Writing On The Wall by Christopher Cleary

The main characters in Christopher Cleary's novel, Writing on the Wall, are Donnie, a quiet, lonely boy who is still recovering from a family tragedy, and Megan, the pretty new girl, who has reinvented herself by means of a drastic physical makeover. Though they become friends, they keep vital secrets from each other. Their home lives are hectic and neither feels accepted by their families, so they rent a storage unit which becomes a refuge where they hang out. Gradually, the storage unit becomes the home for which both of them have been longing. As Megan's trust of Donnie grows, she reveals her own past as an unattractive girl, and their relationship progresses from being friends to being lovers. However when she accidentally discovers Donnie's secret and confronts him about it, it causes a crisis. Thanks to the strength of their bond, Donnie finally begins to open up to Megan after closing himself off from everyone for so long.

Throughout this novel both protagonists grow and develop, resulting in a wonderfully written realistic fiction novel. It is a great book, gripping until the very last page. It makes the reader very emotional, I cried at parts. The style of the writing makes it a very easy and enjoyable read. Overall I loved this book and would recommend it to middle schoolers and above.

There is mention of suicide and and some sex, so this book may be vetoed by parents until their children are old enough to handle these issues.

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country: Hingham, MA USA

Thrown A Curve by Sara Griffiths

She's got only one friend and a father who seems to hate her. Fourteen-year-old Taylor Dresden's life is neither normal nor easy. She is an average student, but her ball playing is anything but average. After giving up baseball for nearly six years, Taylor is forced to begin playing again or get turned over to the police for an act of vandalism committed on her school. No one seems to cheer for her at home or on the field, not even her baseball playing brothers. However, her self-confidence grows throughout the book as she begins to open up and solve the many complicated problems in her chaotic life, such as an ongoing relationship with her best friend and the real reason her mother left. Taylor struggles to fit in somewhere and attempt to let her true self shine through. This is a good solid book that any adolescent can easily relate to.

This book was a pretty average book about a struggling adolescent. Told in the first person narrative, I could really connect with the 14-year-old and empathize with her situation. The author's language was simple and to the point, although I would have liked a little more detail in some scenes. Most of the story was sad but it had some good moments and concluded well at the end. I don't think this book is quite good enough to recommend to someone but it was a mediocre book that all adolescents could relate to.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Richmond, Virginia USA

Rating: 7

Content Rating: 1

Hot Mess by Julie Kraust & Shallon Lester

Emma Freeman is 18 and spending her summer with her best friend in New York City. All Emma wants is to be independent and to meet the perfect guy. She goes to New York to spend the summer doing an internship for an amazing company, but she finds out that the company isn't as cool as she thought it would be and her boss is definitly below loser status. So Emma tells herself that she just has to endure the horrible job even if she isn't getting paid for the whole summer. This book is a girly book, but it holds its own in entertainment.

I enjoyed this book. It was a typical girly book with a predictable plot, and while reading it, I knew what was going to happen to Emma. There are better books in the girl category, but Hot Mess has good characters and, for a teenage girl, Emma comes off as being smart and having morals. I would only recommend this book to teenage girls, because, as explained before, it's a chick book.

Reviewer Age:19

Reviewer City, State and Country: Ward, Oregon USA

Neptune's Children by Bonnie Dobkin

When the world falls victim to a deadly virus what happens? In Bonnie Dobkin's novel Neptune's Children, when this virus strikes an amusement park only the children survive. Feeling lost and hopeless the children struggle with the loss of their parents, and wander aimlessly on the islands that make up the park, until one boy takes charge. The children accept the islands as their home, and appoint leaders to keep them organized. What happens to the outside world remains a mystery until Zoe, one of the survivors, spots a glow in the distance. As secrets are revealed, a war rages, and few will believe the truth.

Neptune's Children is a fast paced book, full of mysteries waiting to be discovered. The main characters Josh, Zoe, and Milo, all have a strong voice and a well developed personality. No two characters are alike, and all of them change over time. Josh and Zoe, the two main characters, are easy to relate to and understand. As Zoe becomes more suspicious, the reader does too, and when Josh feels betrayed by those he trusts, the reader can easily sympathize. The author's vocabulary and writing style works well for the intended age group, and manages to create appropriate moods throughout the book. The conclusion ties up most of the ends neatly, but leaves some questions for the reader to ponder. Neptune's Children is a great book for anyone who likes sci-fi and mystery books. I enjoyed reading this book very much, and will look forward to this author's future works.

Mild language, and mild violence, as well as some suggestive themes.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Colleyville, Texas United States

The Copper Indian by J.P. Morgan, D.Min.

Jim Utze grew up in New York listening to the radio show: The Lone Ranger, and to stories about his Native American ancestors. Always wanting to be just like his hero The Lone Ranger, Jim started a career in law enforcement. He started working for the NYPD in the 1950's. In this book you will learn what it's like living in the footsteps of Jim Utze. You will learn about his crazy arrests, and his life on and off the job. I recommend this book for anyone who loves mystery and crimes.

I thought The Copper Indian was an interesting book. It is not like any book I have read lately. It made me feel as if I were actually there in Manhattan, New York (where the book takes place). The Copper Indian had many strengths, but one that stood out the most was the sentence fluency. The sentences flew in an organized rhythm, making the book a page-turner. The only downside to this novel was I found myself day dreaming and wondering if the next page would be better. Most of the time the book got better and more exciting as it went on and it was hard to put down because I wanted to know what happens next. This book is one of the best books I have read lately. I highly recommend this book to everyone. I guarantee you will enjoy it.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Sandy, Oregon United States

Circle the Truth by Pat Schmatz

Circle the Truth is the story of Rith, a somewhat unique young boy, and his supernatural staircase. On certain occasions, Rith's staircase changes and leads him into a completely different living room than that of his typical home. In this new living room, he meets Bible Man, an old man who only speaks by quoting the Bible. The excerpts from scripture that Rith, actually named Orithian, hears parallel the triumphs and setbacks in his life, and they also help him find the truth about his biological father and Rith's unique name. This divine intervention also brings Rith closer to his faith. Whether Rith accepts it or not, Bible Man brings him face to face with what his religion is really all about.

I really connected with the theme of truth. In today's media it is extremely difficult to find where the truth lies. And I really liked in the end how the author takes the two worlds we are presented with and combines them. It reflects the idea that truth is almost something that we have to determine on an individual basis. That is, we must decide what is true and false. While this novel presents some strong universal questions about the role of religion in our society today, it may not make up for an average plot. The dialogue between characters seemed a bit off in the sense that the word choice didn't seem to fit the characters' personalities. I also had a feeling of emptiness as the story didn't seem to come together in the end; a feeling that it was incomplete. Nevertheless, Circle the Truth is a solid tale that provides substantial value to those in search of food for thought.

Reviewer Age:18

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

This Life, This Death by Michael P. Graham

This novel is set in the fictional South American country of Asturia. David Bridgeman is a former United States fighter pilot ace from World War II. He lives a peaceful life with his girlfriend and her daughter until his friend at the mail company he flies for gets shot down. This incident is the first evidence of the threat that is to arise, an overthrow of Asturia's new democracy by one of the former brutal rulers. David Bridgeman is chosen to train new fighter pilots in preparation for the attack and lead them when the time comes. However, he is distrusted for being from the United States. He must gain the other pilots' trust before he can teach them. The story focuses on the aspects of flying a fighter plane and the tactics involved.

I did not care for the book. It was too focused on the fighting scenes and different planes, at the expense of character development and relationships. The fight scenes were long, drawn out, and confusing to follow. Also, the story often jumped between different characters' viewpoints. This made it hard to really get to know and like any character. I personally had trouble keeping the different characters, sides of the war, and airplanes straight due to the confusing manner in which the chapters jumped from one area and perspective to another. It was a dull read because of the confusion, and I would only recommend it to someone interested in fighter planes and aerial warfare.

The story contained sex, violence, and death.

Reviewer Age:14

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

Blood Bank by Tanya Huff

Tanya Huff weaves an interesting world full of action, mystery, and a slight bit of adventure. Meet Vicki Nelson, Mike Celluci, and Henry Fitzroy. Vicki is a recently-turned vampire cop who has a streak of bad luck a mile long. Mike belongs to the same police force as Vicki. Henry is the illegitimate son of Henry the 8th and a writer of romances. Together, these three are a crime-fighting, evil-doer-catching unstoppable team. Follow the three as they solve crimes and eventually catch murderers.
Along with nine spine-numbing stories, Tanya also includes the screenplay of her television show based off of her novels. Near the end of the novel, Ms. Huff also includes a short passage about her writing of the screenplay and her feelings and thoughts during the writing process.

As this book is the sixth in a series, the characters and language during the beginning of the novel is slightly confusing. I like how Tanya includes a story from each of the three characters; it's refreshing to read about more than one person. The action scenes are a little short, but the level of mystery and the agonizing thought of danger make up for its loss. Her characters act and say things that make them come to life. Some parts in the book were a little slow, especially the beginning, but the book eventually picks up.

This book contains slight romance and action scenes that contain blood and gore.

Rating:6

Reviewer Age:15

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

The Best Dance Moves in the World... Ever! by Matt Pagett

The Best Dance Moves in the World... Ever, by Matt Pagett, is a pretty funny book. You learn 100 new and classic moves and how to bust them. The step by step instructions teach you everything from "Saturday Night Fever" to the "Bay Watch." With illustrations on every page, inspiration, and advice on music and props; you too can get down tonight!
Are you tired of people staring and getting embarrassed because of you dancing? Are you the type of guy who tries to bust a move, but instead busts a hip? Then this book is for you!

