The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

In the country of Panem, one can be killed simply for existing. In fact, ever since the rebellion that almost wiped out the country's government, being born may be a death sentence, at least for children between the ages of twelve and eighteen. It is these children, after all, who risk the most brutal execution imaginable in the form of participation in the Hunger Games, an annual competition in which a randomly selected few are pitted against each other in a brutal fight to the death.

Unfortunately for Katniss Everdeen, she is one of these unlucky few. As if life wasn't already hard enough for her, she suddenly finds herself with the whole world working towards her death. Sure, she's smart and good with a bow-- but is that enough to help her survive amongst trained killers and a bloodthirsty audience?

This is quite possibly one of the best new books of 2008. Not only is it impossible to put down, it's also impossible to stop thinking about-- but with a plot like this one, that's a given. This is one book that doesn't rely entirely on plot, however. Collins amazes with brilliant choices in writing style and character, electing to use the ceaseless excitement and suspense of present tense and expertly steering her characters away from the cliches that would be so easy to fall into. There's never a dull moment, and the large print makes this a quick and satisfying read, a perfect addition to the genre of dystopian fiction.

Many violent deaths, some described in detail

Reviewer Age: 16
Reviewer City, State and Country: , Maryland United States

Score! Sports Stories by Alan Durant

Score! Sports Stories by Alan Durant is a collection of different short stories about sports. The book includes extracts of other books and complete short stories. Each story in the book is unique and they're all about different kinds of sports. There are stories on soccer to stories on horseracing to stories on cricket. This book is great for anyone who enjoys playing or watching sports.

Being passionate about sports myself, I really enjoyed this book. It does a great job of accurately portraying the energy in a sports match. Each story had a different writing style, as they were all written by different authors. Although the book was pretty good, some of the stories were confusing and didn't seem very clear. Others were not very captivating and didn't really hold my attention until the end. Overall, Score! was an interesting book and is perfect for sports fans.

Rating:7

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Champaign , Illinois USA

As Good as Anybody: Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham

As Good as Anybody: Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Joshua Heschel's Amazing March Toward Freedom by Richard Michelson and illustrated by Raul Colon is about the early life and beliefs of King and Heschel. King grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and encountered racism everyday. Herschel
encountered anti-Semitism as a student in Berlin and Warsaw. He moved to the United States before the Holocaust. Both King and Herschel fought tirelessly against prejudice. Herschel joined King's march in Selma, Alabama. The two became close friends.

I give As Good as Anybody: Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Joshua Heschel's Amazing March Toward Freedom a rating of 7. Richard Michelson's book is a good introduction to the Black Civil Rights Movement and the Holocaust. I enjoyed how the author parallels the lives of King and Herschel. Perhaps because I am older, I was not the best judge of this book, but I always find it interesting to see what facts authors include and what facts they omit. For example, the author never mentions the Holocaust by name. The illustrator, Raul Colon, does a wonderful job with the pictures. They are very realistic. I would recommend this book for early elementary school students

Reviewer Age:18

Reviewer City, State and Country: Urbana, Illinois, USA

Over A Thousand Hills I Walk With You by Hanna Jansen

Over a Thousand Hills I Walk With You is the true story of Jeanne, a young girl growing up in Rwanda. At the start of the book, she lives a normal, happy life in Rwanda with her family. Until one fateful day, on April 7, 1994, the Rwandan genocide begins. Jeanne and her family are Tutsi, the group of people that are being prosecuted. Suddenly, Jeanne and her family must fight for their lives. The genocide lasts for only a hundred days, but those days decide the fate for Jeanne and her family.
At the end of the book there is a historical timeline of dates and events to put Jeanne's story in context.

I would recommend this book to any person, particularly young adults. It is not a light subject matter, but the book does not have graphic descriptions and is approachable for all people. The book is unforgettable and deeply moving. It is a story of courage, love, and survival, and a story of death, destruction, and anger. But, most importantly, the book gives hope for the future. The translation was very smooth and I enjoyed the writing style.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Urbana, Illinois USA

Rating: 9

Content Rating: 0

A Likely Story by David Van Etten

Mallory is born, bred and has grown up on the sets of soap operas. Her mother is the star of long running soap, Good as Gold. For Mallorys 17 years she has stuck by her mom. Mallorys mom leads the drama queen life on and of the set of the soap opera. And without knowing it, Mallory does too. At school she has one best friend, Amelia, in whom she confides everything and does nothing without. Mallory has an on/off boyfriend; only he is in a troubled relationship that he cant get out of. Drama. Drama. Drama. As if that wasnt enough, when Mallory blogs about her life on the internet, she is picked up by a television company, as a scrip writer. The thing is that it is the same company that her mother works for and subsequently all hell breaks loose. Her mother no longer talks to her and writing a show for the soap opera audience proves harder than she thought. Everyone knows that when one part of your life starts going right, another falls to the ground!

This was one of those books that you finish and think
"Oh is that it." For a story that could have been so big I don't think this book climaxed to much. It was set in and around Mallory's home, school and her new workplace; the soap opera sets. Mallory is defiantly the sort of character that one could relate to if she were not so mallow dramatic, everything is always a problem and nothing is ever going right. But the author does write all her feelings with great description, so you can get a good insight into her world. I also thought he wrote the relationships involving Mallory very well. The idea of this book caught me, painful mother, exciting job opportunity, strange school life and there is no doubt that this all happened but it was all a little less stimulating than expected. Likely Story was obviously in the genre of teenage but compared to other books, I believe there is a lot better out there.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Melbourne, Victoria Australia

Generation Dead by Daniel Waters

We have Phoebe, an average high school Goth, her best friend Margi who is just like her, Adam her other best friend who is a star football player, and Tommy the “living impaired”. The story takes place at a high school where some strange happening is occurring and where a teenager comes back to life after dying. They are known as "zombies", "living impaired", and "biotically different". Some characters in this book support the "zombies", some deal with them, and some can't stand them. Some of them live regular lives; they eat, walk, talk, go to school, and some are a little slow. The main topic in the story is the love triangle between Phoebe, Adam, and Tommy. However there are many other characters such as Margi, Pete, Karen, and Colette that play a major role.
Generation Dead starts out as an “ok” book that somewhat keeps your interest. It definitely is not your regular novel! Throughout this book it gets a little dull but I got my interest back by the last few chapters and the ending was phenomenal! About the last 150 pages I couldn't put it down! There was suspense, intense emotions, and just amazing lines that gave me chills! Some parts were a little confusing but it was just because the plot was so different. This was Daniel Waters’s first book and there may be some spots where it could have been better, but overall it was good. Walters has a way of writing in a way that connects to teenagers. I hope there is a sequel to this book because it definitely leaves you wondering what is going to happen next. Be sure to pick this up for a summer read!
This book contains some adult content that I think would be suitable only for readers over the age of 13. The book includes two murders and some other adult situations.
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States

How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier

How to Ditch Your Fairy is about a made-up country called New Avalon, where everyone has a fairy. Charlie is stuck with a dreadful parking fairy and thinks that it is utterly unfair. People are constantly barrowing er when they have to go somewhere with potentially bad parking. Why is she loaded down with her fairy instead of her friends shopping fairy, which makes sure she always find the most flattering outfits at the lowest prices? Or the self explanatory "never-get-in-trouble" fairy? Or better yet, the "every-boy-likes-you" fairy? She cant figure it out. She decides to trade fairies with Fio, her arch-nemesis who has an "every-boy-likes-you" fairy. Will it be any better??? Find out in How to Ditch Your Fairy.

I can honestly say that this book was as good or better than my favorite series Magic or Madness written by the same author. It was by far the best fantasy book that I have ever read, possibly the best book I have ever read. It had an extremely different vocabulary though; a lot of the words were author originals. Read this book only if you are okay with flipping back and forth from the story to the glossary. I am planning on recommending it to all of my friends.

Reviewer Age:11

Reviewer City, State and Country: Exeter, NH USA

Sorceress of the Himalayas by Ketaki Shriram

Tien Ming, a girl of mixed race, is sent on a dangerous journey to find a missing spellbook. An evil Force that is taking over wants the book too; it would kill to possess the power, wealth, and immortality the book contains. Tien needs to find the book with the help of her two friends, a golden snow leopard and an owl, to save the good in the world. Tien struggles with bullies, evil forces, and betrayal. On her journey she displays bravery and perseverance. By the time her quest is over, will Tien be able to distinguish the Force with the spellbook or will she be taken over by the Force?

When I first found out that Ketaki Shriram, the author of Sorceress of the Himalayas, was only thirteen years old when she wrote the book, I thought that it may not be too good. However, I soon discovered that it was a magnificent story with a strong plot line. There were many twists and turns in the events that made the book a page-turner. Sorceress of the Himalayas was a quick read, and it was worth it. I liked how there were several genres including fantasy, adventure, and action within the story. The vocabulary was surprisingly advanced for a thirteen year old writer, but it was perfect for a young adult reader. I recommend young readers who like adventure stories to read this book.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States of America

Aurelie by Heather Tomlinson

This is a faerie tale story about Aurelie and her friends and among them, a river dragon. These friends share a very unusual talent; they can see magical creatures. But one day, their secret gift is exposed, and everything changes in their world. The story evolves as the friends grow up and loose touch with each other. But when war threatens Princess Aurelie's country, she needs to reunite with her childhood friends to save the day and their friendship.

Aurelie is a novel of magic, adventure, friendship and romance. Tomlinson did a nice job creating a completely new world of creatures and places. Being a total faerie tale fan, Aurelie was right up my alley. I immediately liked the main character, Aurelie, for her confidence, bravery and wit. The plot was exciting and the twists kept me interested the whole time. I liked the characters, but I wish that Tomlinson had developed the personalities and their relationships with a little bit more detail and color. Sometimes parts were too predictable, and lacked background. But in the end, I thought Aurelie was an entertaining faerie tale, and I hope there will be a sequel or perhaps a prequel.

