The Wooden Mile by Chris Mould

In Chris Mould's The Wooden Mile, the protagonist, Stanley Buggles, travels to Crampton Rock, a fishing village, where he's come to explore his inheritance, an old manor. What he expects to be a relaxing summer exploring his new house turns into a baffling adventure full of pirates, a werewolf, and a talking fish. Stanley first notices the odd nature of the town at nighttime, when a horn is sounded and all the people of the town flee into their houses while watchmen hide up in designated towers. When Stanley starts investigating the reasons behind the curfew, he meets Randell Flynn, a part of a group of pirates seemingly dedicated to getting rid of a suspected werewolf. Through his adventures with the pirates, Stanley confronts the problem of who is really good and who is evil and what that means for him.

This book was a little young for me. I would recommend it to kids who are in the middle school to late elementary school age range, depending on their reading level and ability. Its a gripping tale, and leaves you wanting more at the end with an decent attempt at a cliff hanger ending. It is the first in a series of books about Stanley, of which there are 3+ already published, so is you're a young reader looking for a spooky series, then this is the one for you. Stanley appeals to younger kids because he is young himself, and his thoughts and words are portrayed as if a 10 year old were actually saying them instead of an adult trying to sound like a 10 year old. I think that over all, this book is a compelling novel, and a great start to a series.

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country: Hingham, MA USA

City of Jade by Dennis L. McKiernam

The City of Jade is a stand alone novel in the series of Mithgar by Dennis McKiernan. It is the tale of an elf named Aravan and his true love, Aylis, as they embark on their beloved ship, Eroean. After years of fighting apart they join together, finally, to return to the thing they love most: sailing. They have no trouble acquiring forty men to sail, a war band of forty dwarves to protect and with their tiny Psyk friend, Alissa, as scout, the couple is ready to journey out into the world. There they find a strange jade statue that leads them to the mythical City of Jade, a place clouded in mystery and evil. Unknowingly, they walk into a trap that not all will survive.

When I first decided to read the City of Jade I expected to find a captivating story of danger and adventure. Unfortunately I found little of either. The City of Jade had a rather erratic plot line which did not flow continuously and had little to do with the summary. It reminded me of one of those sitcom flashback episodes, where the main characters do nothing but remember the past. Aravan and company were entertaining and slightly realistic, but carried on far too much about events that had happened in previous books. I, who has never read a Mithgar book before, found this extremely annoying. As mentioned before, there was little intrigue, except in the story of two sub-characters, the Warrows Pipper and Binkton, whose chapters narrated their Robin Hood-like escapades. I have to give McKiernan credit, however, for his attention to detail. Every scene on the Eroean was written with impressive knowledge of the ship. It felt like a sailor was describing what was going on and were the only scenes that read like McKiernan was actually talking to you.

violence and sexual content

Reviewer Age:15

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

Hunter Jones Joins the Civil War by Julian Olson

Hunter Jones Joins the Civil War(Missouri) by Jinx Olson
is a book written about a young boy who is forced to grow
up physically and emotionally much greater and faster than
most kids his age. At the beginning of the novel, Hunter's
dad is shot by a gambler firing at another man. The bullet
misses the intended target, hitting his father in the
chest and sending him overboard into the strong current
never to be seen again. He is accused of being someone
just hitching a ride at that point, and when asked to show
his ticket finds that the tickets were with his father. He
is kicked off of the boat and nearly arrested by the
sheriff. He spends some time in the next few days trying
to find his father but fails and decides to set camp up in
a magnolia tree. He finds a raccoon, an orphan similar to
himself, and befriends him. A group of confederate
soldiers accidently shoot him and he is taken care of by
them. He is made to run errands for the general and make
sure his horse is taken care of. After some time, he is
given a drum and learns how to play it. While running one
of his errands he falls into a coma due to a head wound,
and lays in the hospital. His friends read the newspaper
each day, and in his coma he lives out what is summarized
in the daily newspaper, read by his friends, giving the
reader a first-hand experience of the events that took
place during the Civil War. General Lyon becomes Hunter's
new father figure.

Aside from a few editing errors, I believe this book is
well put together. The writing is good grammatically and
the story is interesting and keeps the reader wanting to
read and learn more. The books theme of wandering and
exile might make the reader think of The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn, and when you consider the facts are
historically accurate, this makes the book both fun and
informative. There is much to be learned from this story.
It makes you think about history, and think about your
inner self, what would you do in Hunter's
situation.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and
Country: Waterford, Michigan U.S.A.

Slipping

When 13 year old Michael's grandfather passes away, he is not extremely perturbed. Why should he be? He hasn't seen the man since he was seven years old. However, after a fight with his father about the acknowledgement of his grandfather's passing, he begins to feel his grandfather's presence near him. This leads to his seeing his grandfather, and traveling through a river of memories, the river of the dead. However, after altering the past, Michael becomes trapped in the river and has to rely on the help of his friends and father to struggle to extricate himself from it, before he remains frozen there forever.

I thoroughly enjoyed Slipping. Ms. Davitt Bell uses a great deal of description, and I could easily place myself into the story. The tone of the book was a bit dark, as all books dealing with death are, but I believe that it has the potential to become one of the best children's books of our time. This is due to, again, her great descriptions, deep characters, and a great narration. From Michael's perspective, we see the story as it is, and he is straightforward and explains exactly what is going on. This makes the storyline easy to follow, but still stimulating, and I approve greatly of the representation of his grandfather's passing on. Through the understanding of this novel, I learned a great deal about death, and established several new theories about life after death. Although I loved the book itself, I did find some shortcomings. I felt that the ending did not tie up all of the strings, and let Michael's father in a bit of a weak position. Despite this, overall, I would definitely recommend it to all audiences.

Content: 1
Rating: 9
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Charleston, West Virginia United States

Peacekeeper by Laura E. Reeve

Laura E. Reeve's "Peacekeeper" juxtaposes regular war violence with futuristic technologies. It follows the story of a female pilot named Ari. Her crew members keep her company, whilst simultaneously ordering her around like a dog. Fifteen years ago, she was involved in a military coup in the universe, which required her to annihilate over four billion organisms and an entire section of space. In present times, she is being hunted down. Slowly, the members of her crew are killed, and she is next. At one point in the novel, she is interrogated, abused, and even sexually assaulted all because of her deathly past.

Interestingly, Reeve starts off all of her chapters with quotations from books of the future. She does this excellently and makes them so believable that readers think Ari's futuristic story is actually believable.

Additionally, religion is inserted into the book as Gaia is the one creator of the universe. She is seen as a nurturing mother and isn't really expounded on much. This makes the reader think about what religion will be in the far future. Like the war, it is just assumed and not questioned very much at all.

Overall, this book is one of action, despair, and a strong woman that will stop at nothing to protect nationalistic values she may not even wholly understand.

"Peacekeeper" by Laura E. Reeve shines a scarily true light onto warfare and the soldiers enlisted therein. Set in the future, this novel portrays technology doing most of the fighting, with the humans controlling which part of space is attacked. Even though the book is futuristic, it is easy to relate to in such a time of international conflict. After all, regardless of what time era people live in, there is always some sort of disagreement and fighting. Sadly, soldiers like Ari lose their innocence as they are propelled into fighting that they are told is right and true. In the end, they end up being tracked down and beaten to bloody pulps by extremists that belong to sects of annihilated civilizations. Also, when aliens are encountered, some have no faces and skin. This makes them entirely hard to read expression-wise. The militia can not possibly know when they are being fooled when all they see is a blank conglomerate staring back at them. Also, the novel features aspects of intimacy, but is not too graphic. Ari's relations with members of her Crew are alluded to but not necessarily described. As for the scenes when Ari is molested, those have detail but are not erotic as they relate to what truly happens to both male and female soldiers when they are captured by enemy forces. In general, this book is entertaining and akin to a futuristic movie.

Reviewer Age:17

Reviewer City, State and Country: Staten Island, NY USA

Rating: 4

Content Rating: 1

Sleep Before Evening by Magdalena Ball

Marianne Cotton is a straight A student. Her loving grandfather provides the constant support of a caring father figure while her bipolar mother flaunts around the country chasing her dream of becoming a successful artist. But when her grandfather dies of an unexpected stroke and her mother's marriage falls apart, Marianne finds her stunning academic career unraveling and her prosperous future darkening. Marianne meets an exotic street music performer, Miles, who introduces her to the lures of the lower east side. Marianne's private school scholarship becomes unimportant and her easygoing teenage life is thrown away for one of sex, drugs and murky music clubs. Through Miles' music, freedom and connections Marianne opens her eyes to the depths and shadows of New York's rugged and dangerous inner city scene.

This was a harrowing and believable book, which I actually really enjoyed! Magdalena Ball writes with such conviction and describes even the grittiest scenes with their own kind of beauty that makes this novel hard to put down. Having never read anything quite like this book before, I was dubious at the beginning. However, upon finishing the novel, I realized that I had been living as Marianne, experiencing her loss, grief and struggles. I lived the painful emotion behind the words of the narrator while sharing the experiences and feelings of Marianne; this sets the book apart. I would definitely recommend Sleep Before Evening to others but possibly to those older than myself. Throughout the novel Marianne is faced with the daunting trials of drug addiction, sex and the fight for survival in the big city. While I thoroughly enjoyed the book, I think it might be better suited to people from 16 up. The words of Magdalena Ball in Sleep Before Evening will without a doubt stay with me for years to come.