When I read this book I was shocked! I never knew that there was a dance called the Q-Tip, or the lawn mower! I was laughing and having a great time reading. Within a couple of days I was dancing like Elvis Presley and Napoleon Dynamite! I brought this book with me to a school dance and I was able to do the worm, the belly-roll and the ass-shaker! I think anyone from age 9 to 99 would have a great time dancing with their friends.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Renton, WA USA

Rating: 9

Content Rating: 1

Miranda is a math genius at Geek High who is so smart that she is known as the human calculator. In the first book in the series, Geek High, she finally has found her first almost-quasi-boyfriend, a guy named Dex who is an all-star lacrosse star at Orange Cove High. The second book, Geek Abroad, begins with the start of holiday break. Miranda visits her mother in London, hoping that Dex will try to stay in touch. When a few days go by and still no word from Dex, Miranda begins to wonder if Dex lost interest in her. While in London, Miranda meets Henry, the British guy who makes it clear that he is interested in her. As Miranda spends more time with Henry, and still receives no word from Dex, she begins to wonder if she should move on. When holiday break ends and Miranda returns back home, life gets even more complicated when faced with the awkward silences between her and Dex. Miranda has to decide what should she do with her love life.

After reading the first book, Geek High, I was hooked. When I learned that a sequel was in the making I couldn't wait for its release. Now that I have read the sequel, Geek Abroad, I realized that it lived up to my expectations. When Geek Abroad showed up in my mailbox, I read the whole book front to back in less than 24 hours. While Geek Abroad answered all of the questions that I had about Miranda and Dex's relationship after reading the first book, it still left me wondering what would happen next in their relationship. Though I read Geek High first, I feel that you don't need to read it to understand Geek Abroad.

Reviewer Age:12

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

The Great Race by Gary Blackwood

The Great Race is a distinct book about a miraculous journey, in 1908, from New York City to Paris by automobile. Not only is this a miraculous feat by itself, but also the automobile was very unreliable, as well as very mysterious to the general public. This would be a test of courage and mettle, one that isn't for the uncourageous. The media and the public just loved this event, and as the racers started off, the streets of New York City packed. Many police escorts were needed in order to keep the onlookers away, as even the passengers and drivers were harassed. These would be long months for the entrants, and only one team will emerge victorious.

Overall, I enjoyed The Great Race, despite its few flaws. First off, the author made the setting a mellow part of the book. I felt as if the author flat out "told" me the setting instead of showing it to me in a colorful way. Despite this however, I think the author succeeded in conveying the thought that weather was the single most important obstruction in the way of the drivers. The book gave a feeling that almost everything was going wrong for some drivers. The author succeeded in displaying the main characters with their own personalities. I think the characteristics possessed by the main characters of the novel seemed very real and human-like. The narrator's voice was more matter-of-fact, making the book both interesting and dull in different ways. The book had a fairly slow start, but picked up fairly fast as the story progressed.

The author effectively informed me of this historical event in an interesting, as well as innovative, way. The vocabulary was easily understood, not cryptic. A vital strength of the book was that when all was going well, disaster struck. This sparked my interest and kept me reading the book. However, before the race started, there seemed to be a monotonous drag. Regardless, this was a good book. It had a simple, but interesting, plot that carried through the entire book. This book taught me in depth about this intriguing race. I would definitely recommend this book to people who would like to know about historical events, in addition to people who like mild adventure.

Reviewer Age:11

Reviewer City, State and Country: Baltimore, Maryland USA

How To Build A House by Dana Reinhardt

Harper's life is wonderful. She has two stepsisters and a half brother, all of whom she loves, and her family is happy and whole. And then her father and stepmother decide to get a divorce, and, seeking to escape her life briefly, Harper joins a community service program to rebuild the house of a family in Tennessee who lost it to a tornado. Following this, the story switches between Harper's experiences in Tennessee and what happened at her home before she left. In Tennessee, she learns how anything must be built; it involves a precise order of events and a determined patience. Corresponding to each step in building the house is a segment that refers back to her home. The reader learns about Harper's tortured love life and the events leading up to her departure as Harper learns how to build a house.

How to Build a House uses a simple and elegant metaphor to portray a young woman's discovery of the mistakes that she made in her life, why she made them, and what she should have done. The beautifully written book has a voice that is truthful and pure. Readers will shake their heads at Harper's mistakes, rejoice in her accomplishments, and wait anxiously for each twist and turn of the book. This book depicts the tender side of a family suffering a divorce and how distorted a girl's view of the world can become due to past events. Harper's narrative style is refreshing and unique, and the author (Dana Reinhardt) shows her deep understanding of a teenage girl's mind. Girls will enjoy the story line and the accurate depiction of teenage life. Though there is no inappropriate content, some references may be inadvisable for readers under age 11 or 12. Overall, this book was wonderful and did not follow a predictable pattern for its genre, creating a new and pleasant experience for any reader.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Melrose, MA United States

Traitor by Gudrun Pausewang

Traitor by Gudrun Pausewang is a fantastic book about a young girl named Anna who betrays her country, Germany, by hiding a Russian soldier during World War II. The book is about the trouble she goes through to keep the soldier safe. Her younger brother, Felix, is her worst nightmare because he is a Nazi fanatic and would have no second thoughts on turning her in. The book is very tense and never lets go of the reader's attention. It is definitely a worthwhile read for anyone who takes the time.

In my opinion Traitor is an extremely well written book, that does a fantastic job of entertaining and holding onto the reader's attention. The writing was very effective in portraying the tension of the situation Anna is in. The author did a good job in making the reader feel as if they are in the book too. Overall, I thought the book was very interesting. The ending was surprising and sad but I thought it fit the book very well. I would definitely recommend this book to others because although it's depressing, it's a very good book.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Champaign, Illinois USA

There's a Spaceship in My Tree by Robert West

This book is about Beamer, who moves from California to middle-America and feels like an alien. His new house does not do anything to help him feel at home, because it is completely filled with odd, voice-activated contraptions. He meets up with two other strange kids named Scilla and Ghoulie, who become his new best friends. One day they are being chased by the school bully, Jared, when the three of them decide to hide in Beamers weird, rocket ship shaped, tree house. That’s when things begin to get really interesting. When Jared attempts to follow them he runs out screaming, and the tree house rockets them out on a Star Trek-like adventure.

Even though this book was a bit far fetched, it was quite good. The characters were so believable that I wanted to call up Scilla and talk to her. Another strength of this book was that its descriptions were so vivid that I could see the action happening next to me. This book is a quick read with a fast moving plot that I would recommend to people between 8 and 10. It would be a good book to read in the car when going someplace you don’t particularly want to go because it really draws you in and makes you forget what you are doing. The author made a large amount of references from Star Trek, so be up to date on trekkie trivia.

Reviewer Age:11

Reviewer City, State and Country: Exeter, New Hampshire USA

The Fan's Guide to The Spiderwick Chronicles by Lois H. Gresh

The Fan's Guide to the Spiderwick Chronicles by Lois H. Gresh is a guide to the popular fantasy series by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi. The first chapters of the book summarize all of the Spiderwick Chronicle novels. The book also gives a useful explanation of all the characters and creatures found in the novels. Gresh shares her opinion on the books and situations that happen in them. She goes into a brief, but detailed description of the three main characters: Jared, Simon, and Mallory Grace. Since the Spiderwick novels are about fairies, Gresh also shares some other fairy legends, which she ties into her explanations. For instance, she mentions a lot of Irish myths that were not even remotely mentioned in the Spiderwick novels, and I thought that these legends were interesting and provided a deeper layer of context. A particular feature that I enjoyed in the book was the "fast fact" questions at the end of each chapter. Each question deals with something in the chapter, and it was cool to read the questions (even though the answers are quite simple).

I enjoyed reading The Fan's Guide to the Spiderwick Chronicles by Lois H. Gresh, although at times it could be a bit dry. However, I think that fans of the Spiderwick Chronicles will enjoy this book very much. As I mentioned earlier, I enjoyed the "fast fact" questions especially, as well as the various mythical legends presented within the book. I think that readers who really enjoy the Spiderwick universe and want to immerse themselves more deeply in it will really like this book. Also, readers who are fans of fairy lore oth inside and outside of the Spiderwick novelsw ill find this book an interesting read.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Saugerties, New York USA

Flying Boats and Spies by Jamie Dodson

Nick Grant is a 16 year old boy struggling to keep his family out of debt during the time of the Great Depression. When Anne Lindberg offers him a months wages just to deliver a map case to Bill Grooch, he finds himself accepted as a Pan American employee! But he must keep his identity a secret - no one under 18 can be an employee! And then there is always the problem of a Japanese Ninja on his tail wanting to kill him!

I loved this book because I have a very high reading level. Some parts were a little too hard for me though, because it had a lot of boat terms - something I don't understand. But it had a very exiting story line and I will definetly be trying to locate more books by this author!


Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Gearhart, Oregon United States

Season of Ice by Diane Les Becquets

The novel, Season of Ice by Diane Les Becquets, is about the emotional struggles that the main character (Genesis) goes through after her father goes missing. Because her father's body is nowhere to be found Genesis and her family face many financial issues and cope with many other changes that affect them in greater ways. As a way of dealing with this stress Genesis decides to do her own search for her father. During this emotional and lonely season, Genesis manages to find comfort, kindness, and possibly the love of companionship from a complete stranger. Genesis soon finds that she is transforming into a whole new person.

