All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

Anya Balachine has had a tough life growing up in crime-ridden New York City. The year is 2083, and the prohibition on chocolate and caffeine, along with rations on water, food, and paper, has made her Russian Mafiya family very influential in the city. But since both of Anya's parents are dead due to their Mob ties, Anya want nothing to do with the family business of selling black market chocolate. This is especially important when she becomes friends (and maybe something more) with Win, the son of the Assistant District Attorney and later when she is accused of poisoning her family's chocolate supply. Can Anya ever separate herself from her background, or is she destined to lead the Balachine regime like her father?

I really liked All These Thing I've Done. The novel was set in the future, but it wasn't really a dystopian because it was very similar to today. There weren't really any new technologies, just a lot of rations and caffeine and chocolate are contraband. I was disappointed that All These Things I've Done did not explain why and how these things became illegal. I enjoyed the fact that Anya's family is part of the Russian Mafia; I thought it was very interesting and not something done a lot in YA literature. Anya was a very strong and capable character and if she took over the leadship of her crime family in subsequent novels I think it could really shake things up. I liked the relationship Anya had with Win, especially the fact that their backgrounds are so opposite, but I felt like the romance was rushed. I know there will be a sequel, so hopefully we can get to see their relationship develop further. All in all, I really enjoyed All These Things I've Done and can't wait to see what Gabrielle Zevin has in store for us next.

Reviewer Age: 19
Reviewer City, State and Country: Aston, Pennsylvania United States

The Project by Brian Falkner

Luke and Tom are two normal pranksters. That is until a flood occurs in the neighborhood. In that flood they find the most boring book in the world written by da Vinci. It is worth 2 million dollars, and they are out to get it. They come back that night to steal it. There they get chased by German speaking strangers. If you want to find out if they get the book and solve the mystery, read The Project by Brian Falkner.

The Project really surprised me. It had the perfect combination of action, humor, and mystery.  The author also does a good job describing scenes. An example is, "It was running faster, as if it were trying to escape from some unseen horror. It smelled strange also, a vaguely putrid stench of pollution and decay." My favorite character was Luke. He was smart and didn't put his life before the lives of the people of earth. The other thing I liked about him was that he was brave and was prepared to die for his friends.  I think that if you like this book then you would like Trackers by Patrick Carman. I recommend this book to people 12 and up.  

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

Stake Out by Bonnie J. Doerr

After meeting Old Turtle at a New York aquarium, Kenzie vows to help the sea turtles at all costs. So when someone starts stealing turtle eggs near her new home in the Florida Keys, she s on the case! With the help of her dog, Salty, the KTC (Keys Teens Care), and friends Angelo and Ana, they try to track down the thief before he or she destroys every turtle nest on the beach. Could it be angry Anita, the meanest women on the beach? Or the mysterious Shalima and her skin care products? Or might it be someone who s supposed to be protecting the turtles in the first place? You ll have to read the book to find out.  
This book is the perfect mystery. Full of suspense, action, and drama, Stake Out is one of the best mysteries I have ever read. It has just the right amount of family matters to balance out the plot, and the author paints such a vivid picture in my mind that I can almost smell the sea salt. The unexpected twists are just delightful! This book is great for people who love mysteries and people who love the environment. I liked this book so much that I will read it again and lend it to all of my friends. I highly recommend reading Stake Out by Bonnie J. Doerr.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Rockford, Michigan U.S.A.

Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen

It is 1929 and Cordelia Grey and Letty Larkspur have always dreamed of running away from their dull lives to the glamorous New York City. For Letty, New York means a chance to become the star she is destined to be. However, the path to stardom is not as easy as she thought it would be and finds herself conflicted between her desire for stardom and sticking with her morals. For Cordelia, New York is where her long lost bootlegger father lives. However, when Cordelia finds herself falling for the son of her father's sworn enemy she finds herself stuck in a Romeo and Juliet type scenario. And then there is Astrid Donal, a young flapper who appears to be living the New York dream. However, behind her wealth and beauty Astrid's life is not as perfect as it seems. Throughout their time in New York, each girl discovers that life in the city brings both pleasure and danger.
As someone who loves reading historical fiction, I really enjoyed this book. Set in New York City in 1929 the reader gets a look into the Prohibition period and the glamorous flapper life. The plot itself was also very interesting and at many times unpredictable. I finished this book in a day and found it a quick and light read. Even if the reader does not know a lot about the 1920's or Prohibition, the book gives enough information so that the reader is not lost and understands the plot and the setting.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Potomac, Maryland United States of America

Vlara's Song by Neil O'Donnell

Vlara's Song by Neil O'Dennell is a quaint little collection of medium-length short stories all set in the same, fictional world. The title story is about a druid priestess on her travels after the death of her lover, and there are many other interesting tales, including one about a troll who just happens to be a monk. Other works include the story of a soldier who loses his memory in the midst of battle, and the real story of what happens when a writer dies.
The first thing I noticed about this book was the format, and more specifically its strangeness. Unlike most anthologies, Vlara's Song lacks a table of contents. It's not technically necessary, but not having one irked me. The second unusual thing I noticed was that, for a collection of short stories, all the stories were very long. Especially the title story, which was actually divided into chapters. This isn't a good or bad thing, but it is quite different. As far as the writing goes, I found it to be average, and there were several parts where I felt I could have spiced it up. I do, however, admire the creativity of the last tale, The Realm of Author. The imaginative idea of an afterlife where authors go to live in and expand upon their own stories is truly interesting. Unfortunately, it still didn't pack much of a punch in the writing style department, so in the end, this book still earns a 7 out of 10.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Sykesville, Maryland United States

The Hellandback Kids: Be Careful What You Wish For by L.L. Helland

The Hellandback Kids: Be Careful What You Wish For is about
four siblings, Chris, Brittany, Trisha, and Jon, who are
sent to their Grandmother's house in Scotland over the
summer. Maybe it's the ghost of their Grandfather that keeps
showing up, or the chicken that magically appears in
Britanny's room, or the wax bride that disappears from
Trisha's, but soon enough the four realize that something
wierd is going on. That realization is only enforced when
each of them is sent spiraling into a new world; Trisha to a
handsome suitor wanting to suck the life from her, Brittany
to bubonic-plague infested England, Jon to an important
corporate job, and Chris to a strange, cold land inhabited
by the fuzzy, green Bundlebobs. Although they are all
struggling through their own adventures, the Hellandback
kids find time to help each other, and learn an important
lesson: Be careful what you wish for.
The Hellandback
Kids: Be Careful What you Wish For was a very original story
that followed diverse characters in a fun, imaginative plot.
The story started out a little slow, but the adventures
quickly speeded up and drew me into to the Hellandback kid's
exciting summer. I enjoyed the large amount of symbolism
included in the story, especially Mr. Mole, Mr. Rat, Mrs.
Lips and Mr. Windbag who worked in the corporate world with
Jon. The author definitly drove home her message of being
careful for what you wish for well with four examples that
allow readers of different ages and personalities to relate
to the theme. The ending tied up all the immediate loose
ends, but still left me with enough questions to warrant a
sequel. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes
fantasy and adventure, and has a good understanding of
symbolism.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and
Country: Harleysville, PA USA

Deviant by Adrian McKinty

This story begins with Danny Lopez' s move to Colorado Springs from, wait for it - Vegas, baby! He goes from the hot Nevada air and the never-ending clash of America' s Playground to the silence and chill of Pikes Peak. Naturally, he' s unhappy with this change, but worse than the new house, cold weather, and almost non-existent town, is the school, Cobalt Junior High Charter School. Everything they say is scripted, not just for the students, but the teachers too. With the exception of their predestined discussions and class reading, the school operates on the silent system - all the time, lunch recess, before school, after school. Oh, and of course they wear uniforms. Why would anyone send their child to this school? The answer is simple; test scores, twelfth highest in the country. They even specialize in kids who have had trouble in other schools. This naive, and utterly doomed, attempt at controlling adolescents leads to secret societies, ways around the system, and maybe invent a serial killer?