Sex
Drug Addiction
Violence

Reviewer Age: 14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Melbourne, Victoria Australia

Taken by Storm by Angela Morrison

Following the death of his parents, Michael Walden can't erase the image of his Father and Mother drowning while he swam to safety, narrowly escaping the hurricane that had suddenly consumed their boat. Now living with his grandmother, who is also stricken with grief, Michael battles nightmares and depression. He also is dealing with the desire to dive back into the waters that had once given him peace. Enter Leesie Hunt, a Mormon church-goer who longs to relieve Michael of the guilt that often interferes with their budding romance.

Although this novel is a love story, it mainly exists in the world of reality. The girl is not your typical love-struck teen and the guy is not so soft and perfect,which often happens in a young romance story. The conflict of Michael's loose morals and misconception of love verse Leesie's pledge of abstinence and own raging hormones make this novel one of interest. Still; it does fall into some the same traps of many other young adult novels. Namely, a few unrealistic moments, over use of modern slang and an obvious effort to keep everything within a PG13 rating.

There were some issues on Michael's side about him longing for sex and him obtaining that desire. Even Leesie loosened her morals which led to a several steamy make-out scenes. And the problems Michael dealt with after his parents died may be too mature for young readers.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Holly Springs, North Carolina United States of America

Because I Am Furniture by Thalia Chatlas

When 14 year old Anke's brother and sister are abused, she just sits in the background as a witness, like furniture. Her mother can't help them in any way, because she fears her abusive husband would kill everyone. Anke's home life continues to worsen as her brother has near-broken bones and her sister is bruised, while their father cheats on their mother. Anke wants to do something but never gets the chance, because everything she seems to do is wrong. She is filled with terror; everywhere she turns a new dilemma faces her. After Anke joins the volleyball team, she suddenly finds a voice she never knew she had; just proclaiming the word “mine” changes her life. Can she save her family and friends before time runs out?

“Because I am Furniture”, by Thalia Chatlas, is a pretty good book with a unique format and full of great description. I enjoyed the poetic form because it added a little bit of reality to the book. The ongoing dilemmas make “Because I am Furniture” a definite page turner; you never know what is going to pop up next. I think it has the possibility of becoming a bestseller, because poetic-form novels have gained popularity. I also like the way Chatlas describes her characters. She makes the reader feel like he/she is experiencing the traumatic events firsthand. I recommend this book to anyone who likes realistic drama.

Mentions of rape, drinking, violent actions

Reviewer Age:12

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

You Are So Undead to Me by Stacey Jay

All Megan Berry wants to do is go to Homecoming. But that might not be possible, seeing how she's a Settler, and must be around to "settle" the Undead's affairs. Megan doesn't like being around dead people -- and after a freak accident a few years ago, she thought her powers were gone for good. But now they're back, and she must re-learn everything about putting the dead to rest. At the same time that Megan's getting a hang of the ropes, someone starts using black magic to turn the Undead into Zombies and she must figure out who it is before it's too late!

I really liked this book. It was an interesting take on zombies, and having the power to put the undead back to their eternal rest is kind of cool. I liked Megan as a character, though in the beginning she annoyed me. She really didn't want to be a Settler again, especially since it was ruining her dates with boys, and she would not stop complaining about it. But finally Megan accepts what she has to do and gives the reader a break from the whining. There was a lot of zombie action, especially at the end, but I didn't really like who the villains ended up being. Their motives for the black magic and awakening zombies weren't very good, and I feel like the author decided last minute who the bad guys were. Needless to say, this is a very good read and I can't wait for the sequel Undead Much to be written.

Reviewer Age:16

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

Prince of Stories by Hank Wagner, Christopher Golden & Stephen Bissette

This book is a biography of Neil Gaiman, arguably one of the best Science Fiction/Fantasy writers of the 21st century. This is a collaboration of his works such as short stories, novels, films, and comic books. This book has just the right stuff for any Gaiman fan. Journey through Neil's brain but be cautious because if you go too far in we may lose you forever.
This book didn'tgrab me like other books do. Even though there was fascinating stores, pictures, and a comic book it just didnt get to me. I have read one of his works before and it got me very curious which got him to write his books. He was the guy that got me caught on graphic novels. This is only recommended for extreme fans, people who want to get a better insights on his work, and find what he was thinking about threw his various works.
This book had some bad language in it.
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Northport, NY USA

Jesse Bowman: A Union Boy's War Story
This historical fiction book starts out on the night of April 21, 1861. While attending a meeting, two boys, Jesse Bowman and Harlow Basset, saw the Zovare soldiers for the first time. That's when Jesse and Harlow decided they wanted to become soldiers and fight in the Civil War to help protect the Union. They went to the head desk on Darbon Street. Immediately they too signed up to join the army. They rode a train to the campsite and saw a big pine tree, which was the marking for their campsite. At first, camping out and living outside was adventurous. After a while they found out about the hardship of the war. Losing people you care about and being wounded are some of the difficulties of war. Even though becoming a soldier was not as exactly as planned. Jesse feels proud of his accomplishments.

I liked this book because it was very detailed. The descriptions made me feel as if I were right along beside them fighting in the civil war. I felt as if I could reach out and touch them. It made me wonder how I would want to be brave and stand up for things I believe in but would probably be scared and homesick, too. I love history books and this one will go on my list as a favorite. I recommend it for students in grades 3-6.

Reviewer Age:12Leopold, Mo United States of America

Stolen by Vivian Vande Velde

Lost and confused a twelve year old girl is chased by hunting dogs and found by a man. The man takes her to a village nearby and tries to figure out her identity. Nobody in the village knows who she is, or where she came from. Worst of all, the girl,herself, doesn't even know! A weary mother assumes the confused girl is her long lost daughter, so the girl is told she is Isabelle. Is she really Isabelle? If she isn't, then who is she?

I thought this book was well written and very interesting. Everything leading up to the end, made me fly through the pages. It kept my interest the whole time and got me wanting to know what would occur.I liked how it ended, although I wish it could have continued. Altogether, it was a good book, just too short for my liking.

Reviewer Age:15

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

Of Quills and Kings by Joel Reeves

Jonathan Quintain is relucant to accept the leadership he is given when his father, the Baron, abandons his family. The castle mage,Gamitof Pym, literally turns the whole castle upside down with a spell. Since the spell was cast, it freed an evil hedgehog and displaced a magical orb. In this fantasy the orb is the orb of mortality, it has the power to make one a god and to prolong life. The evil hedgehog, named Walpole, has the orb and intends to end humankind. Jonathan goes on an adventure with his friends, to travel the land to stop Walpole. Will they succeed or will they fail miserably?

I thought that this book was interesting and some parts I couldn't stop reading. The beginning of the book was a little slow and confusing. It started off being overwhelming with all the names and then everything quickly turns to action. It has a quirky humor but was very entertaining. I would recommend it to readers who have patience and are up for a good read.

Reviewer Age:15

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

Sermonsnacks by Don Collette

Sermonsnacks by Don Collette is compiled with encouragement and guidance. Its customary sections juxtapose faith and advice. The book conquers pain, loneliness, work, finances, family, and other issues. It is formatted like a normal devotional book. Devotionals tend to have a Bible verse, explanation of the verse, and a connection to modern times / issues on each page. The layout of the book is very instructive so anyone can understand the messages--both Christians and non-Christians.

All age groups can relate to most discussions. Additionally, Don Colette sends the message that anyone can have what they want in life if they follow Jesus. Material goods are said to be distractions in a successfully spiritually life. "No sooner is the silver added, than you cease to see others, and you see only yourself," (Colette, 112). Many excerpts have messages like this that can be applied to everyone. Only a few of parts of the book are truly geared towards certain audiences.

The section on family is geared more towards older married men and the finance section is meant for full-time workers. The work section is purposely vague as to relate to both adults at work and youngsters that may work after school. The pain and loneliness sections cover many acceptance issues, peer pressure, as well as fear of assimilation. Moreover, the faith section is for all since it pertains to human belief and hope.

Anyone can pick up Sermonsnacks. Occasionally, readers need to peruse over uplifting words. Luckily, consolation, victory, hope, belief, promises, blessings, and more leak through "Sermonsnacks." Colette says that all wrongs will be righted if one just trusts in God. He also mentions how God's promises may take a while; the interim may even painful, but God will eventually implement divine favor. This book will provide comfort to many people, regardless of their faith. Colette conveys the message that one needs to lead a honest life devoid of shallow ideologies. While human errors are pointed out, Colette does not point fingers at any sect of religion. He gives advice that points towards Christianity, but he does not force the religion upon readers.

Rating: 8
Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Staten Island, NY USA

Hottie by Jonathan Bernstein

Alison Cole has just been elected class president. Instead of being looked up to, a nasty trick is played to convince her she needs surgery to give her symmetry. Unfortunately, she gets zapped by a lightning bolt during the procedure and now she can shoot fire from her fingertips! David Eels jumps at the chance to coach a real superhero. But what happens when David falls for her? What about the supervillian lurking in LA?