Season of Ice started out a bit rocky. Due to the excessive amount of detail the novel was quite difficult to get into. The tone of the story is very mellow, which added a sense of realism to the story. The first couple of chapters had me a bit antsy and, at first, seemed to drag on; but as the story continued I began to understand Genesis and was able to relate to her situation emotionally. Diane Les Becquets did a great job of capturing the emotions and innocence of each character and the idealistic thoughts of most young adults, making it easier to realize how age and time affected the behavior of each character. She managed to maintain the realism all throughout the story while using a subtle and somewhat original plot. The novel was very well written and organized. The story glided along with the turn of each page, making it hard not to enjoy the book. The ending was perfect and fairly peaceful, I found it to be extremely satisfying. The greatest hidden message I have received from this book is that life is only as appealing as you make it, so don't dwell on the bad times and enjoy the good ones; live each day with a smile and look forward to the next. I would recommend this book to any young adult who wants to read a simple and enjoyable story, someone who doesn't know how to cope with the loss of a parent, or someone dealing with a lot of emotional stress, because I feel this book could be a bit of an eye opener.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Raleigh, North Carolina United States

Rating: 8Content Rating: 1

Catwalk by Deborah Gregory

In the fashion industry, only the most talented models
make it to the big time. The main characters of this book
go to Fashion International, the school where it doesnt
matter where you come from but it's what you wear that
counts. The Catwalk competition is the only way to get
the true prize or a job working with fashion. This novel
shows the rewards while drama weaves its way through to
see who will truly last to come home with the
prize.

Catwalk used language that truly exemplified the
general feeling of attitude that is shown throughout the
chapters. The characters also carried this attitude
through the way they talked and acted. This book used
terms that were a bit confusing at times such as blang
which is bling squared. This book was a bit of a slow
read for me because it didn't catch my attention.
Cattiness set aside, I would recommend this for a younger
age group and to people who are interested in the fashion
world.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and
Country: Richmond, Virginia United States of America

A Horse of Her Own by Annie Wedekind

There is nothing in the world that fourteen year old Jane loves more than horses. Especially Beau, the horse she rides over at the local barn, Sunny Acres. While she loves Beau to death she still wishes that she had a horse to call her own. Even though Beau is not her own, Jane is excited to learn that she will get to ride him at riding camp this summer. Whats even more exciting is that she gets to spend six weeks with her best friend Robin. The down side is she will have to endure that group of rich girls whose favorite thing is to tease her. Just after camp begins though Jane receives devastating news. Beau has been sold. Janes heart breaks as she realizes her trusted companion is gone and so are her chances of participating in the end of summer show. All hope is not lost though. When Janes trainer offers her the chance to help train a new horse Lancelot, who is a little rough around the edges but has great potential. Jane is a little leery, but eventually she realizes that she cant say no. With the help of the new stable boy Ben, Robin, and her trainer Susan, Jane embarks on a journey of hope and self-discovery that will change the way she sees everything.

A Horse of Her Own was a great book. I really enjoyed the compassion embedded in the pages and felt so connected with Jane. While I am not a horse-savvy person I felt that it was very easy to follow the story. I loved how Jane was able to discover herself in such an original tale. The other characters were also well developed. While Jane is definitely the center of the story I liked how the author put the spotlight on some of the other characters too. It gave a refreshing variety to the story and made me enjoy the book that much more. For fans of horse stories this is definitely a book for you, but even those who arent still pick up the book -it is definitely worth your while. It is a beautifully written novel about truly discovering yourself and learning to get back up when youre pushed down.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Currituck, NC U.S.A

How To Be Bad by E. Lockhart

After getting her mothers test results back, Jesse needs
to get away from reality. What better way to forget about
it all then a road trip with her crazy, fun loving best
friend Vicks! It's a perfect plan until of course the new
girl invites herself along. With few belongings, and all
the reasons in the world to leave the real world for a
weekend, these three unlikely girls make their way to
Miami Florida. Together, with the help of Jesses moms
beaten up car, some mangos, and a credit card, these polar
opposite girls find love, friendship, and themselves.

E. Lockhart, Sarah Mlynowski, and Lauren Myracle did an
amazing job together on this book. Since each chapter was
from Mel, Vicks, or Jesse's point of view, you really got
the in-depth perception of the road trip. I loved all the
witty remarks between people, and the love is in the air
feel. I thought this book was funny, realistic, and
sweet. If you're looking for a good book, and a good
laugh, you should defiantly read this book!
Inappropriate language, and sexual content.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Seaside, OR US.

The Book of Names by D. Barkley Briggs

Two brothers, Haydn and Ewan, have to deal with more than
the loss of their mother. One night while they were
sleeping, Ewan had a dream that called him to an arch they
discovered, which turned out to be a portal to a new land
of Karac Tor. His brother followed him into the portal.
They met several people in this new land. Flogg the gnome,
Sorge the warrior monk, Asandra the mirling, and several
other characters become their allies. The boys discover
that this land is slowly falling to the evil sorceress,
Nemesia, and that they were Called to stop her. Working
bravely for the defeat of Nemesia, they face revenge,
kidnapping, deceit, and mysteries that aren't so easy to
solve.

As I started to read The Book of Names I was
overcome with how unique and awesome it was. I can't
exactly put my finger on what was so amazing, but this
book possesses strong qualities that are wonderful for a
fantasy. The characters are extremely diverse in
personality, and there are several with great character
foil. I love the vocabulary because it made me pay
attention better to the words instead of just flying
through the story. The plot is extremely well-developed
through the entire story. However, many events happen near
the end that I couldn't comprehend as much because they
didn't have enough detail. Overall, The Book of Names was
a very good read and I recommend it to any fantasy
lover.

Reviewer Age:14

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

A Thousand Never Evers by Shana Burg

Never tell white people what they don't want to hear. This is the motto Addie Ann Pickett has lived by all her life, but now that she is growing up she has more responsibilities and is getting a much clearer picture of how unfair America is to African Americans in 1963. It doesn't matter how ugly Mrs. Worth's hat is, you are not allowed to smirk at it. And if you do, your brother may disappear. And it doesn't matter that Old Man Adams left his garden to everyone in the town of Kuckachoo-whites and Negroes alike. As long as the sheriff and mayor are in charge of the land, you won't ever get to see the vegetables planted in it. But when Addie Ann's Uncle is framed for a crime he did not commit, it's up to her to learn that sometimes you have to speak up if it means doing what's right.

I loved reading A Thousand Never Evers. I got it right when school let out and there was no better way to kick off summer vacation than sitting by the pool with this book and a glass lemonade. This book gave me a better understanding of how racial discrimination was legal as little as forty years ago! This book will be great for anyone who wants a good pool side read, but also wants a book that will make them think. An awesome book, A Thousand Never Evers is a one that will make a lasting impression on how you think about America's history.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Casa Grande, Arizona USA

Rating: 9

Content Rating: 1

How To Be a Creative Genius by Gary Unger

How To Be A Creative Genius is a book that consists of a very long checklist of what not to do if you wish to be a creative genius. The sarcasm of the book provides an interesting spin to the topic. Embedded within the checklist are De facto sections. These sections actually tell readers what to do to move towards a creative genius status. The combination of what to do and what not to do creates a unique message for those striving to become creative, to become geniuses, or both. How To Be A Creative Genius is a quick read that can be finished in a 20 minute bus ride.

Even though the sarcastic comments are meant to tell readers what not to do, I wonder if some readers will actually take this advice. This insight initiates my reservation with the book. I would have liked more positive ideas from the text, but the sarcasm makes the De facto sections seem more intriguing. While it is a very unique way to look at the concept, I think it falls short in value. At least it is a short read and it provides a few laughs.

Reviewer Age:18

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

Madapple by Christina Meldrum

Told in first person narrative, Madapple chronicles the life of Aslaug Datter. Raised by her mother to have a special appreciation of herbs and plants, Aslaug feels trapped in her home. That is, until her mother dies and she has a chance at freedom. Aslaug runs away from the nosy police officers and nosy social worker, and makes her way to the home of her long lost relatives. Aslaug is quickly pulled in by the ideas of her aunt, Sara, and cousin, Sanne, that she was born of a virgin birth, born to be special. But when Aslaug becomes pregnant, Sara and Sanne turn these ideas to the baby and Aslaug is once again trapped in her life. She must now decide whether to escape and start a life of her own or continue to be imprisoned by others.

I thought Madapple was a very interesting and philosophical book, but it wasn't
something I would typically read. I did really like the format of the book- a chapter of Aslaugs musings followed by excerpts from her trial. It really gave the book a sense of fullness and completeness. Madapple presented some new ideas and stayed interesting, but I was a little bothered by the suggestions of incest.

sexual content and suggestions of incest

Reviewer Age:17

Reviewer City, State and Country: Erlanger, Kentucky United States

Angel by Cliff McNish

Freya has finally recovered from years of seeming insanity, stemming from a memory of seeing an angel. Now she has moved to a new school, given herself a makeover, and befriended a popular girl. She doesn't notice that her father is ill or that her brother is endangering himself by protecting a boy for a bully. To Freya, it seems that her life is finally normal. This quickly changes with the arrival of a dark angel and a strange, angel-obsessed girl named Stephanie, who insists upon befriending her. Freya comes face-to-face with the angel who she saw when she was eight, and learns that she herself is one.

The book Angel veers back and forth between cliche and originality. It is a very character-driven book, with dialogue taking up the majority of the story. While this appeals to me, a fantasy focused on character development must work extra-hard on making the characters believable. The author's depiction of bullies and popular girls borders on stereotypes, with some of the dialogue making me wonder how many teenagers he has actually spoken to within the last three years. Furthermore, he seemed too intent on making the reader understand just how strange Stephanie was, and often managed this by making her utterly irrational. However, at other times, the characters seemed very realistic. Freya's brother Luke, conflicted between a desire to protect a boy named Sam and hesitance to fight, drew me in. The dark angel was one of the most complex characters in the book, far more so than either Freya or Stephanie, and the author did a brilliant job at portraying him.

