Baxter Moon Galactic Scout by John Zahour

Baxter Moon: Galactic Scout is a fun science-fiction novel about a young, ordinary space cadet who is surrounded by an unordinary cast. A boy-genius, a super-strong girl, and a genetically altered chimpanzee complete Baxter Moons shuttle team. The book accounts Baxter's training as a pilot at the Galactic Academy of Scouts, and it also describes Baxter's unlikely first mission. Much like a sinister plot from a James Bond movie (see Tomorrow Never Dies), a group of evil robots called TVTrons attempt to ignite a war between Earth and the planet Aqua. The TVTrons main weapon: a TV signal that leaves victims in a zombie-like state while being addicted to watching TV. In such a perilous situation, Baxter Moon is Earth's only hope to prevent an unnecessary intergalactic conflict. Loaded with action and humor, Baxter Moon: Galactic Scout is a fun and entertaining adventure.

My first reaction when I finished the book was: "That was a lot of fun." For literary readers looking for great universal messages, this probably isn't the book for that. Still, the author subtlety raises some interesting themes. Baxter Moon, the protagonist, is really the only character in the book from "our generation" - the only one not genetically enhanced or influenced by future technology, making it easy for readers to relate to him. By examining the motives of the TVTrons, readers might see some realism in a futuristic setting: in our world of globalization and free trade, our society is bent on consumption and the dollar, just as to the TVTrons, this staged war is all about getting ratings. Maybe there is something to be said about this. The author also pokes fun at politicians in the end of the story saying, "They made more progress on that one-day trip than they had in weeks of negotiating." Thus, in the concerns of today's intellectuals, the author shines a cheerful light on the subjects. What made this work so enjoyable was the author's ability to expand our imaginations of science-fiction while providing an escape from our society's worries about an uncertain future.

Reviewer Age:18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Eden Prairie, Minnesota United States

The Secret Rites of Social Butterflies by Lizabeth Zindel

When Maggie moves from her home in New Jersey to live in NYC with her mother, her life drastically changes. At her new school, she feels like she doesn't fit in and her only friend is the school's biggest nerd. But she soon finds herself becoming part of the in crowd. While hanging out with Victoria, Lexi and Sydney, she finds herself privy to a very big secret. Thing are starting to look up; she has cool friends, she's found a boy she likes, and her family problems aren't as bad as she first thought. Just when she thinks everything is getting better, the secret is revealed to everyone in her school. Maggie finds herself just as responsible for what has happened and has to find a way to make things better.

This story reminded me a lot of Mean Girls. I thought the idea behind the story was pretty interesting. But it was unrealistic to the point that I couldn't really connect with any of the characters. There was never a point where I wanted to stop reading, but I didn't read this in one sitting. This book is great for teenage girls looking for a fun beach read.

Reviewer Age:21

Reviewer City, State and Country: Philadelphia, PA USA

Lamplighter by D.M. Cornish

D. M. Cornish starts his latest novel in the Monster Blood Tattoo series (a planned trilogy), Lamplighter, where his first book, Monster Blood Tattoo, left off. Lamplighter follows a Foundling (orphan) boy, Rossamond, who has been summoned to train under the military branch of the Lamplighters, soldiers who walk the Empire's monster-plagued streets and light the Great Lamps for the safety of travelers. Rossamnd arrives at the Lamplighters' barracks, Winstermill Manse, and begins his training as a prentice. Not extremely long after his beginning at Winstermill, Rossamnd's military prentice quarto (that is, the group he is assigned to) heads out on a prentice-watch to light and dowse the Great Lamps from Winstermill to the Wellnigh House, along the Wormway, but after the overnight stay at the Wellnigh House, on the way back to Winstermill, a carriage comes racing headlong down the Wormway -- a carriage with vicious horn-ed nickers attacking it! Will Rossamond survive his first theroscade, or monster encounter, as a Lamplighter? Who is in the carriage? Read Lamplighter by D. M. Cornish to find out!

I absolutely loved Lamplighter. I was excited when I saw that D. M. Cornish had come out with a sequel to Monster Blood Tattoo. The book matches, if not outmatches, the creativeness of its predecessor. I thought that the characters all showed their personality well, and you could see Rossamond transform from a weak Foundling boy into a courageous adventurer. Like the first book in this series, the text is filled with words that you would never find in Mr. Webster's dictionary  terms like "gretchen-globe," "enkle," and "slot and drag." But not to fear  both books include their own glossary, and it's a whopper at nearly 100 pages. (By the way, you'll also find a few of Mr. Webster's odder words in there too: "pledgets" and "sillibub" make an appearance.)

I recommend this book to readers who liked Monster Blood Tattoo as well as anyone who enjoys intricate plots and detailed descriptions of the fictional world that a story is set in.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Saugerties, NY USA

Escape From Castle Cant by K.P. Bath

There's a war going on in Pauline and Lucy's town. Everyone wants gum, but others think otherwise. Loyalists say Pauline is the heiress to the throne, but then the rebels say Lucy Wickwright is the rightful heiress. Lucy and Pauline run away to find gum plants so they can restore peace and stop the war.


Then, a guy name Vladmir Orloff, a postal commissioner for gum chewing, is chasing them around. He wants to put Pauline on the throne because he killed Lucy's family when she was little.


The girls were resting when a swineherd said he will kill Lucy if they didn't come along. He tells them that it really doesn't matter if Pauline tags along, he just really wants Lucy with him. But secretly he is Vladmir Orloff. So they go with him to a swineherd hut. When they arrive at the hut, they They find out that Vladmir is actually Blaise Delegrassi, a guy who works at the castle. Later, Orloff tells Lucy to surrender, so she grabs a sword, and the girls escape, using the stolen horses. Do Lucy and Pauline get killed? Do the girls destroy the Gum Plants? Read this book to find out!

This book was AWESOME. There were suspenseful parts and the whole book was silly in a good way. Like, when they are having a war over gum, it was really funny. The suspensful parts were, for example, when they were running away with the horses. I'd recomend this to anyone because this book is packed with fun.

Reviewer Age:12

Reviewer City, State and Country: Norristown, Pennsylvania USA

Seven Deadly Sins: Sloth by Robin Wasserman

After an accident that left one girl dead and another injured, the seniors at Haven High are shaken and scared. And understandably so: Harper's return to school and Kaia's permanent absence are making everyone uncomfortable. Harper is haunted by nightmares of Kaia and the accident; the events of that night are still foggy and frightening. Beth's determined to make Spirit Week memorable, but she finds herself slipping up. Miranda misses the old Harper; the new one seems to be pulling away from everyone and everything. The boys are stumbling as well: Adam's falling behind in school, Kane's partying, carefree; and Reed's surprised to find Beth leaning on his shoulder.

While each of the characters are plagued by varying degrees of guilt over Kaia's death, the only thing that seems certain any more is that nothing will ever be the same.

In Seven Deadly Sins, no one is blameless, and everyone has something to hide. This series takes the parties, dating, makeups and breakups of TV shows or series such as Gossip Girl, sets it in a small town called Grace where everyone knows everyone, and throws in a murder mystery. If you like the Sevens series by Scott Wallens or the Pretty Little Liars series by Sara Shepard, you'll like Seven Deadly Sins by Robin Wasserman.

Sloth is the fifth in the Seven Deadly Sins series. It is recommended that you read the series in order:

Lust
Envy
Pride
Wrath
Sloth
Gluttony
Greed

Drinking and drug use, and other situations

USA

Misspelled by Julis E. Czerneda

This book of short stories explores the world of magic. It especially shows what can go wrong through a misunderstanding or by a mispronunciation. From various points of views and differing authors, this book illustrates the consequences of mistakes. In the magical world, you have to be perfect, and if you aren’t, this book demonstrates some of the grim consequences together with humorous side effects. From the musical magic to the fairy tale endings this book is full of misspells.

This book is confusing and mediocre compared to most that I have read before. In each of the seventeen stories, you are assaulted with different types of magic, diverse characters and only a few pages per story to become acquainted with each tale. Though some stories illustrate true potential in the writer, most can be distinguished as baffling. I wouldn’t truly recommend this book to most people unless they are prepared for a bumpy ride.

Rating:3

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Richmond, Virginia USA

Mozart's Ghost

Mozart's Ghost by Julia Cameron is about Anna, a "thirtysomething Midwesterner", who moved to New York in search of a chance to fall in love or to become one of the many proud single women living in New York City. Anna works as a substitute teacher by day, but she has a secret talent. By night, Anna works as a medium. By sharing messages from the deceased to their loved ones, Anna pays the rent. Acting like she doesn't need a man, Anna falls hard for Edward, the new pianist who recently moved into her apartment building. Edward constantly practices. At first, Anna finds Edward's music, which is constantly pouring through her window, annoying, but as she falls for him Anna begins to love his music in spite of herself. As their feelings towards each other grows, Anna wonders if she should risk their relationship by telling Edward about her gift.

Mozart's Ghost by Julia Cameron is a very unique book. I have never read a book where science fiction, romance, and culture has been mixed. Julia Cameron weaves the idea of ghosts, love, and classical music all into one book. This unusual combination exists in a book that keeps the reader interested in what might happen next. I found this novel to be new and exciting. It is very different from every other book that I have read. I highly recommend it to mature readers.

This book contains inappropriate material for young readers such as bisexuality and sex.

Reviewer Age:12

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

The Temptress Four

The Temptress Four is about four girls named Fiona, Killian, Alma and Yoli. The girls have just graduated from high school, and they decide to celebrate by going on a cruise. The night before the cruise, the girls go to a fortune teller who predicts that there will be trouble during the trip and that one of them may not return. The fortune teller’s comment makes the girls think about whether they should still go on the cruise. After a lot of debate, the girls decide to go. They will soon learn whether the fortune teller is correct.