Reviewer Age:17

Reviewer City, State and Country: Phoenix, MD United States

Love and Lies by Ellen Wittlinger

Marisol Guzman attends a "How to Write Your First Novel" class and mets a guy, named Gio, who falls in love with her, although she is a lesbian. She is stunned, but soon Marisol sees the teacher, Olivia Frost, and immediately she is head over heels in love with her! Marisol’s life is further complicated when a friend, Lee, who is newly out of the closet, is also attracted to Marisol. Will Marisol find love or will she be disappointed to find she wasn’t looking hard enough?

This book is very good although other people might think differently, especially if they are not open to the sexuality. The author’s details handle it well and the book is very good at “filling in the blanks” about each character. Ellen Wittlinger defines each character by making their thoughts and conversations really realistic. For me it was an interesting read, because I have never read a book quite like it.

There is a lot of sexuality and sexual references in the book.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, PA U.S.A

High Dive

With her father dead and her mother constantly in danger
in Iraq, Arden is anything but your average teen. Being a
military brat, she's never lived in one place for more
than two years. However, she feels like her roots lie in
the little house in Sardinia. When her mother decides to
sell her only home, Arden plans a trip to say goodbye to
her vacation house. On the way, she meets a group of fun-
loving college girls who convince her to join them on
their adventure to Europe. Trying to forget the danger
her mother constantly faces, she accepts and has a very
eye-opening trip with her new friends. This is a
fictional novel, but is based off of very real and very
serious events. Arden is faced with old memories and new
friendships on her mental and physical journey.

High
Dive is a moving book based on serious issues. The
emotion in the book was present, but not as strong as I
had hoped for. It was a fairly slow paced read but had an
interesting story line that always kept me alert. There
was a huge amount of description however; it did become
somewhat dull in certain passages. The story was unique
and the characters were well defined and easy to connect
with. Although most of the story was sad, I was very
pleased with every way the author tied off the book. I
enjoyed this book and would recommend it to someone who
wants an eye-opening book set in modern day
issues.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and
Country: Richmond, Virginia USA

The Shadow Isle by Katherine Kerr

The Shadow Isle is a captivating sequel to The Spirit Stone. The Medieval setting, magic realm, and Celtic background keeps you hooked. As you follow a ruined trumpet's journey you see how different this world really is. Enj, Angmar's eldest son, delivers the broken trumpet to the dragon Rori who delivers it to a powerful dweomor user. Then Valanrdorio appeals to the spirit of the Lady of the North upon Earth to fix the trumpet. Once the trumpet is fixed, Enj blows it and returns his Island back to its original dimensions. When they return home, outsiders try to force them to join their religious cult. It's Human, Elves, and Dragons against horsekins raids and traders.

The Author wrote this book in order to answer questions from the previous book but leave enough doors open to add a fourth book to the series. Katherine Kerr shows great use of imagery and Celtic culture. You can defiantly tell Celtic Culture is a proud spot in Katherine's life. Every time I picked up the book I felt like I was really there. After reading the previous book you have high expectations. This book exceeded all of them. Fans of fantasy and Sci-Fi books like Lord of the Rings and Eragon will defiantly love reading this book. It left me eager for the fourth and you will be to.

Reviewer Age:11

Reviewer City, State and Country: Germantown, TN United States

Rating: 10

Content Rating: 1

It's A Money Thing by Women's Foundation of California

"It's a Money Thing," is a non-fiction book, aimed at girls and young women, to teach them about money management. It teaches how to successfully start a business, put money into a savings account (and the benefits of doing so), and even buy and manage stocks. The book also demonstrates how to figure taxes, cost of living, and even provides job ideas and benefits. This book is a fill-in-the-blank book, and there are many useful activities. For example, you can pick out a job, salary, home, car, and then see how taxes affect the money you have to save or spend.

I absolutely loved this book. The way that money matters were explained made sense. Income tax, salary, sales tax, all these things used to be a mystery to me. With the help of "It's a Money Thing," I now have a better understanding because I applied the exercises to my life. I am now running my lawn-mowing and babysitting jobs like a business and managing my profits more effectively. "It's a Money Thing" is a great tool for all young women!

Reviewer Age: 13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Renton, Washington USA

Whirlwind by David Klass

Jack Danielson saved the oceans in his previous adventure, Firestorm. This time he needs to unite his own friends Gisco and Eko with natives in the Amazon Rainforest. His girlfriend, P.J., has been kidnapped from her home and everyone blames Jack. He travels to the rainforest to seek out his girlfriend along with the mysterious future wizard, Kidah, who holds the key to saving the rainforest. In the mist of it all, Jack faces an evil man who is much more cruel than Dargon, whom he defeated to save the oceans. His name is Colonel Aranha, and he is the father of Dargon. If Jack can't find Kidah and P.J. then the whole future may be destroyed. It's up to Jack again, the son of Dann, to lead the present into a safe future.

David Klass has shown an amazing need to save the oceans in his book Firestorm. He does the same thing in its sequel, Whirlwind. The book has details about what would happen to the Earth if our rainforests ever disappeared and they make me want to protect them as much as I can. Once again, Klass kept my attention throughout the entire book. There were only a few slow spots, including the beginning. However, I expected there to be smaller events in the plot that weren't included. One thing I didn't like was that the exciting events were normally short and the more boring events were held out longer than needed. Whirlwind was a great addition to the Caretaker Trilogy, and I look forward to reading the third book in the series when it comes out. I do recommend this book overall to anyone who has Firestorm.

Rating:9

Reviewer Age:15

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

Haridama by Atsushi Suzumi

Kokuyo and Harika have been best friends since they were young. They are also Obsidians. Obsidians are the lowest of the low when it comes to wizards. They have to have a special sword in order to do magic. Together, they want to become the greatest wizards ever, but they must face some challenges. Can the power of friendship help them follow their dreams?

Haridama is a great manga (Japanese comic book) to read. The book is very well drawn and written. In some mangas that I have read, you couldn’t tell the difference between some of the characters, and you couldn’t tell who said what. With Haridama, the pictures were clean and clear, and all the characters looked different. I truly enjoyed the experience of reading this book. The plot line was ingenious, and a little bit cliche. It had a lot of things that other mangas have, such as how the characters seemed like so many others that I have read about. Atsushi Suzumi is a great mangaka (Japanese comic creator), and I would not hesitate to read anything else by her. I can’t wait to read the next book in the Haridama series!

Some swearing and magic

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Shippensburg, Pennsylvania USA

Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Jonah was adopted when he was a child, but he never
minded. His parents were very open with him about it. He
and his friend were playing basketball when Jonah received
a mysterious letter without a return address. He thought
it was a prank letter. Then, he found out that Chip, his
friend, received one also. Chip asked his parents if he
was adopted as well, and they tell him he was. Now, Jonah
and Chip are out to find who is sending them the
mysterious letters. However, they discover a plot that
they must unravel before it is too late.

Margaret Peterson Haddix has written another wonderful book. It
kept me up all night; I couldnt put it down until I had
finished it! The characters were very well thought out
and each had their own distinct personality and thoughts.
The plot was engaging and mysterious. The ending was a
little abrupt. But, it made me want to read the next one
even more! I cant wait for another Haddix masterpiece in
The Missing series!

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Shippensburg, PA USA

Physics: Why Matter Matters By Dan Green

PHYSICS: WHY MATTER MATTERS is a great way to learn about physics. This books takes all the boring, dragging parts of a physics lesson and turns them upside down. The best parts of this fun-loving book are the characters. Dan Green came up with fun cartoon illustrations to personify certain physics terms. For instance, Sound (from the Wave Gang) is a character who wears a yellow jumpsuit and has a large stereo speaker for a head. Along with each awesome doodle is a paragraph about the element. Boring? Hardly! The paragraph is written from the perspective of the doodle. X-ray (from the Light Gang) admits, "I am an electromagnetic peeping Tom." At the bottom of each page, four interesting facts are given (e.g., inventor, date of discovery, etc.), and a Glossary in the back helps define the tough terms.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about physics from a kid-friendly but not dumbed-down point of view. Even if you're a physics whiz, you'll enjoy this book just for the illustrations and text. And it's not just for kids  readers from age 12 on up to their teachers will like this book. If you're not too keen on science or if learning about physics makes you nervous, this is definitely the book for you. I think this is a great resource because the pictures are memorable, and it would be helpful to use when studying for tests.

Reviewer Age:12

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

Demon In MY View by Amila Atwater Rhodes

Think you know about vampires? What if everything you knew
as fiction was true! In the anticipated sequel to In the
Forest of the Night, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes introduces
Jessica, a gothic human who is a descendant from an ancient
and powerful vampire. Jessica, under the name of Ash Night,
writes popular vampire novels, which are all turn out to be
true. With no inside knowledge Jessica manages to portray
all the violent and intriguing vampire/witch tales just as
they happened. This is far from ideal for the secrecy of the
vampire world. When Aubrey (remembered from In the Forest of
the Night) shows up at Jessica's school, she knows
undoubtedly that he is the charming, attractive character
from her book. Her publications have caused a stir in the
vampire world and Aubrey has come to kill her but finds he
can't. Jessica meets Carolyn Smoke, a safe witch who tries
to help her, and Fala, another vampire who is set out to
kill her. As Jessica delves further into the darkness of
vampire's bloody streets she faces understanding of her past
and great choices dictating her future.

