Conspiracy 365: October by Gabrielle Lord

Conspiracy 365 October by Gabrielle Lord is about a teenager named Cal who is trying to find a treasure his ancestors have kept hidden for generations. Cal is wanted by the police, and many different people are trying to get the reward for delivering him. His friends Winter and Boges help him. Winter is trying to solve the mystery of her parent s death, as well. They think a rival enemy named Oriana de la Force has the next clue to the treasure in Zrich Bank. They find a way to get her fingerprint then make a copy of it. They try to get her PIN code and create disguises of her and her bodyguard to break in and get the clue.

I thought this book is a great story with a great pace. I liked how they left you hanging at the end of the book. It really explained how the characters felt. When it explained things, it provided just the right amount of information so that you understand but are not bored. This book has great supporting details so you can understand what the characters feel. The only part I didn' t like is how it didn' t tell much about Cal' s family.


Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Overland Park, Kansas USA

Wild Life

       Wild Life by Cynthia DeFelice is a book about a boy named Erik. Erik is preparing for his very first hunting trip, when he learns that his parents are being deployed to Iraq. Then Erik is shipped off to live with his grandparents, Oma and Big Darrell. When Erik finds a dog he later names Quill, he can t bear to be separated from her. When Big Darrell says Erik can t keep her, Erik runs away, taking the dog and his uncle Dan's hunting boots, camouflage jacket, gun, and a few boxes of shotgun shells.
       I think this book was exciting. I would have to say my favorite character would be Quill. Even though she's a dog, she acts like a human and is very loyal. She is very smart and is really strong. The thing I like the most is her will to help Erik survive. I wish I could have a dog like that. I would recommend this book for ages 11-14. I hope you will like it as much as I did.
Reviewer Age:11
Leopold, Mo United States

Artemisia of Caria by Shirin Yim Bridges

A long time ago, in Ancient Greece, when women couldn’t even leave the house, a girl named Artemisia led war ships to battle. When other women would knit and cook, Artemisia would sink enemy ships and call out orders to male soldiers. When women weren’t even considered citizens, Artemisia was the only person the Emperor trusted. Learn about her food, clothing, and life in Artemisia of Caria. This book will make girls and women around the world more powerful than ever.


This book was really entertaining. It’s always bothered me that a long time ago women were treated badly. This book really shows how women can be just as good (or maybe better )than men. I love how the author didn’t just teach me about Artemisia, but also about some Ancient Greek customs. I was really pulled into the story when the author described the wars Artemisia was in and all the scary things that happened to her. Now, after reading that book, my life motto is, ”Fight like a girl.” I would recommend this book to all girls who are tired of hearing boys say they are better than them.

Rating:  10
Conent:  1
Reviewer Age: 9
Reviewer City, State and Country: Charlotte, North Carolina United States

Changing My Wardrobe (eBook) by Deb Hanrahan

Lindsey is lokking for a new start after a not so fabulous junior high expierience. And to do that all she needs is a new wardrobe. With her good friends Teeny and Grouper at her side Lindsey will take on high school, with its pros- like Marco Marino- and its cons- like old enemy Avery. Can she help her best friends find happiness? Can she find her own? And will they be able to high school?
At first when I began reading this book I presumed that it would be a feel-good romance, that would be sweet and cute. That is why the tragic ending threw me for a loop. The writing was okay, but lacking in detail. The details that were there, though, were very realistic. Towards the middle it got much better; I could not even put it down, and was quite engrossed in it. I was excited for the adorable ending, and was majorly dissapointed when it did not come. The ending, although not what i was hoping for, was very unpeedictable, and made the characters extremely real to me. It was not the sweet ending I would have liked, but it did have a bittersweet quality that left me in tears. The best part was the authors stunning taste in music, which added some joy to my reading expirience. It wasn't for me, but I am sure that there are plenty of people who would like it.
language, and teenage content (drugs, alcohol, etc.)
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Colorado Springs, Colorado United States

You Have Seven Messages by Stewart Lewis

   You Have Seven Messages is an amazing story of discovery. It is about a girl that loses her mom in a tragic and mysterious accident. Sometimes when someone loses a person they love, they will go searching, trying to find any remnant that may be left of that person. That may mean searching through their belongings. It might mean talking to people who knew them. It could even be as simple as visiting places that were important to them. It is all done for one purpose- to hold on to anything that is left of that person. For Luna, this searching brought up a part of her mother s life that had been completely hidden from her.
I absolutely LOVED this story. I have never read anything like it! It was mysterious, dramatic, and suspenseful all at the same time. It really made me feel so many different emotions. Mr. Lewis did a great job showing how desperately Luna needed to find the truth. This story was also a good example of how when we love someone we have to accept that they aren t perfect and love them for who they really are. I would definitely recommend this book.
Adultery is a dominant theme in this story and there are references to homosexuality although neither are graphic.  There are also a few scenes where characters are drinking. These topics may be undesirable for some readers.
Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Alton, MO USA

Empire of Ruins: The Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade

Modo is a fourteen year old secret agent, with incredible abilities, working for British intelligence.   He is sent on a mission to find the god face, an ancient artifact, currently held by Australian tribes in the deep Australian jungle.  An old enemy of Modo s, the clockwork guild, is looking for the god face as well.  What follows is a race against each other, including an air battle and a surprising discovery, with the consequences of loss, death, chaos and destruction.
This is only an average book, but still has a way of holding your attention with well-spaced action sequences.  Modo is a good character, with a fully developed personality, but some of the secondary characters aren' t as good, with less developed personalities. The plot is only somewhat well-thought through and needs some revising, but all in all this is a fairly good book.


Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: philadelphia, PA United States

Fox and Phoenix by Beth Bernobich

Fox and Phoenix by Beth Bernobich occured in a magical, fantastical version of Asia, in Long City and the Phoenix Empire. In this novel, Kai and his best friend Yun are going to get the princess of Long City, Lian, and take her to her dying father. She is studying in the Phoenix Empire where the Emperor is preventing her from recieving the information of her father's worsening condition to get the control of Long City.
The book has great, vivid details that make it easily imaginable. Although it was slow at first, the pace picked up and it became quite a page-turner. The characters were also easy to relate to and were enjoyable to read about. Fox and Phoenix is a book I would recommend though don't be surprised if it's a bit young.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Mendon, Vermont United States of America

Sammy Keyes and the Night of Skulls by Wendelin Van Draanen

Sammey Keyes and the Night of the Living dead is the fourteenth book in the Sammey Keyes mystery series. Sammy is an eighth grade girl who, along with having the regular problems of a teenager, is constantly getting caught up in crimes. This time, she and her friends bump into a man in a graveyard on Halloween, and accidentally end up with the sack he was carrying. The discovery of two skulls inside, and more suspicious activity around the graveyard, leads Sammy to think she can find out why people in Santa Monica have been going missing. Hopefully she can figure out what is going on... before someone else disappears!
Sammey Keyes and the Night of the Living Dead was an excellent addition to the Sammy Keyes series. The main characters were every bit as interesting as in the previous books, and the new ones were unique and well-described. The inclusion of Sammy's family and school problems, as well as the interesting relationships she has with the Acosta family, gives Sammy many different sides and makes her easy to like. The book being told in Sammy's casual, down to earth tone really involves the reader in the story, with plenty of clues to be found in Sammy's sharp thinking. The plot is fast and creative, with many twists and sub-plots that are fun and easy to follow.  I would recommend this book to any child or young teenager that likes mystery, humor and adventure.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Harleysville, Pennsylvania USA

Lexie by Audrey Couloumbis

In the novel Lexie, by Newberry Honor Winning Author, Audrey Couloumbis, Lexie is going through some tough times.  Daddy and Mommy just went through a divorce, so this summer, Lexie is going to the shore with only Daddy; sort of.  Daddy invited his girlfriend, Vicky, without telling Lexie.  Lexie doesn t like Vicky s children at first.  It s obvious why.  Ben is a moody teenager, and Harris is a three year old that thinks he is a truck.  In this novel, Audrey Couloumbis  is trying to say that if you really get to know someone, you ll end up liking them.  First impressions are important, but you need to give them a chance.
 In my opinion, this novel was pretty good.  There were some spots where I got bored though.  The descriptions that the author adds are enough to give you the picture, without overwhelming you.   The setting was well planned out; at points I felt like I was actually there.  Also, the characters in this story were good people.  At times they were a little boring, but sometimes the things that they did made me giggle. I really do  believe in them as people; I think that if the characters were different, I wouldn't enjoy the book as much.  The authors voice is of the main character; a ten year old girl.  I feel like that's a thoughtful way to write.  One thing that bugged me though, was that Lexie kept calling her parents Mommy and Daddy.  Also, the details that the author needed to add, didn't make any sense for a kid to be saying, or thinking about.  The story ended well, but I wanted just a chapter more.  Over all, this book was a great easy read.  I recommend it to many other young teens.  Audrey Couloumbis is a fantastic author.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Mendon, Vemont USA

http://www.flamingnet.com/bookreviews/newreviews/newbookreview.cfm?title=Rumors%20From%20The%20Boys'%20Room

  Rumors From the Boys' Room, by Rose Cooper, is about Sofia Becker and her blog. This year, though, she isn't just blogging about what she hears in the Girls' Bathroom, she is also blogging about what she sees and/or hears near the Boys' Bathroom. She also reports on conversations overheard in the hallways. The big news of the story is that there is an exchange student coming to their school. Sofia hears to teachers talking about it, so she blogs about it to tell the whole world (well, at least, the whole middle school). Unfortunately, though, Sofia states the wrong country from which the exchange student is coming from. Sofia and her best friend, Nona, are trying to get Nona and Lukas, the exchange student, together, and they are also trying to fend off the popular crowd, but it is not working so well. Mia, Sofia's bow-wearing archenemy, has attempted to steal Nona away from her. And during all this, things at Sofia's house aren't going that well, either. Her mom is always sleeping or complaining because she is pregnant, but Sofia states that her mom isn't the only one getting the heat from the mood swings. Will Sofia get Nona and Lukas together? Will the popular crowd back down? Will Sofia's mom ever have this baby so she stops having so many mood swings? You'll have to read and find out
I thought this book was pretty good! It was a short but entertaining read. It was also funny, and provided lots of interesting illustrations to go along with the Journal and Blog entries. This is a cute book, and if you're looking for a quick and easy read, this is the perfect book for you. I definitely would recommend this book to girls, because it is more of a girly book, so to speak. All in all, this was a good book!

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Hopkins, Michigan USA