The Temptress Four was one of the best books I have ever read! Unlike most books I have read, this book kept me on my toes. When one problem gets solved, there is another problem waiting. I also loved how the author made the book unpredictable. That made me want to read the book even more. I‘d highly recommend this book!

Reviewer Age:10
Reviewer City, State and Country: Potomac, Maryland USA
Rating: 10
Content:1

Back Creek by Leslie Goetsch

It's 1975. Eighteen-year-old Grace Barnett is overwhelmed by the situations presented to her in what becomes one of the most important summers of her life. Waking up one morning, she witnesses a deadly boat crash in the creek behind her house. As though this wasn't enough of a trauma, the accidental nature of the crash comes into question. Soon, many people have come to the unspoken conclusion that Tommy White, the man who died in the crash, may have crashed the boat on purpose. To add to this, Grace's sister Lillian decided to resurface in the family from her five-year absence on the very day of Tommy White's funeral. This is the very same day that Grace's mother sneaks away from her family, claiming to be leaving for a short time while she has no plans of returning. Coupled with the confusing signals of Cal, a boy Grace doesn't know if she has a crush on, the summer is full of emotional situations. Further along in the book, it becomes apparent that Lillian is pregnant. Grace must delve into the circumstances surrounding her sister's disappearance and pregnancy while trying to prepare for college, getting her mother to return, and deciphering Cal's mixed signals. But is it too much for one summer?

Back Creek takes a believable protagonist, Grace Barnett, and presents her with some of the most difficult situations a teenager can face- all in one summer. I very much enjoyed the complexity and truth of the many plots. Grace's feelings were real and pure, and I felt a connection to her as though to a friend. She struggled through her issues with inspiring strength and perseverance. The plot moved at a good pace and every issue was resolved by the end of the book. The setting of the book, both time and place, provided an interesting twist to the book, the Vietnam War just coming to a close. Devotion, lack of devotion, pride, and the act of unearthing secrets are explored in this book, creating a strong basis for a well-constructed plot. Leslie Goetsch has succeeded in writing a heart-warming coming-of-age story that every girl will love. Back Creek is beautifully crafted and easily relatable: an instant winner.

Rating:9

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Melrose, MA United States

Frozen Fire

Dusty was just like any other normal 14-year-old, until a phone call turned her world upside down. A strange boy called her phone and told Dusty he was dying. The stranger said he needed someone to talk to in his last hour. He claimed to be named Josh, the name of Dusty's missing brother. Dusty figured out where "Josh" was, and decided to investigate. Caught by three men, also searching for the boy, they tried to make Dusty tell them where "Josh" was hiding. Dusty got away and figured out "Josh" was not actually dying. With only a few clues, Dusty found the strange boy, who was definitely not her brother. "Josh" had snow white skin and hair, always wore a duffel coat, was convicted of rape, and also had the strange power of being able to immobilize and hurt people. Eventually, Dusty got into a lot of trouble, because she hung around the boy so much. People thought that Dusty was in league with him. Dusty fell into a whirlwind adventure as she tried to find her missing brother, while dealing with a mysterious boy.

Tim Bowler did an amazing job making this book into, not just a mystery, but also an extraordinary thriller! He had diverse characters that all had a place in the story, not one character was there that did not have its own purpose. The characters were also very well developed in terms of personality. The plot was thick with suspense and thrill. At the very end, Bowler dropped a huge secret that was the solution to the book. It was the biggest shock in the whole story. He also did an amazing job with the diversity of the characters' language. This book was one that I could not stand to put down!

This book talks a lot about rape and issues only appropriate for the age recommendations.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Shippensburg, Pennsylvania USA

Three Little Words

Three Little Words, by Ashley Rhodes- Courter, is a tragic story with a fairy tale ending. This memoir binds the unbelieveable horrors of foster care with the prayers of adoption.

Because Ashley's mother could not properly care for her, Ashley was forced to overcome 19 different foster parents. In one home, Ashley was beaten, starved and severely mistreated for very minor things that really shouldn't matter. In another home, Ashley was, unknowingly, living with a sex offender and caught a glimpse of something that scarred her for life.

All the while, poor Ashley waits for the relentless promises by her mother to be granted. Ashely can't help but wonder if this black hole, that she calls her life, will always be the same or if she will finally be reunited with her beloved mother.

I think that a person who reads this book has to be in the right mindset to really enjoy its content. It is a great story for the more optimistic individual, but most lives do not turn out as fantastically wonderful as this woman's life concluded in the story. Many people do not want to know about someone else's happy-ending story, because many times their own turns out to be different than they wanted or imagined it to be. I did not really care for this book, because I believe that it seemed very unrealistically sappy, but I could see myself recommending this to some of my friends who often read this kind of story. Overall, this definitely was not one of my favorite books, to say the least.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Tipp City, Ohio United States

Infinity by Lillian R. Lieber

This book is a factual book about the concept of infinity. It emphasizes the different types of infinities and their properties. It also discusses the importance of math in everyday life. This newly published version of the book has been edited and shortened from the original, so it is not a long read. It is written in a style similar to poetry, and there are also little doodles for illustrations.

This book had some interesting topics, but I overall did not really enjoy reading it. I am in calculus, and I like both math and science. However, this book did not appeal to me. It was written in short, poetry-like paragraphs that did not suit the subject matter. Also, the book is probably too complicated for someone who does not enjoy and excel at math. Any serious mathematician would probably prefer a more textbook-like or factual format. All in all, I feel this book does not have an audience.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Royersford, PA United States

Test by William Sleator

Ann Forrest is hoping to one day get out of the traffic, but because of the XCAS, a test that controls every aspect of her life, she doesn't believe that it is possible. She needs to find a way to get rid of the test at all costs, and Lep is just the boy to help her do that. When Ann and Lep work together, they have the power to make anything happen, and they do just that. It is a dangerous and difficult journey, but it all works out in the end.

This book was very good. It was suspenseful and held my attention the entire time I was reading it. The subject, how a test (the XCAS) was controlling the lives of everyone, was very intruiging. The fact that education is so important is a very big topic today, which made it all the more interesting. It made me wonder if it is possible for the future to be anything like that. Overall, the book was very good and I enjoyed it a lot.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: East Islip, New York United States

Undone

Her eighth grade year changes Serena Moore's life forever. A chance meeting introduces her to Kori Kitzler, known to the students as "The Dark Angel" of her school. The two girls soon become inseparable, even as Kori begins to spiral out of control several years later. When a tragic car accident leaves Serena alone she has to find a way to cope. That is when she discovers a list that Kori left behind. The cryptic list contains five things Kori wanted to accomplish. Serena sets out to finish her best friend's tasks. Along the way she discovers more about Kori and, more importantly, about herself.

As soon as I began reading this book, I became certain it was going to receive a glowing review. It was a captivating story with a lot of emotion. At one point, I was so touched that I called my best friend in the middle of the night to tell her how much I loved her and that she absolutely must buy Undone as soon as she could. The story was told from Serena's point of view which made it all the more engaging. It had a pleasant mixture of humor and drama. The vocabulary used was also refreshing, as it was accurate with teenage jargon. I would recommend this book to any teenagers, especially girls. Even though I am usually not a fan of realistic fiction, I enjoyed this novel thoroughly.

This book contains profanity, drug use, and sexual references.

Rating: 10

Reviewer Age: 14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, PA United States

Drive to Nowhere

Drive to Nowhere is a modern day Nancy Drew novel set in Australia. While on a four day school trip to the wilds of the Warrumbungle National Park, half of the girls go missing. Eeare, the daughter of a famous rock star, suspects the teachers have a hand in the disappearances, but no one else shares her views. Eeare sets off to find the culprits and her classmates.
I liked Drive to Nowhere, but I felt like the characters were unrealistic. At one point in the book, the girls were drinking at school and no one noticed or said anything. I also felt like the plot was lacking in some areas. The story dragged on, and I felt like the suspenseful parts weren’t really that suspenseful. While reading it, you know who committed the crime, and it gets rather boring. I would recommend this book as an easy read, but nothing more.

Reviewer Age:18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Dundee, Oregon USA
Rating:6
Content:1

Sweet Valley High: Double Love by Francine Pascal

Welcome to Sweet Valley High--a world of good girls and
bad girls, hot boys with fast cars, perfect tans and
natural highlights...all under the Southern California
sun. Twin girls, identical in every way--yet they
couldn't be more different. Jessica Wakefield is used to
getting what she wants--at school, with her friends, and
especially with boys--and she'll stop at nothing to get
it. Elizabeth Wakefield is used to letting her twin
sister have her way. There's not much that's worth
fighting her over--lost earrings can be replaced, petty
problems can be resolved, and rumors can be doused like a
fire. But when it comes to Todd Wilkins, Liz isn't so
sure she should step aside and make way for Jessica. This
time, Jessica Wakefield is going to have some competition--
from her own sister.

Sweet Valley High: Double Love was
an awesome book! It was like a special treat just reading
it. I loved it right from the beginning, and was sad when
it had to end. What I loved best was how I got caught up
in all the emotion, feeling everything the characters
felt. I also liked all of the drama, which made the book
more interesting. The only problem was that some of the
drama and events were a bit cliched and most of the time I
could predict exactly what would happen. Although it
seemed predictable, there were times when things extremely
unexpected happened, which made me like this book even
more. Sweet Valley High is beyond a doubt a great book,
and I can't wait to read the next one. I would definitely
recommend it to teenage girls.

Some of the events and
comments in this book may not be suitable for young
readers.

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and
Country: Leopold, MO 63760

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr

In the beginning, Jennifer Harris and Cameron Quick were each others only friend. They would spend time together but not at Cameron's house. Jennifer's mom prohibited her from going there because of his father. After Cameron moved away, Jennifer was told Cameron had died. Her life moved on and she is now known as Jenna Vaugn. She has a boyfriend, best friends and a normal life, but as her childhood friend she is faced with a lot of memories and problems that she doesn't know if even Jenna can face.

