Scored by Lauren McLaughlin

*Scored *is set in a world where every kid is

continually watched by cameras and scored according to their actions. Any
kid who gets a high score is guaranteed a college education and a good job.
However, a low score ruins any hope of a successful life. Imani is tested
when her best friend's score drops suddenly and she has to choose between
her future or her best friend. Imani's high score of ninety is in jeopardy.
If the cameras catches her with her low scoring friend, Imani's score could
drop considerably. What will she choose?

*Scored* is an interesting Science fiction novel that has an original plot

that I guarantee you have never considered. The choice between doing what
feels right and what everyone says is right is very complicated and
occasionally hard to follow. What makes this story so interesting is that I
can actually imagine this happening. For example, an employer could say,
"Hey we could hire people easier if we could watch them all the time." The
novels unique story line is fascinating and the writing competent.

Boilerplate by Paul Guinan

Boilerplate is a robot soldier, written as a historical fiction novel in a graphic novel form.  A man named Campion made the robot.  The robot was meant to end real men dyeing.  Boilerplate was combat with Teddy Roosevelt and Lawrence of Arabia. Campion and his robot also circled the planet with the U.S. Navy, went through the South Pole, made movies. 
I liked the idea of a robot going to war.  The story was well written and is important now that we are finishing a war.  I think it would make some kids feel good that have parents in war.  Overall the pace was quick and the topic was interesting.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Newburgh, NY US

Shatter Me

In a ruined post-apocalyptic world, seventeen-year old Juliette is locked in a mental asylum. Her ailment? Anyone she touches gets a surge of intense pain. She has been locked in a dreary, monotonous cycle in the colorless world of her prison. That is, until a strange boy is sent to be her new roommate and changes everything.

The beginning of Shatter Me read like a journal, with crossed-out portions and Juliette 's staccato thoughts. As the story progresses, the book turns more into a sci-fi romance adventure I didn' t see coming. The writing is very unique. Mafi uses a slew of metaphors to bring her heroine' s unique viewpoint to life. Although I did like this book (and couldn' t put it down at points), it got a bit too fanciful for me at points. I really enjoyed the fast-paced plot and adventure, but the story lacks when it slows down for make-out scenes, more overdone then Twilight, full of fondling and pulling of clothes. There are just too many cheesy romantic scenes that just got tedious and lengthy (read Hush; Hush for a romance with a touch more class) and pretty unrealistic. However, if you just sort of skim the steamy scenes, you actually get a pretty suspenseful story. The development of Juliette' s character is very believable, as well as her internal struggles. The end clearly leaves room for a sequel, which I will await with the hope for classier kisses and more chases. Overall, I would recommend this book to people fans of Twilight and paranormal romance.

There are some pretty steamy make-out scenes that get kinda iffy for younger teens.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Tigard, Oregon USA

Fort Mose by Glennette Tilley Turner

This book is about Francisco Menendez, a man born around
1700 in West Africa. He was captured and brought to North
America where he was enslaved in South Carolina. In 1724, he
and a small group escaped and traveled to St. Augustine
where they became free men. There he joined a militia group
and fought against the English for freedom.  In 1738, he
helped build Fort Mose, which was the first black community
and an actual stop for slaves looking for freedom on the
Underground Railroad. We learn about the groups of people
whom lived there and the struggles they went through to
remain free citizens.

   
    I found this book entertaining from beginning
to end. I think this book would be good for ages 10 + and is
filled with lots of good information and pictures that help
the reader get a clearer idea of what life was like back
then.


Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country:
Henrico, VA US

Arabat: Absolute Midnight by Clive Barker

Candy Quakenbush is back better than ever in the third and final Abarat book. Candy decides to return to Abarat, instead of staying home. She meets up with friends, new and old, to try and stop Mater Motley once and for all. With people telling her what to do and who to be, Candy becomes unsure of her abilities to stop Mater Motley. Secrets are told and steps are taken that could lead to the demise of Abarat and the rise of absolute midnight. Can Candy keep Abarat from going into eternal darkness, or will she fail and die?
Abarat: Absolute Midnight is the best book in the Abarat trilogy. Clive Barker did an amazing job ending this series. Although it could sometimes get confusing, the overall story is wonderful. I kept waiting for a little romance for Candy, and I finally got it in this book. Barker did a good job of making the story real as well. I could see the Sea of Izabella and the islands of Abarat in my mind. It is a good series and I recommend it to those who love action and adventure books.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Fresno, California USA

