The Friendship Doll by Kirby Larson

The Friendship Doll tells the story of early America's relationship with Japan. They sent us 58 dolls as Ambassadors of Friendship, and this book follows the path of one doll, Miss Kanagawa. She traveled from New York to Oregon, visiting the Chicago's World Fair and many museums all during the time of the Great Depression. However, Miss Kanagawa's life of traveling from museum to museum was cut short when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. She was declared unpatriotic and was to be destroyed or hidden. In the story, she appeared one last time to cheer up the old lady who last knew her many years ago, but to this day her actual location is unknown.
In my opinion, The Friendship Doll, is a good book, but a bit confusing. As the book follows Miss Kanagawa's journey as an ambassador doll from Japan to the United States of America, the story line jumps around a bit. As Miss Kanagawa travels, she meets young girls, and the changing of the main character, from one young girl to the next is what makes this book confusing to me. This book takes place in the past, so while children might not realize it, they are actually learning American history. All in all, I think this is a wonderful book, and any young girl who enjoys more of a fantasy type book will definitely enjoy The Friendship Doll.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Nappannee, Indiana United States of America

A Million Miles from Boston by Karen Day

Lucys mom died when she was six, so she lives with her dad and brother in Boston, where the worlds most annoying boy, Ian Richards, just happens to live. She cant wait to get away for the summer at Peirson Point. She and her family have been going to the point ever since she was little, and it hasnt really changed. But, as soon as they arrive, news is brought to them that a new family is spending the summer, and it just happens to be Ians family. How could Lucys summer get any worse? How about her dads new girlfriend constantly coming up to see him? Her summer is a complete disaster, until she finds an unlikely friendship with Ian. And is her dads girlfriend really so bad?
I liked how the author made you feel like you were right there in the book. You could get a good picture in your head of what everything looked like. I felt like I could understand the characters easily.  I found the book very interesting. I thought there was too much information sometimes, but it was still good.

Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Lake City, Iowa US

The Resisters by Eric Nylund

 Ethan was torn from his home, the only place he had ever known. Fed an unbelievable story by Madison and Felix and then realized that he was fed a lie his entire life. So he joins the resisters--a group fighting the Chzar with mechanical insects. His ride is a hornet. The only problem is they almost have his sister.  He goes on a mission to save her and others.  
I think the author did a really good job writing The Resisters. The detail of his world makes you feel like youre there as Ethan, fighting for your life and the life of the planet. It stands out from other books that I have read.  One of the ways it stands out is the aliens unique bug-robots including spiders and ants.  When describing the ant, the author wrote But the thing that made Ethan involuntarily scoot back in fear was the stinger that extended from its rear.  It was six feet long&smoldering with heat.  And pointed at Ethan.   You could easily make a video game out of the idea. Many kids and teens would like this book. The only thing I didnt like about this book is how short it is and how there isnt a second book out yet. If you read it and like it then you should like The Roar by Emma Clayton. I recommend this book to people 10 and up.



Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Uxbridge, Ma USA

Dark Eden by Patrick Carman

I thought that Dark Eden, by Patrick Carmen, was a most enjoyable read. The plot line features a group of seven children who are struck with completely debilitating fears. These seven children are all the same age, and are all seeing the same therapist, Dr. Stevens. Dr. Stevens recommends a place called Fort Eden to help them with their terror. The story follows one of the children, Will, a fifteen year old teenager who already knows everything about the other people- and Fort Eden. The reason behind this is that he has hacked Dr. Stevenss computer and borrowed the files on it. He knows that something is amiss about the place, so he hides and refuses to enter. His hiding place is a place just outside the fort called The Bunker. In his race to find out what is wrong with Fort Eden, Will tries to save the girl he has been secretly watching for a long time, ever since the sessions with Dr. Stevens before Fort Eden. But will Will be able to save her, and deny her the cure, or will he even be able to save anyone? It will be impossible to stop reading once you get going.
I enjoyed reading Dark Eden, but it had large draw backs as well that made it hard to read in some places. Even though it had problems it was a very easy story to get swept away in.  It had a good story line, fantastic characters that are really very easy to relate to, and a most puzzling dilemma. One of the draw backs I thought held the book up was that it seemed to be pushing hard for a creepy, slightly scary theme, but never really achieved it. Whenever it got a little bit scary, it always killed the suspense by adding good or happy elements to the book. The angle in which the story is written is through the observers eyes. I enjoyed this because I have never read a book like that, it was rather interesting. The other major drawback in the book was the explanation. The story seemed to branch out into a completely different story when it finally explained everything. The explanation never even seemed like it was trying to flow with the rest of the story. It almost seemed like the author took the easy way out. It was such a good book, and the story was so well written, however, that it I could not stop reading this book once I picked it up. This book may have flaws, but if you focus on them, you can never enjoy this book as what it is, a good read.  

