I Was a Teenage Popsicle by Bev Katz Rosenbaum

Floe Ryan…Frozen zombie or out-of-date freak? Floe was a girl of sixteen when she was “frozen.” She and her parents contracted this strange disease called lympaticotosis, and the only option to come back to life after she had been declared “legally dead” was to be frozen, or vitrified. After a whole ten years, Floe is brought back to life again by the cyronics team (the people who do the vitrifying). With all that done, she must go through rehab. Along with her is totally hot Taz Taber. She has had a crush on him since before she was vitrified. Once through with rehab, Abe Dixon (short for Abercrombie), the cyonics lab owner, shows them one of the latest trends: HOVERBLADING!!! Back in Venice Beach, Floe and Taz were expert bladers; now they have to adjust. Sunny, Floe’s younger sister, comes to take custody of her until her parents are revived since Sunny is now her OLDER SISTER! She is forced to go to the school in the Valley. She meets a new friend, Halley, and her worst enemy ever, Ashleigh Jones, the congressman’s daughter! Soon the cyronics center is being threatened to be closed down. Floe must help save it so she can get her parents back. She comes up with a way to earn money: selling retro bracelets. They are all the rage and the kids make ton of money selling the bracelets, but still no change in the lawsuit from the cyronics center. Ashleigh falls sick with the same disease as Floe and is vitrified, Dick Jones drops the law suit and the cyronics center is reopened. In the end, Floe’s parents are revived.

I liked this book a lot. It had great characters and a gripping plot. The “freezing” was a little freaky because it didn’t seem real, but the book was fun to read. This book also had great relationships between the characters. My favorite character was Taz because he was just that laid back kind of guy – funny and a wonderful friend to Floe. The difficult situations Floe was put through were real enough that I could put myself in her place and relate to her feelings. This made it a better read for me. The only thing I did not like was the fact that they didn’t say what happened to Floe, Sunny, and their parents after they get unfrozen. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good story and a little Sci-Fi. I would also recommend it to people between ages 10-18.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Shippensburg, Pennsylvania

Side Effects by Amy Goldman Koss

High school is awful under the best circumstances. When Isabell's swollen glands result in a diagnosis of lymphoma, ordinary concerns of homework and popularity give way to hospital visits and chemotherapy. The kids at school don't know how to react and send emotional cards and tastelss videos. Izzy's familt tries to handle the upheaval while holding on to just a bit of normalcy. Izzy make her way through treatment not as a shining hero, but as a regular kid.

Koss addresses issues students have trouble facing with cancer. Humor and clarity carry Izzy from diagnosis and chemotherapy to the joy of being cancer free. What do you do when your friend has cancer? Read Side Effects and let Izzy and her friends and family share their story. This book belongs in school libraries and oncology waiting rooms.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10
Reviewer Age: 59
Reviewer City, State and Country: Timonium, MD US

Mia the Meek by Eileen Boggess

Fourteen-going-on-fifteen-year-old Mia Fullerton is a very shy person who has the nickname, “Mia the Meek”. She will soon start her freshman year of school at St. Hilary’s with a goal of getting rid of her nickname and being known throughout her school. There are a few problems getting that accomplished though, such as her mom being her English teacher, her annoying little brother, and new neighbors with a son her age named Tim. At first she thinks Tim is the best neighbor she could possibly get--hot, has her teddy bear’s eyes, and loves her favorite book, until she realizes that he is the biggest jerk ever after he contradicts everything she says. After school started, an election was held for class president and Mia was nominated by her best friend and was seconded by her forever crush, Jake Harris. What better way to leave her shell and lose her nickname? The only problem is that she is running against her popular archenemy, Cassie. Who will win the battle for class president, and will Mia get to finally date Jake?

Mia the Meek is an extremely hilarious, laugh-out-loud book with an acceptable amount of romance. I highly recommend this amazing book to young adults who enjoy funny love stories. This is the first book in the Mia Fullerton series and I can’t wait to read the next one, which is called Mia the Melodramatic. The only thing I really didn’t overly enjoy and I thought took away from this book was the swear words and the use of God’s name in vain. Overall though, I think this is an incredible book that I wouldn’t mind reading again and I would definitely give praise to the author for writing this marvelous piece of art.

Content:Use of "oh my God" , "thank God almighty" and Phrases like that talk about stuffing bras

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA United States

In the Break by Jack Lopez

Jamie and Juan are best friends and dedicated surfers. When Jamie injures his stepfather, F, during a fight, he needs to get away--and Juan's going with him. So is Jamie's older sister and Juan's unattainable crush, Amber. The three of them are heading South, going down the coast to Mexico and stopping to surf; there are some great waves along the way. They're running from the law, but they're having the time of their lives at the same time...At least while they're in the water and able to forget about what they're running from, and what they might be runing towards.

In The Break is a fantastic story, once you get caught up enough in it not to take so much notice of all the slightly tedious talk about surfing (though that's probably not a problem for people who know something about surfing). The fact that Jamie, Juan, and Amber are surfers is a big part of the story, but it's a great story even for those of us who know nothing about surfing! It's definitely a page-turner, with very believable characters. The characters, and their relationships with each other, are very real, but real life doesn't always have the neatly tied-up happy endings that a lot of movies or books do. The ending of In The Break is very realistic, which isn't a bad thing, but be warned--if you like tidy, happy endings, this isn't the book for you. It is, however, an awesome story!

Content:Some sexual situations & violence.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Asheville, NC USA

May Bird - Among the Stars by Jodi Lynn Anderson

What happens when you're lost in a strange world and need to find your way home? If you're May Bird, you enlist the help of some unique friends, face the bad guys head-on, and believe that you'll get home, no matter what.

May Bird Among the Stars is the second book in a trilogy. It picks up right where the first book, May Bird and the Ever After, leaves off. May is the only living human in the Evil After, where ghosts and the undead roam. She and her loyal cat, Somber Kitty, must escape before the evil Bo Cleevil finds them.

This book does just what the middle book in a trilogy should do: continue the story set up in the first book, offer changes, dangers, and rewards to existing characters, introduce new characters, and have skirmishes with the villains.

May Bird Among the Stars is just as funny and well-paced as its predecessor. It delicately balances the humorous bits with the scary parts, and is intelligent enough to engage adults while fun enough for the target audience of kids.

As soon as the third and final book comes out, I plan to read it all in one sitting. I am quite anxious to see how this wraps up!

May Bird and the Ever After by Jodi Lynn Anderson

What happens when you fall into another world? Alice could tell you all about Wonderland.

Likewise, May Bird could tell you all about the Ever After.

May Bird is a bright, independent and imaginative young girl whose best friend is her hairless cat, the aptly-named Somber Kitty. One day, she receives a mysterious letter which prompts her to visit the nearby woods. Little does she know that she's about to go on the trip of her life -- among the no-longer-living!

With the help of Pumpkin - a timid ghost who has, without her knowledge, been her long-time guardian - she navigates the strange land. The Ever After is part Beetlejuice, part Oz, and sometimes a little scary for May, but her bravery sees her through.
Somber Kitty also fell into the Ever After, but he was separated from his owner. While May Bird tries to find a way home, Somber Kitty attempts to find her by following her scent. Somber Kitty is absolutely adorable and simply meowvelous. His determination and loyalty make his part of the story just as important as hers.

May Bird and the Ever After by Jodi Lynn Anderson is the first in a trilogy. The second, May Bird Among the Stars, comes out this fall; the third title has yet to be released or announced.

I can't wait to find out what happens next!

Go Ask Malice by Robert Joseph Levy

During Season Three of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, viewers were introduced to Faith, a bold Slayer who loved breaking the rules and testing the limits. A fan favorite, she appeared on the spin-off series Angel on multiple occasions, then came back to BtVS during its final season.

Faith was one of my favorite characters. She was memorably portrayed by actress Eliza Dushku. Many fans wished she had her own spin-off. Those who were loyal readers of the official BtVS/Angel original books also wished for a book that focused solely on Faith.
The book Go Ask Malice is supposed to be Faith's diary, chronicling the time of her callling, and found in the ruins of Sunnydale after the series finale.

This means that, from the get-go, the reader is supposed to believe that Faith would 1) keep a diary; and 2) carry it around through multiple moves, from Boston to Sunnydale to Los Angeles, then prison, then out of prison, then back to Sunnydale. I tried to suspend disbelief for the sake of the story, but I couldn't.

I never stop reading a story once I've started it, but this was really hard to get through. Since it was a diary, it was written in first person, but it didn't sound like Faith's voice to me. I constantly wanted to correct it. It wasn't one hundred percent wrong.
Little tidbits were thrown at readers here and there - things and people Faith had said on the show in passing were made into plots and crucial characters - but overall, it never felt right.

For a better taste of Faith fiction, try the short story written by Christopher Golden and Thomas E.
Sniegoski in Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds:
Prima's Official Strategy Guide. It is brief but powerful, and you'll be wishing Golden and Sniegoski wrote a full Faith novel instead.

The Last Days by Scott Westerfeld

Vampires really do exist.
The apocalypse is nigh.
And the band played on.

Scott Westerfeld follows up Peeps, his bestselling vampire story, with The Last Days. I thoroughly enjoyed Peeps, and when I discovered that there was to be a sequel, I was very excited.

The Last Days was quite different from what I expected. Instead of following the typical sequel format and employing the same main characters and same narrative style as the first story, Westerfeld opted to introduce five new main characters, each of which shares his or her view of things in alternating chapters. While Peeps falls into the category of dark comedy and seems more controlled and steady, The Last Days is an apocalypse story which feels more dystopic and chaotic.