I enjoyed reading Angel and getting to know the characters, but the pacing threw me off. While offbeat pacing is not necessarily bad, it is difficult to ignore the fact that Freya met Stephanie once before choosing to confide with her, and that the event highlighted in the summaryn--Freya's transformation into an angel--was one of the final events. This could have been forgivable or even an asset, but in the end it felt as if the author had spent too long elaborating on relatively worthless plot points and just ran out of time. The ending, which could have been moving in the right context, felt too rushed. There is a difference between deliberately refusing to wrap everything into a tidy bow and simply ignoring loose ends, and I'm not sure the author realized it.

Very mild references to sexuality.
Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country: Bellevue, WA United States

The Summer of Cotton Candy by Debbie Viguie

The back of the book asks, "Will this be the summer that Candace hoped for?" That question sets the tone for Debbie Viguie’s book. Candace Thompson goes through almost anything you could imagine. She starts off by looking for a job, which she finds at "the Zone," a local theme park. One girl tells her there are people who work at the park, people who visit the park, and people who do both, otherwise known as "Zoners". Will Candace be a Zoner or is this STILL just a summer job? As the story goes on, she finds romance, friendship, competition, faith, and a change in her values and how she looks at life.

This book was truly amazing. Even the name of the book pulled me in. As the book went on, it started becoming an obsession. I just had to finish it! The author's description was pretty good. I mean no one likes too much detail, but there could have been a little more. Yet the characters were so well described, I felt like I was in the room with them. Candace, Josh, Becca, Kurt, and Tamara were amazing characters! My final view is that the author achieved what she set out to do: write a great book!!

Rating:9

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Audubon, New Jersey United States

Front Lines by Denise Little

In the short story collection Front Lines, edited and compiled by Denise Little, Corporal Kenso is a weary soldier fighting to protect Earth's colonies from the fierce, alien "Slimies" that are relentlessly attacking the Milky Way. Mollie is a young girl whose incredible, strange powers of healing force her to be out on a battlefield every day, helping to fight a war she doesn't believe in. Leefa Ka is the warrior daughter of the chieftain in her village who foolishly has ridden into a cursed forest haunted by those dead in battle to prove her courage to her father. Lieutenant Conner Davis is the only man left alive in his unit on Aldebaran, one of Earth's colonies that has rebelled and begun a civil war. All of these people are scarred by the myriad horrors of war, the main theme of Front Lines.

As a fan of most different kinds of genres, I liked this book and was hooked by many of the stories. Like with any short story collection, there is a wide range of styles, from humorous to serious and all kinds in between. Because most of the stories are science fiction, I would recommend it to science fiction fans because many of the stories have to do with futuristic warfare on different planets or against invading alien species. Also, most of the stories aren't clichés that have been written about over and over again; they shed new light on being on the front lines of a battlefield, something that most Americans probably haven't experienced. Warfare is a tough subject to both think about and write about, but most of the stories in Front Lines do a great job of making the subject realistic-you often feel as though you are one of the soldiers fighting a hopeless battle against creatures that seem to have no weak points to strike out at. The book really connects well with its readers, and you want the soldiers to succeed in the wars that they each fight. Although the main theme of the book doesn't, in the end, quite hit home as strongly as it's supposed to, it's still a strong presence throughout and will make you think about it as you read. If you're looking for something that's fast-paced and action-packed, but also thoughtful and serious at the same time, take a look at Front Lines.

There are many scenes of violence, seeing as this is a book about war.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Richmond, VA USA

Secrets for Sale

In Secrets for Sale by Kristi Holl, a work of Christian fiction, protagonist Jeri finds herself neck-deep in a case of blackmail against her best friend, Rosa. But the worst part is that Rosa thinks Jeri is doing the blackmailing! Jeri is determined to help her friend and save their friendship. Starting with the most likely suspects, Jeri is sidetracked when Rosa is thrown off the drama team because she did not pay the blackmailer. Miss Kimberly, the drama teacher, seems appalled, but yet . . . not so much. Is there more to Miss Kimberly than meets the eye? Jeri finds out that there is . . . and she barely escapes with her life!

This book does not hide the fact that it is Christian fiction, but it has the added quality of being a mystery. There are some good thrills and chills in it! When Jeri is fighting, literally, for her life, she is rescued by her Dad and credits God with guiding her dad to find and save her. This is unlike many other books, where the rescuer's appearance would be frustratingly random and make me think, "Yeah, right, he just HAPPENED to guess she was in the clock tower!" To me, this was unique and satisfying. I also liked that there was a true villain, and that the characters had to go through real danger and struggles. If you like Nancy Drew, I think you should give this book, and others in the series, a shot.

Reviewer Age:12

Reviewer City, State and Country: Saugerties, New York USA

Trion Rising by Robert Elmer

What would happen if Jesus came to another planet? Oriannon Hightower of Nyssa is a girl living the good life on the bright side of her planet, Corista. She is an eidich, a person who remembers everything that ever happened to her. Every single detail; she can never forget. But that's exactly what starts to happen when a new mentor of a mysterious background comes to her school. He starts teaching new songs and new ideas, and suspicions arise that he might be a fabled faithbreaker, trying to tempt them away from the teachings of the Maker and the word of the High Assembly. When she discovers that their water supply is being stolen from the people on the dark half of the planet, where the new mentor, Jesmet, comes from, will Oriannon have the strength to do what's right?

I found Trion Rising to be intriguing, the concept of the book alone pulled me in. The characters are really well developed, if a little hard to relate to. The plot sometimes moved in fits and starts, which made it hard to keep going. But as you near the end, the tension builds so much that it left me a little startled when the end came; I wanted to find out what happens next. Her amazing memory aside, Oriannon is just a typical teen, finding ways to talk to her friends in class without getting caught and arguing with her stubborn dad. The way the author used music to convey feelings and tie everything together made it even more powerful. Towards the end, you see many more references to the Bible, and it leaves you curious, on the edge of your seat and wanting more.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Shoreview, Minnesota United States

Kandide and the Secret of the Mists by Diana S. Zimmerman

When Kandide is struck by lightning while picking pomegranates in the meadows, her wing is badly damaged. In the society illustrated in this book, those with injuries are not permitted; the 'Imperfects' are removed from society. Kandide, the soon-to-be queen (because of her father's unexpected death), is sent to the Veil, a place built by Imperfects that was begun by her father and by her mother (with a magic spell). There she meets several notable characters, including Jake, Leanne, and Selena, her mother's long-forgotten sister.

With Kandide out of the way characters with large ambitions begin to try to gain control, such as Lady Aron. In order for their mother to live, Teren and Tara, the siblings of Kandide, search for her.

In the end, everything works out for the better. This book covers many categories/genres such as adventure, action, and even a bit of romance.

The writing in this book wasn't really that complex, but it that doesn't mean that readers will collapse from boredom. It is meant for younger readers, around the middle school grades. This is not a book for those in middle school, at least not generally. Kandide was a pretty quick read, and it wasn't at all a masterpiece; but that's not to say that it was a completely terrible work. I had a slight problem with the foods. For a story that takes place in Europe, it seemed a little strange to eat pomegranates, mangoes, and pineapples. It seemed pretty similar to other books that I've read, what with the strange creatures, forgotten family members, and strange lands. It was pretty full of morals, such as acceptance of those that are different and how absolute power corrupts. This book was ok, but not superb. I'd recommend this book to those in search of a short, quick read without a lot of depth, but with plenty of interesting and unusual characters.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Charleston, SC USA

The Time it Takes to Fall by Margaret Lazarus Dean

Dolores had never imagined that life in Cape Canaveral could be anything but perfect. She loves the launches, the broadcasts, her family, her friends, and knows everything there is to know about space. She keeps a journal of every launch, dutifully recording all of the relevant facts in order to further her dreams of becoming an astronaut, confirming the details with her NASA technician father and her best friend, Eric. She's the best in her class, her teachers love her, and, most importantly, she's happy. But without warning, everything changes. When her father is fired, Dolores' mother has to go to work, coming home every day too exhausted to do anything but argue. As if that weren't enough, Dolores enters high school a year early, finding herself among older strangers who tease her for her intelligence. And the worst is yet to come, because although Dolores doesn't know it yet, the Challenger launch is fast approaching and soon she'll be forced to face her greatest nightmare.

Although it starts out slow, The Time it Takes to Fall proves worth the wait. Margaret Dean has created a masterful first novel, certainly an example of historical fiction at its best. While most first time authors would focus on the effects of the Challenger tragedy on a would-be astronaut, Dean instead writes about characters-- unique, lovable, characters -- who are all entirely, believably human. These characters connect the reader to the book, and even the most unenthusiastic reader will find him- or herself sympathizing as he or she is drawn into their lives. A reluctant historical fiction reader myself, I found that I was actually guessing what would happen next! The plot never falters, and the characters only get stronger as the story goes on. This is one book that's certainly worth a read!

Although parts of the book seem to be geared toward younger readers, there is a sex scene and a rather frightening description of the deaths of the Challenger astronauts. Many characters smoke.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: , Maryland United States

Likely Story by David Van Etten

Flamingnet Student Book Reviewer MDG

Mallory's life feels like it should be a TV show: her mother's an actress on a popular soap opera and her boyfriend won't break up with his girlfriend. Mallory needs less drama in her life, not more. So when she writes her own soap opera, entitled Likely Story, she wants it to be about real people with real problems. However, this seems to cause more catastrophes. Her mother is now jealous, she needs to get her best friend the lead on the show, and she thinks she might be falling for the lead male actor. What's a girl to do?