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Monrovia, MD USA

Heir To Power: Book 1 by Michele Poague

Kairma is a member of the Healing family, and its her duty to become the next Miral, or leader, of Survin, her secluded home nestled in the shadow of a huge mountain. The once- pretty little girl was perfectly accepted in her community, that is, until she was bitten by a White One. The White Ones are horrid creatures whose bite causes fever. They haunt the people of Survin, striking fear into the hearts of those who see them. Kairma was the first to survive their bite. Years later, at age sixteen, the fever has left her with pale skin and white hair, so similar to that of the White Ones, so different from the dark skin and hair of her people. Now, Kairma faces discrimination from many members of the village. As if coping with this isnt enough, a stranger has come to the village, and an ancient law orders that he must die. When Kairma and her grandmother Isontra, the current leader of Survin, choose to allow him to live for the present, discriminators only have more reason to hate the Healing family. The stranger then starts trying to convince members of Survin to go to the city, his home. The Survinees are forbidden from leaving their valley, though. Will they leave for the city and risk exposing the location of the Healing Crystal, the very center of their village  and purpose for their seclusion? Will the Survinees allow the stranger to live? Will men from the city attack their village to harvest its gold and make the Survinees lose their home forever?
I really enjoyed this book! I do think its lengthier than it needs to be, but the overall story is original and creative. For me, this book was well worth the length. I like the fact that this book doesnt use a corny or common formula. It has a completely unique plot, with all the action and adventure you could hope for, as well as a touch of social drama and romance. If youre looking for a book thats simply a good read, this is the one for you.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Crescent City, CA USA

Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan

Henry Atherton is an average boy. When he wakes up on a not so average day, he finds out several things. First of all, his parents' relationship is ruined because his mother is having an affair with his dad's secretary. Secondly, when he goes to work for old Mr. Fogarty, he finds a mysterious fairy named Pyrgus Malvae, the Crown Prince. Pyrgus is from a different world, the Faerie Relm, and he is next in line for Emperor. He doesn't care for politics too much, anyway. While he is out roaming the streets, Brimstone of the glue factory captures him and needs to sacrifice him to the demon Beleth. Pyrgus gets rescued by the Emperor's guards [his father's]. When his father knows he isn't safe in their world anymore, he gets sent in their magical portal to the Analouge World [the human world]. Pyrgus somehow gets sabotaged in the process, so instead of going to an island, he gets sent to Mr. Fogarty's backyard. Henry and Mr. Fogarty try to help Pyrgus get back to his own world, but something else goes wrong. The whole time this is going on, his sister Holly Blue, is trying to help get Pyrgus back and find out who sabotaged him. Will he get back to the Faerie Relm safely?

When I first started the book, I thought it would be about a war going on [because of the title]. However, after reading a few chapters I knew that it wasn't. The chapters go back and forth from character to another to another, so you have to pay attention to understand the whole story. The vocabulary is understandable and has a great variety. I would recommend this book to people who like fantasy because of the different 'species' of characters. There is great foreshadowing to help you predict events that would happen later in the book. I found this book very well-written, addicting, and I cannot wait to get the second book to read in this series!

There is mild violence.