The tale begins innocently enough: Best buds Moz and Zahler have been fooling with guitars for years now but never really had a serious band. All that changes when they meet Pearl, a musical genius who brings serious talent to the group. She also brings along her friend Minerva, whose very prescence simultaneously unnerves and intrigues the boys. The band is rounded out by Alanna Ray, a paint-can drummer with an inner metronome and hidden afflictions.
Minerva is inflicted herself, being a peep who has struggled with the disease and spent months locked up in her room, cut off from the world. It is with Pearl's help, then that of the band, that she re-connects with the world; it is due to her peep status that the book begins to tie-in with its predecessor.

When Cal, the protagonist of Peeps, finally showed up, I cheered out loud. The action kicks in, the beasts are unleashed, and the ultimate showdown between good and evil becomes more dependent on music than violence. An interesting tale - though I must admit, I prefer Peeps.

Peeps by Scott Westerfeld

Boy meets girl.
Boy likes girl.
Boy gets infected.
Boy helps save the world.

Nowadays, a unique spin on the classic vampire story is hard to come by. Thankfully, Scott Westerfeld delivers with Peeps, which drips with snarky dialogue, well-researched diseases, and fresh twists.

In this novel, vampirism isn't a curse; it's a disease. There's no big Dracula-esque bloodsucker, but there are plenty of rats and cats. Cal learns all this and more when he moves from Texas to the Big Apple, meets a girl, and gets infected. Instead of getting the full-scale disease, he is a carrier, a peep, slang for parasite-positive.

Ultimately, Peeps is about science and natural selection, rather than horror and campfire tales. This dark comedy will make readers laugh and think - two great elements of escapism. Peeps is a fast-paced story which is as catchy as the disease it details.

Nothing but the Truth (and a few white lies) by Justina Chen Headley

Patty doesn't think she fits in anywhere, not even in her own family. She has a strict Taiwanese mother, an absentee white father and a college-bound older brother. As far as she can see, the scoreboard reads world = 100, Patty = 0. She is dragged with her mother to meet a fortune teller who reads her belly button
(!) while everyone else is rocking out at the high school dance. She has to go to math camp while everyone else has fun summer plans. In other words, everyone else wins at life, while Patty comes up empty.

Patty's story is not just for hapas - read the book to discover the definition! - and not only for biracial teens. It has many levels of appeal. I recommend Nothing But the Truth (and a few white lies) by Justina Chen Headley to a wide variety of people - both genders, various races, all thoughtful teens, and all astute adults, especially parents. This is a story for anyone who has wondered about an absent parent or struggled with a strict parent. This is for the smart kids who wonder why their parents keep testing them and making them prove themselves. This is for the kids who look different from their classmates on the outside or simply feel different on the inside. This is for anyone who considered his or her own personal secrets, lies, and truths.

The Last Apprentice: The Curse of the Bane by Joseph Delaney

Mr. Gregory has an apprentice named Tom Ward. The spook (a person who takes care of dark creatures) is out sick and Tom must catch a ripper for him. A ripper is a dark creature who sucks on the blood of a human. Risking his master's brother's life, Tom catches the ripper and puts it to rest. With all this done, Tom goes back to his master. A little while later, news comes that Mr. Gregory's brother is now dead. The spook and his apprentice go to the funeral in Priestown, (a town that is full of priests who hate spooks because they "sell their spirits to the devil), but only because there is a dark monster in the catacombs under the church. On the way to the funeral, the Quisitor makes an appearance with a cart full of fake witches to try and burn at the stake. On that cart is one of Tom's friends, Alice. Tom can do nothing but go into the funeral. Some time later the spook is taken into prison for being a spook. Tom goes to rescue them and, to do that, must go into the catascombs near the bane. So he does and gets almost all the prisoners out but a few. After that he goes back into the catacombs. On his way out he found the spook sitting in front of the golden gate which is a gate that kept the evil shape-shifting bane locked up. Tom was tricked and it really was the bane he was talking to. Alice comes up out of nowhere and spits on the bane. The bane hates women so he fled. Tom and Alice went out the gate. That night the bane tried to get Tom to give it some of his blood to eat. Tom said no, so the bane tried Alice. Alice gave her soul to the monster and let it out past the silver gate. It’s the day of the burning and Alice and Tom go and save the people from burning with the banes help. Since Alice gave it her blood, it gave her three requests and that was one. The spook and they set off and figure out how to defeat the bane. They do defeat the bane in the end.

I really enjoyed this book because fantasy is one of my favorites. I enjoyed reading about the dark creatures in this book – they were interesting, really creepy and gave me chills. Tom was very spunky, Alice was quirky and Mr. Gregory was queer in a good way. I’d really like to know more about his past. The setting of the story was very religious, with Priestown being full of churches and priests. This was a contrast to the characters, who were dark and spooky. The wording was easy to understand, but it kept me interested for the duration of the story. There were a few places where I was confused because I didn’t read the first book (this is the second in the series) and I recommend that people read the first book before reading this one.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Shippensburg, Pennsylvania United States

Fugitives of Chaos by John C. Wright

The five orphens of chaos have had their memories erased, and now they are going back to the schedule they had before they tried to escape. Then Amelia remembers everything that happened to her and her friends, and knows their memories have been erased. The five know they have to try to escape the school and recover their memories, and this time they are better prepared to face their enemy. Their escape seems to be working but then Colin attacks Boggins and disappears and Amelia is taking by Mr. Glum into his underwater lair. The five eventually reunite with one another, and all of their memories are retrieved, but they learn that their absence from the world will mean the distruction for all, and if that realization is not enough to freak them out they also have to deal with someone trying to kill them.

I liked the characters in the book, and how even though they are completely different from each other, as in they are different species and have completely different attitudes, they are able to work together to save each other. I really liked how the author had Amelia use physics throughout the book and I liked the friendship between the five chaoses and how they children never stopped trying to save each other. I liked that the author used the Greek gods as characters in the book, because its interesting to read of these gods and goddesses, that once were considered everything and now are considered a myth, be put in a world where the majority of people don't belive they ever existed. The author also did a good job in putting the story of Aphrodite's and Ares' relationship in the story. I liked this book better than the first book, though. The first book ended on a kind of sad note because the kids were getting their memory erased and their only hope at remebering was really small, but the at the end of this book they've escaped from the school and they're boat to freedom is coming and just ends on such a more optimistic note than the first book. All in all it was a very good book and I can't wait to read the next in the series.

Content:I would consider this book for a mature reader, because there is a part where a naked guy is described and also there is a little violence in it.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Tucson, Arizona U.S.A.

Glass Houses by Rachel Caine

Claire Danvers is one of those exceptionally bright students who is able to get out of high school early. But instead of letting Claire go hundreds of miles away for college, her parents send her to Texas Prairie University in the small town of Morganville, Texas. Claire’s dorm situation is absolutely awful, the most popular girl, Monica, is out to hurt her, even kill her. So Claire moves off campus and becomes the fourth roommate in the Glass House. Her three roommates, Eve, a goth girl who was kicked out by her parents, Shane, a perspective love interest to Claire, and Michael, a boy who sleeps during the day and comes out at night, quickly fill Claire in on the situation at Morganville-it’s a town run by vampires. After learning the truth Claire fights to stay alive, which isn’t easy when the roommates have secrets of their own.

When I first got this book I didn’t think I would like it that much since I’m not really into vampires, but this was one of the best suspense books I have read in a while. It is a thrilling page-turner that I just couldn’t put down. Even though it is suspenseful there is a bit of a love story going on, too. The only part I didn’t like was the cliff-hanger ending.

Content:mature reader

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Erlanger, Kentucky United States

In the Company of Ogres by A. Lee Martinez

This book is about a witty and extraordinarily mediocre protagonist called Never Dead Ned. Although as is said in the book, Occasionally Dead Ned would be more specific, but that doesn't have that certain ring to it, does it? Ned can die well enough, it’s just the staying dead part that seems to get him. Every time Ned finds himself six feet under a mysterious Red Women resurrects him with her magic. Ned gets a job in book keeping him well and alive, but when he gets a dreaded blue slip, he is unwillingly promoted to commander of the infamous Ogre Company. When he gets to Ogre Company he meets the elite of the group. They include the binge smoking en- er uh treefolk, a red hot salamander named Sally, a giant extremely rare two headed ogre, a moonstruck Amazon, a very motivate siren, a blind oracle who can now only hear and smell the future, orc who looks like a goblin, yet another suicidal goblin, and many more. As more and more of Neds deep and disturbing past, and as the Ogre Company gets more and more motivated this story spirals upwards to the climax of a battle against an endless demon hoard, and only Neds hidden power can save those he loves, and everyone else besides...

This book is a deep, engrossing, can’t put it down comedy that will keep you reading and laughing till the very end. The character's personalities and the jokes throughout the book will keep you laughing. This book uses hilarious jokes and character interaction to riotous results. One of the funniest parts of the book is the total disregard for the death of a goblin. The goblins lifespan is measured in months, only rarely years, so when an ogre just happens to step on a goblin and kill him, before anyone even bats an eye. The goblins are given the most dangerous and stupid jobs thinkable, like training giant reptilian birds called rocs, which really just amounts to getting eaten until the rocs get either full or board. This book is a must read for anyone wanting a laugh.

Content: This book should be approved by a parent before reading due to slightly suggestive content, cursing, and violence.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Fayetteville, Pennsylvania USA

Shan Serafin

In Seventeen, author Shan Serafin introduces readers to Sophia. She's a seventeen-year-old taking college classes for the summer in New York City with her two best friends (extroverted, smart, blonde bombshell Shauna and Shauna's brother, introverted, brilliant, and unique JP) and a bunch of strangers. That doesn't sound so bad, but Sophia's life isn't going the way she wants. She isn't as smart as either of her friends, as beautiful as Shauna, or any of it. She's not sure life's worth living, so she sets an ultimatum: show me a reason to live or I'll kill myself in seven days.