Sarah Zarr did a wonderful job of putting a picture in my head of each person, place, or thing. She makes me believe that Jenna and Cameron are real people because she describes their personality, description, and mood they are in each day. At the end, Zarr left you thinking. She didn't tell you what happened to the characters for the rest of their lives, but she gave you enough information to make an assumption. I would recommend Sweethearts to anybody that wants to read about friendships, memories and hard times. It is a real page turner.

Reviewer Age:11


Reviewer City, State and Country: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania United States

My Funny Dad, Harry

My Funny Dad, Harry by Karen Arlettaz Zemek is a collection of stories about the author's father, Harry. The stories are about many different aspects of Harry's life like his cats, some of his experiences, and some of his traits. Each story is unique and helps portray Harry as a whole. The stories are a great way to remember those who are deceased and are no longer part of our worlds.

Overall, I would say that this book is amusing, but also dull. It lacks the power to keep readers hooked on until the end. Some of the stories are not interesting. Also, the style of writing does not seem professional and reminds me of something that someone might write for fun but not to be published. Although the book was okay, I don't know if it was something that I would recommend to a friend because it just wasn't that interesting.

Rating:5

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Champaign, Illinois USA

My Life: The Musical by Maryrose Wood

Philip and Emily's love for the play Aurora is nothing short of an obsession. It is an obsession that takes them to see it on Broadway every week (with the help of a loan from Emily's Grandma). When the show threatens to close, Emily has some questions. Why is the show closing? Who keeps bad-mouthing Aurora on-line? Why does her English teacher hate the show so much? Most importantly, does Philip like Emily or not?

I thought this was a good book because the author clearly explained how the characters felt about problems and solutions. You could understand every single thing they did in the story. I wish the author said a little more about the actual play, though, to help the reader understand why Emily and Philip cared so much. That might help readers feel the magic. I found the book very interesting, possibly because I like musicals very much. I would recommend it to other readers who are theater lovers as well.

Reviewer Age:12

Reviewer City, State and Country: Exeter, NH USA

Feast of Fools by Rachel Caine

Morganville is anything but ordinary. Claire Danvers, a sixteen (almost seventeen) year old student, has been under strain like no other student in Morganville. Not only does she have the stress of friends, family, and school, but her wit and will are being tested. The alliance between humans and vampires is being tested more than ever. Who knows if she will have the strength to pull through.

This was the first book in the series I have had the priviledge to read so I got to look at it as a unit, and not a sequel. I am a huge fan of vampire books, so I of all people would have been a tough critic. However, I was surprised. Not only was I not confused when reading this book, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Rachel Caine did a remarkable job sewing together all the different elements in Feast of Fools. I recommend this book to anyone that likes fast-paced, thought-provoking page turners. When this book is sold in book stores, I will be the first in line!

Content: Some questionable language.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Seaside, OR US.

Nick of Time

Twelve year old Nick McIver is always up for an adventure. Especially if it has to do with sailing around Greybeard Island, which he calls home, in his self made boat. While off gallivanting around the island with his sister Kate, Nick comes across a washed up chest. Nick and Kate manage to hide it in a cave until they are able to come back for it, but on the way back home, they encounter a terrible storm and run to their old friend Gunner's Inn for shelter. There they meet two mysterious pirates who scare them senseless. When the pirate Billy Blood hears Nick, Kate, and Gunner discussing the chest, he becomes very interested in it. Could Billy Blood possibly know the contents of the chest? After realizing Blood's suspicious fascination with the chest, Nick is determined to find out what lies in it, and keep it away from Blood. In order to protect the chest, Nick decides that he must take it to a supposedly abandoned castle. When he reaches his destination, Nick finds that it is far from deserted! There he finds that Lord Hawke and his trusty sidekick Hobbes are still living in the castle, hidden away from society, and know quite a lot about the contents of the chest. Even with the chest safely guarded at Lord Hawke’s castle, Blood finds it and is hot on Nick’s trail. It seems that blood will do anything to gain possession of the mysterious chest. Will Nick be able to keep the chest away from Blood?
While the plot was interesting, I can't say I loved the book. For me, there wasn't that extra something that completely pulled me into the book. When I was reading the book, I thought it was excellent. Once I put the book down, I found it very hard to pick back up again. However, there were many good things about the book. The story was a combination of spies, pirates, mystery, adventure, and war. Some of the scenes in the book reminded me a lot of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, which I really enjoyed. One other thing I enjoyed was the author's ability to make you vividly picture the scene in your mind. Every scene played like a movie in my head making it easy to relate to the characters. I would recommend "Nick of Time" to middle school boys as it deals with topics that they just seem to love!
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Currituck, NC, U.S.A.
Rating: 6
Content: 1

Gamma Glamma

Did you ever have two things, that you like, happen on the same day? Well, in the book, Gamma Glamma, Luz did. She was chosen to do a science experiment competition for her school, which was on the same day of the Homecoming dance. After thinking about it, Luz conducted her experiment on her friends. However, every time Luz did an experiment, it meant trouble.

I very much like this book because the author writes it in a humorous way. Luz is a little like me, because I love science and math. I like how the setting takes place in high school, because I get to know more about high school. Also, the author makes me want to read more of her books. Even after several readings, it always makes me laugh out loud. (I would recommend this book to people that like humorous book, because it will make you laugh like it did to me.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: St. Paul, MN USA

Knowing Joseph

When Autistic first grader, Joseph, gets teased and bullied, Brian, his older brother, has to fend for him. Brian has to go out in public with Joseph even when he's kicking and screaming. A bully, named Louis, always makes fun of Brian for having a 'stupid' brother. If Joseph was normal, Brian would be able to go into public without being embarrassed and wouldn't get in trouble with Louis. When Brian goes camping with the family, he thinks it's going to be a horrible trip, because he doesn't get to bring a friend along. But then he meets Billy. Billy's best friend's brother is autistic, also. He knows all about kids like Joseph. Brian, Joseph, and Billy have adventures together. Read Knowing Joseph and find out what they do.

Opinion: Knowing Joseph is a great read. I read it in two sittings just because I never wanted to put it down. After reading it, I know so much more about autism than I had before. I can relate to Brian, because he’s a normal kid, just like me. Sometimes, you feel like nobody knows what is happening to you. Then, a kid like Billy comes around and makes you realize that you’re not alone. All in all, I would recommend Knowing Joseph to everybody, no matter what age.

Content:1

Rating: (0 - 10 scale): 8

Reviewer Age: 11

Reviewer City, State and Country: Oakmont, Pennsylvania United States

Dark Wars by Hideyuki Kikuchi

It is 1880 in Japan. Seventeen-year-old Daigo is extremely adept with a sword. Many people try to beat him in a duel, but no one can successfully win. The dojo head, Kashiwabara, is very proud of Daigo, and he asks if Daigo would like to marry his daughter Chizuru. Daigo refuses, and he starts to walk home. On the way back, he meets with his friend Saigo, Chizuru, and her little sister Akane. The girls drag the boys to an old mansion with an old painting of Millet's. Once inside the creepy house, Count Dracula shows up. Ever since then, Daigo has to try to find a way to get rid of Count Dracula and the horrible monster he is. Daigo is the only one who can save Japan from the bloodlust of the count's. Chizuru and the other people closest to Daigo are the ones affected most. Will he be able to defeat the strongest opponent he's ever battled?


Dark Wars: The Tale of Meiji Dracula was a very unique book. It contained a wide variety of Japanese cultural information that taught me random facts. Another interesting characteristic was that fantasy was worked into it. This mix of genres was very different from what I have read before. The vocabulary is extremely well-written for young adults. One problem I encountered was that the names were so authentic to Japanese that I couldn't really remember which name belonged to which character. Some words were also in Japanese so I would either have to ignore the word and keep reading or look in the small glossary in the back. Overall though, it was a great read with lots of irony and foreshadowing. The imagery was spectacular in every part as well. I recommend this book to fantasy or Japanese culture fans.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6

Reviewer Age: 14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States of America

Minima by Machiko Sakurai

Ame Oikawa is a very shy schoolgirl who barely has friends. Since she is shy, she doesn't talk to many boys. However, Ame has had a crush on a boy in her class, Sasaki, since the first day of school. When her class takes a field trip to an amusement park, Ame goes into a gift shop. While looking around the store, she sees a strange looking doll. Ame decides to purchase that doll because she has a strange feeling about it. The doll's name is Nicori, and he suddenly becomes popular when people find out he can talk. Ame and Nicori experience hardships with each other and with others. Ame is worried about trying to see if Sasaki loves her like she loves him. Meanwhile, Nicori is discovering how humans 'like', 'special like', and love things. Together they experience jealousy, sadness, happiness, and many more emotions. Just as they get over one of their little fueds, a man from the amusement park comes to strike a deal with Nicori. It would involve Nicori to live at the park and star in a television show. However, as this is happening, Ame gets captured by men who think Nicori is with her and plan to steal him. Nicori receives a phone call from the mysterious man saying that the only way to get her back would be to meet him at a certain place alone. Will Nicori get Ame back safely? Who will get hurt?

Minima was a fabulous book in all ways. It is a Japanese manga. The drawings were done beautifully and in a very nice manner. Since it was originally written in Japanese, the words are very well-translated and arranged. One of my favorite things about this book was the plot. As soon as one surprise was over, another would start. Nicori was a well-thoughtout character because his moods are fickle. His relationship with Ame is very similar to some of my experiences in real life. I loved how all the characteristics fit together so well. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who wants to read manga or a fictional adventure story.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States of America

The Girl Who Saw Lions by Berlie Doherty

What Berlie Doherty means when she says Lions is the people lions of the world. It ties in nicely to the fact that outside their village hut, while Abela's mom is fighting for her life, lions are pacing the dirt road. But those real lions aren't as scary as the lions of the world that are in her life. Her uncle traffics her into child slavery as soon as Abela's mother dies, taking her away from her beloved grandmother who is the only true family she has left. He ships her off to England, where Abela must cook and clean for her bi-polar aunt. Alone and shut off from the outside world, Abela must muster up her courage and try to escape, defeating her own lions along the way. But is that possible for a thirteen year old girl, thousands of miles away from her homeland, and who can barely speak English?