The best way I can describe this book is that it was okay. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great, either. The plot was interesting; not many normal teenagers have a semi- famous mother, although this made it slightly hard to relate to Mallory. She is a likable character, though her moral compass might be spinning in the wrong direction. For example, she has a boyfriend that already has a girlfriend, which makes me think that she doesn't respect herself. However, this book is part of a series, so hopefully the rest will be better.


Reviewer Age:16

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

She Came From Heaven by Rosanne Pellicane

She Came From Heaven is about an interior designer named Rosanne who is temporarily living alone with her pets in New York City. After a separation, her husband Jim is moving back in after living and working in Washington DC. Jim joins her in their New York house, and starts his own business from home. Life seems to be getting better until Jim's business flounders, and things go terribly wrong. Rosanne's pets become a source of comfort to her during her struggles.

This book started with an interesting premise but failed to hold my attention. The content and vocabulary seemed to be for an older audience. As the book progressed, the emphasis on religion and God became overbearing and seemed to supplant the story line. I would recommend this book to people who are animal lovers and enjoy stories with strong religious messages.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Renton, WA United States

Rating: 4

Content Rating: 4

Mad Kestrel by Misty Massey

Kestrel, a female pirate, leads a life full of adventure. She grew up on the streets, eventually finding work in a local tavern. She then signs on as a crew member of the Wolfshead. One day Kestrel sees a "ghost ship" during a storm. This ship takes shelter in Kestrel's home town's harbor, along with the Wolfshead. While they're there, Kestrel's Captain Artie is arrested and taken on a Navy ship to be hanged. He leaves Kestrel his log book, instructing her to take it to Lig, the King's advisor. Kestrel is left to captain the remaining crew, rescue Artie, and solve the mystery of the Wolfshead log book.

I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good plot and likable characters. The only thing I had trouble with was that it wasn't really a 'page turner'. When I read it, I liked it a lot and got pulled in, but when I had to stop reading halfway through a chapter, I didn't feel all that curious about what would happen next. I think this is probably just me, but that's my opinion. All in all, I would recommend this book.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Hockessin, DE United States

Dark Well of Decision by Anne Kimberly

Imagine you are a teenaged girl whose curiosity has taken over and you end up inside a cold forbidding well? Thats how thirteen-year-old Zoe feels in the novel Dark Well of Decision by Anne Kimberly. Being a teenager is pretty harsh on Zoe, and when she ends up trapped in a well she is suddenly nursed out of hypothermia by a bunch of five-inch descendants of God, which is when life gets even crazier. She adjusts to life in this miraculous world of Gods miniature creatures, but Zoe realizes that evil captors are gnawing into a safety rope called Jasper. Zoe believes that there is a God, but she doesnt know of the dangers of the devil she is about to face in Dark Well of Decision.

I didn't find Dark Well of Decision as appealing I had intended to, even though I did enjoy the ending quite a bit. The beginning and middle of the novel were a bit boring, and I had to continue reading to let the meanings really sink in and tie everything together. The novel is Christian-based and focuses on good defeating evil. The age level should be lowered to about 7-10 rather than 9-12, because the plot seemed juvenile. Bits and pieces were boring, but the climax drew 100% of my attention.

Reviewer Age:11

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

Sweet Valley High 2, Secrets

For Jessica Wakefield everything pretty much comes easy...or in other words, she gets what she wants. But now what she wants more than ever is to become homecoming queen, and more importantly, to get Bruce Patman. The one thing that is keeping her from getting what she wants is Enid Rollins. Enid is the best friend of Jessica's twin sister Elizabeth. When Jessica finds out one of Enid's deep dark secrets it's only a matter of time before the world would knows. Elizabeth is the only one who can possibly stop her sister before it's too late.

If you're looking for a good easy read at the beach this summer this is a great choice of book! It's a sweet traditional teen story which has your typical mean girl versus good girl plot line. The book could be a little more moving or have some more action just to entertain the reader. This story isn't a page-turner, however it's not boring either. You should definitely put this on your summer reading list!

There are a few swear words and some mature references.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania U.S.

The Morganville Vampires: Dead Girls Dance by Rachel Caine

Handsome. Charming. Trapped. Dead. Michael is all of those: trapped in the glass house he died in, the handsome and charming crush of Eve, and Shane’s best friend. Eve and Claire, two best friends, live in the same house as Michael while they go to school in Morganville. Life is good, until they get on the bad side of the local police, who just happen to be vampires! Between the psycho, battling vampires, Eve’s un-known brother popping up out of nowhere, and a kick-butt party, this year is sure to be very interesting.

The second in the Morganville Vampire series, Dead Girls Dance by Rachel Caine starts with a bang! As the first chapter started, I was a little wary; I hadn’t read the prequel, so I was a little unsure of the people and places, and the beginning started fast. Fortunately, Caine left little to be desired in her catch-up and I was ready to press on in no time. The ending wasn't the kind to spoil the whole book, but one that simply closes it (as in, I could tell you how the book ends, but I won't!). The entire book was everything the title evoked in me: fear, wonder at the subject, and a need to know the truth about the Morganville Vampires.

Rating:8

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Marblehead, MA USA

The Schoolboy by Tony Rosa

Sam Parma does not like to golf. He's a baseball player, not a golfer! But one summer morning, his outlook changes quite a bit. Reluctantly entered in the Schoolboy, a junior golf tournament, Sam only participates to please his mother. After all, what's the harm in a day at the golf course? But conflict arises quickly as Sam is grouped with an experienced golfer, a foul-mouthed cheater, and an intimidating bully for the day's golfing. Thus an innocent tournament soon evolves into a test of character where winning is the least of Sam's worries.

Overall, Tony Rosa's "The Schoolboy" is not a bad book, though the exposition is not convincing, and overuse of golf lingo distracts from the story. The book picks up speed as it continues. Laced with life lessons, each chapter serves a specific purpose. Though well-intended, many of these points are too preachy for its audience. That a few hours of golfing could change the main character's outlook on life is not believable, especially considering that the point of view is that of a fourteen-year-old boy. In the words of Rosa himself, "sometimes you just can't make them all."

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Tipp City, OH USA

Barefoot by Lizann Bassham

Opal spends her childhood in a small town with her mother's family and friends. Her mother died when Opal was only seven years old and Opal feels that it is her fault, because before her mother died, Opal hadn't been following directions. Her father is off traveling and Opal's dearest cousin has gone to war. Opal is always afraid that if she does the slightest thing wrong, her new family will leave her. But as she grows older, Opal learns that through thick and thin, the people who love her will always be there.

The book was intriguing, and, although slow at first, became more and more entrancing as I got deeper into the story. Lizann Bassham, an amazing author, made detailed scenes that were easy to imagine. Opal and her family went through many tragic events, in which the author captured the emotions of the family, especially when Opal's cousin went off to war. This book shows the pros and cons of small-town living in the 1960's. The realization of Opal's that her family will not leave her is built gradually, which makes for an interesting story. It a sweet, yet sometimes tragic page-turner, and I would recommend it to everyone over the age of ten.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Boothwyn, Pennsylvania USA

The Gorgon's Gaze by Julia Golding

When Connie Lionheart's great-aunt and uncle try to keep her away from the Society for the Protection of Mythical Creatures, they don't count on her being the most important member, the universal companion who can communicate with all mythical creatures. Connie has to find out why Great-aunt Godiva hates the society so much. In doing so, she discovers a dark part of her family's past. Meanwhile, the evil Kullervo stirs up trouble for the society. When Kullervo starts bringing some of the mythical creatures and their companions to the dark side, who can Connie trust?

I really liked this book. I thought that it would be confusing to someone who hadn't read the first book, Secret of the Sirens, though. The author did a good job creating a subplot with Great-aunt Godiva. The plot moves quickly. I liked how this book had many mythical creatures.

Rating:7

Reviewer Age:12

Reviewer City, State and Country: Exeter, New Hampshire United States

Toto! The Wonderful Adventure

All Kakashi wants to do is go on an adventure. Ever since his dad left for one and never came back, Kakashi has been trying to leave his island. When he finally gets the opportunity to climb aboard an airship to leave, the Man Chicken Family (a gang of criminals) tries to stop him. Kakashi is strong enough to stay on the airship, and he eventually lands on the mainland. With a map of the world, his new found dog, and a friend named Dorothy he takes off on the first adventure of his life -- with quite a few complications.

Toto! The Wonderful Adventure was a really cool story. It was an extremely quick read for me, so it would be good for a short wait or in the car. I liked how the beginning introduced so much about the main character, Kakashi. He is unique because he will do anything to take after his father and go on an adventure. The ending leaves you hanging for the second book in the series, but it is definitely a good finish! I liked how there were little references to Wizard of Oz because they were funny. I think most teenage readers would enjoy it and I look forward to reading the second book in the series."

Reviewer Age:14

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

From Alice to Zen and Everyone in Between by Elizabeth Atkinson

When Alice Bunt moves from the city to the suburbs, she thinks life is going to be perfect. Boy, is she wrong. Alice runs into Zen, a boy from down the street, and he gives the tomboy some information about middle school. They take some magazine quizzes to figure out who Alice should be friends with. It turns out that the results are way wrong and Alice learns not to be what everybody else is, but to act as an individual.

I think From Alice to Zen and Everyone in Between is a great book. Elizabeth Atkinson convinced me that the characters were real. Plus, I can relate to Alice and her adventures. This book has a very interesting story line which led to me not being able to put it down. I would recommend this book to anybody who is looking for a nice, easy summer read.

Reviewer Age:12

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

Beyond The Orphan Train by Donna Nordmark Aviles

Oliver Nordmark has run away from his foster family in
search of his brother who was given to a different
family. On his way, he learns to build sod houses,
harvest wheat, build a barn, grow a garden, and work in
the navy. He also does exiting things like hopping
trains! But when he finally reaches where his brother
was, he's not there. Now Oliver has to relocate him!
Will he ever find him?