Before reading the second book from Atwater-Rhodes I
thought I knew what I was in for but I was surely wrong.
Expecting another vamp vs. vamp novel I was pleasantly
surprised to find this novel different. I really liked that
this book was set from a teenager's point of view. I liked
the aspects of school life for Jessica and how the author
included the vampires into this setting. Amelia
Atwater-Rhodes explained in great detail the emotions
Jessica felt but could have added more description to the
surroundings to enhance visual images in your mind. In
comparison to the first book in the series I preferred Demon
in My View as I thought it had a faster pace that kept the
pages turning. This was another easy to read book that was
constantly spooky and captivating. A great read for anyone
who enjoyed reading the first book in the series.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country:
Melbourne , Victoria Australia

Boys Are Dogs

Boys are a lot like puppies; they drool, they make messes, they can be cute and annoying. Annabelle just started middle school and already she feels like she is in over her head. Elementary school is nothing compared to Birchwood Middle School. Her mom has a new boyfriend, she is living in a new house with new friends, her puppy is hard to handle and don't get her started on the boys at school! If only summer camp lasted forever! How is Annabelle ever going to survive?
I thought the book was cute and funny. The characters' personalities were amusing. Her puppy melted my heart! I think any girl going into middle school can relate and learn from Annabelle. Leslie Margolis is a creative writer; in the book she compares the boys to Annabelle's puppy. Annabelle bribed the boys with treats just like she does with Stripe her puppy.
I would give this book four stars.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Renton, WA USA

The Host

The Host by Stephenie Meyer is an intriguing story through the eyes of an alien, called Wanderer. Wanderer has the appearance of a beautiful glowing worm, but is unable to sustain life without a host body. Wanderer gets placed in the body of Melanie Stryder, a determined human girl who is unwilling to give up her body. At first Wanderer is fighting to erase Melanie completely, and Melanie is trying to get Wanderer to leave. But, as the story goes on Wanderer and Melanie begin to enjoy each others' company. Wanderer begins to see life through a human's eyes and starts to feel sorry for them. She even falls in love with the human race.
The Host is an exciting and interesting book. Seeing life from an alien's perspective makes you reflect on your every day senses, such as smell and touch. You never think twice about your senses, but a vivid description from something that has never been able to smell before, makes you consider at it differently. This book will toy with all your emotions; it will make you angry, sad, depressed, and eventually happy. This is a personal favorite in my library. I have read numerous books and rarely find a book this enjoyable. It is well written and has a plot that will keep your interest. In the beginning of the book you may find yourself hating the main character, Wanderer, rooting for Melanie to overcome the alien invading her; but as you continue reading you cannot help but fall in love with her as Melanie does. I would strongly suggest this book to anyone that is looking to read something new and unique. It is unlike anything I have read, causing an inner conflict that is both frustrating and enjoyable.
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Lemoore, CA US

Visibility by Sarah Neufeld

Visibility by Sarah Neufeld tells the story of a girl struggling to understand herself and the people around her. One thing separates her from sharing this situation with her peers: on her eighteenth birthday, Natalie discovers that that she has a superpower of sorts - she can turn invisible. With her bodyguard sitting in for her absent father and her mother, Jadyn, acting invisible in more ways than one, it's no surprise that Natalie is unsure of how to deal with her new ability. After spending years in the infamous Jadyn Irving's shadow, Natalie strives to keep her talent hidden, but this proves to be more of a challenge than she expects. Caught up in a world of blackmail, deception, and absent family, Natalie must learn how to use this ability to discover truth, without endangering her own life and the lives of those around her.

As an illustrated novel, Sarah Neufeld's Visibility falls in between graphic novels and common novels. Less intimidating than a graphic novel, it has the potential to introduce otherwise cautious readers to the genre. As someone who is always trying to convince her friends to try out a graphic novel, I am thankful to find a book I know they won't regret reading. Furthermore, Meister's illustrations are extraordinary, adding to the vividness of the plot without distracting from the text.

Neufeld skillfully merges the power of invisibility into her work of fiction so that Visibility remains accessible to readers of all genres, not just fantasy. Told from Natalie's perspective, the reader feels her panic at being caught by her bodyguard after sneaking out and even experiences invisibility with her. While Visibility won't take long to read thanks to the fast-paced plot and frequent illustrations, it will leave the reader with a first-rate impression of illustrated novels that will linger for days to come.

Reviewer Age:19

Reviewer City, State and Country: Farmington, CT USA

Kamichama Karin Chu

Karin Hanazono is your normal girl until she receives a ring that can turn her into a goddess. A young boy named Suzune comes from the future asking for her help. Karin and the boy she is in love with, Kazune, must find the three noble gods to help Suzune. Although a mysterious girl tries to interfer with Karin finding the last god, they still pull through. Unfortunately, Kazune and Karin's friend, Himeka, are departing for England leaving Karin behind. Now, Karin has to wait for Kazune's return while having to take care of Suzune.

In Kamichama Karin Chu the main characters sometimes seemed a bit over-dramatic, but overall, despite the odd situation, the reader could relate to them. Kamichama Karin Chu is the sequel to Kamichama Karin, so without reading the first book in the series, this book could become a bit confusing. The characters all had wonderful designs, and provided a contrast to each other with their distinct personalities. Not everything is entirely explained, but that is to be expected, as more secrets will be revealed in the next volume. The majority of this book maintains a cheerful tone with quite a bit of comedy. Kamichama Karin Chu is a comic book from Japan, so anyone who hasn't read one before will find it an interesting experience. Anyone who likes magic and romance would enjoy this book.

Suggestive themes

Reviewer Age:15

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

The Truth by Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein

Every girl knows it can be tough to communicate with Mom, especially during adolescence. The times when a girl needs motherly advise the very most are often the times that communication seems impossible! Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein's book, The Truth: I'm a girl, I'm smart and I know everything, tackles the delicate issues behind mother-daughter relations. This simple narrative is written as a young girl's diary, and is followed by a set of questions that inspire reflection on the book. In her introduction, Dr. Holstein expresses her wish for mothers and daughters to read the book together. As a psychologist, the intention of her book is to help mothers and girls recognize that what we know growing up is just as important as what we learn later in life. This straightforward story can do just that.

This book is not for everyone. Younger girls, ages 9 to 11, will enjoy The Truth for its relevance to their lives, though more mature readers would most likely tire of the juvenile writing style. Each journal entry is very brief and to the point, and there is very little characterization or detail. Though I would not recommend this book somebody looking for a good read, I think it could be a fundamental method of obtaining that communication with Mom that every girl desires.

Reviewer Age:15

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

Rating: 6

Content Rating: 1

Hunter's Heart by Julia Green

Death changes everything. At least that's how it is for Simon when his dad dies. His pain drives him farther and farther away from his mother and sister. Eventually they can't even recognize who he is anymore. To his mother's dismay, he takes up the extreme hobby of hunting, using slingshots and air rifles. Although she tries to change him, it never works. Then Leah comes along. As Simon grows closer to Leah, his mother begins to see Simon's art teacher, Matt. With Leah's help, Simon begins to grow and change into the person his mom tried to make him before. Although the process is slow, he begins to feel almost normal with his family again, like when his dad was around. Simon develops feelings for Leah, but she doesn't feel the same way; she falls in love with Matt instead. She begins to work for him which makes Simon angry. He follows her to Matt's house one day. The whole time, his anger builds up until he commits the ultimate extreme. That day changes everything for Simon. He realizes the mistake that he has made and finally begins to change, but is it too late for Leah and Matt?

I had high hopes for Hunter's Heart, but it fell short of what I was expecting. The book isn't something to read straight through, but to read in small doses. The author, Julia Green, uses such strong emotion that it becomes overwhelming. Although it is powerful, it gets monotonous very quickly. Every single day Simon is angry and in pain. At first his pain is realistic, but as the book progresses it gets to be overdone. Instead of giving the reader his emotion in doses, Julia Green gives it to you very vividly at the beginning. Since his feelings don't change drastically through the course of the book, it gets to be overdone. The changes that he goes through are extremely gradual that it makes you lose interest. I felt that the author left the book open enough that she could have taken it in many directions. Throughout Hunter's Heart there was a mysterious feel to it and I think that if it had gone in that direction, it would have been more interesting for the reader. Overall, Hunter's Heart is a book about how emotions can grow out of control and drive you to the edge of what you can handle, but it falls short of being the powerful book it could have been.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Champaign , IL USA

Sucks To Be Me by Kimberly Pauley

Mina Hamilton has an important decision to make. Her parents are vampires, and she's just discovered that she has one month to decide whether or not she wants to become a vampire too. She can't tell her best friend Serena anything that's going on, and she has to attend "vampire classes" to learn about her new life. As if being a teenager and trying to get her crush at school to notice her isn't hard enough. But Mina knows she has to make the right decision, one that could change her life forever.

This book was an okay read. I was curious to see how the author, Kimberly Pauley, would fashion her vampires because vampires are a hot subject right now in literature. I wanted to see if these vampires would be completely unique or if they would follow with traditional vampire mythology and I found that it was a little bit of both. The book was corny at times, and Mina tries too hard to be funny. But she's still a good character with a interesting decision before her: to stay alive or to become one of the living "un-dead". It's nice to see someone take a tough decision in stride and add humor to a somewhat somber situation. The book was cute, but definitely not hard-hitting literature.

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

Dark Powers Collection by Bill Myers

In Bill Myers' Dark Power Collection, Rebecca and Scott Williams have recently moved with their mother to a new neighborhood, attending high school after spending years in the heart of the Brazilian wilderness. As a result, they are the outsiders at first: unwelcome and unwanted in a cliquish and petty clan of teenagers who dabble in witchcraft and shamanism. But Rebecca and Scott have something no one else in the entire school has, something that scares the living daylights, so to speak, out of the demons encircling the area: good, old Christian faith. And no evil demon can top that. When the spirits begin to get out of hand, Rebecca and Scott must use that trump card to fight the demonic invaders that have pervaded their town and school.