Every single teenager who thinks their life is so rough needs to read this book. It puts into perspective how lucky the kids of today's society are in comparison to real troubles and sorrows. It also makes you realize what real courage is, and how everyone can overcome their demons if they try hard enough. I loved this book, and I have no doubt in my mind that every other person will love it too. The Girl Who Saw Lions: By Berlie Doherty is an awesome book everyone will love.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Casa Grande, Arizona United States

What Your Mother Never Told You by Richard M. Dudum

This book is about how to deal with things as a teenager. The author gives you advice about love, relationships, friends, parents, school, and much more. It also explains what you should do in different occasions where you might need help or where you are confused. I think the author's purpose was to write this book for teenage girls who don't have a good role model in their life. This book would fit into the nonfiction section.

I think this book is a very good book because it encourages you to do well and it also helps if you don't have role models to talk to. The book was interesting but sometimes it got a little boring because the author would repeat things. I learned that if you want to change the way you act, and if the people you hang out with don't have the same goals, you should choose new friends. I would recommend this book to teenage girls who don't have good role models or if you need advice. Overall, I found this book helpful but dull.

I rated the book a 3 because it talks about mature issues.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: St. Paul, Minnesota United States of America

Promise of the Wolves

In this thrilling first book by Dorothy Hearst, the reader is immediately drawn into the adventures and misadventures of Kaala, a wolf whose very existence throws her pack into a gripping uneasiness. The trouble begins right away. It is clear from the start that Kaala will be an outcast. The pup's father is from another pack, and, as a result, Kaala's mother is exiled. Motherless, Kaala is forced to struggle through daily discords with the assistance of her two close companions. Through her explorations, the young wolf discovers a troubling secret that will not only alter her life, but the life of every wolf in the valley! Kaala's strong will and determination will win over readers of all kinds. Promise of the Wolves is a breathtaking beginning to a promising up-and-coming trilogy.

I loved Promise of the Wolves, and am beyond eager for its sequel. There was never a dull moment while reading, and I was captivated by the author's compelling voice. There was just enough description that I could easily picture the environment, though not so much that reading became monotonous. Characters were incredibly realistic and believable, something that took me by surprise, as the characters are wolves. The book was beautifully written, and I'd recommend it to everyone, especially lovers of Eragon or Twilight.

Reviewer Age: 14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Tipp City, OH USA

Operation Typhoon Shore

Doug and Becca MacKenzie are traveling on a ship to a remote island with their uncle on one of his missions. Their uncle, the captain of the ship, is involved in a special organization called the Guild of Specialists and right now his mission is to gather four missing artifacts whose purposes are unknown to the young MacKenzies. Doug, eager to join in the action, swears into his uncle's Guild, but Becca declines. Their parents are still missing, supposedly dying doing the Guild's work, and until she can find out exactly why they died and what they were doing when they died, she refuses to trust the Guild. This separation is very unsettling to the siblings, but when an unexpected danger strikes the island and true identities are revealed, Becca and Doug wonder where their alliances really stand: with their uncle's adventures or their parents' mysterious disappearance.

Joshua Mowll brings all his characters back for a second appearance in Operation Typhoon Shore. While everything would be crystal clear if the first book was read, his second book can stand by itself. Mowll draws the readers in at the very start with intrigue and curiosity. His writing is very good, but what really makes the book amazing is all the maps, pictures, sketches, and confidential material included through out the book that makes you feel like a real adventurer. I would highly recommend embarking on this exciting adventure and finding out for yourself what really happened the day of the Typhoon.

Brief language and possible disturbing moments.

Rating:7

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country: Durham, NC USA

Chosen

In Chosen, by Kristin and P.C. Cast, Zoey Redbird’s life at the House of Night takes an unexpected turn. Zoey starts to question everything that she treasures, including the trust in her friends and the feelings of hate towards her enemies. She has to deal with betrayal, uncertainty, and three boyfriends as well as keeping her undead best friend a secret. Zoey’s life has started to come crashing down. Will she have enough strength to keep fighting?
The third installment in the House of Night Series harbors the most truth and uncertainty. It kept me reading without pause. The depth and honesty in each character rang true in this book showing both their virtues and their flaws. This book also showed me how life is unpredictable and illuminated the need to value friends more than anything in the world. Chosen, though from the genre of fantasy, highlights some real topics that are dealt with by most average teenagers. This book is beautifully written, and I will definitely read it again.
Involves actions and topics unsuitable for all readers.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Midlothian, Virginia, United States of America
Rating: 8
Content: 2

Perfect You

Kate Brown is having a tough sophomore year. Her best friend Anna left her for the popular crowd, so Kate is virtually friendless. Her dad also quit his job to sell Perfect You vitamins at a small kiosk in the mall. Since this is a "family" business, Kate is forced to work after school and on weekends. Now lonely and stuck with an unwanted job, Kate finds comfort in her small encounters with obnoxious Will, a boy she pretends to hate. Suddenly, these small encounters lead to the two kissing in a back alleyway. Kate really likes Will, but is afraid that he thinks of her as just another girl.

Perfect You was really a spectacular read. Elizabeth Scott does a great job of adding humor to Kate's bleak and dismal life. Kate is very witty and she says and thinks things that make you laugh out loud. Everyone goes through tough times, so they can easily relate to her character. Even so, Kate carries herself with a certain grace that most people never see. The book is also funny and poignant and everything that a good book should be. It even teaches you a life lesson about happiness: you have to try to be happy in order to actually be happy.

This book may be unsuitable for younger readers because it contains mild language and adult themes.

Rating:9

Reviewer Age:16

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

Financially Free By 30 by Vince Shorb

Financially Free by 30 teaches people how to lay the groundwork for a successful financial future. This book provides step-by-step details on how to create a successful plan for the future. With this kind of plan, it is possible to make over a million dollars in less than five years. Setting goals is the foremost important aspect of the plan, and acts as a guide down the path to success. However, just setting goals is not enough. One will also learn how to recognize the limits of money: when to spend it, and when to save it. Afterwards, one will learn about being independent in this vast dog-eat-dog world. Jobs, credit cards, banks, debts, investment, the stock market, entrepreneurship, real estate, the internet business - they are all discussed in this book. Finally, the book offers several plans on becoming a millionaire in a short period of time, and a few last tips. This book helps the reader to become independent, and achieve dreams.

This book does bring young readers into the world of economics. In this world, everything is not so straightforward, and requires a lot of hard work and dedication. Financially Free by 30 teaches you how to set realistic goals and actually accomplish them. However, after reading this book, I feel that it is not hard to be able to earn $1 million dollars and become financially free by age 30. I get the feeling that if I follow everything in this book, I will be able to achieve the dream of no longer having to work by the time I'm 30. I know that this is not possible, because if everyone in our society can earn millions of dollars just by reading this book, our world will not be able to sustain itself and collapse. Nevertheless, I learned a lot of information about the world of economics, including the stock market and the real estate business. This book does not automatically get me to the top, but it helps guide me there.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Urbana, IL USA

Chill

When you have school, sports activities, youth group, and family you can be stressed. Deborah Reber talks you through it with her book, Chill. There are tips on organization, time management, and journaling. There are real letters from real people struggling like you. There are also quizzes to help you through the tough times. Chill is a very informative book for everyone out there who is stressed and doesn’t know what to do.

This book was no help to me because I’m not stressed, but this information could be helpful in the near future. Even though I am not stressed, this book was enjoyable to read because I got to see what other people are feeling. I like that Reber has quizzes and letters from real people to help you through your most stressful times. After reading this book, I think you will have time for yourself, your family, your school work and anything else you are interested in. Reber did a good job of organizing the book, so that it is easy to find out what you need to know.

Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Oakmont, Pennsylvania, United States
Rating: 8
Content Rating: 1

The Patron Saint of Butterflies

Meet Agnes and Honey, two very different teenage best friends with very different outlooks on life and religion. Agnes wants nothing more than living the clean, pure life of a saint, and, of course, become a saint when she dies. Honey, on the other hand, is desperate to get away from their religious commune called Mount Blessing. As far as Honey's concerned, it's not a blessing, it's a curse. Honey is the only orphan in Mount Blessing. As a result, Emmanuel, the cruel and manipulative leader, doesn't appear to have as much power over Honey as he does over everyone else. Agnes and Honey can't understand each other at all. Agnes is convinced Honey will become a heathen, while Honey thinks Agnes is ruining her life. When a horrible accident throws Agnes's brother, Benny, into danger, Agnes has to choose between the outside world and safety, or the only world she's ever known, not to mention her dream of becoming a saint. Join Agnes and Honey as they go on an adventure teeming with love, family, and self-discovery.