This book was very good because it was interesting to
learn about the early 1900's. Although it was an easy
reader, all the facts were true because Oliver was the
author's grandfather! I would highly suggest reading the
first book, "Fly Little Bird, Fly" first so you can find
out more about the orphan train; it was a little confusing
because I haven't read it. Other than that, I loved this
book!

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Gearhart, Oregon United States

Fading Tracks by: Kristi Holl

This book is about Jeri McKane, a girl who attends a fancy
boarding school on a scholarship. Jeri is already having
second thoughts about going to the boarding school when
her best friend's bus never returns from a field trip.
When Jeri tries to help, she gets yelled at. Though
malicious principals and meddling reporters try to stop
her, she never stops trying to do the right thing. She
eventually discovers that the saying "never judge a book
by its cover" is completely true, and that praying can
solve even your most daunting problems.

Okay, let me start by saying that if you start reading
this book, you MUST finish it, be cause the last 3 chapter bring it all together. Holl's unrealistic characters are
very confusing. They seem to change personalities too
quickly, perhaps to make the story line work out the way
the author intended. One example is the boarding school's
principal, who is mean at the beginning, then half way
through turns nice, seemingly overnight. Also the rest of
the characters are either good or evil, there isn't any
gray area. In the end of the book you find out that
everyone and everything is good except the one 'bad guy',
and that all the problems of the book were just
misunderstandings. I think that at least 1 or 2 of the
problems should have been real, because it would have made
the rest of the book more satisfying.

Reviewer
Age:11

Reviewer City, State and Country: Exeter, New
Hampshire USA

Fran, The Second Time Around by Amy L. Bernstein

As this book opens, Fran is dreading the first day of high school, a place full of new people she has never met. Mystery surrounds the reasons why she has not continued on with the schoolmates she has known all of her life. Eventually, it emerges that a tragic accident has occurred, one that shocked her family and friends, and dictated her decision to switch schools. The book is divided into three parts, the first describes her life after the accident, the second her life as a popular and carefree middle schooler before, and the third occurs right before, during and after the tragedy. Her parents are supportive, her younger brother Tobey, seems oblivious to her suffering, and her former best friend Tracey has totally rejected her. To help Fran fight her overwhelming depression, her mother introduces her to Peter, who has learned to use meditation to survive the death of both of his parents. Although she initially resists Peters advice, Fran gradually learns to forgive herself. In this book, the reader will discover how people cope with challenges in different ways, and how one girl works to overcome a dreadful situation, and make herself a whole new life.

This book was gripping, from the moment I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. I would highly recommend it, especially to middle schoolers or older. The author pulls you into Fran's life by starting the book in the middle and then working backwards. Sometimes it is a little hard to keep track of the characters and time that everything takes place. However, overall it was a really great book. The ending could have been better, it was a little predictable.

This book includes death so some readers maybe react strongly to it.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Hingham, MA USA

The SFWA European Hall of Fame by James & Kathryn Morrow

This book is a collection of short science fiction stories from Europe that have been translated from their native language into English. The sixteen contemporary stories are vastly different from each other. Some topics that are covered are time travel, paradoxes, aliens, the future, space flight, and other worlds. Many of these stories are not hard science fiction filled with detailed futuristic technology. They are closer to fantasy. Some of the stories are designed to make you think about society and the issues that face our world. Very few of the stories have a genuinely happy ending.

I had mixed feeling about this book. I enjoyed some of the stories, but not others. I felt that a better collection of more classic stories, with at least a few more happy endings, could have been chosen. However, the purpose of this collection was partially to provoke thought, and all of the stories did this. Each story was unique and created its own setting, though the characters and settings could have been more thoroughly described. The lack of detail is mainly due to the brevity of the stories. All in all, you should only read this if you enjoy philosophical science fiction and fantasy that has sad endings. Otherwise, more mainstream collections may be better.

Most of the stories contain violence or death. Additionally, some contain sexual content not suitable to young readers.

Reviewer Age:14

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

Love Me Tender by Audrey Couloumbis

"Don't let things fall apart once I'm gone."

That's what Elvira's dad tells her as he packs up his car
to go to Las Vegas for an Elvis impersonation contest.
But when he leaves, it seems like everything starts to
fall apart. Her pregnant mother won't leave the couch,
and her eight year old sister is behaving like she's
three. Elvira feels like everything is up to her, and
it's definitely not fair.

Just when things are getting too hard to handle, a phone
call from Aunt Clare brings the family to Memphis, and a
series of events threatens to push the fragile family
apart. But as time goes on, Elvira begins to realize
that family doesn't have to be perfect, and that
sometimes, you just have to take things as they come.
This feel-good novel about family and forgiveness will win
the heart of girls everywhere, and its intriguing plot
will keep any reader hooked.

This heartfelt story is easy to relate to, and brings
insight into the inner workings of a family. I loved that
the storyline was entertaining and full of laugh out loud
moments. Full of southern charm and dynamic
characters, "Love Me Tender" will satisfy any girl who
loves a good story.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City,
State and Country: Tipp City, OH USA

Keeping Score by Linda Sue Park

Maggie, as most people call her, or Margaret Olivia Fortini,
is one of the biggest Brooklyn Dodgers fans there is. Maggie
lives near the firehouse and has some friends in there. She
listens to every game with them at the firehouse, and even
though she doesn't play the game, she knows a lot about it.
She can recite player statistics, batting averages, innings
and she understands all of the plays. She prays so much but
year after agonizing year the Dodgers still don't win the
World Series. When the firehouse gets a new fire fighter,
Jim, Maggie starts to bond with him over baseball. Then Jim
has to go off to the war in Korea, and the only contact
Maggie has with him is through letters. But what can you do
when your new friend stops sending you letters, while you
worry about his health, and all you can do for the Dodgers
is pray? How can Maggie handle it all?

Linda Sue Park did
a good job and I didn't really want to put it down. It was
an interesting read. I liked this book. I'm not a big
baseball fan but overall it was a good book and I would like
to read more. I would recommend this book to people who like
baseball.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and
Country: Oakville, Pennsylvania United States

H.I.V.E. The Overlord Protocol by Mark Walden

The Higher Institute of Villainous Education (H.I.V.E.) is an unusual school that focuses on teaching the world’s future dominators. At this school, they teach all the essentials to make your child the best super villain they can be. Otto Malpenese is one of their promising students. Secretly funded by Global League of Villainous Enterprises (G.L.O.V.E.), this special school is constantly in danger from the authorities or other criminal parties. All the danger begins when Otto’s best friend Wing receives word that his father was mysteriously killed in an accident at his lab. When Otto and Wing go to the funeral, they are suddenly ambushed by one of G.L.O.V.E.’s own members, Cypher. Otto just barely escapes and now he must protect his school while seeking his friend’s kidnapper.

H.I.V.E. The Overlord Protocol is a fantastic book. It is full of constant action and deception. This book is hard to put down. Otto is a fantastic character; with his strange ability to absorb knowledge from books, the possibilities seem endless. Wing, Otto’s friend, is also an enormously brilliant addition to the story. It would have been nice if the character Wing would have been better developed throughout the story.

Rating:9

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Hamilton , Ohio USA

Cicada Summer by Andrea Beaty

In the small town of Olena, lives a quiet girl, named Lily Mathis, with a secret past. When the general store owner's niece, Tinny, comes to visit, everything changes. Tinny steals candy and blames it on Lily. She also tries to steal Lily’s friends and her father's love. Then Tinny disappears and Lily must find her. But it means confronting her hidden past.

This book is terrific! It is very detailed and it feels like you are actually there. I could not put this book down because I wanted to know where Tinny was and how Lily was going to find her! I would go to bed at night dreaming about what I had just read and what would happen next. Of course I was completely wrong about the ending!

Reviewer Age:14

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

Embrace the Night by Karen Chance

Cassie Palmer is in trouble. She recently became the Pythia, the most powerful psychic in the world. Unfortunately, she is bound by a spell to a vampire named Mircea. If she completes the spell, she will end up being under his control for the rest of her life. Her only hope is a book named the Codex: a spell book written by Merlin himself that contains the only spell that can release her from Mircea's control. There are only two problems with retrieving the book: the Dark Circle (the bad people) wants the book and the book had disappeared in the seventeenth century. With the help of her friend, Pritkin, can Cassie break the spell and eventually save the world?

The action and the plot in the novel are phenomenal. The author describes a magical scenery and creates many characters. Girls will enjoy the book because of the female heroine, while the boys will enjoy the action. Because this book is the third in a series, it was hard to start off. If you have not read the other books, you may have a difficult time in the beginning, though you will eventually learn who is who and what is what. This book is filled with magic and mystery, yet the level of romance in the book makes in unsuitable for the young adult category. I would have to recommend the book for ages 17 and up.

The romantic content in the book is only suitable for mature readers.

Rating:8

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Pottstown, PA 19464

Throwing Like A Girl by Weezie Kerr Mackey

Ella Kessler moves to Dallas, Texas in the middle of her sophomore year. She expects bland people, country music, and country accents, but she finds more than that. She finds out she has great athletic ability and tries out for the softball team. She makes it but never understands what is going on in the game. On the team, she meets two girls named Mo and Frannie who becime her good friends. Then she meets Sally Fontineau who becomes her enemy. Sally's brother, Nate, is Ella's partner in a marriage project and she tries to avoid girls’ evil looks, and go on with high school with out making any mistakes. She can't keep letting people fight her battles and she has to learn to stick up for herself.