Seventeen is a brilliantly written story, and one that is not often told. Most of the characters, but especially Sophia and JP, are very real. I had a hard time seeing Shauna as three-dimensional, though. The writing is breathtaking, and it's a story that will really draw the reader into it; it's a page-turner! The ending is surprising, and sad but certainly not what you'd expect. This is a very unique book that shouldn't be missed!Content:This book is probably best suited for more mature readers.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Asheville, NC USA

Butterflies in May by Karen Hart

Karen Hart's novel Butterflies in May is about Ali, a teenage girl whose life is going pretty well. She has a great boyfriend, she gets along pretty well with her parents, she has a fabulous best friend, she is doing well in school, and she's sure to get into a great college when she graduates. When her suspicions are confirmed about what's happening to her body, however, her world isn't so perfect anymore. Ali is pregnant, and that means making some hard choices. Still, Ali has help, and it'll all turn out okay. Right?

The subject of Butterflies In May is important, and this book doesn't preach about premarital sex the way some books do; Karen Hart realizes that some things are just going to keep on happening. It is also obvious, however, that people have to deal with the consequences of their actions, the way Ali and Matt do (but it doesn't seem like the worst possible thing always happens to every character in the book). The writing in this book is decent, and the plot one that is certainly not terrible either, if a little unremarkable. There are plenty of stories about pregnant teenagers on television, in books, in the movies, everywhere. This isn't a new spin on any of it. It is, however, an important story to tell, and Karen Hart does a fairly good job with it.

Content:This book is probably for a bit more mature readers, but nothing too bad. It deals issues that should be discussed with parents, though.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Asheville, NC USA

Keeper of the Flames by Jenna Solitaire

The main character of the book is Jenna Solitaire who is the Keeper of the Boards. Jenna has already found two boards and with them she can summon their powers for her own use. Her companion, Simon, and her are going in search of the board of fire which they think is somewhere in Pompeii. While she is there she meets an old man who apparently knew her great-great grandmother and will help Jenna in her quest for the board of fire. Paraud, an evil wizard is trying to take the two boards Jenna has for himself so he can use their powers.

I thought that overall the book was somewhat good. One thing I didn't like about the book is that it was more ment for a girl rather than a boy. There were also a lot of kissing scenes. I think that if the author would have cut back on the kissing then more boys would also enjoy the book. However there also was adventure and excitement. This probably wouldn't be one of my favorite books.

Content:adult guidance kissing scenes

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, Pennsylvania U.S.A.

Jumping the Scratch by Sarah Weeks

Jumping the Scratch by Sarah Weeks (award-winning author of So B. It) is beautifully written and easy to read with short chapters and explanations of advanced vocabulary, but its subject matter is not suited for its ten-year-old target audience. Better suited for readers over the age of twelve, this young adult book looks at sexual abuse through the eyes of the victim.

Eleven-year-old Jamie Reardon wants nothing more than for his life to be as “normal as cornflakes” – the way it was before his cat died, his father left, and he and his mother moved from their house to his aunt’s trailer to help her recover from an accident that claimed her short term memory. But achieving normalcy is difficult – especially when Jamie can’t forget about the night he was abused by the trailer park manager.

Helping Jamie deal with this traumatic experience is a cast of secondary characters that are both quirky and endearing. Audrey, a classmate otherwise known as Madame Yerdua (Audrey spelled backwards) the hypnotist, befriends Jamie and “sees” him. Arthur, as Jamie nicknamed him, helps Jamie feel safe again. And Aunt Sapphy, short for Sapphire, helps Jamie by being someone he can finally tell his secret to – someone who won’t remember it in the morning. With their support, Jamie learns to face his fears and jump the scratch – like on a broken record – in his life.

Like an after school special, this book mixes poignant moments with a serious topic but only scratches the surface of this delicate issue.

Invisible Ink by Terry Griggs

A pen named Murray, an empty diamond inkwell that emits splashing sounds, and a depressed Persian carpet are only a few of the things that lead Olivier to believe that his step-step-stepgramma is not an ordinary person. Then at his step-step-stepgramma's yard sale, a woman gives him a conch shell and through it, he hears a call for help from a friend. As he is trying to figure out what to do, a little girl gives him a stone, and a strange man sees and immediately starts chasing him. Of course, by this time, Olivier is extremely confused. Why would a man chase him because he has a piece of gravel from a driveway and how can you hear voices in a conch shell? He knows something is wrong, but he is not sure what. That is until he finds his friends and they tell him that all the wind is gone. Someone is controlling the weather and they must find out who and stop him before the world is torn apart! Can they do it? They must.


Invisible Ink, the third book in the Cat's Eye Corner series, is full of strange happenings and odd people. It is an adventure wrought with humor, danger, and astonishing characters. Young adolescents with a sense of adventure will find Terry Griggs' book funny and enjoyable. Cat's Eye Corner is a place where you can always expect the unexpected.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, PA USA

The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin

The Rules of Survival is about a boy, Matt, and his two sisters, Callie and Emmy, who live with their slightly unstable mother, Nikki, in South Boston. One fateful night when Matt and Callie risk walking down to the local grocer store (while their mother is out for the night, of course) they witness a man helping a young boy whose father is screaming at him. That incident sparks a curiosity in Matt and he sets out to find this mysterious, strong stranger. Fate plays out and Matt's neurotic mother and the man, Murdoch, begin having a relationship. For once in Matt's life things are going well, his mother has started acting semi-normal, he starts to relax, his sisters are safe. Things can't last forever. Eventually Nikki slips up, and Murdoch discovers her true personality. Then the only question is will Murdoch own up to everything Matt wants him to?

A strong sense of empathy is evoked for the frightened children in this novel. Livid, animated descriptions and an omnipresent sense of fear play a big part in making this book worthwhile. The plot isn't particularly upbeat but life isn't upbeat, and this story is a life story. The author formats the book so that Matt is writing to his youngest sister, Emmy. As the novel progresses the reader begins to feel as if the entire sad story is truly his/ her own. The characters are all very human, they make decisions which they know aren't the best, they struggle through hard times and feel like they should give up. This story is a good portrayal of what some people go through, it is one which everyone should be aware of.

Flamingnet Reviewer: LSam
Erlanger, Ky

Elise The Actress: Climax Of The Civil War by Norma Jean Lutz

Ten-year-old Elise is trying to take people’s minds off the hardships of the Civil War. She puts on skits and writes funny poems and clever riddles for her family, friends, and neighbors. One day while shopping for her family, Elise runs into a man who is labeled a traitor. Milton Finney is hated and mistreated by his neighbors because his son went to fight for the South. But tender-hearted Elise feels sorry for Mr. Finney and begins to leave riddles for him. She could never suspect that reaching out to him in kindness would one day save his life! This book is packed with activity and excitement. There are many events that describe the terrible times the country was going through during the Civil War—especially when a brave and noble president was assassinated! To find out how Elise and her family and friends make it through this difficult time, read Elise the Actress!

I liked this book because Elise is so much like a real girl of today, even though the story takes place during the 1800s. She has a sense of humor and is very sharp and smart. Elise faces some really tough problems but relies on her faith to give her strength to get through them. Making people feel better during the war and helping out wherever she can are things a real girl might do, so this is an inspiring story. Also, this book is never boring—some parts are sad and some are funny, and there is always something exciting going on to keep the reader turning the pages. Altogether, it’s a great book, and I recommend it, especially to readers who enjoy the American Girl books.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 10
Reviewer City, State and Country: Saugerties, NY USA

Befiddled by Pedro De Alcantara

Becky Cohen is completely miserable. Everywhere she goes she’s made fun of. Will Becky ever learn to stand up for herself? She’s mocked at school, gym class, and even at home in her family’s apartment. She’s mocked the most at violin lessons by her teacher and peers. Becky dreams of being a professional violinist, but because of her stage fright she never performs well. Things start to look up for Becky when the apartment’s handyman, Mr. Freeman walks into her life. At first, Becky is still failing everything. Gradually though, things start to get better for Becky. Mr. Freeman is teaching her so many things about the violin, friendship, even life. She’s making friends, doing well in gym, she’s even signed up for a violin scholarship competition, yet violin lessons are still torture because of her stage fright. Becky decides to quit going to lessons even though she has the competition coming up. When her hardworking mother finds out about her not showing up at violin lessons, she loses everything: her violin, violin lessons, and contact with Mr. Freeman. Can Becky speak her mind and get everything she’s lost back? Will Becky win the violin scholarship? Find out in this novel by Pedro De Alcantara.


I liked the theme because it has a very good lesson, which was that you need to learn to speak your mind. The plot was a little slow. The characters, especially Becky, were very relatable. I liked this book.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Fayetteville, PA USA

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

Brandon Mull’s Fablehaven is bursting with adventure, imagination, and heroism. Kendra and her younger brother, Seth, are less than excited when their parents drop them at their distant grandparents’ house and head off on a seventeen day cruise. The kids are shown to an attic playroom stocked with magnificent toys and even a live hen, Goldilocks, to keep them busy. But they soon find out the real excitement is waiting outside, on the grounds of what they come to find out is a magical creature preserve. It doesn’t take long for Seth’s adventurousness and Kendra’s astuteness to uncover the truth about the preserve, but once they’ve been let in on the secret, they find there’s much more yet to be discovered. For instance, there’s the matter of their missing grandmother. Then, there's the fairies that take a vengeful dislike to Seth. The plot crescendos on the night of the summer solstice, when the creatures are free to do as they please and the caretaker and his meager staff are abducted. Kendra and Seth must summon their courage to venture out onto the grounds to save their grandfather and, in the end, the sanctity of the preserve itself.