"The Patron Saint of Butterflies," by Cecilia Galante, is a truly amazing book - I don't think I've ever read a book quite like this one. The writing has a wonderful style and quality, shifting between two teenage best friends - Agnes and Honey - with very different outlooks on life, religion and almost everything. Agnes and Honey's voices, or points of views, will positively throw you right into their drastically different lifestyle and self-discovery. The vocabulary was age appropriate and easy for most people to understand. Though I felt the ending could have been done a bit better, perhaps by going a bit slower there, Galante did a wonderful job and I found the book very moving. You could almost picture certain scenes and the mood flowed perfectly. I have to say, I wouldn't be surprised if this book ends up winning some awards. I know, personally, that Galante's book has fought its way to the top of my favorites, shoving down even Harry Potter and Twilight. The theme of family, love, self-discovery, friendship and adventure is evident throughout, "The Patron Saint of Butterflies." I would DEFINITELY recommend, "The Patron Saint of Butterflies," to other people, as it happens to be the next BIG book - a total MUST read type.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Canton, Michigan United States of America

Disguised

Rita la Fontaine a 12 year old Dutch-Indonesian resident
living in the Dutch Indies had an incredible life. She
writes her own true, breathtaking story. When the Japanese
invaded their island, she and her family were informed that
they had to leave their home and move to a prisoner of war
camp. For fear of what the Japanese soldiers would do to a
young girl for fun, Rita's father guided her to cut her
hair and pretend to be a boy for the rest of the war. Rita
transformed herself into Rick. One of the most dangerous
things Rita did during that time was work closely with the
Japanese soldiers and leaders. It was very risky because
the Japanese culture shunned women and didn't allow them to
be equal to men, which was exactly what Rita was doing. At
the start of her book, Rita says, "It's easy to give up;
it's a challenge to persevere and to conquer." What would
you do if you were put in this situation? Give up or
Conquer?

Rita's true story entertains, offers historical
information, scares the nerve out of you, and inspires.
Rita shows strength and bravery as she fights for what she
wanted, what was right, and what was best for her family.
This story really helped me out with some things I have
been dealing with and I think it will help and inspire
others, as well. This book was a very fast read and had me
hooked the entire way through!

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country:
Durham, North Carolina USA

Turn Up the Heat

Chloe’s boyfriend, Josh, works at the hot restaurant, Simmer. Simmer is five months old and Josh is working hard to get it past month six. Chloe is finishing up her master’s degree in social work, but missing her chef boyfriend who is working so hard and long he has permanent bags under his eyes. Then strange things start happening at Simmer. Knives go missing, people are stealing, and one of the waitresses has been killed. Chloe tries to use her social work skills to discover the killer. Is it Adrianna, Chloe’s best friend, or Adrianna’s fiancé, Owen? Maybe it’s someone in the restaurant itself! Will Chloe discover the killer, or will she be killed too?

This book was amazing. It was a page turner until the end. The ending was smooth and left you feeling satisfied. The characters were well developed. They seemed so real I felt as if I could travel to Boston and find them all there waiting for me. There was a little too much sexual content and bad language, but overall this book is on my list of top twenty books that I have ever read. I recommend this book to people who like mystery and romance in the same book.

This book has a lot of sexual content. There is also a lot of bad language, especially on the first page.

Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Colleyville, Texas, United States of America
Rating: 8
Content: 2

Spud

John Milton soon finds a new world through his scholarship to boarding school. He spends his five workdays away from home, and returns to his psychotic parents on the weekends. As a fourteen year-old boy, "Spud" Milton acquires friends and enemies alike, including several simultaneous girlfriends. Spud deals with birthday punishments and death threats each day, new ways to life's challenges appearing right after he needs them. His particular journey through South Africa's political dilemma complicates his troubles, and his miraculous adventure through adolescence begins and continues throughout the novel.

The beginning of Spud landed me in the very middle of the plot, sucking my attention into the first of many chapters. Finding the humor in an adolescent's struggle can be challenging, but John Van De Ruit did a fantastic job of doing so. By finding the root of Spud's problems and twisting them into a comfortable tale, any reader would find new boundaries for a comedy. Enjoying the language of the British was different, and I learned a good deal of foreign terminology.

Language and sexual themes.

Rating: 8

Reviewer Age: 13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Eagle Creek, OR USA

The Corps of the Bare-Boned Plane

When Meline and Jocelyn are left orphaned in a train accident, they are both shipped off to live with their genius uncle on an island famous for its morbid history of airplane crashes. The two girls have completely conflicting personalities, and their uncle only exacerbates matters by ignoring them entirely. Life on the island is miserable for all involved-- that is, until one fateful day when a revelation occurs to Meline: "I know how to build a plane."

When you start this book, it may seem familiar, as if it were an odd mix of Lemony Snicket's "Series of Unfortunate Events," MT Anderson's "Game of Sunken Places," and Laura Numeroff's "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie." This observation would be entirely logical, because Polly Horvath's plot takes elements from all three of these stories, whether deliberately or not, creating a final work that is unsettlingly recognizable. Horvath's tone is great, easy to read and at times intriguing, but her use of multiple points of view means that even the characters cannot be interesting to the reader, because all are over-explained and become redundant by the end of the novel. The children's uncle is perhaps the best example of where Horvath has missed the mark with her characters-- he is known as an extraordinary genius, but in his eyes and the view of others, he comes across as, at best, eccentric and socially inept. These flaws are even more disappointing when one looks at the potential that the book held-- but it can't be denied that as talented as Horvath is, she has finally created a book that is just plain long.

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

Fancy White Trash by Marjetta Geerling

Abby Savage lives in a one bathroom house with her sister, her niece, her other pregnant sister, her mom, and her moms boyfriend (who, by the way, might be the father of her sister's child). As you can imagine, life is not so pretty. Abby is left babysitting and cleaning up after her unruly family while they go along fighting and creating an embarrassing scene wherever they go. The only sensible people in sight are her best friend Cody and his brother Jackson, and lately Jackson's been away saving kids in another country. Abby struggles through her troubles at home and at school trying to discover herself and hoping that she is not going to turn out like the rest of her family.

Fancy White Trash is a wonderful book that will keep anyone turning pages to find out what Abby Savages quirky family will do next. It brings you into a world of a teenage girl being held back from who she wants to be by her family. The book explores common topics of teenage life such as family troubles, teenage pregnancy, relationships, and exploring ones sexual orientation. It was filled with vivid descriptions, hilarious content, and characters that were easy to relate to. Overall it was a lot of fun to read and I would recommend it for girls ages 12 and up.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Marblehead, Massachusetts USA

Looks

Meet Meghan, that is, if you can spot her. Even though she's enormously overweight, Meghan is practically invisible to everyone around her. Everyone except for J-Bar, who has been relentlessly tormenting her since junior high. Now meet Aimee Zorn. She has the opposite problem as Meghan, anorexia having made her rail thin. Despite her size, (or maybe because of it) poet Aimee is seen by perfectly peppy Cara Roy, who convinces Aimee to join the literature club. Meghan wants nothing more than to befriend Aimee, and a hate for one particular girl brings them together.

This beautifully written book is very true to life. While reading it, I could easily pick out the Aimee, Meghan, Cara, and J-Bar at my school. Madeleine George did an amazing job making all of the characters seem alive and I often had to remind myself that I'm not Aimee or Meghan. Although this book was slightly predictable, the poetic style in which Looks was written makes up for the plot. This book was fun to read and I will definitely read Looks again.

Rating: 10/10

Reviewer Age:12

Reviewer City, State and Country: Phoenixville, PA

Jack: Secret Histories by F. Paul Wilson

When 14 year old Jack and his friends, Weezy and Eddy, venture out into the forbidden pine barrens of New Jersey, they find a mysterious sight. Weezy leads her brother Eddy, and Jack to a long mound of crusted sand. Soon rain comes, and the threesome find shelter under a nearby tree, and erosion takes its toll on the eerie mound. After the storm, Weezy comes along a black artifact that can't be opened. Jack looks for one for himself, but doesn't necessarily come up empty handed; he finds the head of a deceased body relaxing in the palm of his hand. They run home as fast as they can, contact the police, but don't realize the mysterious friends, deaths, or suspects, right around the corner, waiting for them in Jack: Secret Histories, by F. Paul Wilson. Jack is confused by the Lodge, a building that contains many secrets. Is the Lodge linked to the corpse? Or what about the so-called old wives' tale, about a misty monster, the Klazen? He also remembered seeing Mrs. Clevenger, the town witch, but what do these links lead to?

I was amazed by the details and descriptions in Jack: Secret Histories, by F. Paul Wilson! It was a mysterious, fiction/legend that was on-the-edge-of-your-seat thrilling! It's one of the best books I've read since joining FlamingNet. I really enjoyed reading about the characters and their different personalities. I recommend this book to anyone who isn't scared of a lot of things! I hope you will experience the same feelings I had when I read this miraculous book.

Reviewer Age:11

Reviewer City, State and Country: Osseo, Wisconsin United States

A Walk Through

This book contains various poems covering a wide scope of
different topics. The author depicts topics such as growing
up, making choices, self-confidence, and how small things
can affect one's day. Many of the subjects of this book's
poems are important for adolescents and young adults.
Carefully chosen words and phrases come together to
illustrate essential messages. It is easy to understand the
point the author wishes to make in each of his sixty poems.
Adolescents and young adults will be able to identify with
many poems and find inspiration in this book.

While I appreciated the messages that A Walk Through
Life attempted to convey, I felt that these messages were
overpowered with the way in which they were presented.
Every poem had precisely the same construction: a rhyme
pattern of AABBCC and so on throughout the poem. This would
not pose a problem if it were not for the rhymes
themselves. Each rhyme was laboriously chosen, resulting in
the fact that the rhythm of each poem was lost in the
effort. It was common in this book for two lines to be of
completely different lengths and simply rhyme at the end.
Despite this, I enjoyed the author's attempt, though the
aforementioned criticism keeps the book from being what it
could be. Hidden within the book are the promises of what
it could be with a bit more effort; there were several
lines that fit perfectly and seemed to light the poems. If
one wishes to seek perspective and better understanding in
their life, I would recommend this book, but not for the
poetry itself.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State
and Country: Melrose, MA United States

Not A Happy Camper by Mindy Schneider

Mindy Schneider is going to camp. In the past, she has gone to the strict and oppressive Camp Cicada. This year is going to be different. Mindy is headed to Camp Kin-A-Hurra where she hopes to find friends, fun, and possibly, her first kiss. While at camp Mindy stays with the picture perfect Dana (who's got looks, sings, and plays guitar), Autumn Evening (who can talk to the dead, and has had many boyfriends in her past life) and many other different girls who will form a bond that can only be made at camp.