While the lessons Myers attempts to underscore for impressionable young Christian minds in an increasingly faithless world is admirable, they were too mired in a host of shortcomings. It was laughably prejudiced against all faiths and people not Protestant Christian. Everyone, it seems, is either evil or jumping to convert. Further, Myers' portrayal of women could spur a feminist uprising. Although at first Rebecca's fallible nature makes her seem more human, her damsel-in-distress syndrome grows tiresome after the umpteenth time she fails to adequately defend herself from outside forces. In fact, every female character is grossly flawed in some way, being either treacherous or too easily corrupted; none can compare to the valiant Scott Williams or the heroic and sturdy Ryan Riordan who lacks any sense of depth of character and whose sole purpose in the novel appears to be shepherding around Rebecca in her wheel chair or saving her from what are literally the school children from Hell.

Although the novel may appeal to those more partial to the Christian genre, I felt the entire novel read like something from a fire and brimstone sermon. It appears as if the author is only concerned with getting his message across; maintaining some semblance of believability and political correctness simply did not cross his mind. The message, by the way, is as subtle as someone hitting you over the head with a Bible, and frankly, I would have preferred a literal Bible thumping to Myers' figurative one.

Reviewer Age:17

Reviewer City, State and Country: Bellevue, Washington, USA

The Dimension Next Door by Martin H. Greenberg & Kerrie Hughes

The Dimensions Next Door is a book composed of 14 sci-fi short stories. Each story tells of a made up alternate universe or world. The stories may come off a little strange, but definitely keep you hooked. From forever-living Benjamin Franklin to 2nd and 3rd Earth, this book will fill your imagination with unique alternatives to reality. Each story is completely different so it never ceases to amaze. If you like 2001: Space Odyssey or The Twilight Zone you with definitely love this book.

This book was an amazing sci-fi collection. I believe it was made to show readers that life isn’t always what it seems. It definitely made me rethink a few ideas myself. I think all the stories were well written and extremely creative. I understood all the grammar techniques and vocabulary usage. The imagery was vivid and thought provoking. Every time I read the book I felt like I was there. I would definitely recommend this book to many people. I would like them to read about how this world could be different.

Rating:8

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Germantown, TN United States

Hit Me With Your Best Shot by Raina Lee

This book is a nonfiction book about karaoke. However, the author means karaoke for adults in bars, not basic kids' karaoke. It starts with some history. It moves on to songs and stage presence. There is even a part with interesting facts. I didn't know that there was a karaoke championship!

I was disappointed with this book. It was meant for adults, so I couldn't connect with what the author wrote. My favorite part was the section about the karaoke world championship. It was interesting to read about people who are serious about singing besides pros. Another interesting part was the vocabulary section. Who knew that there were so many words to describe karaoke?

Mentions adult topics

Reviewer Age:12

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

The Science Fiction Hall of Fame by Ben Bova

The Science Fiction Hall Of Fame: Volume Two B, edited by Ben Bova, contains eleven science fiction novellas written between 1928 and 1961. These stories were written before the Nebula Award was created for best science fiction novella of the year. The stories are listed below, with a quick summary of the plot in one or two sentences.

The Martian Way, by Isaac Asimov - the government of Earth limits the shipment of water to the people of Mars and they have to find an alternative water source.

Earthman, Come Home, by James Blish - is about earth people who wander from planet to planet, only to find a planet that is occupied by other earth people who have a harsh and cruel slavery system. Will the newcomers ever make the planet their own?

Rogue Moon, by Algis Budrys - a project to place an astronaut on the dark side of the moon either kills them or drives them insane. Dr. Edward Hawks needs someone who is not afraid of death, but what will that person's personality be like?

The Spectre General, by Theodore Cogwell - is about what happens when the remnants of two empires meet.

The Machine Stops, by E.M. Foster - answers the question of what would happen if humans were controlled by a machine and that machine stopped.

The Midas Plague, by Frederik Pohl - is about a society where poor people must be constant consumers. Can Morey break the vicious cycle of the people being forced to consume everything?

The Witches of Karres, by James H. Schmitz - Captain Pausert of the Republic of Nikkeldepain tries to return three witches from the planet Karres to their home with mysterious consequence.

E for Effort, by T.L. Sherred - Two men, Edward Lefko and Miguel Jose Zapata Laviada use a machine that records all of history in order to make movies. What happens when they use to the machine to end war forever? This question is answered in E for Effort.

In Hiding, by Wilmar H. Shiras - answers the question of what it would be like to be a genius in a world of regular people.

The Big Backyard, by Clifford D. Simak - Hiram Taine is a regular handyman and antique dealer in Willow Bend in the United States. One night, he discovers that his house is being used by aliens as a connection between the Earth and a distant planet. Find out what happens in the Big Backyard.

The Moon Moth, by Jack Vance - Ser Edwer Thissell has to search for a murderous imposter on a planet where everyone wears a mask.

The Science Fiction Hall of Fame: Volume Two B, edited by Ben Bova, deserves a rating of 9. I have not read a lot of Science Fiction novellas, but these were well written, thoughtful, and entertaining. If you enjoy Science Fiction, you will definitely enjoy this book. I especially enjoyed The Witches of Karres by James H. Schmitz and E for Effort by T.L. Sherred. I enjoyed The Witches of Karres because it was entertaining and fun. I found E for Effort very interesting because it is thoughtful story about the character of human nature. Reading this collection has inspired me to read other books by these Science Fiction authors, such as I, Robot by Isaac Asimov who wrote the story, The Martian Way . The Science Fiction Writers of America chose well when they compiled these novellas into this book.

Reviewer Age:18

Reviewer City, State and Country: Urbana, Illinois 305 E. Sherwin Circle

In the Forest of the Night by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Rachel is a 17 year old girl living with her Father and siblings in 1701, until she is unwillingly turned, to become a blood lusting vampire. She is forced to leave her loving family to enter a world where loneliness, murder and deceit are part of life. With this change she becomes know as Risika. After 300 hundred years, Risika is one of the most powerful vampires on the earth. She stalks the streets of New York City by night searching for prey. But she is being followed, by who, we do not know. Risika’s follower leaves little things that invoke memories of her past years as a human and her first years as a vampire. She uses these flash backs from centuries ago and experiences from her present immortal being to shape her mysterious endeavors gaining power and revenge.

In a powerfully intriguing debut, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes has created a mysterious and captivating vampiristic novel. Although I found the book slow to start, the author formed a great setting for the story, this being the eerie back streets of New York. Everything she wrote was imaginable and presented with strong emotion. In comparison to other vampire books I have read, this one is both similar and different to many others. The stereotypic vampire is upheld but the twist is that witches are vampire hunters. I found this to be a very quick and exciting read that is easily understood without much concentration. In the Forest of the Night is a worthwhile read suited to people who enjoy light yet suspenseful vampire novels.

Amelia Atwater-Rhodes wrote this book when she was 13.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Melbourne , Victoriai i Australia

The Reformed

The Reformed by Christopher Hart is a manga about a vampire who lives among humans. Giancarlo, the vampire, is supposed to drink human blood to survive and stay strong, but he longs to be a normal human, to be able to love Jenny and come out during the day. He saved Jenny from a man who was trying to kill her and almost instantly fell in love with her because she was so beautiful. But a lot of mysterious killings are going on, most of them prostitutes, and the police are worried that it will interfere with the mayor's reelection. Then Detective Frost decides to investigate the murders. He comes up with a lead that Giancarlo is the culprit and Giancarlo is trying to prove that it is not him doing these murders. Can Giancarlo prove that he's innocent and maybe even get the girl to love him back?
I thought this book was amazing. The plot line was perfect and the black and white pictures were easy to read and figure what was going on. It was the type of book that you can read in one sitting once you're immersed. The author achieved his purpose which was to write a manga that was capturing and compelling; the mysterious happenings, the love that Giancarlo has for Jenny, and the element of surprise for readers. All of the characters were interesting and complex. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and will look forward to seeing others follow this one.
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Colleyville, Texas USA

The Summer Palace by Lawrence Watt-Evans

Sword has abandoned all magic. He is on the run from the Wizard Lord and has fled to the Uplands. The Wizard Lord - now a Dark Lord, although the people of Barokan can't see it, has made Sword a wanted man. This Lord has won over the people's trust, but is really deceiving them; he has already killed many of the wizards on the Council of Immortals and most of the Chosen to protect his power and position. Sword must befriend a tribe of Uplanders and learn their ways so he can survive until the winter. Then he will travel to the Summer Palace to fufill his duty to kill the Dark Lord. No one has ever survived an Upland winter. Will he survive to carry out his task?

I read this book without having read the first two books in the series, but I was able to infer much of what I needed; it's great as a stand-alone book. I was amazed, there wasn't much action at all, but the author kept it interesting. Sword's dedication was really astounding, but it also made his character seem to have a one-track mind. There was such detail in the wording that I felt like I could draw the rooms that the author was describing, and that I was really there. Many problems were resolved toward the end, but there are still many loose ends. Another book in the series must be planned! Overall, it was a really good read. I can imagine that it brings a lot of closure to the series, and I look forward to re-reading it after I've read the preceding books.