Although long and a bit slow at times, Fablehaven is packed with magic, courage, and adventure. Mull uses the setting of an enchanted preserve to get readers thinking about important environmental issues, and the story of an unusual family crisis to inspire thoughts on wrong and right, courage and resourcefulness, and even religion and spirituality. The author has included a reader’s guide at the end of the book to encourage discussion about the material and the topics it broaches. The vocabulary readers will find in Fablehaven may present a challenge for the 9–12 group for which it is intended, with words like “verdant,” “espalier,” and “ubiquitous” gracing the pages, but as long as there’s a dictionary nearby, young readers will benefit from the new terminology. More awkward is stilted prose resulting from a lack of contractions. Mull’s predilection to spell out every “it is” and the like in the non-dialogue parts of the narrative slows readers down and sounds unnatural; a small stumbling block to overcome in return for Mull’s bountiful imagination.

Content:It might be wise to recommend adult guidance with this one, as there are some morbid topics and violent scenes. For instance, before the story begins, Kendra and Seth's other grandparents are killed after a gas leak incident.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 26
Reviewer City, State and Country: Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD USA

Miss O and Friends Write On! The Miss O & Friends Collection of Rockin’ Fiction

The book is dedicated “For all the girls out there who love to imagine, create, and write!” What a great idea! Girls visit the website (www.missandfriends.com) to submit poems and short fiction. The winners are published. The collection includes stories about friendships, growing pains, and family concerns. Sometimes writing ideas are right under your nose and sometimes you find them in poems “at the edge of the universe.”

This book is a creative addition to a middle school writing program. Teachers could use suggestions for submission for lesson plans on writing. These short stories and poems told in middle school voices are sure to appeal to girls, their teachers and parents. Hermine Brindak’s illustrations are delightful and engaging. This is the most exciting book of children’s writing that I have seen in a long time.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10
Reviewer Age: 59
Reviewer City, State and Country: Timonium, MD US

Diva by Alex Flinn

Caitlin McCourt has plans to be a diva- but not a pop star, an opera singer. With this goal in mind, she auditions for the muical theater program at Miami High School of the Arts. Her amazing voice sweeps her in the door, but at this new artsy school, she just doesn't feel as interesting as the other students, who are all self-confident and inhibition-free. Caitlin, who spent the first fifteen years of her life overweight and uncomfortable with herself, spent her first year in a newly thin body with an abusive boyfriend, a perfectionist mother, and a lot of self doubt. After spending so much time just trying to blend in, its a huge challenge for her to learn to be herself again, but her new friends and voice teacher are there to help her out. As she finally has a chance to discover her full potential, will she be able to overcome all the fears and doubts she has had in the past and head for the stage?

I really enjoyed reading Diva. I could associate with Caitlin and grew to really like her, despite her self-deprecation and sometimes grating issues. The fact that she is an opera singer, not an actress or dancer, sets her apart from the slew of books about artsy kids. My only issues with the book come at the very end. While its true I would not have liked Caitlin to continue suffering in her abusive relationship with Nick, I felt like the resolution was a little too abrupt and was unrealistic. I was, however, very excited to see her start a new section of her life, and I was left hopeful for her future as a singer.

Content:adult guidance, for some more mature relationships and problems

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Edina , Minnesota USA

The Loud Silence of Francine Green by Karen Cushman

Patience, self control, and moderation. These are the qualities that Francine Green has too much of and Sophie Bowman needs a little more of. Francine is a quiet girl who is afraid of trouble and speaking up for what is right. Sophie is a very outspoken individual and takes pride in standing out in the crowd. These two girls make an unlikely pair but become best friends when Sophie transfers to Francine’s school. And in turn each learns a lesson from the other. Francine learns more about what’s going on in the world, especially the Communist Scare, and starts speaking out for what she believes in. Sophie learns the value of friendship and love. Sophie’s father and friend are put on the “suspicious” list as being possible Communists and Francine is warned to stay away from them. Inevitably, Francine loses her best friend when Sophie leaves for a safer place.

I thought this was a wonderful book. Karen Cushman does a great job of describing the world situation and home life of that time period. This book was very thought provoking, which I really liked. It also addressed some of the normal teenage problems, crushes, being overshadowed by an older sibling, and feeling like your parents don’t understand you. Adding period slang was the finishing touch on this remarkable book.

Content:Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Erlanger , Kentucky United States

Chance Fortune and The Outlaws by Shane Berryhill

Superheroes are people that protect the weak from villains, injustice and other evil things. That is exactly what 14-year-old Joshua Blevins wanted to be. His only problem was that he didn’t have any superpowers. After being denied entry to the “Burlington Academy for the Superhuman” he gave up all hope. Then he used his mentors help, Captain Fearless, to give Joshua a new identity and a false superpower. Now, posing as Chance Fortune, he enters the Academy. He rises in social status and in combat teams, becoming his team’s captain. But then an evil enters the Academy and threatens to take over the universe! Can Chance and his team, the Outlaws, defeat this evil, and stay alive themselves?

I enjoyed this book, although I feel it is appropriate for a young age group. It was very suspenseful and exciting. I always wanted to know what happened next. Chance Fortune was a fun read, and I look forward to the next one.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Denair , California U.S.A.

Firegirl by Tony Abbott

Tom had a plain, normal, boring life consisting of going to school and to his friend’s house, but one day all of that changed. That day was the day a new girl named Jessica showed up in his class. Jessica isn’t your average schoolgirl because when she was younger, she got severely burned in a fire and is still suffering from its aftereffects. No one likes her, no one talks to her, and they barely even look at Jessica for they are afraid of her and how she looks. A few weeks after arriving, Jessica left school early and the teacher forgot to give her her homework assignments. Lucky Tom was the one who got asked to take them to her since she was his neighbor. Will Tom accept the teacher’s request to take Jessica’s homework to her house or will he turn her down and possibly lose a new friend?

I think Firegirl is an awesome book that teaches you that no matter what someone looks like they have feelings so you should be nice to them. In my opinion this book would make a great book to have a sequel to because the ending leaves you with so many different possibilities for the characters’ futures. Firegirl is an interesting book that keeps your attention until the very end. This book is different from most books I have read and it is very realistic. I recommend this somewhat sad but enjoyable fiction read to ages 8-12.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA United States

My Not-So-Terrible Time at the Hippie Hotel by Rosemary Graham

The summer has arrived in New York and Tracy's divorced father decides to take the family up to Cape Cod to a hotel for divorced people and their kids. The owner of the hotel, who herself is divorced with a son, has planned activities for the three families sharing an awkward vacation. Tracy, very unhappy about her situation, has taken to eating as a solace. At the Hippie Hotel, she meets Beka, another teenager near her age but nothing like her. The owner's son works for his mom and tries to befriend their guests. Tracy, after going on trips with the group, meets Kevin. Kevin, a skateboarder, appeals to Tracy, especially as she had given up her music. At the end of the summer, the owner requires that everyone take part in a talent show. This presents a challenge for Tracy, can she bring out her true self and her talent once again?

Rosemary Graham presents an emotional situation (the divorce of their parents) that kids can relate to through the media if not real life. The book is positive in the sense that Tracy finally overcomes the stress she was put under emotionally with the divorce of her parents. This book seems to be aimed at pre-teens and Graham does a good job telling the story from a teen-ager's perspective. It's a quick read that doesn't have a complex plot.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6
Reviewer Age: 18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Kansas City, MO USA

Laguna Cove by Allyson Noel

Anne is a city girl moving to a laid back west coast area. She's left her friends and her boyfriend, to move to Laguna Beach to live with her dad. At first she doesn't fit in and she doesn't know why but she meets some girls that help her through it, and her dad's paid male helper also gives her some tips while pushing her to try surfing. Finally Anne gives in and she finds that Surfing is really what pulls people together on the West Coast.

I really didn't think I was going to like this book because I don't really like the types of books that are about snobby rich girls in mini skirts and driving BMW's. This book has a way different angle on their life style and it shows them as human beings and not rich witches. I really enjoyed Laguna Cove and I would recommend it to any girl who was interested in a book about a girl moving away from her comfort zone.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Dundee, Oregon USA

Soccer Dreams by Leah Lauber

The book Soccer Dreams is about a 12 year old girl who loves soccer. It tells about her soccer years on a select team and how much fun she had with her friends. When Leah was 10 her friend found out about a compotation to become a member of the X-press. That was a local newspaper that was having kids be reporters. So Leah went to all kinds of events and she met so many people. When she went to women’s world cup twice and some other soccer games, she got to go down on the field and interview the players. She got a cool pass too. In 1999 the women’s World Cup was happening so she when, and saw Mia Hamm’s last game. She also broke the world record. Then the U.S. won it all.

This book was great! If you like soccer you will love this book. It tells a lot about the U.S. women’s soccer team. It is an easy book to read but it is filled with information. I like soccer so I enjoyed this book a lot. I would read this book any day.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, Pennsylvania United States

Out of Patience by Brian Meehl

Jake Waters has a hard life. He lives in the small town of Patience, Kansas. His father is crazy with the idea creating the ATM (American Toilet Museum). He’s working hard to win the World Series of Workup. Plus, he has to save his small town from complete destruction! All the trouble began when Jeremiah Waters (the founder of Patience) made the first plunger to unclog his Dolphin Deluge Washdown Water Closet (indoor toilet). A very religious man named Andars Cass didn’t like the idea at all, and then trouble followed. Cass was banned from Patience, not before he placed a curse on the town: ‘The day the Scepter of Satan (a.k.a. the Plunger of Destiny) returns, the final destruction will begin!’ Now that the Plunger of Destiny has returned, Jake and his friends are trying to save Patience and everyone in it. Will they succeed?