Reviewer Age:18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States of America

All You Desire by Kirsten Miller

In All You Desire (the second book of the The Eternal Ones series) Haven is paranoid she can tell that the black man is watching her again, but no one not even her boyfriend, Iain, will believe her. But when her best friend Beau goes to find a boyfriend that he may have known in a previous life and disappears Haven and Iain must leave their beloved Rome and travel to New York the home of the Ouroboros Society and its leader the black man whose name is Adam. The Ouroboros Society is a secret society for people who have been reincarnated. The people of the Ouroboros society each have a talent that they improve on each life and many of them are the famous actors, politicians, or business people of today. This book is an exciting and dark adventure of Haven desperately searching for her friend Beau and the love triangle that Haven is in the middle of.
Opinion of the book:
All You Desire is a magical and enchanting book. Although is can sometimes get a little to dark for my taste because of a main part of the plot being reincarnation, I like it because a big part of the reincarnation is the love and soul mates that are formed over their lives.

        Adam is a confusing character in a good way, he loves Haven so much an Haven thinks she could be in love with him but he has done so many evil things in the past and Haven feels that every good thing he does is only for her sake. Iain is so important to the story and my second favorite character. Iain is one of the only reincarnated person that can remember every detail of each of his lives, he is born every life with his purpose to find Haven and they love each other dearly but Adam is starting to pull them apart. Beau and Leah are my favorite characters because although they are both only in the ending of the book they both are so unique and so well developed. Leah is a fortune teller friend of Havens who comes to help her later in the book and Beau is the one who is kidnapped at the very beginning of the book.

        Reading this book is sometimes a little confusing and the book is definitely for mature readers only but I have not read the first book so that may be only my opinion. This book is very hard to classify because I dont think it is fantasy or science fiction but I would compare it to Twilight or other vampire book because of its darkness and its focus on love. One of the only things I really did not like about this book was the ending it was such a cliffhanger it has been driving me crazy all week!

I would definitely recommend this to teens and adults for a fun read.

Homosexuality and reincarnation.
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Holland, Michigan USA

This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth OppelVictor Frankenstein, his brother Konrad, their distant cousin Elizabeth are in the library one day when they discover a secret passage. Surprised that they hadn't found it before, they go down the passage to find a secret library, filled with books about ancient medicine and alchemy. When Konrad falls deathly ill, Victor returns to the "Dark Library" and finds the instructions to prepare the Elixir of Life - supposedly the only one that really works. With the help of Elizabeth, their friend Henry, and an old alchemist, Polidori, they set about collecting the ingredients for the Elixir. Surviving the dangers of creating the Elixir, they then fight for the Elixir with Polidori, who wants it as his own. Narrowly escaping Polidori (and his lynx Krane) they return home to give Konrad the Elixir, and his health returns. But soon after, they discover the Elixir does not work - when Konrad dies. Crazed, Victor vows that he will someday raise his brother from the grave...This book was exciting at every turn, as well as dark and mysterious throughout. It is a very interesting prequel to the classic story Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley. I think that it is a very accurate portrayal of Frankenstein's childhood, the author captured his character quite well. The book is also quite realistic, almost as though it actually happened. There was only one thing I didn't like, though I can't explain it well, it was sort of like the levels of a video game, if you understand what I mean. There's an objective, they have to go through the challenges, complete the task, and then they go through another "level". It's not too bad though, and i really liked the book despite that.Quite gory toward the end, examples: fingers being chopped of with a chisel and hammer, then being flayed and cut up. And cutting open a lynx's stomach with guts spilling out. I thought it was cool, but it might be a little over-the-top for others.Reviewer Age:13Reviewer City, State and Country: Santa Fe, TX USA

Victor Frankenstein, his brother Konrad, and their distant cousin Elizabeth are in the library one day when they discover a secret passage. Surprised that they hadn't found it before, they go down the passage to find a secret library, filled with books about ancient medicine and alchemy. When Konrad falls deathly ill, Victor returns to the "Dark Library" and finds the instructions to prepare the Elixir of Life - supposedly the only one that really works. With the help of Elizabeth, their friend Henry, and an old alchemist, Polidori, they set about collecting the ingredients for the Elixir. Surviving the dangers of creating the Elixir, they then fight for the Elixir with Polidori, who wants it as his own. Narrowly escaping Polidori (and his lynx Krane) they return home to give Konrad the Elixir, and his health returns. But soon after, they discover the Elixir does not work - when Konrad dies. Crazed, Victor vows that he will someday raise his brother from the grave...

