, which was about a young dragon trainer. Other stories involve ghost hunting, vampires, and knights in shining armor, so there is something for everyone included here.

I'm not much of a short story reader, but I wanted to give this collection a try. There was a good variety of authors and stories to keep me interested throughout reading, even if I didn't enjoy some stories as much as others. This was also a great introduction to the urban fantasy genre. After reading this, I found some new authors that I would like to read more from. While this genre isn't for everyone, it's worth giving this collection a try. This would also make a perfect fall read.

Has some sexual content

Reviewer Age:23
Reviewer City, State and Country: Philadelphia, PA USA

Jump by Ginger Rue

Brinkley Harper is Miss Popular at her high school. She is
a beautiful cheerleader with a football player as her
boyfriend. Brinkley always gets the lead in school plays -
whether she deserves it or not. When Brinkley is almost
expelled, she has to go to therapy as an alternative.
Brinkley thinks she is perfect and that is an issue with
her counselor. Brinkley has never known what the life of
an unpopular girl was like - that is, until she wakes up
in a poor, Goth girl s body! Will Brinkley learn her
lesson?

This book speaks the truth! Brinkley is
described as a disdainful, upper-class cheerleader who
walks right over the underdog. It is only fitting that
Brinkley has to live the life of a girl she considers a
nobody . I found myself relating to this story. All
teenagers will be delighted with this book's wit and
humor. After all, everyone knows a Brinkley!

Content: 1

Rating: 10

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Panama City,
Florida United States

Efrain's Secret by Sofia Quintero

Efrain Rodriguez is a senior this year, and he has high hopes for college. He is hoping to get into an Ivy League school, but he can't afford it. He has some money saved but it's not enough. His mom is already working two jobs to put food on the table, and his dad left their family for a younger woman. Efrain has to resort to other options to get where he wants to go. He needs to get money fast with graduation around the corner, and that only means one thing: the last thing anyone suspects.

Sofia Quintero did a stunning job expressing how hard it was to stay on top, and what the pressure can do to you. I now have a new respect for teens living in the slums, and who are having a hard time. The characters in this book were perfect. Efrain is the perfect example of someone who will do anything to make everyone proud; he makes mistakes, but still stays positive. Quintero did an outstanding job writing this book.

Content: 1
Rating: 7
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Enon, OH USA