In the beginning of the book, I wasn't sure if I would get hooked on it. I kept reading and soon fell in love with the characters and the camp. Since this book is a memoir, it made it all that much better. Knowing that all the things that happened in the book actually happened to the author was amazing. Anyone who has gone to a summer camp before will be able to find a little piece of their own camp in Not a Happy Camper.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Seaside, OR. US.

The Law of Three by Caroline Rennie Pattison

Is it possible to be cursed? Sarah Martin doesn't think so, but apparently Garnet Hopper does. After a misunderstanding, new student Sarah Martin finds herself on the bad list of Garnet Hopper, a notorious delinquent. Garnet, a rumored devil worshiper, curses Sarah. Sarah is determined to find out the truth behind the curse, so she befriends Bryon, Garnet's brother. Not even the rumors about the Hopper family could have prepared her for the mystery that she begins to unravel as she grows closer with Bryon and discovers that his sister may be a murderer.

This engaging tale not only entertains but also informs the reader about the stereotypes about Wicca. Sarah (the character from whose point of view the story is told) talks to the reader in a humorous and casual way. The only reason I gave it an eight was out of personal preference. I expected it to be more of a mystery but was slightly disappointed. However, it provided a good portrayal of both teenage life and the deeper problems that can tear apart families. I thoroughly enjoyed it, right down to the surprising ending.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, PA United States

King of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan

Shah Rukh Khan is a middle class Muslim boy from Delhi, India who has always dreamed of being a star. This is the story of how he is thrown out of his fatherless, friendless world into the enthralling and enticing land of Bollywood. He soon learns that not all that glitters is gold- from failing movies to violent mafia members, Bollywood is not for the weak of heart. The book gives the story of Shah Rukh Khan's life, from his birth to the present. It is a biography about Bollywood's number one star.

The first time that I started to read King of Bollywood, it bored me until around page 30 or so. The narrator's voice is purely factual, nothing more, so the book was a bit monotonous at times. It was gripping in a few spots, but dull the rest of the way. I haven't read many other biographies like this and therefore cannot compare it to others. From a reader's point of view, the main character was really full of himself. From this book, I learned that what we read in the papers and magazines is a smokescreen of what Holly/Bollywood really is. This book is perfect for Hindi movie fans and Bollywood fans. I would only recommend this book to people who are interested in filmmaking and the history of it.

Mild depictions of adult situations, violence, and explicit threats by the mafia.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Coleyville, Texas USA

Two Moon Princess

This book is the story of a princess named Andrea who does not want to be a lady. Andrea mistakenly discovers a way to travel into our modern world. She loves life in California, but she accidentally returns to her world with a friend from California. The outsider is a threat to her secret world. Before Andrea can return her friend to our world, a war breaks out in her world. She must attempt to stop the war and save her friend. This story blends the modern world with a fairy tale. Its sole purpose is to entertain.

The ideas behind this book were unique. It mixes two opposite worlds in one story focusing on a princess's desire to fit in and find happiness. At times, the story got a bit too sappy for me. At the end, there is lots of confusion over who loves whom. It gets a little absurd. However, I am not into romantic novels of any type, so I am not the best judge. All in all, I liked the book and its unique setting.

Rating: 7

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Royersford, PA

Magic in the Mirrorstone

From Mirrorstone Publishers comes an anthology for young adult readers entitled Magic In the Mirrorstone. A collection of authors including Holly Black, Cassandra Clare, and Gregory Frost shape this entrancing new book of modern fairy-tales. From unicorns and water-spirits, to enchanted frogs and goblins, this book will keep readers on the edge of their seats. In all it's magic, slight hilarity, and pure ingenuity, this blend of authors creates a fresh, new look at the old-fashioned bedtime story. With editing by Steve Berman, Magic in the Mirrorstone is a surefire hit!
I highly enjoy modern fairy-tales, and this book is one of the reasons why. My favorite story, 'Princess Bufo Marinus, also known as Amy' puts a spin on the tale of the frog prince, as do many of the stories. I found it a refreshing read, and would reccomend it to any and all teen readers.
Some of the stories in this book, especially 'Virgin' by Holly Black, are for mature readers.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Boothwyn, PA USA
Rating: 10
Content Rating: 3

The Finnish Line by Linda Gerber

Maureen Clark, otherwise known as Mo, stepped foot in
Finland with two thoughts in mind: making a name for
herself instead of living in her family's shadow, and
jumping in the world-famous Lahti Ski Games. Between
studying for her classes and her ski practices, Mo realizes
that she isn't going to have as much free time to explore
Finland as she thought. After jumping during practice and
landing short of all of the others' distances, Maureen
decides that she needs extra practice. So therefore, when
her hot tough-guy teammate asks if she wants his help in
return for some recognition by the press, Maureen can't
decline his help. While at the ski trip to Kemi, Mo and
Leevi really hit it off, but how can she possibly date him
when he's her competitive teammate and an untrustworthy
Gypsy? What if she isn't ready in time for the televised
Lahti Ski Games and she can't live up to her family's
famous name? And if she doesn't, will she have to continue
living her life forevermore being called Mr. Clark's
daughter?

I really enjoyed how The Finnish Line was full
of adventure and had just the right amount of romance.
This is a fantastic, action-packed novel with very
interesting scenes and characters. My favorite character
is Leevi because he had the best personality and he was
very unique from the rest of the people in this book. There
were a lot of surprises that kept me guessing until the
very end. I think that this would be a terrific story to
make a sequel to since there were still quite a few
questions about their futures left unanswered when the
story came to an end. This is just one of the many
fabulous novels in the S.A.S.S. Series written by various
authors. Each one is a young adult romance and I hope to
be able to collect them all.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country:
Upper Strasburg, PA United States

Yozakura Quartet

Hime, the mayor of Sakurashin, is a superheroine. Kotocha can conjure up anything with the right word(s). Ao is able to read minds. They fight evil in the town to make it a better place. However, this is not done without Akina. He is just a regular guy that lives with the three supergirls. Together, they face a dangerous shooter, a demon dog, and other threats as well. Read Yozakura Quartet to find out how each individual helps keep the town safe.

I loved this book! To start off, it is a Japanese manga. However, it is translated into English. I loved how it was authentic to the way a traditional manga would be written; it is read from right to left. Also, the pictures are absolutely wonderfully drawn. This particular volume had five different sections, and each section contained a different evil they fought against. I really liked how the different characters were worked into the story. Although I was confused about the characters in the beginning I learned who each one was pretty quickly. The storyline is very unique, and it was a pleasure to read. I recommend this book to anyone seeking humor and action.

There is mild swearing and violence.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States of America

Keeper by Mal Peet

Paul Faustino was to get an exclusive interview with the top goalie in the world, but instead of a soccer story he got a ghost story. El Gato recants more than just his childhood, he tells about an apparition that trains him to be one of the most wanted players in the game of soccer.


It is a spooky story that has real human emotions and actions. I did find it intriguing, even though at times it was a bit slow, and I wanted to read to the end to see how the mystery would unfold. It was easy to visualize the small logging town that he grew up in and his travels to the bigger cities. I liked the book, not because of the sports angle, but because of the ghost mystery.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Baldwin, Maryland USA

Quo Vadis Israel? by H. Peter Nennhaus

Peter Nennhaus addresses a controversial subject when he talks about moving Israel to a different, possibly better, place in Europe. It would be a permanent place for Jews to settle, and where they would be able to live in peace. While such a radical move seems unrealistic, when you hear the arguments in its favor you will be forced to consider them and admit they are not as far-fetched as they seemed at the beginning. And if Israel were to move, would we finally have the peace in the Middle East that we have been wanting for so long?

Sorry Mr. Nennhaus, but to me your book was a total and complete YAWN! It was confusing and half the time I didn't know what you were talking about. Granted I am a thirteen-year-old girl, so it is possible if an adult read it they would enjoy it. But if you are under the age of eighteen, this book is sooooo not the book for you. And though I had trouble not sleeping while I read this book, you did have some good points and presented them really well. But seriously. If you are not an adult, stay away. This is NOT the book for you.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Casa Grande, Arizona United States

Henry VIII's Last Victim

Henry Howard was born in 1517 to a noble, wealthy
family. He had a very privileged, yet difficult childhood.
At a young age he inherited the title of the Earl of
Surrey and soon became accustomed to the life of someone
of his stature. When he joined the King's court, he
developed a good reputation with his peers and was dubbed
Knight of the Order of the Garter. However, Surrey was a
very reckless, overconfident individual and through one
mistake after another, slowly lost his favor with the
King. After much plotting of his enemies, Surrey became
Henry VIII's very last victim.
I found this biography by Jessie Childs very hard to
read for someone my age. With all the Old English and
academic language it was, at times, difficult to
understand. However, it was incredibly researched down to
every last detail of Henry Howard's life. The author was
obviously very dedicated and well educated. I would
recommend this biography to young adults and up who really
enjoy history.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg,
Pennsylvania United States
Rating: 8

Posh by Lucy Jackson

"Posh" centers around a high school girl named Julianne and her circle of friends, and their families. Julianne falls in love with Michael, who has his own struggles with his family and with bipolar disorder. The teens all attend an elite Manhattan private school where money equals status. The students need to decide what or who really matters to them. They all are figuring out how much they will take in the name of love.