I found that it was a bit hard to stay focused during the beginning of the book. This book may be a little confusing to readers who don’t understand much about baseball, but the author does explain about the competition called the World Series of Workup. The book began to gain interest as I read on. The plot was very good. There were many exciting parts that leave you wondering what will happen next. I would definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy thrillers and those who understand a bit about baseball.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg , Pennsylvania United States of America

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Child prodigy Colin Singleton has only ever dated girls named Katherine. No Catherines or Katrinas or any other name; only Katherines. Nineteen of them, to be exact. When K-19, the one he really loved, breaks his heart, he and his best (and only) friend, Hassan, set out on a road trip, and end up in, of all places, Gutshot Tennessee, where Archduke Franz Ferdinand is supposedly buried. In Gutshot, Hassan and Colin meet some interesting people, but Colin has other things to worry about as well. He's always wanted to have a Eureka moment, and now he's had one. Colin thinks he can come up with an equation to predict how a relationship between two people will go. People are, after all, predictable.

As a fan of John Green's first novel, Looking For Alaska, I had high expectations for this book, and I was not disappointed. While very different from the more emotional (not to say this book is never emotional, but it's also quite amusing), it's a fabulous book, with very funny, well-written, and unique characters, not to mention a very creative and interesting plot. After all, how many books do you read where a guy thinks he can predict romance using math? Perhaps there's another one out there, but I haven't read it. Every aspect of this entertaning novel is funny (but without being stupid); it's a real page-turner!

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Asheville, NC USA

The Judgement by Clem Martini

In The Judgment, the final installment of Clem Martini’s trilogy of “Feather and Bone: the Crow Chronicles,” Kyp Kym, Kaf, Kata and the others continue their trials through the world of crows. The group struggles with questions of community and responsibility. Traveling to avoid being destroyed by a massive group of crows called The Collection, Kyp’s crows hone both their fighting and negotiating skills while learning the importance of fear putting “extra wind under your wings.” The world is turned upside down as the crows confront human and other enemies. The search for a haven involves many miles and much loss of crow life. Readers who have not read the other segments will still be enthralled with the story.

Clem Martini’s clear language invites readers into the world of the crows. To see our human world from the crows’ perspective is a treat. Cars become “moving boxes.” A rabbit probably ate shooting stars and pooped lightning to become so fast. Now there’s a vivid image. The challenges of the escape invite and destroy the fragile community of the flock. This story will appeal to those who like animal stories, fantasy, and quest tales. Its message of courage and cooperation offers life lessons for readers. Recommended for middle schoolers.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 59
Reviewer City, State and Country: Timonium, MD US

Dial L For Loser by Lisi Harrison

After being expelled from OCD, the pretty committee, or Massie, Alicia, Dylan, Kristen and Claire, have to find something to do. Luckily, the girls manage to score backstage tickets to meet two of the most popular teen actresses. When one the of the actresses quits, Alicia, Massie and Claire fly to Hollywood to audition for the part. When Claire ends up with the lead, Massie's world is turned upside down and it's all about revenge from then on. It's finally Claire's turn to be the center of attention and she loves it.

I haven't been keeping up with the Clique series for a while now, but while reading this, I was able to pick up on what I missed. From the first page, the story captured my attention. I couldn't stop reading it. The only thing I don't like about the book is the age of the characters. I can't believe that these girls are only in middle school. Other than that, these books are the perfect summer reads. I can't wait to see what happens next!

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 19
Reviewer City, State and Country: Philadelphia, PA USA

The Queen Geek Social Club by Laura Prebble

Shelby Chapelle, a dork, is one of a kind. Until Becca Gallagher comes into the picture. Together, Shelby and Becca create a club, The Queen Geek Social Club, to unite others of their kind. As more and more girls join, they begin a campaign to feed the models (to help girls realize that they don't have to be skinny to be pretty) and create National Boy Invisible Day (to show that girls can have fun without guys). Shelby has her doubts throughout the campaign, and it is made worse by the fact that a jock, Fletcher Berkowitz, seems to have taken an interest in her and the club.

I thought that this was a really cute book. I think all girls can relate to Shelby and Becca in certain ways. The book was also unique and modern in that Shelby's father created a robot to live in the house. That was a nice touch and it did make the story interesting. There was nothing I didn't like about this book. Once I picked it up, I couldn't stop reading. I'm definately looking forward to the next book that Laura Preble writes!

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10
Reviewer Age: 19
Reviewer City, State and Country: Philadelphia, PA USA

Devilish by Maureen Johnson

It all started with a cupcake. It was a normal, everyday cupcake, but it changed Jane’s life forever. Her best friend suddenly gets a Little, or freshman tag-along, because she threw up on someone after eating the cupcake. Weird. Ally shows up at school the next day with dyed, cropped hair and a major personality change. Jane can’t figure out what is going on, until Ally confides that a demon has control of her soul. Jane is determined to save her friend, but she might have to give up her own soul in the process. Can she save her friend? She has to try.
This story paints a portrait of the perfect friend: loyal, trustworthy, and willing to do anything to help when trouble comes your way. Maureen Johnson builds off of the mystifying beginning to create a world of demons, angels, and lost souls. Devilish is perfect for the young adult crowd looking for a girl power book with emphasis on the supernatural.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, PA United States

Good Girls by Laura Ruby

Audrey is the perfect girl, smart, has friends, and is in a friends-with-benefits relationship with one of the hottest guys in school. But just as she breaks the relationship off, she is caught in a compromising situation. When a picture is spread around the school, and even sent to her parents, Audrey's life changes. She starts to lose friends, her parents can't talk to her, her teachers are disappointed in her. But as time goes on, Audrey learns about true friendship and see how things can become just right in the end.

From the minute I read the description of the book, I wanted to read it. I can relate to Audrey very much, and she was a good character to read about. The story just got better and better as I read along. The ending was such a pleasant surprise and I was very happy with how it ended. I'm looking forward to reading more by Laura Ruby.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 19
Reviewer City, State and Country: Philadelphia, PA USA

Jennifer Scales and the Messenger of Light by MaryJanice Davidson and Anthony Alongi

When she was 14 years old, Jennifer Scales discovered that she was a weredragon - as is her father, as is her grandfather. She is able to change form from human girl to a beautiful dragon. Not only that, but she is the Ancient Furnace, an extremely special dragon fifty generations down the line. Furthermore, her very existence shocks both sides of her lineage, because her mother is one of the beaststalkers, sworn enemies of weredragons.

Her parents' generation is made up of various wereanimals and beaststalkers who populated a small town in Minnesota, where life is otherwise normal.

Many of the adults are riddled with venom and cruel intentions which they have passed on to their children, who grew up together. They go through the motions - school, work, and home - for the sake of all of the "normal" people who also live there.

Jennifer celebrates her fifteenth birthday early in this book, cake and all. Shortly thereafter, her family tree gets shaken up. A horrid beast is attacking those near and dear to her father. It's up to the Scales to figure out who it is and how to stop it. When they discover the truth, they are struck close to home. Jennifer and her family must re-evaluate their senses of tradition and loyalty.

Even though Jennifer would like nothing more than to go to the Halloween dance and be a normal tenth-grader, she never denies her destiny nor tries to change her true nature. In fact, she enjoys being a weredragon. It is her love for her parents and grandfather that sees her through the darkness and the battles.

This is the second book in an ongoing series. The first, Jennifer Scales and the Ancient Furnace, was released last year. I always recommend reading series in order, so although Light does recap previous events, I encourage readers to get Furnace first and see if they like it.

The Last Days by Scott Westerfeld

The last days of the world as we know it are here. The world is changing; people are disappearing, angels (according to some) are appearing on the fire escapes of New York City, the water is turning black, and there are rumblings deeper than those of the subways beneath the streets. Those aren't the only things happening, though; for five New York teenagers, music is what matters the most. The nameless band, started by Moz and Zahler, greatly improved by Pearl, and joined by Alana Ray and Minerva, is providing the soundtrack for the end of the world. A vampire lead singer and a drummer whose halucinations might be real only bring the band closer to the apocalypse that began in Scott Westerfeld's book Peeps. Things are changing in the world; what's their place in it

Definitely one that readers will want to purchase as soon as possible; it'll be sold out on bookstore shelves for those that wait too long! While it is a vampire story, you don't need to be a fan of traditional vampire books to appreciate the awesomeness of Scott Westerfeld's novel. You don't need to have read the sequel, Peeps, either (though it's a great book, so why wouldn't you?). The story, told in the alternating points of view of the five band members, is one that will keep readers riveted from the first page right up until the last. The five main characters are well-developed, unique and interesting characters who make this what it is; still, there is plenty of help from minor characters that plays a big part in this story. This is a book not only for fans of vampires or Scott Westerfeld; anyone can (and should) enjoy reading this book!

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Asheville, North Carolina United States

Reiffen's Choice by S.C. Butler

A young boy named Reiffen who is the heir to the thrones of two kingdoms is kidnapped by a group of wizards known as The Three. Reiffen's friends in his hometowm of Valing come together and plot a way to rescue the boy from Ussene, a place where no one has ever escaped. During his stay in the dungeons of Ussene, Reiffen discovers the intentions of the three. The wizards wish to teach him magic and use him as a pawn to rule the kingdoms. Reiffen also makes friends with a slave in the castle named Molio, but he is killed from the magic of the three. At the end of the story, a valiant effort by Reiffen's friends is rewarded by rescuing the boy, but Reiffen decides to return to Ussene and learn magic to use against the three, hence the title: Reiffen's Choice.