Reviewer Age:15

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

Promise of the Wolves by Dorothy Hearst

Set in prehistoric times, Promise of the Wolves begins with the birth of Kaala Smallteeth to the Swift River wolf pack in a land called the Wide Valley. She is born of Outsider blood, and bears a strange mark on her chest, circumstances, legends say, which point to the wolf that will save or destroy all of wolf-kind. Ruuqo, the leader of the Swift River pack, does not want to take any chances, and is determined to keep Kaala from officially becoming a member of the pack. Though Ruuqo tries to make it hard for Kaala to succeed as she goes through the pack's rights of passage, she has her friends zzuen, Marra, and the raven Tlitoo to help and support her. Her life takes a dramatic turn when she saves a human girl from drowning in a river. She is powerfully drawn to the girl, but legend says that wolves promise their gods, the Ancients, to have no contact with humans. If they break that promise, the Ancients will lay ruin to their packs. Nevertheless, Kaala continues see the girl TaLi, and by bonding to her she comes to realize that humans and wolves are meant to be together. As she questions the legends and pack knowledge, Kaala must decided what is more important to her, gaining the acceptance of Ruuqo and becoming part of the Swift River pack, or finding a way for humans and wolves to coexist. Promise of the Wolves combines scientific research and fantasy to tell the story of dog's origins, and the beginning of human civilization though the eyes of a wolf.

I have long been a fan of wolves and the animal-fantasy genre, so I expected that reading Promise of the Wolves would be nothing out of the ordinary. I expected another Watership Down, or Julie of the Wolves, but instead I was surprised to find myself reading a new and unique take on the genre. The story is slow, and even dull, for the first several chapters, but by the end, I found myself hooked, wrapped up in an intricate web of legends, politics, relationships, lies, war, and fate. I found myself enjoying the book, but not for the reasons I thought I would have. Instead of liking the book simply for the fact that it was told through the eyes of a young wolf, I enjoyed reading the book because the author was able to deftly weave science into the story's fantastical elements, in addition to supplying enjoyable characters, and an intriguing plot. Promise of the Wolves is based on the theory of the co-evolution of wolves and humans, the idea that humans learned to hunt and form tribes by following the wolves' example. The trilogy, of which this book is the first installment, is a creative explanation of wolves' domestication and the first dog, and while it is grounded in science, the story takes off on its own as a fascinating tale from prehistoric times where wolves were man's equal. The last chapter leaves many questions unanswered and plot threads to tie up, making me impatient to read the next book. I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in wolves, or to anyone who is exploring the animal-fantasy genre.

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country: Concord, MA USA

Zoe's Tale by John Scalzi

Zoe's Tale by John Scalzi is about Zoe Boutin-Perry, a girl living on the colony Huckleberry. Zoe is adopted by John and Jane Perry after her father, Charles Boutin, passes away. She has two bodyguards, Hickory and Dickory, members of the Obin race, to whom she is something of an Queen. They learn how to live by watching her live. One day, Zoe's parents are asked to lead a new colony on the planet Roanoke. The whole family goes. Many people from ten different colonies help to settle Roanoke. However, when they get there, they find out that they are being hunted by the Conclave, a group of alien races that work together to settle the universe. In order to avoid detection, they have to give up all technology. After a year on Roanoke, during which the colonists start from scratch to build themselves a life, they are contacted by the Colonial Union. They discovered that Roanoke is a trap for the Conclave, and that now that the trap is ready, they can use technology again. By using it, however, the Conclave is drawn to them. Will the Colonial Union trap work, or will the Conclave destroy Roanoke? If it does work, how will the Conclave respond? Read Zoe's Tale to find out.

Zoe's Tale is a terrific book. I really connected with the characters, who are so lifelike, they could be real. The author's sense of humor really shows through his characters, and it brings the story to life. I recommend this book to anyone who likes Science Fiction novels. Zoe's Tale receives a ten out of ten.

Reviewer Age:14

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

Rating: 10

Content Rating: 2

Little Vampire by Joann Sfar

Little Vampire is a book in three parts. In Part One, Little Vampire Goes to School, Little Vampire is sad because he is an only child, and therefore very lonely. So, he decides to go to school. He soon comes in contact with a human boy, Michael, who Little Vampire becomes fast friends with. In the next story, Little Vampire Does Kung-Fu, Michael is bullied at school and decides to take up Kung-Fu to defend himself. So Little Vampire and Michael travel very far until they find Rabbi Solomon, a famous Kung-Fu master. In the last part, Little Vampire and the Canine Defenders Club, Little Vampire and Michael discover a laboratory that does testing on dogs. They soon go after the scientists to free the dogs. Will the dogs be freed or will the evil scientists have a new vampire test subject?

Joann Sfar's children's book Little Vampire is a wonderful read. It was very smooth, and everything was wrapped up nicely in the end. It is far better than the Little Witch series by Deborah Hautzig, about the same sort of things. Little Vampire is a very lovable chracter who has some very mature opinions about life and morals. He dealt with the evil scientists in a nonviolent way, and in the other stories the same kind of unpredictable yet sensible things happened. I would recommend this book to others because of the characters and the different happenings.

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

Camp Creepy Time by Gina & Dann Gershon

Einstein P. Fleet is a normal teenage boy who is being forced by his parents to spend his summer in summer camp. Einstein's parents think they are sending him to a luxury camp for eight weeks, but instead of luxury they're sending him to a run-down, abandoned, haunted summer camp in the middle of the desert. While the campers are being turned into mummies, vampires, and werewolves by their evil alien counselors. Einstein will try to save the day with help by his alien friend Roxy.

I think Camp Creepy Time is an amazing book, and I guarantee anyone that reads this book will love it. Everything about the book was great. The biggest strength was the author's use of imagery. The book painted a vivid picture in my mind, which made it easier to follow and also made it seem as if I were inside the book. I couldn't find any weaknesses in this book because I loved everything about it. I think the authors did a great job writing Camp Creepy Time and I am looking forward to reading any future books they will write.

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

Outside Beauty by Cynthia Kadohata

Shelby's mother is an addict, addicted to men, that is. Every night, another man is at their house, forcing Shelby and her three other sisters, Marilyn, Lakey, and Maddie, to take care of themselves. Though the sisters are extremely unique, the bond between them couldn't be stronger. Than one night, their world changed. A serious accident caused the girls to be taken by their respective fathers. Will the bond of sisterhood be strong enough to survive this adversity?

Overall, I liked this book. The strong bond of sisterhood was clearly portrayed throughout the novel. The characters, though related, were as different as anything. From Marilyn, the prettiest and most motherly of the sisters, to Shelby, the different and quiet sister, the characters create a sense of unity and family. From the hardships, such as Maddie's controlling father and the distance between the sisters, it is nice to know that family can overcome anything. That's what this book teaches.

Reviewer Age:15

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

Tigerheart by Peter David

"I believe," says Paul Dear, a young and clever boy. His father tells him tall tales and stories, while his mother fills them with common sense. At night, a young boy appears in his mirror and makes him believe in the Anyplace even more. His mother comes home with a darling little baby girl that is his new sister. When she loses the baby she becomes extremely irritable and does not accept any sort of "I believe" from anyone. Paul Dear travels with a pixie to the Anyplace where he is trying to find a new baby for his mother. Along the way he deals with a deadly pirate's shadow, huge tidal waves, friendship with a tiger, and growing up. Can Paul find a baby to make his mother happy? Can he survive the sometimes nasty Anyplace?

Peter David did a great job remaking Peter Pan . Tigerheart is more about Paul than Peter, however. I really liked the unique differences between the original and this new version because it made me think about growing up in a different way. One thing that I liked sometimes while not at other times was that Peter David talked to you as a reader. I liked it when what he was saying was closely relevant to the story or humorous. Other times he was only saying about how he WASN'T going to tell the reader anything special and took up an entire page. Something else that was a little disappointing was that the actual title of the book wasn't important until more than halfway through, and even then it wasn't as special as it should have been. The vocabulary was appropriate for a young adult level, although the story could actually be fit for anyone to read. I recommend this to anyone who loved Peter Pan and to anyone that loves fairy tales no matter what their age.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 1 4
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States of America

Sweet Valley High: Double Love by Francine Pascal

The book is about twin sisters, Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield, who end up liking the same guy, Todd Wilkins, wide receiver/basketball captain. Jessica is the cheerleading captain and always gets what she wants, especially the boys. Elizabeth is more of a schoolgirl; she writes the insider for the Oracle and does other extra activities for school. She is used to letting her sister get what she wants but when it comes to Todd Wilkins, she is not willing to give him up easily. Jessica deceives her sister, going behind back so Elizabeth will not know that Todd likes her. She gives Todd the impression that Elizabeth has all kinds of boys lined up to date her, to get Todd to like her, Jessica, instead. Jessica almost ruins Elizabeth's reputation, her relationship with Todd, and their sisterhood. Read the book to find out all the conniving things Jessica does to get Todd Wilkins and prevent her sister from taking him.
Gossip! Love! Lies! Rumors! Conniving behind peoples back to get what you want! Backstabbing! Drama! Revenge! Anything you like to read? Great book to add to your summer reading list!

This book was an interesting page-turner. I could not put it down. Some parts of the book were funny and very moving! I felt like I was part of the book and could imagine what was going on throughout the storyline. The storyline was like any basic teenage girl's life, friends or siblings liking the same person and struggling with everyday high school drama. The ending was GREAT and was the prefect way the author could have ended it! This is my favorite book I've read so far and can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Cumming, Georgia United States

Through Time: Beijing by Richard Platt

A group gathers around the campfire. Their clothes are made from animal skins sewn with bone needles. They cook their latest catch - a deer. This is China in 16,000 BC. Fast forward 15,650 years, and there is now a thriving town. This town is called Ji, and sits at the future site of Beijing. In 1215 AD, Genghis Khan and the Mongols conquered China, and named the new capital Dadu. The Mongols were overthrown in 1368 by the Ming Dynasty. The Ming built the Forbidden City and built most of the Great Wall that we see today. Beijing ("Northern Capital") was born. Life in the Forbidden City and nearby Beijing thrived until corruption and neglection by the emperors made the empire weak to foreign attacks. In 1644, the Manchurian people entered the Forbidden City and named their new dynasty Qin. In the 19th century, China was involved in the Opium Wars with Great Britain. During this period, the British looted and burned many temples and buildings. Pu Yi was the last emperor, and was put out of power in 1911. Since then, China changed drastically. In 2008, Beijing, a city with a rich history, will host the Summer Olympics.