Overall, Hottie was a very good book, although it swore alot. But it's exactly how a teenager in LA would talk. The characters were very well made and very funny (especially David Eels (the superhero geek)) The battles were also well written (I could see them in my head) and action-packed. I did notice that Hottie's name was a bit of surprise to people at school (it's a middle school) and my parents. But I honestly could not see Alison using a different name since it was like a stereotypical LA teen. Plus, it makes her character unique in the story. Overall, I would suggest this title to anyone looking for a good book.

I rated the book's content 2 because it swore a whole bunch.

Reviewer Age:12

Reviewer City, State and Country: Denton, Texas US

It's all a Matter of Taste

Tucked into a little corner of an inside page of the entertainment section of my local paper are a few spare lines about a couple of books. Although print reviews are becoming scarcer, review blogs, like this one, are becoming much more ubiquitous. What do all these reviews have in common? They were placed there by someone the average reader knows nothing about. We don’t know what other books s/he’s read or liked. We don’t know if s/he has the same taste in books as we do. We don’t even know if s/he actually read the book. Most book reviewers have a pile of books to read through, and many of them have deadlines! With over 800 new books published daily, it’s no wonder that so many books get lost in the shuffle. Perhaps some reviewers don’t (or can’t) take the time to read each one cover to cover, so they just skim them. Perhaps that explains why I couldn’t even get through the last book I tried to read, even though it was covered in praise by several prestigious periodicals and the fourth book by an author whose previous three books I highly enjoyed.

It’s all a matter of taste.

Different people like different things. When it comes right down to it, even the name of the author isn’t a guarantee one’s time reading a new book will be enjoyable, although it helps. Chances are, if you enjoyed an author’s first book, you will enjoy their second. If you enjoyed the first two, likely you will enjoy the third. But this isn’t always the case, as I’ve quit authors halfway through the series because it no longer appealed to me for one reason or another. So, when authors no longer entertain us, we must turn to new authors and new books. Trying new authors is always a risk I approach with caution, often re-reading books I’ve previously enjoyed before risking someone new. Even authors who have received the praise of millions may leave me bored. However, we must give new authors a chance, and reviews often help us take these calculated risks with our precious time. Especially if those reviews come from reviewers with whom we’ve built a relationship. Reviewers we have come to trust because their opinions closely match our own.

It’s all a matter of taste.

In the 5 weeks since it’s release, Rowan of the Wood has had overwhelmingly great reviews and has won a National Award! We keep hearing that our readers “couldn’t put it down” or they’re asking when the sequel will be out because they "can't wait" to find out what happens next. Take a look at our review page. Okay, it still is a matter of taste, but could so many diverse people be wrong? ;-) …so…take a chance on these new authors! The book is available now via Amazon (Kindle, too) and wherever books are sold.

Christine and Ethan Rose are the authors of the new YA fantasy novel Rowan of the Wood. They live in Austin, TX with their three dogs and Shadow the Cat.
http://www.christineandethanrose.com/* http://www.rowanofthewood.com/

Look Both Ways

Jacquelyn Mitchard's "Look Both Ways" closely follows both the social and magical angst of two teenage twins. Merry Brynn has visions of the past; Mally Brynn has visions of the future. When dating older boys and senioritis couple with dangerous mystical encounters, the young ladies consult their family and closest friends. This book is part of the "Midnight Twins" series, but readers can easily follow the plot without any prior knowledge of Mitchard's other lackadaisical novels. The main intrigue revolves around a robust cat wreaking havoc, which turns out to be a shape-shifting friend. Adventure ensues as the sisters are urged to fight for humanity and fight over common love interests. When the dynamic duo are involved in soccer, cheerleading, and various other extracurricular activities, students around them begin to pick up on their aura of unusualness.

One will definitely not be on the edge of their seat while reading "Look Both Ways" by Jacquelyn Mitchard. When there is a juxtaposition of teenage melodrama and supernatural phenomena, all enthusiasm is lost in the process. The novel has little descriptions of magical scenes with the exception of some haunting night sweats. As for the melodrama, it seems mostly cliched and easy to predict. While the book is an easy read that definitely entertains the reader, it is by no means a page-turner. Readers interested in teen magic should find novels that better coalesce the two genres of fantasy and drama. While one does not have to read the other "Midnight Twins" novels, this book seems more appropriate for collectors of the series as opposed to capricious readers looking for a dazzling piece of literature.

Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Staten Island, NY USA

Christine & Ethan Rose: Guest Bloggers on Wednesday

Flamingnet is excited to host Christine and Ethan Rose, authors of the new, award-winning YA fantasy novel Rowan of the Wood during their Geekalicious Yuletide Blog Book Tour! The authors are stopping by here on Wednesday, December 10th as guest bloggers. Their post is called "A Matter of Taste" about the subjectivity of book reviews.

Rowan of the Wood:
An ancient wizard possesses a young boy after a millennium of imprisonment in a magic wand. He emerges from the child in the face of danger and discovers Fiana, his new bride from the past, has somehow survived time and become something evil.

The authors are also hosting a contest on YouTube and giving away a digital camcorder just for following four simple steps. Check it out!

Come back and visit on Wednesday, read their blog, and post questions/comments. The authors will be available all day Wednesday and Thursday to answer your questions. Every comment on this blog is an entry to win a signed, limited edition print of Christine's Green Man II painting. The authors are also giving away autographed books and over $600 in other prizes through their website.

Gankutsuou 1: The Count of Monte Cristo

Albert is a young Parisian who is vacationing on the moon. His friend Franz is accompanying him, but he cannot seem to keep Albert out of trouble. Albert decides to follow a man, finding out later that the man is the Count of Monte Cristo. Albert is instantly intrigued and fascinated by him, but does not know what the Count’s intentions are. Apparently, betrayal was committed against the Count years ago, and now he seeks revenge for it, planning that Albert’s parents, and the entirety of Paris, will feel his wrath soon.

Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo was a very different kind of story to read. I have never read the actual story of The Count of Monte Cristo, and this manga made me want to read it. At first I thought that the characters were drawn strangely and looked incomplete. As I read on, though, I got used to the images and they seemed to be drawn exactly how they should be for this certain story. Overall, the plotline was great. It moved quickly and kept my attention. I was confused a few times, due to the quantity of characters and events that take place. I recommend people who have read The Count of Monte Cristo or people who like manga to read this book.

Rating: 7
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States of America

The King's Rose

A new and different approach to the Tudors and Henry VIII, Alisa Libby's The King's Rose tells the story of Henry's fifth wife, Catherine Howard. Cousin to Anne Boleyn, Catherine's story reveals her concerns with the marriage even before the king's proposal. Free from any glaring historical anomalies, The King's Rose builds upon real letters and testimonies to develop a love plot between Catherine and her cousin Thomas. The novel is structured around the contradictions of court life. Though outsiders to the situation may see her as greedy, this portrayal of Catherine focuses on her young age and responsibility, especially as her marriage is presented as a duty. In this way, The King's Rose tells the story of a teenage girl who perhaps isn't ready to become Queen, but who is thrown into the position regardless in order to protect her family interests and then must struggle to balance King Henry's interests with her own.

Considering my interest in history, I truly enjoyed reading The King's Rose. To my knowledge, the setting is accurate and well developed, though liberty was clearly taken with the romantic plot. I was pleased to note Libby's emphasis on the importance of family in early English society, between Henry's nightmares over his heir and Catherine's rise to Queen as critical to social status of the Howard lineage. Though I knew how the novel would end, I appreciated how Libby led into it. Like Catherine herself, the reader feels helpless to the control of the council and upon finishing will likely contemplate Catherine's decisions as I couldn't help but do. In addition to young adults, this novel is certainly accessible to an older crowd with an interest in the Tudor era and the many wives of Henry VII.

Reviewer Age:19

Reviewer City, State and Country: Farmington, CT USA

The Case of the Silk King

"The Case of the Silk King", one of the Choose Your Own Adventure Series, is a book of many adventures. In this story the reader is the main character. You, as the reader, are a detective and haven't had an exciting case in a year. You start with the same beginning by getting a plain brown envelope with no return address. It contains two one thousand dollar bills, a plane ticket, and a newspaper article. The article is about Jim Thomas. He works for the OSS and has now disappeared while visiting friends in Malaysia. As you continue you will have to decide what to do; such as, if you decide to leave for Bangkok tonight, turn to page 15. If you decide to put off your leave until you have more information, turn to page 6.

If you like adventurous books, you will be interested in The Case of the Silk King. I would recommend this book for ages ten and up. The hand drawn sketches are terrific and detailed. You never know what will happen next. Each character has their own individual personality. Mr. Sing is a sly man and Ning is a young friendly woman. I chose three different ways to find Jim Thomas. Out of the three different ways I chose two of them ended in disaster and one was sucessful. Each route is about fifteen pages long. I enjoyed this book very much and hope you do to.

Reviewer Age:11

Reviewer City, State and Country: Leopold, Missouri USA

The Way He Lived by Emily Wing Smith

Joel Espen was the nice guy of the community - always friendly, kind, and helpful. Everyone considered Joel to be a friend. So, when he unexpectedly dies of dehydration on a boy scout camping trip, the whole town of Haven is shocked and upset. In this heartbreaking novel, the six teens closest to Joel each explain their story and must learn to cope with Joel's death, and learn to live the way he did.

I was not impressed by this book at all. Since the novel has the point-of-view of six different teenagers, and each teenager takes turns narrating, the novel was choppy and unorganized. There was no plot, just six people rambling on about nothing very important. The characters didn't have any interaction with each other, and the author should have tried to tie them together better. The only saving grace of the book was the character of Joel, and he wasn't even alive. He seemed to be a good person, and a respectable role model for all teens.