I really enjoyed this book, it was very interesting and there was always plenty of suspense. Usually in most book series, the first book has to incorporate a lot of information to paint a picture for the reader as far as what this world is like that the characters are living in. This book does that, but is also keeps the story moving in a way that doesn't bore the reader. This world that the author created fascinated me very much. The different kinds of creatures and places were great, and they also were new and oringinal; this book was definitely not another Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings as far as the setting of the story. I found the ending very intriguing, and it was a great way to set up the next book in the series. Overall, Reiffen's Choice and its sequels have great potential to be in the ranks of some of the best fantasy books ever.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Eden Prairie, MN United States

A Scholar of Magics by Caroline Stevermer

Samuel Lambert, an American, is invited to stay on in Glasscastle University which teaches magic when he wins a sharpshooting contest. He was hired to contribute his shooting accuracy to the mysterious Agincourt Project. A Fellow of the University named Fell invited Lambert to share a room with him and Lambert discovered the amazing, peace-giving chants that maintain the University's wards. Then, one day, the Provost's sister, Jane Brailsford, comes to visit. After she arrives, things start happening. Fell disappears and the Agincourt Project develops a sinister side. It will be up to Lambert and Jane to solve the mystery and return things to normal.

With magic, romance, and mystery all combined together, this book makes for a good read. It has beautiful and descriptive language that puts you in the scene. The plot is developed very well, however, some parts of it move rather slowly. I felt that some of the events mentioned were not needed and only lengthened the book. There were also a few jumps in the book from present to past to future that were hard to follow. Even so, it is still a great book and I recommend it to older readers because of slightly complicated language.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Tucson, Arizona USA

The Hunter's Moon by O.R. Melling

An expert in the topic of Celtic and Medieval Irish History, O. R. Melling gives young adults a brief lesson in Irish folklore while enticing the imagination in The Hunter’s Moon. This romantic modern day fantasy focuses on an American girl named Gwen visiting her cousin Findabhair in Ireland. Since the girls earliest years they dreamed of visiting the other world of Faerie, the land where the King and his subjects have thrived for thousands of years. Finally at 16 years old the girls decide to set out on their quest to find Faerie. As they make a plan for their mystical tour of Ireland, they decide to leave Tara, a sacred ground of ancient kings, for last. In a twist of fate, and magic, they are closer than they had originally planned and decide to go to Tara first. The girls break many rules in order to sleep one night in an ancient mound, only to find a power far beyond their expectations. In their sleep Finvarra the fairy king comes to take them away, but Findabhair is the only one who will go willingly. Gwen awakes in the morning to find her cousin gone and a strange dream fresh in her mind. In order to find her cousin, Gwen sets off on her own journey throughout the Irish countryside. Gwen is confronted with several tests Finvarra set upon her and is soon forced to be brave and strong in order to get closer to her cousin. Meeting several friends along the way, she learns to trust those with red hair, and falls in love. After many trials and tribulations, Gwen is faced with the ultimate task, one that involves pure evil. The plot moves quickly, which keeps the reader guessing whether Gwen and Findabhair will be stuck in Faerie forever, with all its glamour and beauty or remain mortals in their known world.

While the language of the book may be difficult at times, the page-turning plot will carry readers through the story. There are many Irish words and phrases, which may be confusing at first, but Melling includes a glossary and notes on the Irish language, which are very helpful. The descriptions of the landscape are beautiful and give the reader a clear vision of what the characters see. Some of the themes may be too deep for some pre-teens, but would be great for teenagers to mull over. Life vs. death, good vs. evil, how to be who you truly are, are just a few ideas the characters are constantly dealing with. And the romance mixed in is always good for the hopeless romantic. Love and fairies? Every girls dream. Best suited for those ages 12-17, this novel is sure to please any lover of Celtic lore with a fairy twist whether young or young at heart.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 20
Reviewer City, State and Country: Catonsville, MD United States

Sword Play by Linda Joy Singleton

This book is about Sabine Rose returning to her hometown to reunite with her family, that shunned her when she was blamed for the death of a football player named Kip. So now she is returning hoem to the town of San Jose leaving behind the new life she has grown to love, and bringing with her a quest given to her by the spirit of Kip telling her to "help her." So now she is back in the world that once shunned her, reuniting with people who always cared about her, her old fencing team and fencing teacher for one. She is not happy being back home again, but seeing those who once were close to her brightens the prospect of being home again. Although there are a few dark clouds that present themselves on her return, findingthe person Kip wants her to help, seeing her ex-best friend, her father constantly disappearing,her grandmother's illness she is not able to monitor anymore, and of course the fact that someone is trying to hurt her, Sabine is back home again and she's determine to try and be happy about being back in San Jose.

"Sword Play" was a good book. Although it was a sequal in a series, if you chose to read it without reading any of the other books before it in the series you wouldn't be lost wondering what the characters were talking about. Everything that might have raised a what are you talking about question was fully explained so the reader wasn't left confused. Throughout the book Sabine is trying to help Kip help someone else, but also they include a goal Sabine pursues throughout the series; finding a way to help her grandmother keep her memory. Although it isn't the best seer type of book I've read, it still did a good job of showing you the life of someone with a power to see things from the past, future and dead people's spirits making it an enjoyable book to read.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Tucson, Arizona U.S.A.

Fairest by Gail Carson Levine

Fairest is the story of Aza, the daughter of an inn keeper, who lives in a town where beauty is worshiped, beauty of voice beyond all and though Aza’s voice is beautiful beyond belief her face is hideous. Her beautiful voice and unusual talent to throw her voice, which she calls illusing, lands her a spot next to the vain queen as her lady in waiting who is forcing her to illuse . Find out how Aza turns out in Gail Carson Levine’s Fairest.

I never liked fairy tales with their simple plots and cliche endings so when I picked up Gail Carson Levine’s Fairest I expected nothing more than a 2-bit retelling of Snow White. What I found was something entirely different. Gail Carson Levine takes the story of Snow White to a new high. Female fans of the Ella Enchanted and The Two Sisters of Bamaree will not be disappointed. Each page reminds you why Levine is loved my millions of fans everywhere and this book will only add to her ever-growing list of fans.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Starkville, MS USA

Before I Go by Riley Weston

Before I Go is a sad love story that brings tears to a reader's eyes. The skater and coach were also mother and daughter who have a very deep relationship. At the age of six years-old, Madison meets Jackson Wellington III, who becomes her best and only companion in life. All of her life, Madison had never belonged anywhere because she was a lone wolf, an outcast in other words. Skating was her only passion and reason to live. But things in her life change.

I would enjoy this book forever. Madison seems like a spoiled girl but she was actually under a lot of stress. Madison's relationship with her best pal is really sweet and romantic. The author did leave me wondering what happened to Jackson and Annie in the end. I really enjoyed the last chapter. The last chapter was sad. I was crying so much that my tissue was all wet. I really encourage teens and young adults to read this novel. I learned that you should enjoy life as much as you can. I cannot wait until "Before I Go" comes out so everyone can experience the emotions in this wonderful and tearful novel!

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Norwalk, California United States States

Journey Between Worlds by Sylvia Louise Engdahl

Melinda has her whole life planned out. She is going to marry her boyfriend and live on the beach. When she graduates high school, her father offers to take her to Mars on a long business trip with him. She accepts. On the ship to Mars, she befriends a guy named Alex. She lives on Mars longer than she expected and goes through many different problems. When Alex thinks about more than friendship, Melinda doesn't know what to choose. Who knows what will happen.

This book was excellent. It was a little slow at first but it got interesting quick. I'm not a big fan of science fiction, but this book was pretty good. It was a little confusing at some parts though. Overall it was good and I would recommend it to many people.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6
Reviewer Age: 11

Tales of a Hollywood Gossip Queen by Mary Kennedy

When Jessie was flown to California to redo some lines for her small role in the movie, Reckless Summer, she wasn't expexcting to get much out of it. She planned to go to L.A. for a few days, record some lines in the studio, maybe a little shopping, then back to her boring life on the east coast; but that changed dramatically. When Shane Rocket, the hearthrob (yet cheating) co-star, comes to visit her in the studio, she is in awe. Before she knows it, she has an internship for a gossip magazine, Juicy, with her best friend, Tracy, and is starting to fall for Shane once again. When Jessie starts to realize he is hooking up with another teen actress, the Hollywood scene isn't where she wants to be especially when she lands herself on the cover of Juicy...

I loved the book. When I recieved the book, I realized that Tales of a Hollywood Gossip Queen was the sequel to Confessions of an Almost-Movie Star. I had already read the first one but it didn't matter. The second book catches the reader up on the things that were significant in the first book for this one. Personally, I thought this book was good. Compared to the first one, I thought Confessions had more excitement to it but when alone, Tales was great! I would definitely recommend this book to my friends!!

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Villa Hills, Kentucky United States of America

Hit the Road by Caroline B. Cooney

On the first day of Brit's summer vacation, her parents leave for an Alaskan cruise. They entrust Brit's care to Nannie (or rather Nannie's care to Brit). Nannie has recently lost her driver's license and her car because Brit's mother feels Nannie has become senile. Nannie fights back by renting a large van and attempting to take her old college roomates to their 65th reunion. When Nannie discovers her inability to drive the large van, Brit must take over, only having her license for a short time. Along the way, Nannie and Brit must stage a kidnapping of Auriela, Nannie's former roomate being kept in a nursing home against her will by her contrary son Aston the Third.

I found the book incredibly entertaining, but a little cliched and over-the-top. There are several subplots in the book that make it much more interesting and complex. The characters brighten up the story for me, especially the "girls" (Nannie's former college roomates). I think it ended rather abruptly, with many untied ends. Parts of the book were laugh-out-loud funny, while others were a bit overextended. Certainly an entertaining summer read.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Skopje, N/A Macedonia

The Tourmaline by Paul Park

The Tourmaline is the continuation of the story that began with Paul Park's A Princess Of Roumania. In this novel, several characters from our world have been transported to an alternate world. It turns out that Miranda is really not from the familiar world that Peter, who is the first character we meet in this book, was born in. Miranda was, in fact, only sent for her own protection as a baby. Now she's back in this magical world, to save Roumania (or Romania) which is, in this reality, a world power. She has some help, including Peter, who is turning into the Chevalier de Graz, Andromeda, who is currently in the shape of a dog, and several others. Can they do it?