This book gives a basic overview of the history of Beijing. Not much specific details are given about the history of China as a whole. There is a timeline on the history of Beijing, which summarizes what the book states. As a 9th grader, I have already been taught about the history of China. Therefore, when I read this book, it feels like a memory-refresher. At times, I feel like the author skipped some information, such as the events that occurred between 350 BCE and 1179 AD. During this time, Qin Shi Huang became the first emperor of China. Therefore, I believe the age level for this book is appropriate. Every page is filled with drawings. Although there are no actual photographs, the artwork provides a great visual imagery. On each page, there are dozens of notes describing what is going on in the pictures. Overall, this is a great starter book for someone who wants to learn about the history of Beijing!

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Palo Alto, CA USA

The Science Fiction Hall of Fame by Ben Bova

The Science Fiction Hall Of Fame: Volume Two B, edited by Ben Bova, contains eleven science fiction novellas written between 1928 and 1961. These stories were written before the Nebula Award was created for best science fiction novella of the year. The stories are listed with a quick summary of the plot in one or two sentences.

The Martian Way, by Isaac Asimov - the government of Earth limits the shipment of water to the people of Mars and they have to find an alternative water source.

Earthman, Come Home, by James Blish - is about earth people who wander from planet to planet and find a planet that is occupied by other earth people who have a harsh and cruel slavery system. Will the newcomers ever make the planet their own?

Rogue Moon, by Algis Budrys - a project to place an astronaut on the dark side of the moon either kills them or drives them insane. Dr. Edward Hawks needs someone who is not afraid of death, but what will that person's personality be like?

The Spectre General, by Theodore Cogwell - is about what happens when the remnants of two empires meet.

The Machine Stops, by E.M. Foster - answers the question of what would happen if humans were controlled by a machine and that machine stopped.

The Midas Plague, by Frederik Pohl - is about a society where poor people must be constant consumers. Can Morey break the vicious cycle of the people being forced to consume everything?

The Witches of Karres, by James H. Schmitz - Captain Pausert of the Republic of Nikkeldepain tries to return three witches from the planet Karres to their home with mysterious consequence.

E for Effort, by T.L. Sherred - Two men, Edward Lefko and Miguel Jose Zapata Laviada use a machine that records all of history in order to make movies. What happens when they use to the machine to end war forever? This question is answered in E for Effort.

In Hiding, by Wilmar H. Shiras - answers the question of what it would be like to be a genius in a world of regular people.

The Big Backyard, by Clifford D. Simak - Hiram Taine is a regular handyman and antique dealer in Willow Bend in the United States. One night, he discovers that his house is being used by aliens as a connection between the Earth and a distant planet. Find out what happens in the Big Backyard.

The Moon Moth, by Jack Vance - Ser Edwer Thissell has to search for a murderous imposter on a planet where everyone wears a mask.

The Science Fiction Hall of Fame: Volume Two B, edited by Ben Bova, deserves a rating of 9. I have not read a lot of Science Fiction novellas, but these were well written, thoughtful, and entertaining. If you enjoy Science Fiction, you will definitely enjoy this book. I especially enjoyed The Witches of Karres by James H. Schmitz and E for Effort by T.L. Sherred. I enjoyed The Witches of Karres because it was entertaining and fun. I found E for Effort very interesting because it is thoughtful about the character of human nature. Reading this collection has inspired me to read other books by these Science Fiction authors, such as I, Robot by Isaac Asimov who wrote the story The Martian Way. The Science Fiction Writers of America chose well when they compiled these novellas into this book.

Reviewer Age:18

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

Read My Lips by Teri Brown

Serena Nelson had to leave her whole life behind to be transported to Preppyville. Though this wouldn't seem like much of a punishment for most people, for Serena it was hell. This is also made hard because she is deaf. When the popular girls find out about her lip reading talent they recruit her, if only to find out the exclusive gossip. As the school year processes, she starts to make friends, enemies and begins to embrace this new life. Though it seems that the challenges are over, Serena has to face even more, without losing herself.

This novel seemed at first to be a book that resembled the theme of The Clique series, but as I continued to read, it became so much more. Teri Brown successfully wove character depth and realistic emotions into this fictitious novel. As I continued to read, I felt sympathy and yet disapproval for the characters as the story matured. This author consistently uses detailed character and plot development. I would suggest this book to anyone who wants a great read who also enjoys books by Lisi Harrison.

Reviewer Age:14

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

Rating: 8

Content Rating: 1

The Mind of a Genius

David Snowdon created The Mind of a Genius with a theme that seems to appear often: government secrets. A British man named Malcolm Prince discovered a formula that can replace gasoline with a more environmentally-safe liquid. However, the Prince unexpectedly dies, leaving a wife to be questioned by the MI4, CIA, and Denmark Intelligence agents. These three spy companies all work carefully and professionally, until their own dealings put agents in jail, and in love. Mrs. Prince is at first a tool, but circumstances change as the agents chip away at the mystery surrounding the formula.
Mr. Snowdon certainly managed to make two themes clear. The first, and most outstanding theme, shows that love conquers all. The secondary theme exposes the government and how it can so easily hide secrets from its people. The dominant theme surprised me in how the action-filled story could suddenly turn into a romance, but David Snowdon achieved the morphing phase slowly and surely over the course of the book. The Mind of a Genius has an exciting plot, perfect characterization, and enough romance to keep it smooth.
Several sexual scenes.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Eagle Creek, OR USA

Maid Machinegun by Aaliyah

This book was set in Japan and the Japanese world of manga and anime fans. Manga is a style of Japanese graphic novel, and anime is a style of animated shows and movies with a drawing style similar to manga. The main character is a clumsy but excitable girl named Aaliyah. She is earnest in her desire to become the best maid there is. A maid is a waitress dressed as a maid in a restaurant for manga and anime fans. Aaliyah makes friends with her coworkers, but one of them, a new male employee, says he is in love with her. He is a jerk, so this just makes her life complicated. Everywhere she goes, weird things happen, and the other maids become suspicious. This novel is short and written like an online diary, complete with comments by other people.

I disliked this novel. I felt the plot was confusing, jumpy, and underdeveloped. The main character, Aaliyah, and her past made very little sense. When I learned Aaliyah's secrets, I felt that they were suddenly inserted in the story, rather than being developed. I did not even like Aaliyah; I found her annoying. The ending was confusing and did not make sense with the rest of the story. In addition this story should probably only be read by someone interested in the different categories of anime or manga. There is a glossary with terms, but anyone who reads this book should be interested in these genres and have prior knowledge. That being said, I enjoy both anime and manga, but I did not like this story.

There is no real violence, but there is discussion of homosexual and adult mangas and animes. It is not very bad, but, if this offends you, do not read it.

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

Six Innings by James Preller

Sam's life is playing baseball with his friends, but now that he has leukemia, he can't play anymore. He is now watching from above as he commentates on the most important game of the season. Meanwhile, his best friend is in the game, but nothing is the same as it was before. Each of them has to suffer their separation from each other. While they both find it difficult to keep things normal under the extraordinary circumstances, in the end, they find a way to rebuild their friendship.

While the premise of the book was well founded, I felt that there was too much description of the actual baseball game. Almost all of each chapter was devoted to an extremely detailed account of the game. These descriptions might be enjoyed by a avid baseball fan, but they seemed overdone, because each and every pitch was detailed. I didn't feel like enough attention was given to Sam's illness and the toll that it takes on his friends and him. The ideas behind this book would have worked much better, I believe, if there had been less time given to the game itself and more given to Sam's illness. I found the plot difficult to get involved with, because it was comprised almost entirely of game description and little of it was about Sam at all. Therefore, I would recommend this to extreme baseball fans who want a full game description, but not to people who want to see how cancer affects relationships.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Melrose, MA United States

I am Not Joey Pigza by Jack Gantos

In the book, I Am Not Joey Pigza by Jack Gantos, Joey, a troubled boy tries to find his true identity. Joey lives with his mother because his father left the family. While Joey's father is away, he purchases a winning lottery ticket and receives a lot of money. His father thinks he is a new man when he receives the money. He goes back to his family and says he changed and wants to be part of the family again. The mom accepts him but Joey hates the idea. Joey's dad then changes the names of the family members. The mother's name becomes Maria Heinz and Joey's name becomes Freddy Heinz. The father thinks that changing the names will be a new start for the family and they will forget the past experiences. The genre of this book is realistic fiction.

The mood of the book is freewheeling, calm and always changing. The author makes Joey seem like a real character as he describes him vividly. I like the main character, Joey, because he cares about his mother; he also tries to be himself and keep his real identity. The author's voice is descriptive. The story is told in the first person view and it was appropriate. The writing is powerful and the vocabulary was age appropriate. I learned from the book that family is important and that everyone deserves a second chance in life. I would recommend this book to others becasue it tells a good story and is very realistic.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Thornwood , New York United States

Maiden of the Wolf by Tiffany Trent & Angelika Ranger

When Ilona is transported to a rath controlled by an evil countess where she is ordered to rescue the rathstone for Hallomere, she finds way more then what she bargained for. A countess who takes young girls from their families, tortures them, and bathes in their blood, a werewolf Ilona happens to be falling in love with, and being forced to be a part of the countess’s army, tops the list. And did I mention the army general is a werewolf? How will Ilona get the rathstone without the countess, the general, and the evil Madame Joo finding out who she really is? Read Maiden of the Wolf to find out.