The Black Hawk by Joanna Bourne

French spy Justine DeCabrillac is attacked on the streets of London by an assassin.  Close to death, she appears on the doorstep of the one man she trusts, hates, and loves-Adrian Hawkhurst.  Hawker wanted Justine to come back into his life, but he never wanted her to be dying in front of him.  While Owl heals, Hawker plans his revenge on the assassin and together, they solve the mystery of the attack...and their passionate past.
I really enjoyed The Black Hawk.  It is set in France and England during the French Revolution.  Adrian is a spy for Britain and Justine is a spy for France.  Bourne created the characters to make them realistic and relevant to the time and setting of the story.  The plot was constantly moving and there were no slow parts; I couldn't put the book down once I started.  I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romance as well as historical fiction.
Adrian and Justine are lovers and novel recounts their many passionate encounters throughout the years they have known each other.  Also, many people make sexual comments throughout the book.
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Brownsburg, Indiana United States of America

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

It is 2195 and after an ice age and nuclear war, a new Victorian age has been born. New technology and manners are the basis of this world.  It has been one year since Nora Dearly s father died, or so she thinks. Soon, after Nora gets home from boarding school, she is kidnapped by zombies of all people. But these zombies are cured zombies and don t want to hurt her. Somehow she manages to trust and eventually love one of the zombies, Bram. But they know that there is no way for them to be together forever because the cure only lasts five years. As the two come together more troubles come in front of both them. Will they be able to help the world they have come to know or will they lose what the pair values most?
This book was great. The alternating perspectives really helped the story. I loved how the relationship between Nora and Bram was portrayed. I loved the word choice in this book; it really made the book even better. This was defiantly the best zombie book I have ever read. I recommend this book to people who liked Rot and Ruin, Fallen, Beautiful Creatures, and Hunger Games.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Northglenn, CO United States

Trapped by Marc Aronson

Trapped by Mark Anderson is a great book about "how the world rescued 33 miners from 2,000 feet below the Chilean Desert." It's a non-fiction book that shows what happened when a mine caved in. All the miners were fortunate enough to live, none died. It really helped their survival skills and showed how stressful it can be to get miners out when they are stuck underground. It also shows all of the support you get while trapped.
Trapped by Mark Anderson is a great book. When I first looked at and got the book I didn't realize it was a true story, it just sounded like a good book. When i received the book and told my parents about it my dad said "they made a book out of that already?" and he told me that it happened last year. Then I felt bad because I don't remember hearing or knowing anything about this event. It turned out to be a very good book. It shows all about how stressful it is to get the miners out and how many people care for you and want/try to help. It was a good life lesson book and very interesting too.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Sandy, Oregon U.S.A

Every You, Every Me by David Levithan

Every You, Every Me by David Levithan is a good and mysterious book. Evan loses Ariel, his best friend. He blames himself for it even though he knows he did the right thing. One day as he's walking home he finds an envelope on the ground. He knows it's none of his business but he's curious so he opens it up. Inside he finds a picture. The next day he finds another picture, this time it's of him. He goes on this wild goose chase finding the spots in the photos and receiving more photos trying to figure out who it is and why they are doing this to him. Read this exciting novel to find out who's sending him the letters and why.
Every You, Every Me by David Levithan is a good and mysterious book. I thought it was kind of weird in the beginning because of all the crossed out parts but then I got used to it. It seemed to me that Evan was starting to go crazy if he wasn't already because of everything that had and was happening. I was confused for most of the book and wondering what had happened to Ariel. In the end you find out and it makes things so much clearer. All in all I thought it was pretty good but kind of confusing too.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Sandy, Oregon U.S.A

The Pink Locker Society: Girls in Charge by Debra Moffitt

The PLS (Pink Locker Society) is a group of middle-school girls who run a website, where girls at their school can get their questions answered. The PLS gets the most questions about PBBB s (periods, bras, boys, and bullies). When the PLS gets in trouble with the school principal, they re not sure if they can save the business. But when the PLS gets an invitation to the Tomorrow s Leaders Today conference, they are on a mission to convince the principal just how much their advice helps girls. Despite their effort, Principal Finklestein tells the girls that they may not go on the eighth-grade class field trip&to New York City! Jemma, Kate, and Piper really don t want to miss out on the trip, which would have also allowed them to go to the Tomorrow s Leaders Today conference. Read the book to see how it will end.
Overall, I did like the book. The author did a great job with the writing, and although the book was pretty predictable, she did a great job building in humor. My advice to you is that if you re the kind of person for which a predictable book will ruin the experience, this may not be the perfect book for you. However, I don t like totally happy endings, and while I did predict that this was just going to be one of those books with an annoyingly happy ending, it actually ended rather bitter-sweetly. I think that this book is really adventurous, and, in conclusion, I would recommend it (if you' re a preteen girl).

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