Blackdaw Cottage

Summary: Three young and adventurous children are outside playing when they decide to go wandering out into the forest to find BlackDaw Cottage. The children had heard many stories about the infamous Bentley who lived in the cottage out in the forest. Little did they know there would be a blizzard and they would be forced to stay with the mysterious old recluse. Bentley shares with them the story of Ivan and Gertrude and the children grow fond of the man they had once thought to be the devil. They learn that even though there have been numerous rumors about him, he is actually a caring man who helped them out in their time of need.
Opinion: Although the plot sounded like an interesting book to read, I didn't feel any connection to the characters; they were not people I could relate to. The book was way over-detailed and many parts dragged on for way too long. I felt like the ways the characters reacted to some situations were not realistic. Overall, I felt the book was dull, and hard to get through. I would not recommend this book to others.

Rae of Hope (eBook) by W.J. May

All Rae Kerrigan remembers about her parents is the suspicious fire that killed them. She moved from her home in England to New York with her uncle, and never questioned her family's history.  But when a super elite, super-secret Guilder Boarding School in England seeks her out, she finds out there might be more to her parents than she could have ever imagined.  For one thing, everyone in this school is special -- they all get inked with a special tattoo (called a tat) on their sixteenth birthday that gives them supernatural powers.  For another thing, she finds out that both her parents were inked.  And for one more thing, her dad was some evil guy trying to use his power to control the world.  Can Rae prove to the school that she is not the same person her father was? Can she even convince herself? Is there a ray of hope in her life?

I absolutely loved this book!  It's not vampires, wizards, werewolves, or any of that other stuff that's so overdone now -- it's totally unique!  Definitely a page turner, I loved finding out more about everyone's tats and especially Rae's and how she learned to use it.  The ending is great but unexpected. I heard that there will be a sequel to this book and I am so excited to read it!  This was a really amazing book, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy like Twilight or Harry Potter but wants something new. This book included mystery, magic, romance, and hot guys! I could definitely see it being an amazing movie.

Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Gearhart, Oregon United States

Wicked Circle by Linda Robertson

Persephone Alcmedi is back and in more trouble than ever. Heldridge has escaped from Menessos's prisons, and he is on his way to reveal a very dangerous secret. Along with attempting to stop Heldridge, Seph is trying to support Johnny as he reveals himself to all waeres as the Domn Lup. With everyone vying for attention, Persephone goes through her largest struggles yet, worried about those around her. Can she manage to fix all the problems before it's too late, or will she go down with everyone else?

Seph is back in the fifth installment of the Persephone Alcmedi books, Wicked Circle. Linda Robertson has written another fantastic book about Persephone's struggles as the Lustrata. There were periods in the book where I felt like I was witnessing what actually happened. The imagery Robertson inserted into the book was very vivid, and it was some of her best work for this series. This book was full of romance, adventure, mystery, and suspense. By the way the book ended, I can only assume that there is to be a sixth book, and I know if there is, it is going to be just as great if not better than the others. I would recommend this book to mature high school readers.

There is some sexual innuendo and sex scenes in the book. They can get pretty descriptive.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Fresno, California USA

The Blizzard by Marty Martins

Blizzard Review
    This book is about a teenage boy named Chet Bucek. His dad is in the military, so his family moves a lot.  They end up in Rockford, Illinois. That is where Chet meets Melanie, and is instantly smitten. She rejects his advances, but when classmate Tommy Schmidt tries to abuse her, she runs away and falls into an icy river, only to be saved by Chet. He rescues her and takes her to his cabin. They have to sleep in the buff to keep warm, and when Melanie's dad finds them in just their underwear he jumps to conclusions. Chet is accused of rape and put in jail. Will his named be cleared? You'll have to read the book to find out!   
Blizzard Opinion
    I highly enjoyed reading the blizzard. It has strong, well-rounded characters and is a San Diego bronze award winner. This, combined with an unlikely real-life scenario is a recipe for a great book. The book sometimes divides into little subjects that focus on a particular character, so you get interesting snapshots of that character's emotions, thoughts, and life. My only complaint is that if this was a movie it would be rated R. The whole book is about an innocent boy accused of rape. Do I have to say any more? Anyway, if you can get pass that stuff, it has a good plot. I would recommend it for ADULTS ONLY!
This book has some very graphic scenes.
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Rockford, Michigan United States

Dungeon Crawlers Ep. 1 and Ep. 2 by , Stefan U. G. Leblanc

The world is not what it was thousands of years ago. Magic is all but forgotten and technology rules in it's place. But one artifact from ancient times will start an adventure that will change the lives of three people forever. Join Lars, Izlude, and Marina as they travel across the world to obtain the pieces of a map that was thought to be nonexistent. This trio must face many dangers if they are to complete their map. Follow these rising stars as the begin their quest to find The Crystal of Immortality!

Perfect, simply perfect. The author has expertly crafted a story to be remembered. Just the setting is enough to draw readers to this tale. It captures what I have always wanted to see in a book, ancient times of swords and magic colliding with a future of advanced technology. Anyone could enjoy this book. I can't wait to read what happens next in the Dungeon Crawlers series.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Mineola, Texas United States

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