This book has a lot of character development. You really feel like you are experiencing the characters joys and hardships and like you could be one of the gang. You get to know them like friends. "Posh" teaches the reader about bipolar disorder, and also how hard it would be to love someone who has it. This book has a fair share of sex, infidelity and violence and might be better suited for older teens.
Content:
Sexual Content, Drugs, Violence, Adultery, and Language

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Renton, Washington US

You Know Where to Find Me

Miles always felt second best to her cousin, Laura.
Laura's the skinny, pretty one, the popular girl with a
doting father and more wealth than she can ask for, while
Miles is the failure, overweight and underachieving. The
two may not be as close as they were in their childhood,
but Miles thought that she knew Laura, at least well enough
to predict and prevent her cousin's suicide. Now, with her
best friend gone, Miles is left alone, stranded on earth to
deal with the consequences of Laura's death. As her life
spirals out of control, Miles has to come to terms with the
fact that she isn't the only one who lost Laura, and that
life will go on regardless of who has left it.

Rachel Cohn strikes again with the beautiful prose and
risque topics that her readers know so well. Miles is the
perfect protagonist for this story, because she is well
aware of her problems. Thus, sympathizing with her is
incredibly easy. The entire novel is a masterpiece, a
perfect mix of different writing styles that keep the
reader intrigued and in awe. Cohn deals with an array of
difficult topics, but does so powerfully and clearly shows
the consequences of every action without being morally
superior. None of the characters are perfect, but they
aren't cliches, either. They're entirely believable and
wonderfully flawed. Overall, "You Know Where To Find Me" is
an incredibly moving book, worth devouring from beginning
to end.

This book contains mature topics such as
suicide, prescription drug abuse, and depression, as well
as mild sexual content.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer
State and Country: Maryland United States

The Silver Donkey

The Silver Donkey is a young adult fiction book written by Sonya Hartnett, and it takes place during World War I. The story starts one day when two sisters, Marcelle and Coco, find a runaway solider in the woods. The solider, Lieutenant Shepard, is blind and is trying to get back home to his dying brother. Marcelle, the oldest sister, realizes they can't get the solider home without help, so they tell their older brother, Pascal. Pascal creates a plan to help get the solider home. In return, the solider tells the children four stories about his good luck charm, a silver donkey.

The Silver Donkey is a great book. It is interesting and enjoyable. This book has a lot of strengths, but there is one that stands out the most. That strength is the fact that the author's writing draws the reader farther into the book, making it impossible to put down. The ending was okay, but I thought it left a lot of questions unanswered. The author could have put more detail into the ending of the story. Overall, The Silver Donkey is the best children's book I have read in a long time, and I recommend this book to anyone who loves to read.

Rating:9
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Sandy, Oregon United States

The Dragons of Babel

The Dragons of Babel is about Will, a young boy with responsibilities thrust upon him. Adopted by his Aunt as a young child, Will never knew his true identity. He was disowned by his village for events beyond his control, and thrown out into a world in which war is raging. Along the way, he encounters Esme, a girl with knowledge beyond her years, and Nat, a trickster who knows more about Will than Will does himself. Taken to Babel as a refugee from the war, Will will discover more and more about himself, fighting imaginary wars and dealing with bureaucrats, while the city's people await a new king to fill the throne. Will deals with staying alive and free, but all the while events are being put into motion behind his back. Falling in love with bureaucrats and making enemies with others, will Will be able to save himself from his fate? Will he find his true identity, and if he does, will he accept it? Read The Dragons of Babel to find out.

The Dragons of Babel is a fascinating story of adventure and romance. With dynamic characters and unique (if not strange) beings, it is a great read cover to cover. From the hardened soldiers down to sweet Esme, and from the trickster Nat to the bureaucrats of Babel, each character is unique. I would recommend this book to any fan of fantasy or adventure stories. The Dragons of Babel receives a nine out of ten from me.

Some sexual references, language

Rating: 9

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, PA USA

PBS.org Pride and Prejudice - Seth's Comments

Hi Seth and Gary,

Just wanted to let you know that your wonderful post is live on Remotely Connected. We’ll be promoting on the homepage of pbs.org on Sunday evening and Monday.

Thanks so much for being a part of the project.
Best wishes,

Jeannine

Seth's Post on PBS.org

Geek Magnet by Kieran Scott

Everyone loves KJ Miller. Especially the geeks. See, KJ is super nice, smart, pretty, the stage manager of her high school's Grease...and a total geek magnet. She's like the geek pied piper of Washington High, drawing every socially clueless guy in a five-mile radius. If only Cameron Richardson, star of the basketball team and hottest guy in school, would follow her around and worship her the way her entourage of dorks do. Enter Tama Gold, queen of the popular crowd, star of Grease, and solution to all of KJ's problems. She insists that KJ is too nice, and the nice girl never gets the guy. Tama's ready to help KJ get cruel, ditch the dorks, and win Cameron's heart. But is KJ?

Geek Magnet was a hilarious page-turner about love and friendship. I really enjoyed reading this book because the characters and the plot were very unqiue and interesting. From page one, I was immediately drawn into the book and felt as if I were actually there, especially because the characters seemed really realistic and easy to relate to. The only thing I didn't like about this book was that it seemed very predictable. Overall, I loved reading Geek Magnet and would definitely recommend it.

This book contained some profanity, sexual comments, and teenage drinking.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Leopold, MO USA

Savvy

Thirteenth birthdays in the Beaumont household are very exciting and Mibs is having hers very soon. Her family gets more than presents for birthdays. They get a special savvy, and that means that they get a special power. One of her brothers can cause hurricanes, another creates electricity, and Mibs knows hers will be exciting, too. However, the day before her birthday, her father is in a bad accident and goes to the hospital. The preacher's wife comes over with her children to watch the Beaumonts while their mother is in the hospital with their dad. Mibs doesn't wish for just any savvy. She wants a savvy that will save her Poppa and Mibs is certain that that will happen. She decides to secretly climb aboard a bus, with her siblings and the preacher's kids, to go to the hospital. However, the bus starts heading in the wrong direction. No one on it will ever be the same! What is Mibs' savvy? What will happen to the characters involved on the bus? You've got to read this book!

Savvy was a really interesting book to read. I loved how creative and original it was with the savvies. The vocabulary is just right for the ages of 10-15 because it is not too hard, but it does use some bigger words. My favorite thing about the entire book was the imagery. It was amazing that every paragraph would paint a picture inside my head! There was a great amount of detail in describing the setting and the characters' moods. Unlike some other books with 'magical powers', this one uses magic in a new and neat way. This book is probably best for younger teenagers in grades 5-8 because the writing seems to be designed for that age group. I do recommend it for tweens and early teens if they like reading something fresh and unique.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States of America

Mystery at Shildii Rock by Robert Feagan

When Robin Harris, a twelve year old boy, claims to have seen someone on the top of Shildii Rock, no one believes him. Not even his father will listen to him. Robin is determined to prove that someone is up there. He convinces his friends to help him discover who it is and what they want. This person is not friendly though. The person threatens their lives. The friends run into bigger problems then they had expected. Once they reach the top there is no turning back. Will the children live to prove that someone is up there or will the unknown stranger kill them first?

Mystery at Shildii Rock by Robert Feagan is an excellent mystery for a young reader. I think more advanced readers may find this story slightly predictable. Overall, it was an exciting story that was full of suspense. It keeps you guessing from beginning to end. I think that younger readers will really enjoy this book.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Lemoore, California US

How Not to be Popular by Jennifer Ziegler

Young Sugar had been a rolling stone all of her life, and never was stationary for more than a few months. She's always loved this way of life because the excitement of meeting new people was such an adventure. This time, it's not the same. Her free-bird parents uproot her life and move it from her beautiful home on the California coast, all the way to Austin, Texas. She leaves behind the only boy she has ever loved, Trevor and her beautiful set of A-list friends. Home sick and out of place, Sugar-Mags devises a plan to be an outcast. She doesn't want to have a reason to cry when she leaves her school this time so an anti-social life seems the way to go. When she finally arrives at school, she finds that her plan doesn't work so well against hot jocks or A-list gossip girls. Her plan gets harder and harder to maintain, and although her wacky outfits and carrying around shrubberies have worked mildly before, she's running out of ways to keep herself from caving in.

This book was well-written, and although Sugar-Mags's life was very different from mine, Ziegler made sure not to alienate her audience, and I must applaud her for that. I, more often than not, found myself laughing out loud and enjoyed this book VERY much. I loved the character Penny because she was so innocent and had her own little quirks that made you sick and love her at the same time. I can tell that the thought on each of these characters was in-depth and Ziegler did a fantastic job relating the characters and events to everyday teenage life. I love this book!

Brief language and/or mention of adult subjects or nudity.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: , PA USA

Sachiko by Shizue Tomoda

Sachiko always dreamed of going to America. Enthralled by the sophistication and boundless opportunities offered by the western world, she devoted herself to making the dream come true. The challenge is more than she bargained for, though. Her parents do not support her ambitious aspiration, and refuse to let her go. In this story, the reader follows a young Japanese girl as she struggles to find herself and make her hopes realities.

I did not love this book. I was always waiting for the actual plot to start; I felt like I was reading a summary, not a story. There was very little dialogue to break up long, non-descriptive paragraphs. There was no emotion conveyed until the very end. Even Sachiko, the main character, was not developed very well. By the end of the book, I felt like I barely knew her. The author states the obvious too often, and she hints at future events in an all-too inconspicuous manner. I have to admit that the ending caught me off guard. I almost wish that there had been more. Overall, the book wasn't terrible; it simply needs more sensory details and some minor editing.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Tipp City, Ohio USA

A Rumor of Dragons by Michael A. Heald

A dragon that swims instead of flying. A prince with no hands. A wizard with a sword. A girl with a strange ability to talk to animals, or "senses" their feelings. They all work together to try to foil the evil plans of a great dark dragon, using their abilities to help themselves and each other. An adventure, a romance, a mystery... a classic page turner that even adds on as a cliff hanger, as it is a series

I loved how Micheal A. Heald kept the book going. It was very hard to put down, but its volume of pages often forced me to. His introduction is wonderful, a party for the youngest prince coming of age. That immediately told me the prince was not a normal one. The protagonist's nature is to go looking for trouble, so it was easy to slide from a castle to a slime-dripping cave. Heald's descriptions of the land and the characters were wonderful, only revealing certain things about the characters' appearances when the information was related to something in the plot. His writing style shows an adventure with plenty of description, which I was pleased to find. I cannot wait for the next book in his series!