This book was the best. There are several parts in the book when I could not put it down. It also describes in detail how to throw a softball and how to play the game of softball and of life. This is the perfect book for athletes or teens.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Norristown, Pennsylvania USA

Twisted Sisters by Stephanie Hale

Twisted Sisters by Stephanie Hale is and amazing love/mystery book. It is about an eighteen-year-old girl named Aspen Brooks who keeps finding herself solving mysteries. Aspen is a total twirly girly with a capital "TG" who is starting college at the local community college. This book tells you all about Aspen, her hot boyfriend, her incurable diseases and the lunatic, stalking, psychotic boys who fall in love. While at the school Aspen joins a sorority so that she can try to figure out what happened to the member who went missing last semester. But, will she find her, or will someone, maybe even her supposed "sisters," try to take her out of the game? Find out in this amazing sequel to Revenge of the Homecoming Queen.

I really enjoyed this book. Aspen was perfect. She was full of herself, funny, and an amazingly good friend and girlfriend. This book totally captured me and I never once found myself daydreaming or wishing I had read a different book. I totally got the author's purpose and the point of the book. She explains the book so well that you could read it and not read the first, but I wouldn't recommend it, the first book is every bit as engaging. I am so glad that I read this book and I hope that you will be too.

Rating: 10

Content: 1

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Colleyville, Texas USA

Summerhouse Time by Eileen Spinelli

Everyone at Sophie's house is getting ready for summerhouse time. Then, a new Italian boy, named Jimmy, moves in next to Sophie's real house and she thinks she's in love. When they make it to the summerhouse, everything is normal except Sophie's favorite cousin, Connie, is mean and grumpy. Other than that everything is going great, Cooper is going into the ocean and Jimmy is writing when Orange, the family cat is lost. When you read Summerhouse Time by Eileen Spinelli, you will learn how this family's problem's unravel.

Summerhouse Time by Eileen Spinelli is a great read. I read it in one day because of the adventures Sophie has with her family. I can definitely relate to Sophie because of grumpy relatives, singing relatives, and needy relatives. I like Summerhouse Time because it related to Spinelli's actual experiences in New Jersey. I would recommend this book to anybody who wants a good read and a good laugh.

Reviewer Age:11

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

Fly Little Bird, Fly

Fly Little Bird, Fly chronicles the life of Oliver and his younger brother, Edward, when they become orphans in New York City. After living in an orphanage and being separated from each other for a year, the two brothers are chosen to travel on the orphan train together. This train brought orphans from New York City across the country to find them homes in the Western United States. In Kansas, Oliver and Edward are chosen to live in the home of two farmers. Unfortunately, their new foster home is less than exemplary; the boys are forced to do farm chores and are given no affection. After a few years at this home, Oliver and Edward are once again sent away on the orphan train, since their current foster family could no longer care for them. The brothers arrive in a new town, only to be split up into different families. The two brothers now rest all their hopes on seeing each other again.

Fly Little Bird, Fly was an average book. The plotline certainly had potential: the story of the Orphan Trains that raced across the United States in the late 1800s is a fascinating part of history. Unfortunately, I felt that the author did not live up to this plotline. The writing in this book was tolerable, but nothing special. I felt that the author was not able to put herself in the mind of a young boy very well. Many of the thoughts of Oliver didn't seem very accurate; he often seemed too naive for his age. Some of the events also seemed rather improbable that they would actually happen. I would recommend reading other books about the orphan train before you read this one- they would probably be a better use of your time.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Urbana, IL USA

Mixed Bags by Melody Carlson

Mix six teenage girls and one 60's fashion icon (retired, of course) in an old Victorian-era boarding home. Add boys and dating, a little high-school angst, and throw in a Kate Spade bag or two...and you've got The Carter House Girls, Melody Carlson's new chick lit series for young adults! When her mom died, DJ had to move in with her grandmother, internationally famous '60s fashion model Katherine Carter. Now Mrs. Carter has opened a boarding home for young ladies, and DJ--who would rather wear her basketball team uniform than haute couture--is just sure they'll all be unbearable fashion snobs. One by one, the girls arrive and begin to figure out how to fit into this new family, getting to know each other and forming friendships. Sure, there's an aspiring diva or two, but before long the Carter House girls are dating, fighting, laughing, shopping, and sharing clothes, purses, shoes...and their deepest secrets.

Reading Mixed Bags gave me mixed feelings. I enjoyed reading about all of the unique characters, but the plot seemed unoriginal, just like everything I'd read before. Not only that, some of the events weren't very realistic, yet I could easily relate to the characters. Also, many times I knew exactly what was going to happen, but there were also times when things totally unexpected occurred. All in all, I have to give credit to Melody Carlson because, her writing keeps me interested and wanting to read more. I thought Mixed Bags was a pretty good book, and I look forward to reading the next in the series.

This book contained underage drinking and sexual references. It could also be considered a faith-based book because of the many references to God.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Leopold, MO 63760

The Rhyme Killer by Judy Gooden & Naomi Helterbran

A serial killer is on the loose in Philadelphia. When Detective Katie Knight, Philadelphia's top serial killer investigator, gets involved, she doesn't know what she was in for. Katie is not prepared for the wild goose chase that ends with a cold trail. When Katie finds the unusual signature of the monster, she realizes she has a problem on her hands. On top of this, the Chief of Detectives, who wants her to leave the homicide division, is hanging over her head. So she and her partner, Avis Rent, set out to find the killer. But when women that look just like Katie start disappearing, she knows she’s in for the most thrilling (and dangerous) time of her life.

Overall, The Rhyme Killers is a well written and a mind-capturing book. The authors, Judy Gooden and Naomi Helterbran, developed the characters so no one was boring. I think a mistrusting and evil mood developed as the plot was set in motion, which was totally appropriate based on the malevolent characteristics of the characters. The killers were given an unfavorable aura which made you want them captured by the desperate police. These characters were the master piece of the book, and they added extra spice to the novel. The only unfavorable aspect of this book was the constant high level of profanity. At first, this profanity seemed totally unnecessary, but I later realized that it shaped the characters and gave them one aspect of true killers.

I think the authors succeeded in displaying the unfolding trauma in a desperate light, but I did not feel as if the writing flowed. I almost felt as if the story jumped from one scene to another too quickly and suddenly. The profanity, as I mentioned earlier, was unnecessary in some parts of the novel. Despite this, The Rhyme Killers plot was definitely well thought out and intricate, and the content of the book shows this. The Rhyme Killers was very different from many other science fiction books that I have read, in that it had a high level of violence and cruelty. Altogether, The Rhyme Killers was a very interesting book. However, even though there is some degree of suspense in the book, I think the author could have infused more. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read an out-of-the-ordinary novel.

There is not only profanity, but also some of the things the characters do are for mature readers.

Reviewer Age:11

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

Blue Like Friday

Olivia and Hal are best friends despite their differences. But one thing has always bothered Hal; his almost stepfather Alec. In order to get rid of him once and for all, Hal comes up with a plan and carries it out with the help of Olivia. But the plan backfires, and instead of Alec leaving, Hal's mother vanishes. Things begin to get complicated after she doesn't show up for a few days. Hal gets worried, but while she's gone he finally learns how to patch up his relationship with Alec. So, does Hal's mother show up, or is she gone for good? And where does that leave Hal and Alec's relationship?

I found this book to be a fun, quick read for all ages. It highlights the most important things about life and relationships, like friends and family. Although short, the book had two especially strong and powerful messages: friends are always there for you and people aren't always the way they seem. Reading this book, I found it interesting. Everything flowed well and came together in the end, which made the ending perfect. At first glance, this book looks like a fun and sweet story about a couple of kids, but if you look closer you realize that it teaches you about much much more.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Champaign, Illinois USA

Rating: 7

Content: 1

The Kingdom of Strange by Shula Klinger

Thisbe's English class is assigned to work with a student from another school. She decides to post stories on an internet chat room to get reviews and critiques from other teen writers. At first no one seems interested in her cause, until one day Iphis starts posting back. Together they form a friendship online finding that they have much in common. Apart from her online friend, Thisbe's social life isn't going as she pictured.
Together, Iphis and Thisbe must try to make sense of love, life, the transformation of friendships and simply growing up in this hectic world.

This book failed to grasp my attention. However, I could relate to some of the things Thisbe was going through. Almost any reader in my opinion would be able to see a little bit of Thisbe in themselves. Many pre-teens and teenagers alike know what if feels like to lose friends or have things surprise them for the worse. Shula Klinger did do a nice job making this book believable and capturing the drama of school and teen life. Even though I personally thought the book was anti-climactic, a younger audience may find this better suited for them.

Reviewer Age:14

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

The Squad: Killer Spirit by Jennifer Lynne Barnes

The Squad: Killer Spirit is the second edition in The Squad Series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, a series of books about secret agent cheerleaders. Unlikely cheerleader Toby Klein is preparing for homecoming where she might be actually become the first 10th grade homecoming queen. Oddly, she is more afraid of that than she is of the dangerous mission that the squad is faced with. But when things go wrong, the squad has to make some tough decisions. Can they do it, or will it be a flop?

I thought The Squad: Killer Spirit was a great novel that had a good mix of two things you would never think went together, Spying and Cheerleading. The author did a great job intertwining the two, without making it seem as she was trying hard to not make the squad's cover blow. I loved the book so much that now I have to read the first one, The Squad: Perfect Cover, to see how it all started. The characters are all very interesting and the adventure in the book was captivating. Definetely a page turner for everyone. I am really looking forward to reading other books by Jennifer Lynne Barnes!