Classic love stories can be boring. Maiden of the Wolf? Not so. This awesome book has every thing you want in a good novel. Romance? Check. Action? Check. Suspenseful plot? Check! This book may seem long at a glance, but once you read the first few pages you are so intrigued about Ilona and what will happen, you are pulled into the book and won’t be able to put it down until you have read the very last page. I loved reading this book and have probably read it twice since I finished it the first time. It will never be boring, and you won’t regret reading Maiden of the Wolf.

graphic and not for faint-hearted readers

Reviewer Age:13

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

Future Americas by Edited by John Helfers & Martin H. Greenberg

This collection of short stories about the future includes murder mysteries and descriptions of quaint and peaceful rural homes. But each story makes the reader realize it’s hard to peer into the future, no matter how many clues the present may hold. One of the authors provides a glimpse into the future with travelers who don’t travel into the future, but instead take a step back in time with each year. For instance, travelers step back into the medieval times with its fancy clothing, but the story still has a touch of the future with tour guides and hover cars. Another short story is “Family Photos” by Andrew Swann, which peers into the future where killers and abusers outnumber regular civilians. In “Jesus Runs,” by George Zebrowski, twelve men called “Jesus” run for presidential office; they are considered frauds, but can mysteriously bring the long dead back to life. Overall, most of the stories had one message: the future is not bright.

I thought most of the stories were great, but my favorite was, “Acirema the Rellik,” by Robert Jeschonek. It is a murder mystery. The story I least liked was “The Rotator,” by Pamela Sargent, because I didn’t really get the point of the story. It was kind of confusing. Overall, all of the stories had an important lesson about how we can change the future with the actions we take today.

Rating:8

Reviewer Age:11

Reviewer City, State and Country: Ocala, Florida United States

My Feet Aren't Ugly by Debra Beck

Have you ever felt like you didn't fit in? Do you ever feel self conscious around other people? Have you ever been pressured to do something you don't want to do? In My Feet Aren't Ugly by Debra Beck, helps you with all the following:

-Loving Yourself
-Fears
-Creativity
-Health
-Drugs
-Suicide
-Womanhood
-Sex
-Healing Yourself

The author achieved exactly what she was trying to. After I read this book, I went out to the real world and yelled "Sock it to me! I can do it!" It helped me overcome peer pressure, and I really found myself.

It talks about sex and drugs.

Reviewer Age:14

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

Rating: 8

Content Rating: 2

The Diamond of Drury Lane by Julia Golding

A theater might not be the most normal place to live, but for Cat the Theater Royal is home. She spends her days helping out actors and playing in the London streets, her evenings watching whatever newest production her "family" has put on, and her nights curled up on discarded costumes in the attic of the theater. Life is good, but when a mysterious diamond is hidden somewhere in the theater, everything changes. Suddenly gangs are fighting over Cat and lords and ladies are sneaking into the theater to snoop. Cat knows that she has to protect the diamond, but will her supposed friends, Pedro and Johnny, be helpful or simply doom her mission?

What with the intriguing plot, cover, and play-like way of storytelling, this book promised to be good from the get-go. The characters were fresh and lovable, the theater where most of the story took place was bustling with excitement, and it seemed that the direct, amusing tone that invited readers "brave enough to follow" into Cat's life would continue throughout the novel. Unfortunately, this was not to be. A few chapters into the book it became clear that Ms.Golding has forgotten an elementary rule of creative writing-- to "show" and not just "tell." Throughout her novel, things only happen when they are entirely necessary, and are told so matter-of-factly that this is blatantly clear. This results in a boring and predictable novel that, despite all that it had going for it to begin with, falls brutally flat. Sure, it might be worth a read, but don't expect anything miraculous-- in fact, as Cat herself says, "Be warned."

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country: , Maryland United States

Rating: 6

Content Rating: 1

The Lycan Journal by Chad Long

Gordo Gates, a thirteen-year-old boy, gets into more than he bargained for when his father is scratched by a lyncan (or werewolf) and becomes fatally ill. Gordo learns that there is a cure for his father's sickness, but it is extremely rare and he must act quickly before his father dies. Along the way, he also gains knowlege of a closely guarded secret concerning the history of werewolves and their hidden treasure. Gordo sets off to find this treasure with help from Allie (a girl who is being hunted by the lyncans and holds the key to the treasure), Hank (a pilot who desperately needs cash to save his farm), Dusty (a half-lyncan-half-human boy who lives on the streets), and Vinnie (a shady club owner with less-than-honest intentions). With all the danger surrounding these secrets, will this odd group be able to recover the treasure and save Gordo's dad in time? You'll have to read the book to find out.

This book had a great main storyline and included some very good ideas, however I did not like the author's writing style. There was WAY too much description about insignificant things and not enough movement along the storyline. The author should have emphasized the danger and suspense involved in Gordo's mission to make the story more interesting and make the reader want to find out what happens next. The book was also written in third person which many people (including me) do not like. Third person is not necessarily a bad thing, but it means that the author has to work harder to connect the reader to the story. In this case, it detracted from the story instead of adding to it.

There's one more thing I would like to add. Everything seemed to play out perfectly for the main characters. In my opinion, it would make the conclusion more rewarding if the author included some trial and error in their actions.

Don't get me wrong, this wasn't a bad book. I just think it needs some more revising before being published. Many authors rewrite their entire novels several times before it is even ready to be edited.

Reviewer Age:15

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

Songs From A Teenage Nomad by Kim Culbertson

Calle Smith knows all about first days of school. Whenever things don't work out with her current husband/boyfriend, Calle's Mom flips a coin on a map, and off they go for a new start. Calle finds a new start in the small town of Andreas Bay, California. While there, she becomes part of a group, learns about friendship, and of young love. But more importantly, Calle learns the secret of why her mother feels the need to move from place to place.

I found this book very entertaining. The thing that I loved about this book is that it shows the secret struggles of teens in all social groups. Kim Culbertson did a great job capturing the deeper emotions people hold. Because she showed that not only did Calle just move to a new town, she was starting as a Freshman having no knowledge of the people around her. I recommend this book to girls far and wide because everyone knows what it's like to feel alienated and disconnected to the people around them.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Seaside , OR USA

A World of His Own by Arlette Gaffrey

After escaping the French Revolution, Andre de Javon plans to start fresh in New Orleans. He is intrigued by plantation work and pursues his dream of becoming a successful and wealthy plantation owner. With the help of Jean-Claude Charlevoix and his young daughter Julie, he succeeds. The small Charlevoix family is so helpful but Andre has no idea how much Julie really loves him. This is why Julie is so heartbroken when Andre marries Gabrielle Ste. Claire, a spoiled woman who turns his life into a disaster. Gabrielle's actions are a disgrace and she goes as far as having another man's child. Andre soon realizes his true feelings for Julie and regrets his marriage to Gabrielle. Andre is given the chance to be with Julie when Gabrielle dies in a tragic accident. But will Julie still be interested in him?

A World of His Own is a great historical novel overflowing with emotions. The introduction was a bit slow but once I got into the story, it became impossible to put down. The author's detailed descriptions made the book come alive in my head. The read was somewhat difficult with the numerous characters and French vocabulary, but it is definitely worth reading. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction and romance.

mild sex scenes, some profanity, and many alcohol references.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Richmond, Virginia USA

Forensics by Richard Platt

This information-packed book provides readers an inside look at the world of forensic science. Forensics is the branch of science that deals with crime. At every crime scene, some sort of evidence is left behind. It is up to crime-scene officers to secure the scene and preserve the evidence. Fingerprints are the most common evidence found at the crime scene, but there are many other types of evidence that investigators use to help them find the criminal. This book thoroughly goes through numerous types of evidence and how they help investigators catch the suspect. For example, the Integrated Automatic Fingerprint Identification Systems can search one million fingerprint records in less than a second, and the closest matches are presented for detectives to make the final comparison. It is also possible to test a suspect's hands to see if he/she has fired a gun recently. DNA analysis, special chemicals, autopsies, cyber crimes, poisons, weapons, and forgeries are just some of the things the book discusses. This book covers everything one needs to know about forensics, and nothing one don't.

When I first got the book, I didn't know much about forensics. Of course, that changed by the time I finished reading the book. Every page is filled with pictures which further helped me understand the topic. All aspects of forensic science are covered, from collecting evidence to finding the criminal. If you have a question about forensic, there is a great chance that that question will be answered after reading the book. I enjoyed this book because I learned the more about forensics than I initially thought. Each page is packed with information, and everything is very easy to understand. I recommend this book to people of all ages who are interested in learning how detectives and scientists work together in order to solve a crime.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Palo Alto, CA USA

Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks

The book Devil May Care is a continuation of the various
dangerous adventures of the notable character James Bond.
Bond is summoned from his sabbatical in order to investigate
Dr. Julius Gorner, a powerful figure that seems to
have an interest in selling drugs, of both the legal and
illegal kind. He is helped on his adventures by Scarlett
Papava, who is, supposedly, a banker. James Bond struggles
to uncover Gorner's operations as strange things occur,
such as a missing British airliner and heroin addicts
on the rise in Britain. Bond travels to the Middle East
and has quite a few surprises. There is a twist at the end
concerning Scarlett Papava.

The book Devil May Care has
a few significant flaws. First of all, some scenes have way
too much detail. Some parts of the book are absolutely
gory. There did not have to be that much detail. Also, it
is a little boring in some places. It seems that Bond
is always eating, talking, traveling, or thinking about
Scarlett. The writing is not difficult to follow, but it
is not too easy either. I don't think I'll ever read this
book again; it was pretty disappointing. Even without the
disgusting scenes, this book is not at all
spectacular. However, Sebastian Faulks did make it seem realistic, just
too realistic in some places. The characters seemed real,
but I, for one, would not like to meet them.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country:
Charleston, SC USA

The Elite by Jennifer Banash

Casey McCloy is your average teen, from Normal, IL, but now she's decided to take advantage of her mother being away on business. She moves in with her grandmother, to the fabulous Bramford, right in the heart of NYC. Almost immediately, she runs into the most popular girl in her building, as well as in Casey's new school, Madison McAllister. After Madison and her friends give Casey a total makeover, Casey starts catching everyone's eye, including Madison's sometimes-boyfriend Drew. With everyone vying for the spotlight, will Madison ruin Casey's new image to deter Drew, or will she let Drew have Casey?