The Tourmaline is a beautifully written book. It has great characters, real enough so that the reader feels real emotion (like or dislike, or stronger) for them, which is a great accomplishment for a writer. The plot is fairly original, too, which is becoming more and more difficult as the number of books written increases, and more and more people struggle to come up with ideas no one else has already written down. This alternate world, wonderfully described, is especially interesting because it is obviously very different from the world we know, but is also similar. This fantasy novel is one that is worth reading, when it seems sometimes that there are too many similar fantasy books around, as it is a popular genre.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Asheville, NC USA

Out of Focus by Margaret Buffie

When Bernie's great-aunt Charlotte died, she left something behind for her niece. Bernie's mother, Celia, inherited the Black Spruce Lodge. Now they have a place to live, where they won't ever have to leave in the dead of night to avoid paying the overdue rent. Things aren't as easy as one might hope, though. Bernie's angry at her mother, and can't believe Celia could even try to stop drinking, or take some responsibility for her children, Bernie's younger siblings who have been taken care of by their older sister for years. That's the most dominant emotion Bernie feels: anger, specifically at her mother. It makes life out of focus (as the title says). Can Black Spruce Lodge help Bernie get things in focus?

Out Of Focus is one of the best young adult books I've read recently. It was very well-written, with believable, unique characters. The story, told from Bernie's point of view, surpassed any expectations I had of a novel from an author I'd never heard of. Now that I have read a book written by Margaret Buffie, I'll certainly be looking for more from her. The story is interesting and original, rather than the same old books I've been reading lately. Out Of Focus was certainly worth reading.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Asheville, NC USA

Jennie's War by Bonnie Hinman

Will Jennie ever be able to catch Pietro in the act? Jennie is led to believe that Pietro is a spy trying to find out information about Boeing, a factory that makes airplanes for the war, after she sees him doing some very suspicious things. One day Jennie overhears Pietro talking to a strange man about meeting in the underground, and having no idea where that is, she decides to follow him. While doing so she runs into a small problem along the way and has to seek the help of her brother, Tommy, in order to solve it. Jennie is uncertain of asking for Tommy’s help, for she is afraid he will take control and boss her around when it was her idea in the first place. From growing vegetables in the “Victory Garden” to collecting scrap metal for the war effort, Tommy and Jennie are always making everything a contest between them. Will Jennie ask her brother for help or will she let Pietro get away and possibly risk the lives of the many people who work at Boeing? Find out in this faith-based book called Jennie’s War written by Bonnie Hinman, which is one of the many wonderful books in the Sisters in Time series.

This book is set in 1944 during World War 2. It teaches the reader how the people had to live and about the many different things they had to do to help with the war effort. Jennie’s War also teaches you how working together instead of competing against one another will get you farther in life. I think this is a great book that throws a surprise ending at you. I highly recommend Jennie’s War mainly to girls, ages 9-12.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA US

Harlem Hustle by Janet McDonald

Harlem Hustle is a teenager living in (where else?) Harlem. Hustle, who also goes by "Double H" (real name Eric Samson) may not have much in his life, but he's got big dreams. Hustle wants to be a rap star. He's got the words--he's been writing down his raps for a long time now. He just needs to break into the music business and get his work noticed. Easy, right?

This was a decent book. The characters, while interesting, were not particularly three-dimensional. They didn't exactly step off of the page. The storyline was not particularly original, either. There are tons of people out there with dreams of becoming music stars, and this wasn't a particularly new twist on that. Still, it was moderately interesting, and did keep my attention through most of it. The author's style wasn't remarkable, either. It was a decent read, though, but not one I'd spend my money on; I might, however, check it out from the library. It's worth that.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Asheville, NC USA

New Moon by Steohanie Meyer

New moon is the sequel to Twilight, and is just as good mabe even better. We watch as Bella and Edward struggle to be with each other, he being a Vampire and all, but then Edward makes a choice that could seperate them forever. Bella is devestated and emty without Edward we watch as several months go by before she starts to live again. And when she does she becomes even more accident prone and starts to get in a lot of trouble with little Jacob Black whos not so little anymore. Bella soon discovers that it will take everything she has to get Edward back to her and it wont be easy.

This is one of my favorite books, I am absolutely obsessed with it and recomend it to everyone. It's beautifully written and when Bella's in pain your in pain. Trust me you won't be able to concentrate on anything else. It also stands on it's own, I read it not knowing it was a sequel and easily kept up.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Fountain Valley , Ca Untied States

Cinderella ( as if you didn't already know the story) by Barbara Ensor

Obviously everyone knows the story of Cinderella, but did you know why Cinderella's Fairy godmother asked for lizards or what excuse did her stepmother make when she had to move to the attic? No? thats what I thought. As this classic tale unfolds we get to see all of Cinderella's feelings, thoughts and actions during this timeless fairytale. That makes You love Cinderella even more.

It was cute, I liked the fun little details they put here and there it made it interesting to read. I loved that they put compassionate notes that Cinderella had written to her dead mother. All in all they put a good spin on a classic tale.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Fountain Valley, Ca United States

The Mask of Atreus by A.J. Hartley

The story starts with the 761st Tank Battalion patrolling a road just south of World War II Berlin. A powerful German tank column is heading their way. After the battle, the American victors inspect what the tanks had been protecting: a truck with one crate. Andrew Mulligrew, a tank commander, takes a look at the contents. Astounded, he orders his driner to call the MP's. In modern day Atlanta, Deborah Miller is at a museum fundraiser. She is there because she is the curator. After a long night, Deborah begins to drive home. Following a disturbing phone call, she returns to the Druid Hills museum and finds her mentor and museum owner, Richard Dixon dead from several strange wounds. When the mysterious caller asks if they took the body, Deborah hides under Richard's bed and watches him come and then leaves. When she returns to her apartment after being questioned by the police, Deborah senses an intruder after the police don't believe her and Keene voices his concerns about Cerniga, Deborah flees to Greece. There she makes some stunning conclusions about Richard and a dark secret. Soon she fights for her life and tries to piece together a mysterious conspiracy.

I found this book to be exciting and gripping at times. However, some parts can be a little a slow and boring. The good outweighs the bad, though, and this book can be hard to put down once you get into the plot. Mystery and suspence fans will especially enjoy this novel. In my opinion, A.J. Hartley is an excellent novelist.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, Pennsylvania The United States of America

Curse of Arastold by Jo Whittemore

Sunil, a magical world full of, elves, mythical beasts and many other mysterious powers is where Ainsly and Megan find themselves trapped. They were brought here by Bornias Niksrevlis an old neighbor of theirs on earth, but who turns out to be the ruler of the kingdom of Arylon, in Sunil. While there, the Staff of Lexiam, the powerful artifact that was used by Bornias, was stolen. Fortunately the staff was recovered, but the magically empowered gems were not. Ainsly, while searching for the staff, contracted the Illness. The Illness, which was originated from the dragon Arastold, is a curse upon those who abuse magic… and have come into contact with dragon blood. It slowly turns a human into a dragon while destroying its host’s soul. Then the dragons fly off to serve their master, Arastold. His companion, Megan, has found a cure for this horrible fate, but can she administer it in time to save her friend

I think this was one of the best fantasy books I have read in a long time. The author made this book extremely suspenseful by throwing in many twists and turns in an ongoing roller coaster. I was, however, disappointed that I couldn’t find the first book in any local library or bookstore. I was so disappointed because I have not read the first one. I do think that it was a very good book and will be enjoyed by fantasy readers everywhere.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Denair, California America

Witch Catcher by Mary Downing Hahn

Jen’s father has inherited an estate from his Great-Uncle Thaddeus and they are moving into the old, castle-like house on the property. Jen is thrilled; she can feel the strange vibes coming from the castle and knows something out of the ordinary is going to happen. When, against her father’s wishes, Jen goes up the tower in the back yard, she finds a beautiful glass globe with a spout on the end and takes it back to her room, knowing instinctively that it is special. Odd things begin to happen. Dad has a girl friend, Moura, who Jen can tell does not love her Dad. Jen’s cat breaks the globe, and Jen meets a girl in the woods who says she was trapped in the globe and was released when it was broken. Together Jen and Kieryn must defeat HER and save her brother and aunties, who are also trapped. Can Jen rescue them? And can she do it in time to prevent her father from marrying Moura?

Witch Catcher tells of the struggle between a girl and a witch, good and bad, young and old. Mary Downing Hahn’s story is both creative and fantastic as it describes the dangers and fears of a young girl and her attempt to save her father from something that he doesn’t want to be saved from. This is a story that will fuel the imagination of the young and the young at heart.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, PA USA

The Oracle Prophecies Book Two: The Sphere of Secrets by Catherine Fisher

A god was reborn as a young ten year old boy named Alexos. He must travel to the Well of Songs and return three apples which he turned into stars. They must be returned to the Rain Queen, a god. Alexos had stolen the apples from the Rain Queen in one of his past lives. If he can make it across the unforgiving desert and fight the beasts that guard the well he can bring back the water to his kingdom. On his jouney he faces many predicaments. While he is away his kingdom is thrown into a war. His friend Mirany is one of the nine and works the altar of the god. Hermia, whom the god is supposed to speak through is making up the answers to the questions the people come to ask the god. She and the general of the army had formed a conspiracy. If someone was asking for something one of them was interested in they would decline. The rest of the nine have figured this out. When the prince of another country comes to ask the god to let his country mine in the mountains and is declined the rest of the nine tell him about their findings. War is soon waged between the two countries.