Pretty crazy huh? That' s pretty much how I 'd describe this book - crazy. Adrian McKinty went above and beyond with this book. He gave a new perspective on the traditional school system, dove into the conflicts of a rapidly spreading family dynamic, and gave fascinating insights to the psyche of the criminally insane all in about 360 riveting pages. This book is exciting but also fascinating and well-detailed. I strongly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. You won' t regret picking it up.


Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Cibolo, Texas United States

Dragon's Oath by PC Cast and Kristin Cast

Anastasia, a spells professor at the Tower Grove House of Night notices that all of her students seem to be enamored with Dragon Lankford. Though she has never met him, she decides to create a spell ensuring that her students are not overtaken with young love. Little does she know however, that this will lead to Dragon actually showing up right before she finishes the spell. Meanwhile, Tower Grove is being threatened by far greater dangers. Can Dragon and Anastasia protect the House of Night, or will their entire world be exposed?
P.C. and Kristin Cast are able to transport the reader to another world, as well as another time period. The dialogue was engaging and the few historical settings made the book more relatable and interesting. The plot line was unpredictable, which was refreshing. The foreshadowing used definitely enhanced the book as well. Overall, this was an interesting read and I would recommend it to fantasy readers.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Colleyville, TX U.S.

The Dragon in the Volcano by Kate Klimo

A missing dragon lost while in dog form, confusing science projects, and a mysterious phrase, things heating up from the Hobgoblins. Things couldn t be worse for our keepers, Jesse and Daisy in the newest installment of the dragon keepers series, The Dragon in the Volcano. After Emmy has abandoned her sock nest, along with all her socks in it Jesse and Daisy can only think of one thing to do-- consult Emmy s mother, Leandra of Tourmaline, who says that Emmy has gone in search of a new nest.  Emmy found one, a fiery one where everyone wears and eats oxygen; but the weirdness doesn t stop there. Here if you touch water, that part of you is lucky to still be attached.  Now one of the Grand Beacons children is plotting to destroy the Fiery Realm.  How do the keepers get out of this situation? Are there other forces at work here? Find out in the new, awesome book The Dragon in the Volcano!
 The Dragon in the Volcano is a book that I believe was written for the purpose of entertaining people, which I also believe was achieved.  The writing in this book flows well and captures and keeps your attention; I read this book two times straight through, which is a good thing. The book was written appropriately for ages 7-12 in my opinion. If you have read this series, then you will like this one , and with the next book, like me, you will have your expectations  for it increased.  I would recommend this book to anyone that likes dragon and adventure books.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Dickinson, TX United States

Wild Life by Cynthia DeFelice

Wild Life written by Cynthia DeFelice is a story of a twelve year old boy named Erik who desperately wants to learn to hunt.  His hunting plans are put on hold when his parents are deployed to Iraq. Erik is forced to move from New York to North Dakota to live with Grandparents he doesn t even remember. While left alone at his Grandparent s house he discovers a dog with porcupine quills in his snout. He calls his Grandma and together they call a vet to get the quills out. Erik wants to keep the dog but the vet says that they will probably find the owner because it is a good hunting dog. When his Grandfather comes home he does not want the dog in the house, or the dog to be there at all, so he orders it out to the barn. Erik goes out to the barn to sleep with the dog he has named Quill. He does not want to give him up. The next day Erik decides to run away with Quill and a gun that belonged to his dead uncle. Erik believes having Quill and the gun will be enough to survive out in the prairie but he soon finds out that surviving out in the prairie is not as easy as it looks.
This story was suspenseful and amazing. DeFelice explained everything really nicely and the story wrapped up very well too.  There was no bad language in this book at all.  Wild Life is appropriate for anyone 8 and older.

Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Rochester, NY USA