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Eagle Creek, OR USA

The Year of the Rat by Grace Lin

The Year of the Rat signifies change. And Grace has plenty
of changes in her life, including her best friend Melody
moving across the country. Plus, she's beginning to
question her dream of becoming a writer and illustrator.
What if she should be something else? But what other
talents does she have?

This book is a sequel to The Year
of the Dog, but it can be read independently. One of my
favorite things about both books is all the tidbits of
Chinese Culture I learned about. It boasts a very
believable voice of a young girl as its narrator. The
writing is sparse, yet flowing. It's a sweet, comfortable
little tale that I enjoyed a lot.

Reviewer Age:17

Reviewer City, State and Country: Moscow, ID USA

The Bone Race

This book is historical fiction. Some of the characters
and events are loosely based on real people and events
that occurred in the 1800's and 1900's. This book is
about the contest of an eccentric millionaire named J.
Andrew Nagle. He is hosting a race for the first
contestant to bring back a complete dinosaur skeleton to
his new museum. The story takes place across the United
States as the contestants attempt to quickly retrieve
dinosaur bones. The contestants develop complex
relationships based on love, rivalry, and greed. In sum,
the book is an adventure novel with a focus on dinosaur
bones.

I enjoyed this book. It is not a very long read,
and the book idea is unique. The novel is exciting, and
the characters are fairly satisfying. However, the plot
seems underdeveloped at times. The story jumps between
settings in order to tell each character's story, so the
action feels rushed. I also wished the interesting
setting and corrupt government were described in more
detail. Despite these shortcomings, the book was still
pleasant. This book would probably be a good, fairly
quick read for anybody, especially if they have an
interest in dinosaurs or history.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Royersford, PA
USA

Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty

Geena Sloane starts her summer off with the perfect plan: working at Triple Shot Betty's by day and giggling and painting toenails by night at sleepovers with her best friend, Amber, and her cousin, Hero. Amber and Hero are finally going to meet and Geena knows they will hit it off. There's just one problem, once they do meet, Geena realizes that she was very wrong. Hero and Amber hate each other and Geena is caught in the middle, needing to be loyal to both, but not knowing how. Geena works hard trying to make them like each other, but it just isn't working.

Then there are the cute boys of the summer - PJ Jamieson, the unstoppable flirt who is way to loyal to his girlfriend to ever cheat on her, John "the Man" Jamieson, his older valedictorian brother who wants Hero, Claudio, the Italian intern with whom Hero is obsessed, and Ben Bataglia, Geena's archenemy and the one who has caused her to be called a "guy-basher." The summer progresses roughly, but by the end, it all works out for the girls, and Geena Sloane gets her perfect summer after all.

Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty by Jody Gerhman was an excellent book about friendship, trust, and love. It is the perfect book for a teenage girl. I couldn't put it down and read it all in one day. The fact that the novel was written in the form of a journal made it even more interesting. The characters are all very easy to relate to and there is a character that could fit any person who reads it. It felt as if I was the main character writing in the journal myself. As Geena Sloane might put it, this was truly a "fabu" book.

Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty contains material including sexual references and teen drinking and partying.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: East Islip, New York United States of America

The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World by E.L. Konigsburg

The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World by E.L. Konigsburg is about Amedeo Kaplan. He had moved from New York City to Malo, Florida with his mother. His parents are divorced and his father is an artist, so Amedeo knows a great deal about art and its history. Amedeo meets William Wilcox and his mother, who are the liquidators for Amedeo's neighbor, Mrs. Zender. Mrs. Zender is a colorful character. She is the last heir of the Tull family. The Tulls owned hundreds of acres of timberland in northern Florida and southern Georgia. Mrs. Zender's mother was an Italian and highly controlling of her daughter. She organized most of Mrs. Zender's life. Mrs. Zender was a minor opera star in Europe and local celebrity in the 1940s and 1950s. She knew Alexander Calder, Simone de Beauvoir, James Jones, Karl Eisenhuth, and Harper Lee. She is vain, smart, funny, demanding, and generous. She believes in the old class structure. She dresses up in costumes every day and she is used to having servants. She informs Amedeo that a person must remain ninety percent secret to even their friends. William Wilcox is aloof, quiet, smart, and nice. Amedeo tells William that he would love to discover something that has been lost for a long time. While cleaning the library, Amedeo discovers a drawing of a nude called The Moon Lady by a dead Jewish Italian artist named Modigliani. Mrs. Zender informs Amedeo that it was a wedding present from her Austrian husband. She keeps the drawing hidden and shows no interest in keeping it. He takes the drawing to his house and researches it. Amedeo's godfather, Peter Vanderwaal, is the Director of the Sheboygan Art Center. The art center is hosting an exhibition of art banned by the Nazis. Adolf Hitler wanted to be an artist but was not admitted into art school because his art was not modern enough. Hitler developed a strong dislike of modern art. When Hitler became the leader of Germany, he banned Modern and African Art. He banned art by Jewish, homosexual, and insane artists. Hitler banned Henri Matisse, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, Marc Chagall, and Georges Braque. At the opening of the exhibit that Amedeo is attending, Peter's mother shows them Peter's father's autobiography. Peter's father, John Vanderwaal, grew up in Amsterdam, Holland and was raised by his older homosexual brother and his partner at their art store. One day, a Nazi officer arrived at John's brother's art shop; the next day John's brother was sent to a work labor camp. In a photo that Mrs. Vanderwaal shows them, Amedeo sees the The Moon Lady. What is Mrs. Zender's connection to John Vanderwaal's story?

I give The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World a nine. E.L. Konigsburg has the talent to make unexciting events fascinating. This is a rare skill. If a reader has enjoyed E.L. Konigsberg's other books, then the reader will truly enjoy this book. Konigsburg has a very similar writing style in this book to her other works. When I was in the eighth grade at school, I wrote a report on Konigsburg. Since then, I have felt that she is one of the best young adult realist novelists alive today. I found this book particularly interesting because I had just visited the Museum of Modern Art in New York City and I saw art by Vincent van Gogh, Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, and Henri Matisse, who are all named in this novel.

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country: Urbana, Illinois United States of America

Perilous Passage

OK... heres a basic summary of A Perilous Passage, by B. J.
Bayle.
This book is set in the New World between the years of
1810-1811. The main character ia a boy named Peter. He
suffers from a case of amnesia, and as a result, no one
knows him. He meets a man named Boulard. Boulard is an
explorer who works for David Thomson. Boulard takes him on a
journey to meet his boss, David Thompson, and Peter quickly
gets involved with an expedition to find the Columbia
River, headed by David Thompson himself. He meets many
different Native American tribes and animals as he travels
across the continent of America.

This book is a wonderful example of a good adventure
book. I felt immersed in the setting, and felt like I was
with the characters as they adventured throughout America.
The main character is Peter, an understanding boy of 15, who
has lost him memory to amneseia. I found this a good weekend
read. I would recommend this book to history buffs, and
people who enjoy adventure stories.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7

Reviewer Age:12

Reviewer City, State and Country: , Texas United States

Slippery Slopes

Slippery Slopes is about a group of friends who are
working at the Les Trois, the fabulous ski resort in Europe,
where the rich and famous people come to ski and socialize.
The main characters, Melissa and Dove, are covering for
another friend, Harley, who is on vacation in the Tropics.
Melissa is working as the host, greeting and meeting all the
famous people that come and stay at the resort. Dove, on
the other hand, is working in the kitchen as a chef,
preparing all the food at the resort. The biggest party of
the year is coming up soon and Melissa is in charge of
overseeing all the planning and events for the ball. Dove
is in charge with planning a spectacular menu that will live
up the other parties in the past. With all the pressure of
planning and throwing an equally spectacular ball, as in the
past, the girls must somehow find time for their own social
life. While working at the resort they meet plenty of
people and have many invitations to a lot of the parties,
dances and skiing events. To complicate the planning,
Melissa has a lot of the ski bums after her, and Dove is
trying hard to stay loyal to her boyfriend back home.

I thought the book was so-so. It was hard to stay
focused, it skipped around a lot. The author, Emily
Franklin, did describe the characters fairly well as she
made you feel like you were at the resort with the
characters in the story. I felt that the characters
sometimes over reacted in some situations that they had to
deal with in the story. Overall, the book pretty much held
my interest. I would recommend this book to others because
it did have a good story line.

This book has relational scenes and profane language.
The underwriter of this book was Liz Bloom.
Rating (1-10) 7

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Minooka, Il United States

Operation Red Jericho

Doug and Becca MacKenzie, two teenage orphans, are forced to
live with their uncle after their parents mysteriously
disappear. Their uncle, Fitzroy MacKenzie, is the sea
captain of a research ship named Expedient. Doug and Becca
over hear Fitzroy talk to an unusual passenger, and decide
to do some snooping about. As they learn, Expedient is not a
research ship at all. It is a World War II Q ship. As a Q
ship, the Expedient is disguised as a defenseless cargo
ship, but once an enemy ship comes within firing range,
cleverly hidden guns rise above the deck and open fire. Doug
and Becca are caught, but Fitzroy offers no explanation for
the guns. Soon after, he effectively removes Doug and Becca
from his ship. Doug and Becca, back on dry land, are
determined to find out if their parents are still alive.
They follow a mystifying set of clues that leads them on an
extraordinary journey.

Operation Red Jericho is an extremely well written book
with teenagers as the main character. Joshua Mowll, the
author, puts you in the character's head with incredible
detail. You can see the gears in Doug's head as he ponders
every new challenge. It is always comical when Doug or Becca
outfox the captain and other characters.
Rating (1-10) 8

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Hamilton, OH USA