Reviewer Age:16

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

Ariel's Journey by Doug Kane & Christy Wood

Ariel's Journey by Doug Kane and Christy Wood is a fantasy book. The book starts out in a 'normal' world with Kim and Emily, two sisters whose parents own Icelandic horses they keep behind their house. They are great friends with many girls, like Darcy, from the 4-H club that they attend. However, girls from the club often make fun of Kim and Emily for their love of the Icelandic ponies. After Emily gets into a fight with another girl from 4-H, Emily and Kim's mother decides to arrange for all the girls to go on an overnight trail ride in hopes they will bond. This begins an adventure that brings the girls to a 'fantasy' world where they will discover more about their horses and themselves.

I liked Ariel's Journey initially because it was about horses, a genre that I enjoy a lot because of my own horseback riding experiences. The characters were likeable and believable, as well as the relationships they share with their horses. However, after the girls transport into the other world I lost interest in the book. Instead of a page-turner, the book turns to a lot of description and I found myself flipping past many parts. I didn't feel satisfied with the way the author sums things up at the end of the novel. Many loose ends tie up quickly and without depth. I would recommend this book for horse loving children under the age of 12; however, I would not recommend this book if you are looking for a fast-paced adventure story.

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country: Westerville, OH USA

The New York Yankees by Matt Christopher

The reason I love this book is because of all the facts that were given. I liked learning that the Yankees won 26 World Series and 39 pennants. Another fact given was when Babe Ruth called his shot to center field, and then on the next pitch he hit it right where he pointed! That was a really good story. I never knew the New York Yankees had such a history.

I loved the stats given at the end such as the Hall of Famers and their regular season results. I even keep stats myself, mostly of the Cardinals because they're my favorite team. It's fun to see what today's players like Albert Pujols are doing compared to the great players of years ago like Babe Ruth. This book will be enjoyed by many sports fans.

Reviewer Age:11
Leopold, MO USA

Faust

Faust is a book about the japenese culture of manga-ka. There are ten stories in this book. They are all different examples of how manga is different from english writing styles. Some are about being different and not following the crowd, and how it may affect a person's abilities later in life. Others tell about what can drive a person to suicide; and how one girl can save many others. This book includes stories by: Clamp, Takeshi Obata, Ueda Hajime, NISIOISIN, Yun Kouga, Take, and Kouhei Kadono. There is also an interview between Kinoku Nasu and the writers of the book, mostly asking questions to Nasu about his book The Garden of Sinners. If you thought this was a manga book, this is not the book for you.

To me Faust was a totally different from what I expected because I thought this was a manga book. For me it was hard reading a book that is about manga, and having parts of the books in it that I may have already read without the pictures. So of course like a normal book I had to picture everything that was happening. Also it was a little difficult to follow because all the different stories made it hard to keep up. Other than that I totally loved this book. I was fascinated with all the different styles of manga-ka.

because it has sexual content

Reviewer Age:13

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

The Golden Tower by Fiona Patton

This book is about two boys named Spar and Graize. They both live in completely different worlds. They both have a demon/god. He is both children's demon and god. Graize wants to burn down Spar's city so he enlists the help of a different tribe. I thought I would really like this book, but I found it confusing.

You should not read this book until you have read the first one. It doesn't seem to make much sense by itself. Maybe I should have read the first book so I could understand what was going on in the story. The character names and cities seem to be difficult to say and remember. I don't really feel it's fair to say it's not a good book, maybe if I would have read the first one it would make more sense.
Age 12
Leopold, Missouri USA

Sandlot Summit by Fishman

Sandlot Summit is a great fictional story. It is about two teams [American and the Soviet Union]playing baseball. During 1984 President Regan and famous Russian General Kostilo' Boneface' Zolotov have young baseball players. Each team must battle for their own country.The teams are playing baseball instead of fighting a war. Whoever wins the baseball game wins the war.

I like the book Sandlot Summit because it is about baseball. I also like it because it is funny. I would recommend this book to a young reader ages 9-12. I would also recommend this book to a person who likes to read baseball or humorous books. I really enjoyed this book.

Age:11
Leopold, MO USA

Sam's Quest: The Royal Trident by Ben Furman

This is the second book in a series. Even though I hadn't read the first book,I could follow the action. Sam's Quest is a story about a girl who goes on a trip with her Grandpa's dog on the Crimson Crystal. Then, she meets up with a prince. Together they save King Kaylan from the Pax.

I love this book because it is action-packed and exciting. The author did a very good job of thinking of the adventures in the book. Also, it was clever how both Sam and Princess Digan looked exactly alike. Prince Buznor was very funny to me.

Age:11
Leopold, MO USA

Knucklehead by Jon Scieszka

This book is about a boy with five other brothers. He is the second born and they get in a lot of trouble together. They also have a lot of fun. They are average boys with average boy dreams. They like the Law Of The Pack promise because to them it means they should run around like a bunch of wild animals.

This book is action packed and realistic. My favorite part is that it is so funny. It is even hysterical at times. It tells about living with five other brothers. They even made up their own game called Slaughter Ball. In Slaughter Ball you jump on the guy with the ball. Boys like that kind of thing. The realistic humor is why I like this book.

Reviewer Age:11
Leopold, Missouri USA

The Return of the Light

The Return of Light is a great book. Treewing is tree that became a Christmas tree a year early. The Christmas deer said he had a special destiny. When they came for the trees, Treewing was taken. When he got to the lot,he was disappointed because he had been told wonderful stories about becoming a Christmas tree. This was not like the stories at all. Soon he realized he had to be sold to someone first to be able to be part of the wonderful Christmas Stories about becoming a Christmas tree. He waited and waited. He wasn't sold. A young boy named Luke had stopped by every day to see him. He had put an ornaments on Treewing that he had made at school because he didn't have a tree of his own to put it on. A woman named Peacock saw the tree with the ornaments and thought it was a sign that this tree was special. Of course, Lolly, the woman who owned the lot would take the ornaments off. On Christmas Eve, Lolly left the lot to go to the store. While she was gone, Peacock came by with a group of friends and started to decorate Treewing. When Lolly came back she was not very happy with what she saw. Treewing was all decorated for Christmas. Luke persuaded Lolly to join in the decorating fun by giving her a special baseball that his father had given to him. Treewing now knew that this was the special destiny the deer had been talking about. Treewing soon started to light up with a bright glow that everyone was amazed to see. He had brought the return of the light.

The Return of the Light is an awesome book. It has good details. I felt like I could see everything that was happening. It is not sad or scary. It is a very happy book. It is not an action/adventure type of book but it has a great story. It is a book full of surprises. I wish everyone would read it.


Age:12
Leopold, Missouri USA

The Comet's Curse by Dom Testa

Space travel? Enemy aboard ship? The human race depending on you? These are only a few of the problems Triana Marshall faces as she pulls away from earth with 250 other teenagers- none over the age of 16- in her command. Their mission is to save Earth from the quickly spreading disease that the comet Bhaktul is causing, the result of which is death. Will the young adults succeed? Or will human life cease to exist as we know it?

I've never been a huge fan of science fiction, but this book has forever changed my opinion. It was filled with a constant eerie mystery and a little hint of romance. What I liked most about this book is the description of character. It was like I had met each person in the book personally. Dom Testa did a wonderful job creating the sense of suspense, and character. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick entertaining, suspense filled read.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Seaside, OR USA

The Haunting of Anne MacKay

The Haunting of Annie MacKay is more of a mystery than a scary story. It's about a young middle school girl named Annie MacKay. She and her parents are starving artists and they move a lot. Then the news comes that Annie inherits a house and the family moves into it. Annie begins to learn of the mystery of a girl named Annie MacKay (she's been named after this other girl.) The Annie from the past suffered a traumatic death and the Annie of today has to figure out how the other Annie died.

I enjoyed this book very much. It's very easy to read and it's a page turner. I couldn't put it down. I like mystery books and this one was great. The book demonstrates friendship, love and determination. I love the relationship Annie had with her parents. They told each other the truth no matter how ridiculous it may have seemed.

Reviewer Age:18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Newville, Pennsylvania Untied States

Beginner's Guide to Animation by Mary Murphy

Do you want to learn about animation? The Beginner's Guide to Animation has everything you need to know to start making animated features. Animation is basically the manner in how movement occurs; you have to move, modify, or replace an object, and then record a frame. By doing this many times you will create a visual appearance of the item moving. The first section contains a plethora of information on tools and all the technology you need to start. Part two explains how to use sand, pixilation, 2D animation, and more in creating a short film. Then the process explanation is completed, and you learn how to put the frames into a show reel and then turn it into a film.