I enjoyed this book, and although I thought at first that it was going to be one of those fake, all the populars get their way kind of book, it really wasn't. I liked that the author had several chapters from each of the main characters’ points of view, which gave me a well-rounded opinion of each character in the story. The author was very descriptive, although I honestly felt that I did not need to know every single brand of clothing/shoes/accessories each character wore. One slightly annoying thing was the amount of sub-plots, the majority of which were never finished. For example, Madison and Drew's relationship sometimes overpowered the main plot. But the good thing about sub-plots is that they give each character a story behind them, so I felt as if I knew them better. Although this book was fun to read, the amount of cursing was appalling. For this reason, I would only recommend this book to all young adults 13 and up.

On the first page alone, the main character curses 3 times. The language is very strong, including several uses of the f-word. There is also an enormous amount of sexual content, including very sexually intimate scenes with several details. There is also underage drinking, and one of the main characters gets drunk.

Rating:7

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Boothwyn, PA USA

The Guy Next Door by Carol Culver

After her parents get divorced, Maggie moves away from the guy next door, her love, Ethan. Maggie misses the days when she and Ethan used to ride bikes and play tag because now with her metal braces and glasses he barely notices her. After her invisible braces replace her metal ones and contacts replace her glasses, Maggie finally gets the chance to talk to him at a dance, and when she gives him a fencing lesson. Now, that they're taking a chorus trip to Hawaii, Maggie will get to show off the bikini that her friend, Victoria, made her. But is that enough to get Ethan to notice her?

The Guy Next Door is an amazing book. Carol Culver always added a different twist, that you would never see coming. When Culver wrote about the class in Hawaii, I felt like I was there experiencing the surfing, sand and sun right along with the characters. This was a great read because I felt like I knew the characters. I would recommend it to any girl because overall I LOVED it.

Reviewer Age:12

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

Rating: 9

Content Rating: 1

Wish You Were Here by Catherine Clark

Ariel (no, not the little mermaid) Flack is obsessed with
exactly two things; skittles (who wouldn't?) and sending
postcards home to Gloves, Ariel's cat, and her almost-sort
of-kinda boyfriend, Dylan. After her dad gambles the
family's life savings away (not to mention Ariel and her
little sister's college money) and embezzles from his
company, Ariel's family is splashed across the cover of
newspapers everywhere. Not to mention, Ariel's mom
divorces her gambling husband and like only a self-help
author can, drags her reluctant two daughters, Ariel and
Zena, into a weeklong bus tour called Leisure Lee's. Sound
bad? You haven't heard the worst of it. In attempt to give
her daughters a responsible male figure in their lives,
their eccentric uncle, who has a bizarre phobia of
squirrels, is along for the ride as well with their
grandparents, too. Just when everything seems to be awful
(who wants to spend a week in a small space with a
gazillion senior citizens?), Ariel discovers the other
reluctant teen on board - Andre. Together, they plot to
escape their prison and Ariel decides that maybe, just
maybe mind you, things aren't so bad after all. In this
wonderful bit of realistic fiction, the characters come
alive and well, this is as "fantasterrific" as it gets,
folks.

Told from the view of a sixteen-year old girl,
Ariel Flack, the tone is cheerful but sometimes angry.
Her voice is slightly bitter, but Ariel has a positive
outlook on things and can be funny. It wasn't my favorite
book - it left me kind of bored and I think some of the
characters were a bit stereotyped. There was a little less
detail than I would have liked. Catherine Clark's meaning
in the story seems to be that you can always find hope no
matter what situation you are in, and she addressed that
fairly well. I would recommend it to other people because,
even though it wasn't my favorite sort of book, it is a
decent read. However, it pales in comparison to Clark's
other books, such as Better Latte Than Never and The
Alison Rules. Altogether, Wish You Were Here is a
quick, nice read.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Canton, Michigan United States of
America

Behind the Wheel by Janet S. Wong

This book talks about peoples’ journeys while they are driving. It covers a range of situations, from car accidents to driving in a hoopty, and about what could happen. The poems also tell you about what's going on in each character's head. The author makes it clear that driving can be a good thing, like when hanging out with friends, or bad when you kill someone in a car accident. So that has lead me to believe the author's purpose was to show the readers the ups and downs of driving.

I think this book was very interesting. I heard about people's experiences with driving. I really liked the way the author explained things so I could get a visual picture from each poem. I also liked this book because it was a page-turner. I always wanted to know what was going to happen to the next person, or character. A question I had was why does the author choose to use poetry for this book? I would recommend this book for people who like realistic fiction about teens or for people who like short books. Or even for people who are interested in driving sooner or later on in life.

Reviewer Age:14

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

Riding High by Donna King

Billie Mason has always loved riding and competing with her wonderful horse, Valentine's Kiss. She has always been told that she is a great rider. But Billie soon loses all of her confidence and stops competing when she witnesses a frightening mishap with another horse during one of her events. Billie knows that she might have to face her fears when she hears even her closest friends talking about her losing her nerve, her dad is complaining to her about how much money they are wasting by not competing, and the thought of maybe having to sell her extremely loved horse scares her the most. On the other hand, Billie loves her new trainer, Sarah, who understands her perfectly and is trying to help her overcome her fears in the show ring and on the cross-country course. Now she is torn between two choices. Will she choose to start competing again to keep her talented horse or will she be too scared about putting her horse in danger after what she saw and have to sell Val?

When I read Riding High I thought it was an okay or pretty good book. I liked the connection that Sarah and Billie shared and how Sarah understood and could help with what Billie was feeling. I was surprised by some of the negative attitude her family and friends gave her. I thought it was weird that they were not supporting her no matter what she did. I felt that some parts of the book went by too fast and more detail would have been nice. But I also found this book interesting, especially to me, because I am also a horseback rider and have experienced some of the things she has, so it was easy for me to understand what Billie was thinking and feeling. This story, overall, was a fun story to read. I didn't think that it was very powerful, with a lot of deep meaning, but still a good pleasure book.

Reviewer Age:12

Reviewer City, State and Country: Midlothian, VA USA

Cruel Summer by Alyson Noel

Seventeen-year-old Colby cant believe what she's hearing when her parents announce that she's spending the summer in Greece with her crazy Aunt Tally. At least that's what her parents call her aunt. Her world suddenly comes crashing down the minute she hears the news of her three-month-long departure to the Greek civilization because everything was going so good. She'd finally ditched her geeky past, along with her ex-best friend for the popular life of gossip, fame, and parties. Besides the fact that her parents were getting a divorce, she was totally looking forward to the summer. When first arriving in Greece, she is full of everything but tranquility. So she starts a blog to update all of her friends on her unwanted getaway to the Greek paradise. She decides that instead of making the most of her time in Greece and this new experience, that she's going to try and stay connected with the former life she just left and dearly wishes to return to, via the internet. Well, that is until she attends her aunt's huge Fourth of July party and meets Yannis, the cute guy from the ship she sailed on to get to the tiny island of Tinos. Maybe life on the island wont be as bad as she expected after all.

I really enjoyed reading Cruel Summer by Alyson Noel. It was a very unique book filled with love, hate, adventure, and many unforgettable opportunities and experiences. I thought it was cool how the author wrote the book like it was partly a blog, a regular story, and a diary. Also, it was neat how she included emails and letters that were written between the girl and her family and friends. However, I think the author overdid it on the use of the blogs and diary entries and that the story would have been better if she would have just written about the girl's experiences first hand as they took place. Overall, Cruel Summer was a great novel that I definitely recommend to teenage girls looking for a little summer romance.

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

Bronze Dragon Codex by R.D. Henham

Tatelyn had more than one reason to hate dragons. A possessed one had killed her brother, while another had destroyed her friend's town. Thus, Tatelyn had been spreading the word that dragons must be banished. On the other side of the ordeal, a dragon, named Simle, hates humans because they maliciously stole her siblings. Her siblings were eggs, at the time, and the eggs had suddenly disappeared. And when Tatelyn and Simle met, although they felt an intense hatred for each other, their fates were intertwined in unimaginable ways.

Bronze Dragon Codex was an exceptional book, with only a few flaws. First, the setting seemed vague and almost non-existent in some parts. However, there were also some dramatic scenes in which the setting was a powerful factor in the layout of the book. At the very ending, or climax, there was definite frustration and anger between one of the main characters, Tatelyn, and her friend, Rogan. There were two very distinct, and different, main characters, Tatelyn and Simle. Tatelyn was a dragon-hating human, while Simle was a human-hating dragon. This resulted in much of the book's conflict. I like the way the writer let the dialogue set up the story, rather than narration. Having the story change views was completely appropriate, because there were two main characters. The author did a great job of closing up the story and finishing all subplots.

The writer succeeded in showing that Tatelyn and Simle, while very different, had more in common than they realized. The writing was effective, showing how two very different characters dealt with the same conflict. Bronze Dragon Codex had strong dialogue, but, as I said earlier, had a weak setting in many parts. This novel was well written, with an interesting plot and an unusual, but happy, ending. The author could have allowed us to know the characters better, just to give this book that final touch. I would highly recommend Bronze Dragon Codex, as an excellent book. Once you start reading, you can't put it down.

Reviewer Age:12

Reviewer City, State and Country: Baltimore, Maryland USA