This book was exciting at every turn, as well as dark and mysterious throughout. It is a very interesting prequel to the classic story Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley.  I think that it is a very accurate portrayal of Frankenstein's childhood, the author captured his character quite well. The book is also quite realistic, almost as though it actually happened. There was only one thing I didn't like, though I can't explain it well, it was sort of like the levels of a video game, if you understand what I mean. There's an objective, they have to go through the challenges, complete the task, and then they go through another "level". It's not too bad though, and I really liked the book despite that.

Quite gory toward the end, examples: fingers being chopped of with a chisel and hammer, then being flayed and cut up. And cutting open a lynx's stomach with guts spilling out. I thought it was cool, but it might be a little over-the-top for others.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Santa Fe, TX USA

Saving June by Hannah Harrington

I feel really tired.

But it's a good kind of tired. Like after you run a marathon. Or after you finally finish taking all your finals. You're exhausted but content and your heart is just a teensy bit heavy.

Saving June details Harper's life after her older sister June commits suicide. Unable to bear it all anymore -- the hurt, her mother's tears, the unfamiliar pats on the back by random strangers -- Harper escapes to California with her best friend Laney, her sister's apparent acquaintance Jake, and June's urn. California was June's dream, and fulfilling it for her seems like the only way Harper can come to terms with what happened. But a place is just a place. Mostly. And the journey there is only a road trip. Sort of.

Man, I cannot stop myself from pausing every once in a while, picking up Saving June again, and re-reading some of the standout passages. I'll probably be willing to shout the title of this book from the rooftops, and it's coming out in paperback. Seriously? Saving June deserves a hardcover edition and a few weeks in a comfy spot on the NYT Best Sellers List.

Why all the enthusiasm? Our protagonist Harper has backbone and doesn't take crap from anyone. Puke on her, and she'll puke on you. Jake is a sweetheart with a music obsession and a spiny exterior. Laney is fun and flirty and fiery, and I'm running out of adjectives that start with f to describe her. This is what all fictional characters should strive to become. They should have a life and a heart and a soul and a personality. Physical attraction isn't a bad trait, either.

Really, this book was about healing and maturity and dealing with death. I feel like reading it has made me a different person (that's what all great novels should do, in my opinion). But it also made me chuckle and sigh. And this weight on my chest just won't disappear.I recommend Saving June to anyone looking for truly beautiful YA contemporary fiction.

Sexual content.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Palo Alto, CA USA

Gaia Warriors by Nicola Davies

Everyone has heard of the threat of global warming. Scientists believe that this devastation is inevitable, and humans must prepare for its effects now. Although it is bound to happen, we know of several ways to slow down the process. These methods include reducing CO2 and methane emissions, especially in areas of the world such as the United States that produce the most of these gases. Many methods will have to be used by large companies and factories, but there are also ways that normal people can reduce their own carbon footprint like walking or biking instead of driving a car, reusing clothes, and being careful about electricity use. Everyone must work together to help protect our world and become Gaia Warriors.
I love to learn about science, and I wanted to explore the study of global warming because of its prominence in political and intellectual talk. This book helped me to not only learn the terrible effects of the problem, but it also showed me many ways that I can do my part in slowing down the process of global warming. The book was written in a very friendly manner, and people of any age could enjoy this book. It is a book compiled into many segments of stories and opinions of different scientists and everyday people. This makes it interesting to read because there is a wide range of interests explored, such as athletics, fashion, travel, and (of course) the environment. I wish that everyone would read this book so we can work together to ensure that we are prepared for a raised global temperature.

Reviewer Age:18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States of America