This is a very helpful book on how to start animating and contains all of the information needed for beginners. I knew absolutely nothing about animation before reading this, and that proved not to matter. The different techniques and processes are explained well so that the reader knows exactly how to do them. I liked the diagrams and pictures that were used. If they were not there, then the information would be difficult to understand and comprehend. Now I can start to animate by using clay and all of the other materials the book suggests. I recommend this book to any person who wants to make films or animate.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania

Rating: 6

Content Rating: 1

Into the Wildwood by Gillian Summer

Next stop: the Wildewood Renaissance Faire. After destroying the evil Red Cap at the High Mountain Renaissance Festival, Keelie Heartwood and her dad head to the next faire for the hot summer months. Little does Keelie know, but she's in for a troublesome surprise. Keelie already has enough to worry about, such as why her boyfriend, Sean, hasn't gotten in touch with her, how's she's going to pay for the designer boots she bought, and the snotty elf-girl Elia that always finds a way to ruin her life, and then out of nowhere comes a unicorn that is good at enchanting her and becoming the center of attention in all of her thoughts. All of the elves, including her father, are seriously ill. Also, there is something seriously wrong with the trees; they are incessantly calling for her help and sending her negative green energy. Her father says that the unicorn is the ruler of the forest and his health is the trees' health. After coming into contact with the unicorn again, Keelie notices how quickly his health is ailing and realizes that she doesn't have much time if she's going to rescue the faire from its certain death and save the unicorn, the trees, and most importantly, her father. Will she be able to summon all of her courage and energy and save everything that she holds dear to her before it's too late?

I really enjoyed reading this wonderful sequel to the Tree Shepherd's Daughter, and I think that it was a really great novel. Gillian Summers is an amazing author and is great at holding the reader's attention. I really liked Into the Wildewood, but I was kind of disappointed at Sean's rare presence in this novel because he is one of my favorite elements and characters in this action-packed trilogy. The vocabulary was easy to understand and there were many new and exciting characters, which kept the story intriguing. I can't wait for the last book in this wonderful trilogy, The Faire Folk trilogy by Gillian Summers, and I recommend this wonderful book to teens, ages 12-16.

Reviewer Age:15

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

Balancing Act by Donna King

Carli Carroll is your not-so-average gymnast. After all, being a genius on the mat means special training and possibly Olympic fame! But with Carli's not-so-genius report card and a life on the ranch, who has time for gymnastic glory? After knowing that she needs to contribute more time to her gymnastics life, Carli takes Saturday practices and works extra hard. When one old-time gold medalist turned gymnastic coach, Rick, wants to teach Carli the way to be a gymnastic star, she is afraid to ask her parents. But when Rick gets arrested for a reason no one can seem to understand, how can Carli chase her dreams when her life seems so unbalanced? Can she really go all the way, when one fall costs you your career?

The book was okay, but an easy read. At the end it went from angry to all of a sudden, her parents were accepting. They had been so against the gymnastics that, you thought that they would say no. It was really a dynamic character problem.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Oakville, Pennsylvania US of A

Alicia Afterimage by Lulu Delacre

Alicia Delacre was a normal, pretty, popular teenager. Her peers, teachers and parents adored her and she lived an untroubled life. All this was brought to a halt with one fatal car wreck. Alicia Afterimage is a collection of memoirs about Alicia. These memoirs come from her friends and family, the people who knew her best. These treasured memories are wound so perfectly together that they evoke emotion from readers with ease.

Alicia Afterimage is an emotional read. These memories of a loved one changed my own opinion on how to live my life. This was a relatively easy read; though the writing was not always perfect, the content was profound. Lulu Delacre also shares an intimate perspective considering that Alicia was her daughter and she integrates her own feelings. This book is an impressive must-read because of its thought-provoking themes. I would recommend this to anyone who is a mature reader, boys and girls alike.

Reviewer Age:14

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

FLYGIRL by Sherri L. Smith

This book, FLYGIRL by Sherri L. Smith, is about an African-American girl a couple years out of high school in Louisiana in the 1940's, who has a passion for flying. After learning how to fly from her late father, she is intent on getting her pilot's license. To do that she works to save up enough money to go to the flying school in Chicago run by African-Americans where her father learned to fly. Then Pearl Harbor is bombed, and she feels that she has a duty to serve her country. When her brother finds an article about the WASP, the Women Airforce Service Pilots, she hopes to pass for a white woman so she will be accepted into the WASP and be able to live her dream to fly.

This is certainly one of the better books I've read. The mood changes constantly throughout the book ranging from joyful to sad to frightful. It is a very powerful and quite moving book that filled me with many emotions, and the way the author told the story made you seem attached to Ida throughout her thrilling journey. This book keeps you on edge and has surprises around every corner to catch you unprepared, although I wish the author had tied up the loose ends at the end of the book to leave you with a better sense of closure. Telling more about what happened after the story leaves off would have greatly improved this book, in my opinion; though I do recommend FLYGIRL to anyone who is looking for a good book to read and who would like to learn a little bit at the same time.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Yuma, Arizona United States

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

I think this is one of the best books I have ever read. This story is so powerful that sometimes I laughed, and sometimes I cried, but I simply could not stop turning the page. If you had the choice to live or die, what choice would you make? I started asking myself this as I read If I Stay, by Gayle Forman. This book is about a High School girl named Mia who finds she must make that choice. The story is descriptive and I became submerged in the tale as if I were watching everything happen myself. A fun family snow day turns into a tragic winter car accident in Oregon that takes the lives of her family and leaves Mia in coma. She is outside of her body in this odd state, and soon finds out that it is her choice if she lives or dies. Mia can't be seen, but is somehow aware of what is going on around her and she can move freely through the real world. Mia witnesses the struggle of the people left in her life as they show their true feelings to her while she lies in her hospital bed fighting for her life. You also experience all the twists and turns of the flood of life memories being revisited by Mia and back to the present as she considers her choice. Although, this can be a bit confusing, it allows you understand in depth about Mia, her family and her life. What choice will she make? Will she stay, or will she give up and let go? Read the book to find out; I highly recommend it.

The book If I Stay, by Gayle Forman, makes you think and see that there is more to your every day life than you realize. The writing was very descriptive and was age appropriate for me. I liked how the book made me feel like I was in the story but struggled a bit with the change from life memories to present settings. I could relate to Mia's characture who played the Cello, as I play the Oboe and also enjoy music that is not always considered cool. I learned, like Mia, that there is more love in the world for me than just at home and how we probably don't think about the little things and how much people mean to us until they might be gone. I will definately recommend this book to my friends!

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Mishawaka, IN USA

We Think Therefore We Are by Peter Crowther

Peter Crowther's "We Think, Therefore We Are" is compiled
with several short stories about the trepidation of
artificial intelligence. As there are many different
authors with their own points-of-view, there are many
emotions that this book evokes. From the demented machine
that thinks on the same level as a schizophrenic, to the
fastidious robot that would kill people if it would
increase production / efficiency, this book has it all.
Even religion and love are conquered, as artificial
intelligences vainly try to find God or have compassion
for others. In many of the stories, the machines try to
be more like humans and do not comprehend why they can
never be. Sure, holograms and metal can make machines
appear human, but true human emotions are never felt by
robots. That is why the fear of robots killing humans
without any tinge of remorse is so frighteningly
plausible.

The short stories in Peter Crowther's "We
Think, Therefore We Are" are definitely geared towards a
certain audience--those with a scientific background. The
impact of the book can not truly be felt by one who does
not know of how science is dashing forward. After all, to
those not immersed in science culture, the stories in the
book are just for leisure; they are not something that
will creep up on them possibly within the next couple of
decades. Overall, the book was engaging. The only flaw
was the occasional lewd sentence or interjected
obscenity. On the whole, the book is very enjoyable and
leaves readers sweating with fear if they know a thing or
two about technological development.

There are some
swear words in it.

Reviewer Age:17

Reviewer City,
State and Country: Staten Island, NY USA

Fortune and Fate

The former Rider Wen has a decisively shady past. When she fails to protect her king, the ruler of the kingdom of Gillengaria, she is weighed down by guilt of her supposed failure. She flees the royal city and decides to punish herself by simply wandering around and helping those in need. Then, an unexpected event occurs. She rescues a girl named Karryn, who'd been abducted by a not-so-charming suitor. Karryn happens to be the daughter of one of the men that rose against the king, the king that Wen failed to protect. Eventually, after much frustration and confusion, Wen comes to work for Karryn and her uncle as a guard. She comes to terms with herself, a person that she'd started to hate.

This book is part of a series, one that I didn't read. It's all right to read it on its own, but might be a little less confusing to read if one had read the previous books. It was fairly well written, and the plot was pretty interesting. This was not a spectacular book, but it was a worthwhile read. The characters seemed believable, as if they were actual people. The ending was good, but a little bit predictable. I liked this book a lot. It wasn't boring, but neither was it as terribly gripping as Stephenie Meyer's books. Anyone younger than around 13 would not find this book to be that exciting.I would definitely recommend this book to anyone seeking a well-written book with elements of fantasy, action, a love story, and humor.

rating 8

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Charleston, SC USA

Seaborn by Craig Moodie

Life has gotten tough for Luke. His parents recently got divorced for some unknown reason, and his girlfriend is no longer talking to him. To top it all off his dad decides to take the two of them on sailing trip, pretending as though everything is completely normal. As if putting up with his aggravating father wasn't enough, they soon get caught in the middle of a huge storm. When his father is swept overboard, Luke is left to fend for himself on a mangled sailboat. He learns how much his father truly means to him, as he goes on a quest to find his father and himself.

This was a pretty solid book, with a good story line. Although the beginning was somewhat dull, the climax was suspenseful and captivating. The story addressed real life issues that many people can relate to. I really could understand Luke's confusion in his situation and the emotions were raw and well written. This is a good book for anyone who likes a emotional and exciting read.

Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Richmond, Virginia USA

Paper Towns by John Green

Margo had always been the mysterious girl next door whom Quentin has loved from a distance. But when Margo shows up outside Quentin's window one night he follows her and her crazy plan of retribution. The next day Quentin is excited to see how their relationship has changed, but she doesn't show up to school. Again, like many times before, Margo has gone missing. Quentin discovers she has left clues for him, possibly leading to her location. However, the only way he will find her is if he learns to see her as the girl she is, rather than the girl he thought she was.

Paper Towns is separated into three different parts, and each one has its specific purpose. I liked this layout because the three sections remained individual and unique parts. The first division set up the story. The next part had less action and was boring at parts. The last section was full of action and suspense because the plot gets extremely intense. There was humor all throughout the book that made each page an absolute joy to read. The vocabulary was perfect for the mature young adult reader, but younger children would find it inappropriate. One other compliment to the book was that there were themes and dialogue within it that made me think about life and how humans take in everything. I recommend this book to anyone wishing to read a humorous book about life.

This book contains crude humor and language.

Reviewer Age:15

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

The Abominable Snowman by R.A. Montgomery

The Abominable Snowman is pretty much what the title says it is. The book is a "Choose Your Own Adventure" book and would be part of the mystery/adventure genre. The mystery? Your friend Carlos recently disappeared in the Himalayas while searching for the Yeti, a.k.a. the Abominable Snowman. You set off on a quest to find him.

Choose Your Own Adventure: The Abominable Snowman was an enjoyable read, although it was a little strange and degrading to the Yeti at some parts. As a newbie to the Choose Your Own Adventure series, I found it a little annoying that the book displayed different characteristics of the Yeti in almost every ending. One ending, for example, had the Yeti as a bit of a psychopath! Another example makes the Yeti harmless. Another thing that's a put-down to the Yeti is one ending in which the Yeti is a tribe from the planet Borodoz and you're the prince of a tribe of superior beings from Atlantis. If that's not humiliating enough, there's an ending on the very next page where people can change from a Yeti to a UNICORN! There's the ultimate put-down for the Yeti. However, the book managed to get most of their Yeti facts straight, which is something you usually don't see in fictional cryptid books.

Overall, The Abominable Snowman is a good campfire read or a under-your-covers-with-a-flashlight book (unless you don't like it when cryptids are compared to Atlantis or unicorns or shape shifters).

Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Denton, Texas United States

Devil May Ride by Wendy Roberts

Meet Sadie: a clairvoyant who can talk to murdered people and, ironically, has the job of cleaning up a crime scene after someone dies. When cleaning up a scene involving a young mother who went through a violent C-section and the woman's dead biker boyfriend, Sadie accidentally interrupts a satanic cult ritual involving a goat and a baby and discovers thousands of dollars that belong to the biker gang. Now Sadie is on the run from the devil himself and the biker gang who thinks that she stole their money.

The book also throws a personal twist into the mix. Sadie's brother killed himself six years previously and his ex-fiancee is somehow connected to the cult. Now Sadie has to find out what happened to cause her brother's death and ultimately finds the reason why she has her powers. As if she didn't have enough to handle, Sadie is falling for her partner Zack who happens to be sleeping with another co-worker. How much can Sadie handle before she cracks?

I absolutely loved this book! The mix of supernatural phenomenon and mystery with a slight dash of romance makes for an exiting story. The book incorporates themes from both CSI: and Ghost Whisperer, yet the book has absolutely nothing to do with characters from the shows. I loved the way Ms. Roberts developed the characters. If you are interested in forensic science or the supernatural, I would highly suggest this book!

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Pottstown, PA United States

Been There, Survived That

"Been There, Survived That" is a book about surviving the dreaded freshman year of high school. It is written by four teenagers (one of them being a freshman while the book was being written) and edited by Karen Macklin. The book is broken up into three sections: Social Advice, Academic Advice, and Practical Advice. Each section contains smaller sections of advice that are two pages long, with one page giving the advice and a second page giving a chart of some sort that relates to the subject. The book also contains a "flipbook", which is a small sketch in the bottom corner of the book that shows a guy writing "Been There, Survived That" on a piece of paper.

I felt that the book lacked practical advice, despite having a whole section called that. I also felt slightly disturbed because there were several pieces of advice that are highly controversial, such as "Learning How to Fake It". It says that, "in order to make it through high school alive", you have to occasionally tell a lie. I believe that you can still make it through high school without telling lies about who you are. To put it in a book and encouraging people to do this is, in my opinion, completely unacceptable. Another section tells kids how to fake sick, which I also do not agree with. This book is useless with its advice, and I would definitely not recommend this.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Westerville, Ohio USA

The Oak Hotel by Walter G. Klimczak

Kayleigh's parents need to sell her grandparent's old house by Christmas. Her mom gives her permission to bring her best friend, Lincoln, to look around the house and keep anything they find. When they get to the house they find a book that has a screen in the front cover.

The book takes them to an unknown world called Burnam, where they meet
several people and learn that the trees can transport people from one place
to another. Then they meet Kayleigh's grandfather, who's king in that
world, and finds out she's a princess. They go on and have many more adventures together.

I thought the book was good but it seemed a bit too young for me. I would recommend it to student in grades 4-6 who like science fiction. It is not very difficult to read and not very long.

Reviewer age: 14
Leopold, MO USA

The Ghosts of Lone Jack by Lance Lee Noel

Jared Millhouse is spending the summer in Lone Jack,
Missouri when he encounters the ghost of a long-dead
innkeeper in the woods behind right field. Soon other
ghosts and groups of ghosts begin to make their presence
felt. First comes the innkeeper. Next, a gang of ball-and-
chain wielding slaves appear. Hot on their heels are two-
headed Indian ghosts. And then, there are the soldiers,
reliving the battle of Lone Jack, exactly as it happened in
1862. They all demand "the key". Now, it's up to Jared, his
friends, and two whacky ghost hunters to find this key and
save Lone Jack - from itself. This book is based on a real
Civil War battle so it's mostly adventure, but also part
mystery.

The author achieved his purpose, which was to
write an entertaining book in a way that was both effective
and easy to understand. Although there is a large amount of
detail (which you sometimes need to understand the story-
line)in some places it is a bit too much. My overall
response to the book was one of complete fascination. I
would not recommend taking it to school to read. Once you
start, you can't stop! It's addictive. The characters feel
like your friends and neighbors, the action feels like its
taking place all around you. I liked the ending but it left
me wondering what happened to Jared and Lone Jack - it
cries out for a sequel.(Lance Lee Noel, if you're reading
this, write one!) You don't have to know much about the
Civil War to understand and enjoy this book. I recommend it
to anyone wanting to read an exciting, true life adventure
story.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and
Country: Lusby, Maryland USA

Mao-Chan

Mao Onigawara, Misora Tsukishima, and Sylvia Maruyama are three grade school students who are also members of the Defense Corps of Japan. Mao specializes in ground defense, Misora in air defense, and Sylvia takes part in the naval defense. Dangerous aliens have been invading Japan, and it is up to the girls to stop them. However, the aliens are very cute and deceiving. Their separate grandfathers want their own granddaughter to get the glory from working alone, and this prevents the girls from working together. If they cannot find a way to combine their defenses then the aliens will not be put to a stop.

Mao-Chan is, as the description suggests, a very cute manga. The three girls have wonderful personalities that tie into the book very well. Also, the aliens themselves were distinct in appearance and characteristics. The drawings were very excellent; I found myself looking at them for a while before continuing to read. One minor feature that I did not like was that the book would probably entertain a younger audience more than an older one. This is because the characters are younger themselves, so they appeal to readers of the same age. The overall storyline was amusing, but it was not a page turner. I recommend Mao-Chan to readers who like a wide variety of manga.

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

Runner

Flamingnet Student Book Reviewer VBer
This book was about Jane Whitefield, who helps people run away from their old lives so that they can survive in a new one. Jane takes the person and gives them a new identity far away from their old friends and family so that they will never be seen again. For several years she has not done this, because she has made a new life for herself, one where she doesnt have to worry about being killed every second of her life. Enter Christine, a timid secretary who has landed herself in a lot of trouble with her ex-boyfriend. Only Jane can save her but it will mean that she has to give up that whole not getting killed idea for a while. As the details of Christines life are revealed things that were just dangerous before become perilous adventures. Will everyone come out alive??? Find out in Runner.

This was an excellent thriller that I could not put down. The author was dealing with some pretty weird circumstances in the book but I believe that he handled that and the crazy plot very well. I was lost a little bit in the beginning, but I figured it out by the end. The only bad thing about the book was that I thought the sexuality was over the top at some points, but that did not really take away from the story, it was just an annoyance.

The only caution I have for readers is the aforementioned sexuality and extreme violence. You should be at least 12 or 13 to read this book.

Reviewer Age:12

Reviewer City, State and Country: Exeter, NH, USA

The Year We Disappeared: A Father-Daughter Memoir

Cylin Busby is a regular nine-year-old girl with a perfectly ordinary family. Her father, John, is a police officer working for the town of Falmouth, New Jersey. Her mother is a med student. Her two brothers are stuck in their middle school lives. While John was driving to work one day, someone leveled an untraceable shotgun at his window, which leaves his lower jaw dangling off of his face, and provides a horrific foretaste of the Busbys' life thereafter. As John suffers with not being able to eat or talk, the rest of the family is put under twenty-four-hour surveillance, because they fear the shooter, a convicted arsonist, will come for the family too. Find out what becomes of the Busby family in The Year We Disappeared: A Father-Daughter Memoir, by John and Cylin Busby.