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: East Islip, New York United States

The Hollywood Sisters: Star Quality by Mary Wilcox

As soon as I show up to my new Beverly Hills school, photos of students with celebrities start disappearing faster then the new Gucci bag. But I'm totally innocent. I'm too busy helping Eva land a "real" role, because she's tired of those non-serious movies she always gets offered parts in. And I'm also helping Jeremy look out for an old friend. But it doesn't take a detective like me to know where the finger's pointing. Now I have to add proving I'm not a kleptomaniac to the list of things I have to do. But is it possible the real thief is taking it too far...? To the point where it becomes deadly?

I enjoyed Star Quality. It was a good and entertaining read, while also having a great plot that didn't get too confusing. Mary Wilcox does an excellent job portraying how hard high school can be, and how everyone can be a nice person if you know how to get them to show it. I could easily relate to the characters in the book, because of how the author did a great job of describing each character. An excellent summer read, The Hollywood Sisters: Star Quality should definitely be on your summer reading list.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Casa Grande, Arizona USA

Bloggrls: Book One by Cheryl Dellasega

This book is about a girl whose family is hanging on by a thread. She is trying to recuperate after moving into a new house and starting at a new school. While trying to make new friends and holding on to the old ones, she finds a guy she likes. She tries to ignore the bad things about him. Can she feel unconditional love for a guy with a bad reputation?

I think this book was very interesting and shows the audience love can be tough. I also think this book shows the reader that talking online can be safe and you can communicate with friends in a positive way. I thought the ending was very entertaining because to tell on someone you love and get them into trouble with the law takes a lot of courage, but Sadie stayed strong and got through it all. I also liked how I had a picture of Sadie's gothic sister in my head because the author described her so well. I would recommend this book to people who like to read realistic fiction. I would recommend this book to them because they talk about real life problems teens have.

Rating:8

Reviewer Age:14

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

One Hundred Young Americans by Michael Franzini

One Hundred Young Americans is a compilation reflecting todays youth in America. With ages ranging from 13 to 20, a diverse group of individuals is presented to readers. Every state and nearly every clique is represented by this group as readers will see each individual's story through pictures and writing from author Michael Franzini. The stories from these young people show the width that the American cultural spectrum has stretched. Readers will meet avid skateboarders, high profile athletes, farmers, and even a vampire. Though the youth depicted in the book may present the extremes in our society, they share many things in common. Their generation has been immersed in an era of mass communication. What makes them different is what each person has done with that power.

My initial reaction when I finished this book was: We have come a long way in our cultural development. I really liked how the author gathered an extremely unique group of young people and still managed to tie them all together. Though they may seem to have little in common, readers will be able to see how they all have been affected in a generation of mass communication. My one reservation I have with the book is its validity. Some of the stories from these youth often made me hesitate and think, Is this really how he/she is? It is very difficult to have a complete understanding of each person from the short text regarding each individual, but Franzini's photography definitely enhances the stories. I really hope the book presents these youth as they see themselves and as they wish to be seen. Despite this concern, readers will be able to connect with certain individuals from the reader's own experiences at a certain part in his/her life. This makes each reader's experience different and special in its own right. That said, I recommend this book for readers who will relate to these young people, not to draw conclusions and personal judgments.

Sexual and Drug references

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

Gospel of the Guns by Sean Chandler

This novel is a western with a little bit of religion. Its purpose is to entertain. In the beginning of the novel, Jeremaih Irons is called Judas in the Disciple Gang, led by the crazed Lucif R. Shadows. Each of the members is named after one of the disciples, and they travel the west spreading fear. Jeremiah is then suspected of stealing money from the gang. He must flee for his life after delivering what he thought was a fatal wound to Lucif. While on the run, he must evade the other members of the gang that are bent on revenge. Jeremiah ends up traveling with a preacher to start a new life in Wewoka. On the way, the preacher is shot and Jeremiah pretends to be him. In the town, Jeremiah learns that he has a natural ability to preach, and he meets the love of his life, Hope West. However, ghosts of his past, including Lucif, trace his to Wewoka and threaten to destroy his new life.

I enjoyed reading the novel. There were a few internal conflicts between Jeremiah's instincts and conscience, but it was mainly a western outlaw novel. There was both action and romance. The idea of a gang of outlaws naming themselves after disciples is unique and entertaining without making fun of religion. The plot also had enough twists to keep the story interesting. The ending left room for a sequel, but concluded most of the plot. All in all, the story was fun and action-packed.

This book had lots of violence both explicit and implied. There were some religious references as well, but a non-Christian could still enjoy the story.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Royersford, PA United States

Mia the Melodramatic by Eileen Boggess

In this second Mia Fullerton book written by Eileen Boggess, Mia is just starting off her summer vacation when her mother comes into her bedroom and tells her that she now has a job working at the Little Tyke's Theater of the Arts. Her whole summer and her plans are totally ruined by this and the fact that both her best friend and her boyfriend are going away for the entire summer. She starts her job soon after and realizes how crazy this summer is really going to be. The tyrant toddlers, along with her coworkers which include a punk goth girl with fifteen facial piercings named Zoey, a total hunk named Eric that Mia somewhat knew once upon a time, and this weird vegetarian, caffeine-addicted guy named Henry, help her job to be much more complicated than she had ever expected. Mia and her boyfriend, Tim, get in a fight and he loses all her trust and she then starts to realize how hot Eric really is. But when Tim comes home for the summer Mia is torn between whom to love. Tim, her neighbor who she has shared many memories with, or easy-going Eric who is easy to love and seems to always be there for her. So, the only question floating inside her mind is, which one to choose?

Mia the Melodramatic is the fantastic sequel to Mia the Meek. I enjoyed how this book was totally unique compared to the first novel in the Mia Fullerton Series. It was very interesting and it had me guessing what would happen next, right from the start. There was a lot of different events that took place throughout the story that kept the plot very enjoyable. I thought it was funny how she had to be playhouse pal and take care of the bratty children at her job and solve all the problems that occurred from their mischievous acts. I liked how they author made all of them characters have very unique personalities from one another and showed how they would interact with one another. I also enjoyed how the author wrote about the common pranks that each set of siblings tend to pull on one another; it kept the plot fresh. Mia the Melodramatic is a laugh-out-loud read that I recommend to young teens around middle school age.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA United States

The Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein

On June 21st, 1958, a Greyhound bus collided with a Thunderbird convertible, killing all the bus passengers, the driver of the car, and a motorcycle cop on the scene. This event happened on a road in Connecticut, where County Route 13 meets State Highway 31. Also known as the Crossroads.

Fifty years later, eleven year old Zack Jennings moves into the house nearest the Crossroads. Even though his mother died a few years earlier, and he lives in fear that her ghost will come back to haunt him, Zack feels that things are starting to get better for him. He has a nice new step-mom, a new dog, and a new, hopefully happy, life.

Unfortunately for Zack, there is a tree by his house, with a white cross and twelve white roses next to it. This tree just happens to be haunted by the spirit of the man responsible for the fatal bus crash . When the tree is struck by lightning, he is released back into the world, where he can kill people again. And it just so happens young kids (like Zack) are his new targets.

If you're looking for a book that's slightly scary, but also has a light, humorous side, I'd recommend that you read The Crossroads. It had enough scary ghost stuff to make you feel like you're being watched, but also plenty of funny moments. It was just a little bit mysterious, so it keeps you thinking about what's going to happen next (what else would you expect from an author whose last name means gravestone in German!) It had an exciting plot, and plenty of unique characters. It wasn't like any other book I've ever read.

I do have to add that all the characters made the storyline a bit confusing. It was a little overwhelming for me to keep track of all those characters, but all their stories come together by the ending.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Tarpon Springs, Florida United States

Death by Bikini by Linda Gerber

Aphra Connolly seems like the luckiest girl in the world. She lives on a beautiful island resort where she gets to spend her time in the company of the rich and famous. Although, living on an island leaves few opportunities for her to meet people her own age. So when the cute Adam Smith and his family arrive, Aphra is beyond excited. The thing is, the day after the Smith's check-in, a girl is found dead on the beach, with the strings of her bikini top tied around her neck. Is this too much of a coincidence? Could Adam and his family be responsible for the murder? Aphra will have to discover the truth before it's too late.

I thought that this was a really refreshing read. It has been a long time since I read a mystery, and this was the perfect book. It has the right amount of intrigue, suspense, humor and romance. The characters, especially Aphra, are believable and relatable. Aphra is a clever heroine who uses her wit and cunning to find out clues and ultimately save the day. My only qualm with this book is that it needs more plot points. The climax occurred fairly quickly for a mystery. However, there is a sequel, Death By Latte, which should satisfy readers' appetites after this delicious story.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Aston, Pennsylvania United States

Shooting The Moon by Frances O'Roark Dowell

12-year-old Jamie has lived her whole life being told that the Army is the best way. Yet when her brother T.J. enlists in the Medical Corps, her father acts as if he does not want him to join. He constantly tries to get him to change his mind, but to no avail. T.J. is soon shipped out to Vietnam. While working at her summer job at the local rec center, Jamie hears many stories about the horrors of war, but nothing can influence her enough to change her opinion of it. Until one day, T.J. sends her a roll of film from the battlefield. As she develops it in the dark room she starts to see that the Army is not all she thought it was. When a devastating tragedy strikes her family, Jamie's eyes are opened to the terrible truth.


I thought that Shooting the Moon by Frances O'Roark Dowell was very well-written. As war is a rather sensitive subject these days, she did an excellent job making the mood of the book neither pro-war nor anti-war. She just told the truth. I also thought it was a smart choice for her to put the story in first person. It made the book easier to relate to, and you could understand better what the main character's feelings were. I would recommend this book to everyone in upper elementary and older. There are a couple spots of brief, mild profanity. However, it is a very valuable read.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, PA USA