The Return: Midnight by L.J.Smith

Stefan is trapped in the dark dimension, until Elena and Damon save him that is. Being in the dark dimension hurts Stefan more than noticeable and he needs more blood than Elena can give him. While he is still weak, a mysterious, magical flower has turned Damon into a human. Of course, Damon is not okay with this, and will do anything to be turned into a vampire again. But, what will happen when he accidentally drags Bonnie along with him? Leaving Matt and Meredith alone to save Fell's church from evil spirits, Stefan and Elena hurry to save Bonnie. Will they make it in time? Are Matt and Meredith capable of stopping the evil power taking over their home town?

L.J. Smith is one of my favorite authors. I absolutely adore all of her books. She is a fantastic writer and her novels are always addicting, entertaining, and flat-out amazing. This would have to be one of my favorite series because it is so interesting and fun to read. This book, in particular, I liked, because it seemed so realistic to me, even though it is clearly impossible for anything like this to actually happen. It was dark, exotic, witty, entertaining, romantic, and everything I look for in a good novel.  I love books about vampires and this book takes that to a whole new level.  I recommend this book to any lovers of vampires or supernatural novels.

Content Rating: 1
Rating: 10
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Fairborn, Ohio United States

Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs

Tempest has a seemingly perfect life. She has a loving family, the perfect boyfriend and a group of friends surrounding her. But there’s something peculiar about Tempest. Her mother is a mermaid who has left the family to pursue life under the ocean. Tempest will have to make a decision, and quickly. A mermaid’s seventeenth birthday marks the time when she makes life-changing choices. She must choose to either stay as a human or follow in her mother’s footsteps. She finds a desperate craving to give herself to the water, but fights it harder and harder each day. As her seventeenth birthday approaches, Tempest meets Kona, an extremely talented surfer. His amazing abilities on the water hint of non-human powers, but is it a trap for Tempest? Her birthday creeps nearer, and she’s more lost than ever.

This book was a fresh idea made into an enjoyable read. There are lighthearted moments of romance sprinkled through the pages, and deeper moments when Tempest is questioning her morals and the actions of her mother. This book mixes fairy-tale fiction, action, romance, and realistic fiction into a perfect teen novel. There are also several unexpected twists that make the book a page-turner. Finally, a book on supernatural beings that aren’t vampires!

Content: 1
Rating: 8
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Leawood, KS United States

The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book by Jeff Kinney

Within this book, there are a variety of fun activities to do, some of which relate to various parts of the Wimpy Kid series. There are things like "Design Your Dream House," "Plan the Ultimate Road Trip," and several quizzes (for instance, "Take a Friendship Compatibility Test," "Personality Test," and "How Well Do You Know Your Friend?"). One of my favorite parts is "What's in Your Brain?" - on one page, it has a brain filled out by Greg, and on the other is a blank brain for you to separate into parts of what is normally on your mind. There's a great comic section near the end, followed by a good amount of space to write your own 'story'.

This Do-it-Yourself book is really funny, creative, and entertaining. I think that other creative Wimpy Kid fans would be delighted to buy and do the activities in this book. However, I do feel that the Predict YOUR Future part was kind of boring and long (except for the one part, the Predict YOUR Future game, which happens to be one of my favorite parts of the book!) I also enjoyed the comics towards the end of the book, which I keep re-reading! This book should keep Wimpy Kid fans busy for awhile!

Reviewer Age:10
Reviewer City, State and Country: Evanston, IL USA

Calli Be Gold by Michele Weber Hurwitz

Calli Be Gold is a book about an eleven year old girl from a family of over achievers. She just wants to be average, but her dad is determined to find an activity in which Calli is absolutely outstanding. Sometimes Calli would feel like she did not even fit in her own family. But when Calli meets a little boy who needs her help but will not admit it, she is determined to help.

The plot was interesting; it kept me wondering about what was coming next. The characters were realistic, and the situations were true to real family issues. As I read the book, I felt like I was a bystander in Calli's life, as she struggled to find her passion. I recommend this book as an interesting, fun diversion.

Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Rockford, MI USA

Author Interview

Flamingnet is proud to introduce author L.L. Helland. Read all about her new book, The Hellandback Kids: Be Careful What You Wish For, at http://www.literature4kids.com/author-interview-l-l-helland!

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RE: need more reads!

I JUST finished reviewing a book called All You Desire which is the second book of the Eternal Ones series. I was stunned by it and it is really focused on love but not to much for me. It is mostly about reincarnation and the love part comes in when soul mates are formed after many lives.

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RE: Gypsy Knights

It was a fun read! Thanks :) I can't wait to read the next one!

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Gypsy Knights

Hi Flamingnet, Just wanted to thank CDi for the kind and thoughtful review of Gypsy Knights. She really hit the mark with her comments, and we're glad that she liked the book! We're hard at work on the second installment in the Gypsy Knights Saga, and are looking forward to sharing it with the Flamingnet community:) All the best, Two Brothers Metz

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Columbus and the State of Ohio

When I was sent my book I requested, I also recieved a factual book about Columbus and the Sate of Ohio by Kate Boehm Jerome. The book is divided into two separate sections. The first section included many interesting things about Columbus, Ohios's state capital. This section is written more for kids to know basic things about the state capital, but still interesting for others to read. Talking about strange facts and things you can hear, see, smell, and explore; it was very fun to read. The second section was about the state of Ohio. Some things I knew, but others I didn't, and some of the facts were quite shocking to read. It almost felt like a traveler's guide; stating museums, attractions, and celebrations. It also talked about Ohio basics, such as the state bird, insect, tree, and others. While reading it, I became more and more interested to learn about the state I've lived in my whole life. I was surprised to realize that I didn't know such obvious things. Such as facts about plains, Lake Erie, canals, wildlife, and monuments. This book was a very fun, interesting, and factual book. Anyone who wants to learn about the state of Ohio should definitely read it.

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The Dark Hunters by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Calling themselves The Dark Hunters, a small group of friends live life on the edge as they protect the world from evolved vampires known as Daimons. These "Dark Hunters" have given up their souls to the Goddess Artemis to protect the earth. Some of them enjoy the fighting and living on their toes, some of them don't. And if you don't, quitting the job means getting your soul back, which is easier said than done.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to others! The lighter humor was quite entertaining, and even some of the darker humor. I loved the characters a lot, and felt that they were made quite well. I found the plot interesting, and it kept me up until the early hours of morning until I finished it. As I read the fourth book first, I started out not knowing what was going on, but Sherrylin made it easy to get on track! I do hope that others will enjoy this book as much as I did!

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Chalfont, Pennsylvania United States