The Year We Disappeared is an intriguingly tense memoir. I find it very appealing because you get both sides of the true story from the father's and the daughter's perspective. This book shows how injustice can change peoples' lives; how you may live a normal life one second and the next second that life can be turned upside down! This is definitely one of the most captivating books I have ever read. Page turning and intense, John and Cylin keep you asking for more. I expect that The Year We Disappeared will be a popular read for young adults and adults alike.

Lots of bad language, violent scenes, and frightening situations.

Reviewer Age:12

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

The Snake Prince of Montreal by Aliana K. Deveza

Agatha and Lucille are best friends. Lester and Prince Aaron are best friends. Lester likes Lucille who likes Aaron who likes Agatha who likes Aaron. Aaron and Agatha marry, making Lucille angry. So she runs off to her aunt (a black witch) and learns dark magic to plan revenge on Agatha. On the day of Aaron and Agatha's wedding, Lucille shows up out of nowhere and curses their unborn son. Every full moon, he will turn into a snake! Will he ever break the curse?

This book felt like a Dick and Jane book; the sentences were very choppy and didn't flow well. That was before I read the About the Author section. Turns out it is very good for her age - she is only 11! It had a very good storyline but I think the author could have given more detail. It was a cliffhanger ending, so I am going to have to locate the second book!

Reviewer Age:14

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

Rating: 5

Content Rating: 1

The Flame and the Shadow by Denise Rossetti

Cenda has just gone through a horrible experience losing her baby daughter. But out of the tragedy, she gained an invaluable power - the ability to call and control fire. Even though Cenda wants nothing to do with it, she must quickly find a way to manage the power before it ruins her. What she doesn't know is that there are hunters out looking for her, including Grayson, the Duke of Ombra.

Gray has his own agenda. As the Sorcerer of shadows, for as long as he can remember, he's been stuck with Shad. Gray believes that Shad is the darkness within himself, so he's on a mission to rid himself of Shad, even if he has to destroy people he loves.


As Cenda slowly starts to fall in love with Gray. But then she discovers that he's about to betray her and she must do something to save herself before it's too late.

This book has an interesting premise. I like reading fantasy books once in a while and this one fit the bill. But this wasn't the best novel that I've read in that genre. It seemed that the story focused more on the sex rather than on the plot. Personally it was a slow read. I would recommend this to a very select audience, and especially older readers.

This is definately for older readers because there is sex and language in the novel.

Reviewer Age:21

Reviewer City, State and Country: Philadelphia, PA USA

The Twilight Companion by Lois H. Gresh

If you're a big fan of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series, then this is the book for you! Just released to coincide with the movie, this guide gives behind the scenes information about the novels and their characters. Also included in this book are spotlights on the history and myths of vampires, werewolves, and much more. This Twilight Companion provides insights on almost everything regarding the Twilight books. By the end of this book, the reader should be very knowledgeable about Twilight and vampires.

While this book was entertaining at some parts, overall it wasn't my favorite read. This book initially caught my eye because I loved the Twilight books. I really liked the history parts of the book, especially the parts on vampires. The author did quite a bit of research to get the facts. But I didn't really like her sarcastic writing style and the numerous quizzes didn't really grab my interest. But I would highly recommend this guide to any Stephenie Meyer fans.

Reviewer Age:21

Reviewer City, State and Country: Philadelphia, PA USA

Willow by Julia Hoban

The story of Willow, a teenage cutter who's addiction to the razor stems from the night her drunken parents were killed in a car wreck. The twist is Willow was the one driving the car that rainy night when she lost control of the wheel. Now it is hard for her to face the world without feeling like a murderer. The only glimmer of hope in her life is Guy, the love interest who is unwilling pulled into the drama of Willow's life.

A typical young adult novel. True it is the common "teen issues" that draw readers into these kinds of stories, but it can be said reading about these issues over and over again tend to make the genre a bit stale. Credit can be given to the author for trying to add a new twist to the tale yet it still can be put into the category of "just one of those teen books." There were some problems with pacing. For instance at times you don't realize a conversation takes place in two settings and by the time this is noticed you can not pin point the place were the transition occurred. The love interest was stereotypical for a teen novel, always popping up in the right places and being undeniably perfect. But again it is the "perfect relationship" image that young girls fawn over. The novel did end on a good note though. And although some people may view it as unrealistic, or soap opera like, or wonderfully sweet or perfect, you at least could put the book down without waiting for the sequel to find out if Willow's addiction was truly dealt with.

Since this book is about a cutter, some images described may not set right with young, or perhaps even mature readers, if they're sensitive to blood. Some inappropriate language and at one point Willow and her love interest Guy decide to have sex. Not much detail is mentioned, but still, it may not be appropriate for young readers.

Reviewer Age: 15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Holly Springs, North Carolina United States of America

Shadows in the Twilight by Henning Mankell

Shadows in the Twilight by Henning Mankell is about Joel, a twelve year old boy who experiences a miracle. A bus runs right over him. Unbelievably, it does not crush him. Luckily, Joel ended up directly between the tires and does not even get a scratch on him. Once Joel realizes what a miracle he experienced, he believes that he must do a good deed for the world in return.

I personally did not care for this book. It was extremely random and the thoughts were erratic. One example is Joel contemplates whether or not he should have been born a girl instead of a boy. The book was very odd. Another strange thing that happened in the story is that Joel goes into his mother's closet and tries one of her dresses on. I would not recommend this book, I found it boring and weird.

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country: Lemoore, CA US

The Clone Elite by Steven L. Kent

This novel is action, adventure, science fiction, and has a military focus. This story is set in the years 2154 and 2155. Humanity had controlled the Milky Way Galaxy, but an alien force has quickly began conquering every planet inhabited by humanity for their own colonization. The two remaining human worlds, Earth and New Copenhagen, have lost contact with the conquered worlds and have received messages from the aliens saying that both of the remaining worlds will soon be invaded. Humanity decided to protect Earth by sending all their troops to New Copenhagen, which will be attacked first. All foot soldiers in the military are clones but these clones do not know they are clones. To recruit soldiers, all clones are forced into the military by the Elite Conscription Act, including Wayson Harris. Harris is a special type of extremely violent clone called a Liberator, and he knows he is a clone. He also quit the army before because clones were used as bait and left to die. However, time is running out for all of humanity, and Harris must find a way to lead his clone troops to victory.

I believe that this is a superb novel. The futuristic setting keeps readers occupied with a unique type of alien and clone military. The book was never slow because there was always action, battles, arguments within the army, and new discoveries about the alien adversary. It is the fourth in a series, but I had not read the previous books and still understood the plot. I may now go back and read the earlier books, however. I have always loved science fiction and action novels and would recommend this book primarily to people who enjoy the same. The novel is not very deep, and there is not much character development by the main character. The emphasis is on adventure.
This book contains cursing, implied sexual activity, and lots of death and violence.
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Royersford, PA United States

The Ghosts of Kerfol by Deborah Noyes

The Ghosts of Kerfol was originally a ghost story told by Edith Wharton that was later turned into a novel by Deborah Noyes. Noyes takes Wharton's original story and uses the basic plot of it - a young Frenchwoman titled Anne de Barrigan is convicted of murdering her jealous husband and lord over the Kerfol manor, Yves de Cornault - expanding it into six intertwining tales that all link to the murder at Kerfol over different time periods.
The setting is the Kerfol manor which is the stereotypical haunted house. The author, Noyes, tends to use too much description in places and not enough in others. There are many different characters, considering the book is six intertwining tales, making it difficult to relate to any specific character. The author's voice is that of the main character in their particular story, which helped the focus some - although the stories strayed in many directions. The writing style mimics the era the author is trying to convey. At times it does spike an interest in the story, although overall it lacks clarity.


Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Holly Springs, North Carolina United States of America

Imaginary Friends by John Marco & Martin H. Greenberg

Everyone has had an imaginary friend. It may have been someone your age, a dog, or some memory left over from a tragic incident. All of them have either helped you or hurt you in their own way. This is a compilation of thirteen original stories about people and their beloved, and their not-so-beloved, imaginary friends. From a dragon and his imaginary human to a toy mountie coming to life to help save a woman's imagination, these imaginary friends bring chaos into the lives of their creators.

This book was an amazing collection of thirteen stories written by thirteen amazing authors. They made me smile and laugh, and they also made me cry. Some of the stories were confusing and didn't have a very clear plot line. They were muddled and made no sense. Others were clear and exciting, making me want more once the story was finished. A few were centered around psychological problems that kind of made for a scary read. All together, the stories made for very good reads.

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

Eon by Alison Goodman

Eon wishes he could be a normal boy. He is a cripple that
has nowhere else to turn except to his master's house. He
must work hard and be chosen by the Rat dragon to become a
dragoneye, one who controls the dragon's power. Out of the
twelve apprentices, he is the worst. No one knows how a
dragon picks so his luck is as good as anyone else's.
There's another problem. Eon isn't a boy; he is actually a
girl named Eona. If anyone were to find out this deep
secret, Eona and her master would die. Follow her path.
Either, she will be defeated with her master or fool a
whole empire. Only you will find out.

I love this book!
This book is a fantasy reader's dream with twists and
turns that will keep you guessing till the end, plus magic
and fights that will put you in the scene. It is a book
that will tempt you to keep reading till it's finished.
You will be rooting for Eona the whole time. GIRL POWER!
Recommended to the hard core fantasy readers and also
anyone looking for a good read. I have high expectations
for the second book in the series.

Reviewer
Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Eaton's neck,
New York United States

Against The Tide by Hope Irvin Marston

This book is an inspirational story about a brave-hearted young lady. Based on a true story, you follow along with young Margaret as she is torn between her family and religion. She lives in a time of dragoons, kirks, unfair laws, and religious restrictions in 17th century Scotland. She is empowered to stay faithful to God but her life is threatened. With her true love and brothers off in hiding and her faith as strong as ever, will she do the unthinkable and run away with her younger siblings, or stay to keep her family safe? If she does leave, will she be caught?

Since the book was based on a true story it was more powerful. Margaret was very inspirational. I don't know how many girls could do what she did. I would recommend this to anyone would has just started reading historical fiction as well as those who have always loved historical fiction. This was not the most well written book but it was definitely a good book.

It has a few violent and disturbing thoughts and actions.

Reviewer Age:13

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

Rating: 10

Content Rating: 3

The Musician's Daughter by Susanne Dunlap

Maria Theresa lives in a place of murder and love otherwise
known as 18th-century Vienna. Her father turns up dead on
Christmas Eve, and the event does not help her pregnant
mother, little brother, or herself in any way. Theresa
finds a clue to her father's death when she notices the
gold pendant on his neck. Her friend Zolt￡n and godfather
Haydn help her overcome her struggle and sadness, and also
teach her about the secret life of her father. Meanwhile,
Theresa is learning more and more about her shifty uncle
and some interesting gypsies. Who exactly murdered her
musical father, and what role do they play in society?

An interesting mix of mystery, music, and romance is found in
The Musician's Daughter. The mixture of these genres
ensures that all kinds of readers will remain interested in
the book. I didn't particularly care for the musical aspect
of the story. However, the characters and plot were
interesting. A strength of the book is the multitude of
characters. However, after a while, I would forget which
characters were related and who was who. While it was a
good book, I didn't find myself always wanting to read it.
I recommend this book to readers interested in music and
mystery.

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

The Seems: The Split Second by John Hulme & Michael Wexler

The Seems: the Split Second is the sequel to the book The
Seems: the Glitch in Sleep. This is a fantasy book in
which two brave young people go on a Mission to Fix what
happened because of a Time Bomb, a bomb that can destroy
Time on earth. Fixer Becker Drane and Briefer Shan Mei-Lin
travel through other peoples Frozen Moments, moments people
will never forget, that are melting. When Fixer Drane
arrives at his own Frozen moment, he and Briefer Shan get
separated. From there, the story takes an exciting turn.
Whether it is broken Split Seconds or snow filled
landscapes, this story is sure to keep you turning the
pages.

This book is like no other. Even though it is not
a Harry Potter-type fantasy, it is a good book for fantasy
lovers. The beginning is a little slow, but once the ride
starts up, it doesn't slow down. When I got the book, The
Seems: the Split Second I tried to read the first chapter,
but it was very confusing. I went back and read the first
book and then it all made sense. I strongly suggest reading
the first book, The Seems: the Glitch in Sleep, first, like
I did.

Content Rating: 1
Rating: 9
Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Harleysville, PA USA

Trouble My Way

Karis Reed tries hard to be a godly person. She doesn't
mean to get into trouble; trouble seems to find her. When
Karis is busted for being at a boy's house unsupervised,
her mother takes away all of her electronics and grounds
her. Karis feels unjustly punished, and decides to take
matters into her own hands. Behind her mother's back,
Karis borrows her friend's cell phone which ends up being
a disaster and gets her into even more trouble. Will Karis
and her mother ever be able to get along? And can Karis
start acting like the good person she knows she is inside?

This book was okay. It was the author's first attempt
at writing young adult fiction and the writing showed her
inexperience. The premise of the story was good, but the
plot could use some doctoring. Parts of this book were
unrealistic and characters reacted to events differently
than what normally would be expected. Despite this, I
could tell that Karis was a good person even though she
got into all kinds of shenanigans, which is what the
author wanted to achieve. There were even some funny
moments that made me laugh. All in all, a good read that
could have been better with some more TLC.

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

Miley Cyrus by Brittany Kent

Miley Cyrus’s secrets and personal past, celebrity lifestyle, and much more, are revealed to you. With the help of this book, the reader ventures deeply into Miley’s world. This magazine style scrapbook is simple to read, yet informative. It is chock-full of photographs, fun facts, quotes, quizzes, and everything you ever wanted to know about Miley’s life.

This book served its purpose by presenting many surprising and interesting facts about Miley. I enjoyed the good advice on friendships and fashion, but was never truly engrossed in the hodgepodge of interview quotes. In my opinion, a complete interview might have been a better format. This book may best suit some of Miley’s super fans looking for the dish on their favorite star, but is not for her occasional admirers.

Reviewer Age:10

Reviewer City, State and Country: Cockeysville, MD USA

Book One of the Iron Elves: Darkness Forged in Fire

Konowa Swiftdragon is not your average elf; he was marked by the evil Shadow Monarch, was commander of the Iron Elves (a special branch of Her Majesty’s Military), killed a viceroy, and had his beloved Regiment disbanded. After his court-martial for killing the viceroy, Konowa was sent to the one place he hates the most, the forest. Now Konowa is called upon to reform the Iron Elves, but only as the second-in-command. However, the new Iron Elves are not his regiment from before. A legendary, magical Red Star falls from the sky and Konowa and the Iron Elves are in a race against several opponents to reach it first. If they fail to claim the Red Star, the empire may be doomed.

A Darkness Forged in Fire is a witty and tantalizing tale. I absolutely loved it! The characters are thought out and written well. The mood of the story changed depending on the situation; it was sarcastic and funny, but serious whenever the plot dictated. The main points of the story are well laid out and understandable. The text was very descriptive and enjoyable to read. This was an amazing read!

Sexual references and killing.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Shippensburg, PA USA

Evermore by Alyson Noel

Ever is sixteen and has been in an accident, where her family dies. After this tragic experence, Ever goes to live with her aunt and is presented with a new life. Most people would love it, but Ever just wants her life to be back to normal. Since the accident she can hear people's thoughts, see auras and know a person's life story by one small touch. Not only that, she can see her dead sister. Then Damen comes along and seems to be the cure to her weird gifts, yet there is something different about him.

I thought this book was very good! The author creates a great picture of each and every character in the book. I am a fan of the twlight series and I recommend this book to those who like the series as well. It is a very quick read, with all the interesting twist and turns in this book.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, PA USA

Need by Carrie Jones

Pixies have uncontrollable needs, and now one is stalking
Zara. Her step-father has just died, and she is living
with her step-grandma in Maine. At her high school, she
meets several friends: Issie, Devyn, and Nick. As she
learns more about them she also learns more about herself
and her phobias. As Zara gets accustomed to one fear, she
gains reason to add another to her fickle list. New
characters become involved frequently as Zara learns more
and more about the horrible nature of pixies. Who exactly
is after her, and what does he want from her?

Need was an exciting book to read because of the use of suspense.
The plot has great use of details and irony. This keeps
the reader interested and willing to continue reading. The
characters are not necessarily round, but they do display
significant traits that differentiate them from each
other. In the beginning of each chapter, it is named with
a phobia. I thought this was unique, but after a while it
didn't interest me and I stopped bothering to read them.
The resolution of the book was definitely worthy of
praise, and I loved the action that the climax had built.
This is a great book for suspense and romance lovers to
read.

Reviewer Age:15

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

Ancient Forces

Ancient Forces is another collection of Bill Myers exceptional stories from the Forbidden Doors series. This one includes books 10-The Ancients, 11-The Wiccan, and 12-The Cards.
The Ancients - Becka and Scott have been sent on another mission by their mysterious friend Z. This time to the mountains of New Mexico where a Native American cult has been greatly mislead in their teachings of religion. It is not only the Natives who are in trouble here though. When Scott is led astray by these new ideas, they are all placed in great danger.
The Wiccan - There is this new show on TV that everyone is watching called ”The Hex”. It has a lot to do with a type of witchcraft called Wiccan. But it's just a TV show, so everybody knows those things aren't real, right? Sarina, the star of the show, has been promoting this witchcraft as a type of healing practice and many of Becca's friends are captivated by it. Can she stop them before they get in too deep? Can she reach out to Sarina and show her truth?
The Cards - Philip, a close friend of Rebecca, has been going through a trying time in his life. Overwhelmed with stress, he turns to the tarot cards for a bit of insight into the future. But what do they really offer?

Once again I was very pleased with Bill Myers' book. Each story addressed a different way that demons may try to trick you into turning away from God. It reminded me to stay strong in my faith and not to be too open to new ideas. On a more critical note, however, I did not enjoy this collection nearly as much as the last one I reviewed, Invisible Terror. It was not as exciting for me, but that may just be personal opinion.
If you are interested in discussing or learning more about the Forbidden Doors series I highly suggest checking out this page: http://www.forbiddendoors.com/home.htm
Forbidden Doors
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Osseo, Wisconsin USA