I thought that overall the book was very good. The suspense would not allow me to put the book down. Since there are two stories going on, one with Alexos and the other with Mirany, the author would switch between the two whenever an exciting event was about to happen. It about drove me nuts, but it kept me reading. I extremely advise you to read The Oracle Prophecies Book One: The Oracle Betrayed first. If you do pages 1-60 will make a lot more sense. I think the author used pronouns way too much. I would sometimes have no idea which character was being referred to. This was a very exciting book and if you are a fantasy fan you'll like this book.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, Pennsylvania U.S.A.

Rubber Houses by Ellen Yeomans

Written in a series of poems, Rubber Houses by Ellen Yeomans is the story of Kit. Kit is a high school student whose world turns upside down when her little brother, Buddy, dies of cancer. She reads about the stages of loss and relates each one to a part of baseball, a game she shared with Buddy. Kit tries to deny his death and starts rejecting her friends. She, also, watches her parents become despondent, consumed by their grief. Only after she gets a job at a hardware store, does Kit start to live and accept a normal life again.

I thought the book was wonderful, but extremely sad. Ellen Yeomans accurately depicts the grief a teen feels after the loss of a loved one. Before I read the book I didn't think the poetry could tell the story without the reader having to search for a hidden meaning. But the book was really easy to understand and very relatable. I, also, liked that the book ended on a hopeful note, not a depressing one. Overall, I thought it was a great book and good summer reader.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Erlanger, Kentucky United States

The Killer's Tears by Anne-Laure Bondoux

What Mr. and Mrs. Poloverdo thought was just another visitor to their home was what would change Paolo's forever. Angel Allegria was his name, killing his game. While the unsuspecting couple drank wine with the murder, he drew a knife from his belt and ended their lives. His eyes then were put on the boy, demanding him to approach. Paolo stood still and answered many personal questions. The killer and his boy, as Angel called him, then buried the parents. And they resided in the house for a few weeks...until a knock sounded at the door. It was Luis Secunda, a traveler who stole the boy’s heart from Angel. The man taught him to read and write, and after many days, promised to take him and Angel along in his travels. They went to the city of Punta Arenas first. The trio resided in an inn for a week or two. And when they were not there with the innkeeper and his daughter, they were in the city seeing the sights. But, one sight that Angel did not expect to see was his face on a poster…with the word “WANTED!” under his name. And Angel wanted to escape that town before he was discovered and arrested. And separated from the boy. Luis betrayed them when he and the innkeeper’s daughter were planning to leave the city on a boat so they would not face the music from them placing up the poster. When the boy and the killer find them, the knife is drew… Does the murder kill yet another person…or more? Does he get to stay with the boy? And, does Angel get caught? Only The Killer’s Tears can tell.

This reviewer found this book to be surprisingly fulfilling. Twists and turns fill this book like a mountain road. Ms. Bondoux has an excellent way with words, like a crafts-worker with a needle joining fabrics. This book was excellently written, and is a very remarkable work of literature. Some of the grammar is different than what many people know, however, but that can be justified: this book is a translation from French text. Even so, the meaning was not lost. This reviewer enjoyed this book and believes that anyone who reads The Killer’s Tears will fall in love with this story also!

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, PA United States

Alice in the Know by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

It's the summer before Alice's junior year and Alice learns a lot more about growing up. First, her dad makes her get a job on her own. Her brother, Lester, thinks that he's finally found the woman he wants to marry. And Alice's friends experiment with drugs and alcohol. Not to mention an embarassing incident about an email involing sex nand her personal life. Alice also has to deal with sickness and death as well with some of her closest friends and family. But Alice really learns to make the best of her summer.

I was really excited to read the newest Alice book since I've been reading them all along. I was a bit disappointed with this newest edition. The story kept my attention and all, but I really felt like something was lacking throughout. I can't wait to see what happens next to Alice though. I would definately recommend reading the Alice series if you haven't read it though.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 19
Reviewer City, State and Country: Philadelphia, PA USA

Going Under by Kathe Koja

Going Under is a novel in which Kathe Koja introduces readers to Hilly and Ivan, sister and brother, but more than that. Before Hilly decided to break away from family, to meet people who were not related to her, and Ivan felt betrayed. To achieve her goal, she joined the literary magazine staff at the local high school. It’s a great activity for her; she has been writing for almost her entire life: essays for her mother, entries to contests, but, most important, her journals. While working on Currents, as the magazine is called, Hilly meets new friends, Kim and Elisha. When Elisha commits suicide, Hilly retreats from the world around her, especially Ivan, and is sent to a psychotherapist. When Ivan tries to get closer to his sister, he is pushed further away, and to cement the separation, he betrays her by establishing his own relationship with the doctor, who is manipulative of both of them, and talking with him about Hilly.

This novel is told in the alternating, very different, voices of Hilly and Ivan. Kathe Koja does a great job of telling the story from the two points of view, and it makes the story much better than it would have been if it were told by only Hilly or only Ivan. Both characters are very well-written and realistic. Going Under is definitely a page-turner; it kept my attention the entire way through, with the brilliant prose that actually sounded more like poetry at times. The ending was great, closing off the story without being too cheerful or unrealistic, which would really have taken away from the overall tone of the story. It doesn’t compare to any other young adult novels; it is, in fact, like nothing I’ve read. Highly original, this story gets into your head and stays there.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Asheville, NC USA

Conrad's Fate - A Chrestomanci Book by Diana Wynne Jones

Series Seven is one of eleven parallel universes. That is where Conrad Tesdinic, the main character, lives in the small village of Stallchester. As he turns twelve, his uncle, who is a magician, tell Conrad he has horrible karma. Then he is sent off to become a servant at Stallery, the mansion in the mountains above Stallchester. His uncle tells him that that is where he can settle his fate. There he meets a boy about his age named Christopher. Christopher reveals to Conrad that he is an enchanter from Series Twelve and is looking for a lost friend. Can Conrad succeed in settling his fate, or is he doomed to have bad karma forever? Find out, by reading Conrad’s Fate.

I enjoyed reading this book because it has a little bit of everything. It had just enough humor, suspense, and magic. It has twists and turns that kept me reading long into the night. I also liked how the author intertwined the alternate worlds. But, I think that the author should have made it a little less modern. Televisions and sports cars are, to me, a little too much. However, I think that many fantasy readers will really enjoy this book.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Denair, California America

The Crystal Doors by Rebecca Moesta and Kevin J. Anderson

The Crystal Doors is about two "twin" cousins, Gwen and Vic. The story begins with a visit to a water park in California. Where Gwen is nearly killed. Early the next morning, the cousins find Vic's Dad arranging crystals. The cousins walk in the room and are sucked into another world. This dimension has flying carpets, intelligent talking animals, and is ruled by magic.

The Crystal Doors is a good book for what it is: a fourth/fifth grade adventure book. The storyline doesn't have nearly enough depth to pull off the "young adult" characterization. Many of the twist are obvious and predictable, provided I am an avid young adult reader, lower school students will definitely find the story intriguing. The plot is fun, unique, and magical adventure. What kid wouldn't enjoy that?

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Starkville, Mississippi United States of America

Monster Blood Tattoo by D.M. Cornish

In the beginning of Monster Blood Tattoo, by D. M. Cornish, a foundling boy who has a girl’s name, Rossamünd, is selected to be a lamplighter, a special soldier who lights and dowses lamps in the hours that monsters and thieves are on the prowl, in a town called High Vesting. However, when Rossamünd boards what he believes to be the ship that will take him to High Vesting, he discovers that he has instead mistakenly boarded a ship that deals in the dark trades! Rossamünd eventually escapes the ship by jumping overboard. When he pulls himself to land, he meets two people in a horse-drawn carriage: Europe, a female fulger (a person who has surgery done to his or her body in order to cast bolts of lightning and wields this power to fight monsters), and Licurius, who is a leer (a person with super-enhanced senses). Rossamünd notices that Europe has a series of X’s tattooed on her arm, inked in the blood of each of the monsters she’s killed. Europe and Licurius agree to take Rossamünd to High Vesting. On the way to High Vesting, Rossamünd watches Europe kill a monster that hadn’t even harmed them. This makes Rossamünd feel bad for the monster, which is illegal because monsters and humans are at war. Later on in the journey, when Europe, Rossamünd, and Licurius are ready to rest for the night, they are awakened by a sound in a nearby thicket. Licurius goes to investigate and monsters leap from the bush and kill him. Europe tries to fight them but her body spasms and she cannot summon her bolts of electricity. Rossamünd barely manages to save her by throwing some monster repellant at the creatures. Now that their driver, Licurius, is dead, how will Europe and Rossamünd reach High Vesting? Read Monster Blood Tattoo to find out!

I LOVED Monster Blood Tattoo! The whole time I was reading it, I was wishing I could write a book just like it! The author used really good details and described things well. The book also has an “explicarium,” which includes a helpful glossary of terms and appendices that have maps, drawings, and other useful things that help the reader understand details of the story. I’m sure this book will be a best seller. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy books. I would also recommend it to anyone who has read The Edge Chronicles.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Saugerties, NY

Being A Girl Who Serves by Shannon Kubiak Primicerio

Do you live to serve God? Well, whether you do or not this book tells you how you can serve Him and others with your time and your talents, the importance of praying, and much more. It also points out that it doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from, God can use you to serve Him and others. Shannon tells interesting real life stories of how God has been working wonders in her life and others’ lives as well. At the end of each chapter there are also review questions that let you look at the way you’re living your life and can help you to make it better. This is the second book in Shannon Kubiak Primicerio’s Being a Girl Series.

I think Being a Girl Who Serves is a well-written book that teaches you life-changing lessons. I think it was neat how the author divided the chapters into different sections, which made the book easier to read. This book is a pretty slow-paced book that takes a while to read but in the end, it’s worth it. I think that Shannon is a great role model for teen girls to look up to. I greatly recommend this book to Christians of all ages, but I think it would also be a good book for non-Christians to read.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA US