Sass Girls

If you like to read books about alien babes and dumb dudes, then you will love Sass Girls. One day while Sho and Steve are guarding the museum, Sho accidentally knocks over one of the sculptures on display. Steve decides that they should try to put it back together with glue. Sho goes to look for the glue in the janitor’s closet which is on the floor below. However, after retrieving the glue instead of going back upstairs, he accidentally pushes the down button which leads to the basement. When he arrives, he sees a hole in the wall ahead of him. He approaches the hole and discovers a capsule that has “Her” in it. “Her” is an alien – and one of the hottest babes ever- alien or not!

In Sass Girls, Passiona or “Her” is the daughter of the supreme leader of her planet, who has invasion plans for planet Earth. She and her two sisters are sent to Earth as spies to learn more about the “weaklings” that their father plans on subjugating. After Passiona meets Sho her attitude towards the weaklings changes; and she joins with Sho and Steve to prevent her father’s invasion of Earth.

Sass Girls is a great book. As you get started, it may seem boring. However, once you get past the first seven pages, I promise you that you will not want to put it down! It is full of action and alien romance. It’s a great book all and all. I would personally recommend it to readers over the age of fourteen due to language.

Due to adult language.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Casa Grande, AZ USA

The Girls by Tucker Shaw

The main characters in The Girls are five very different
girls: Mary, Crystal, Sylvia, Amber, and Peggy. Peggy is
Mary's best friend that is obsessed with becoming a chef.
Mary is the "perfect one." She's nice to everyone, is
rich, beautiful, and her boyfriend is cheating on her.
Sylvia is rich as well and likes to cause trouble,
especially when she finds out who's cheating with Mary's
boyfriend. Crystal is the one cheating with Mary's
boyfriend. Amber works in a coffee shop and knows
everything there is to know about everyone.

This retelling of the play The Women is filled with twists and
turns, and the last pages are filled with surprising
secrets that are revealed and the lies told are brought to
light.

The Girls was a decent book that had a pretty
interesting plot and characters that seemed real due to
their thoughts, dialogue, and actions. I found it
surprising how there were only girls in the book. Sure,
Mary's boyfriend was cheating on her with Amber, but he
never actually appeared in the story. The ending was
decisively the best part. I also liked how Peggy always
thought of recipes when she was stressed, and overall,
this was an acceptable book. It was attention-grabbing
enough to read once, but perhaps not good enough to read
again and again. At first, it was difficult to distinguish
the characters since there were so many. It was a pretty
good book, but definitely not on the same level as
Stephenie Meyer's Twilight, Cassandra Clare's City of
Bones, or Meg Cabot's Princess Diaries. It's a worthwhile
quick, easy read, but not an outstanding book, nor will it
be a bestseller.

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City,
State and Country: Charleston, SC USA

The Smile by Donna Jo Napoli

The main character of The Smile by Donna Jo Napoli is Elisabetta, who is the daughter of a silk merchant outside Florence, Italy during the Renaissance. There is a subplot where Elisabetta is friends with a young servant named Silvia. Elisabetta's parents keep pressing her to end her friendship with the servant. Later on in the story, Silvia becomes important to the plot. Once when Elisabetta's family attends the funeral of the ruler and banker of Florence, Lorenzo de'Medici Il Magnifico, Elisabetta tours the city with her father's friend, Leonardo da Vinci. He promises to paint her portrait when she is older. Elisabetta meets Lorenzo's youngest son, Giuliano. They fall in love. Then the French army masses outside the gates of Florence because the city is an ally of France's enemy, Naples. The citizens support France, because Florence is one of the financial capitals of Europe, and the French were financially powerful at that time. The Florentines accuse the ruling Medici, Piero of being a tyrant and banish the family from the city. Will the love between Elisabetta and Giuliano survive the political turmoil? Will Elisabetta's friendship with Silvia survive? Finally, what does this have to do with the portrait da Vinci is going to paint of Elisabetta?

I will give this novel a 7. First I will give a disclaimer. I did not realize that this book was a romantic historical fiction. Anyone who enjoys romantic fiction would probably rate this novel higher. The author knew a great deal about the Italian Renaissance. The novel contains many historical events. I through transitions as Elisabetta gets older could have been smoother. I have noticed that young adult historical novels often interject modern thoughts and ideas into the story, especially about the role of women and class structure. I through that part three was realistic for the role of women at that time. If you enjoy romantic historical fiction, you will enjoy The Smile by Donna Jo Napoli.

Reviewer Age:18

Reviewer City, State and Country: Urbana, Illinois U.S.A.

The Smile by Donna Jo Napoli

The main character of The Smile by Donna Jo Napoli is Elisabetta, who is the daughter of a silk merchant outside Florence, Italy during the Renaissance. There is a subplot where Elisabetta is friends with a young servant named Silvia. Elisabetta's parents keep pressing her to end her friendship with the servant. Later on in the story, Silvia becomes important to the plot. Once when Elisabetta's family attends the funeral of the ruler and banker of Florence, Lorenzo de'Medici Il Magnifico, Elisabetta tours the city with her father's friend, Leonardo da Vinci. He promises to paint her portrait when she is older. Elisabetta meets Lorenzo's youngest son, Giuliano. They fall in love. Then the French army masses outside the gates of Florence because the city is an ally of France's enemy, Naples. The citizens support France, because Florence is one of the financial capitals of Europe, and the French were financially powerful at that time. The Florentines accuse the ruling Medici, Piero of being a tyrant and banish the family from the city. Will the love between Elisabetta and Giuliano survive the political turmoil? Will Elisabetta's friendship with Silvia survive? Finally, what does this have to do with the portrait da Vinci is going to paint of Elisabetta?

I will give this novel a 7. First I will give a disclaimer. I did not realize that this book was a romantic historical fiction. Anyone who enjoys romantic fiction would probably rate this novel higher. The author knew a great deal about the Italian Renaissance. The novel contains many historical events. I through transitions as Elisabetta gets older could have been smoother. I have noticed that young adult historical novels often interject modern thoughts and ideas into the story, especially about the role of women and class structure. I through that part three was realistic for the role of women at that time. If you enjoy romantic historical fiction, you will enjoy The Smile by Donna Jo Napoli.

Reviewer Age:18

Reviewer City, State and Country: Urbana, Illinois U.S.A.

Persistence of Memory by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

For Erin Misrahe, going to public school is something to celebrate. Ever since her diagnosis she's been in hospital after hospital, and had to take a rainbow of pills. And up until recently those pills have done the trick. Erin is surprised one day when her alter ego Shevaun shows up on an average day. But what if Shevaun isn't an alter ego at all, but a real person? What if Erin hasn't been crazy all these years after all?

Amelia Atwater-Rhodes has a very unique style of writing. I felt the book was very original and had a good creative twist. But towards the middle of the book it started getting rushed. It was like the author was trying to fit as much in before the end of the book. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a good book. Or to anyone who enjoys predicting what the end of the book will be.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Seaside , OR USA

Fabulous and Monstrous Beasts by Belinda Weber

Fabulous and Monstrous Beasts is a fictional field guide, rather than an actual story. The book is very well organized, dividing the monsters into three different sections: air, land, and water beasts. The major and minor sections are arranged clearly and according to the table of contents. Large, colorful, detailed pictures help the reader visualize the monsters and connect to the informative paragraphs about the different creatures. The guide hits the basic points about the monster such as its lore from the area it originated but doesn't go into complicated details. The author only gives small examples of the variations of the creatures, and doesn't list all of them. When you reach the end of the book, there is a reference that contains the following sections: Folklore of today, Real-life monsters, a Glossary, an Index, and Further reading. The Folklore of today lists common animals and their place in folklore. The Real-life monster section describes animals from our natural world with amazing traits or abilities some of which were the basis for the mythological creatures list in the book. The Glossary gives a brief definition of the monsters or creatures along with places and other terms used in the book. The index is straightforward; it lists the term and the page number(s) it is located on. The Further reading section contains a list of books and websites with more information about monsters and creatures.

Now, you may be thinking, If it's a book about monsters that could tear you apart, won't there be blood and such in it? The answer to that question is a simple no. The only parts of the book that weren't too gentle weren't as bad as you may think. There was only three pictures, one with MINOR blood, another was a bunch of stuff that could have been an extremely large lump of seaweed that kind of resembled a sea-monster carcass, and the last one was a beheaded Hydra head. I really enjoyed how the pictures were painted with intricate details, so that you can see every separate strand of fur and scale. I would recommend this book to anyone who is 7 and up, and who enjoys fantasy beasts.

Reviewer Age:12

Reviewer City, State and Country: Round Rock, TX USA

Barnaby Grimes and the Curse of the Night Wolf by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell

Barnaby Grimes and the Curse of the Night Wolf is about a boy, Barnaby Grimes, who is a tick-tock lad, delivering messages to people all over the city of London. He is also a highstacker, meaning he gets around by climbing up houses, chimneys, and things like that. One night, while climbing above the rooftops, Barnaby runs into a wolf! That same night, his good friend Old Benjamin mysteriously disappears. Barnaby knows there must be some link between these odd events, and he is determined to find out what. Then Barnaby meets the suspicious Doctor Cadwallader after receiving a letter that was meant for Old Benjamin from the Doctor.

This book was a good light read. The plot was a little boring because I got the main idea of what was going to happen within the first third of the book. It is a good read for anyone who is looking for an easy book to read in one afternoon. The vocabulary was a little difficult, but not hard enough to ruin the story. Barnaby Grimes was a little scary, so I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who doesn't like to be a little freaked out. Overall, I enjoyed reading Barnaby Grimes and the Curse of the Night Wolf.

Reviewer Age: 12

Reviewer City, State and Country: Harleysville, PA USA

Rating: 8
Content Rating: 1

Lay-ups and Longshots by Joseph Bruchac

This book is about different people's experiences with sports. The stories range from having difficulties playing the sport to how they got treated on the team. There were also stories about how they found confidence in themselves. The author’s purpose was to entertain the reader with stories of other peoples’ experiences. The author did this by having different stories about various sports to keep us hooked and excited for a new story.

This book was interesting because the writers have all kinds of stories. I liked how the author used detail to give me a picture in my head. My favorite story was when a guy could never make two baskets in a row. But when he asked if his grandpa was going to live he made a couple shots in a row. I would recommend this book to people who like realistic fiction and sports. If you like short stories, read this book.

Flamingnet student reviewer
age: 15 St. Paul, MN.

Heir to Sevenwaters

Clodagh and her five sisters are the daughters of a great chief. Their cousin Johnny is next in line to be Heir to Sevenwaters. Then Clodagh's mother has a son, and he is next in line. Then trouble starts to stir. Johnny's men are acting suspicious, and Clodagh's mother,with no strength to get out of bed, leaves the baby in her hands. That is when the baby goes missing, and a changeling is in his place. Now no one trusts Clodagh, and they all think that she is insane because she is the only one that actually realizes that "Finbar" is actually a way to find her brother. Finbar is a baby made of sticks and stones, but he cries, eats, and sleeps just like a normal child. Clodagh sets out on a journey to find the Heir to Sevenwaters.

Overall, I thought that the book was really boring. It would talk about one thing in the whole chapter. She described the changeling in one chapter and described how the sticks looked. I liked the characters and their personalities, but there wasn't very much action. I would recomend this book for older people because some of the words didn't even make since to me!

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Leopold, Missouri, United States

Magic to the Bone

Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk tells the tale of 25-year-old Allison Beckstrom, daughter of the prominent businessman responsible for the discovery and distribution of magic. Though Allie could be living a luxurious life as part of her father's company, she avoids her father entirely along with his magical influence. Instead, she works as a hound, someone who tracks magical "offloads" (placing the consequences of magic on another person), and lives in the one of the worst neighborhoods in Portland. When she is called to hound an offload on a five-year-old boy, Allie finds that the hit has her father's signature. After speaking to her father for the first time in several years, Allie is forced to fight for not only her life, but to prove her innocence in her dad's murder. Along with the help of her few existing friends, Nola and Zavion, Allie runs from the law and tries to protect a man claiming he knows who the real murderer is. She endures many surprises including learning things about herself and magic that she never knew to be possible. The story then ends with a completely unpredictable finale.

I thought this book was very entertaining and exciting. Though some of the language and actions used are geared for more mature readers, it can still be pleasant to read for younger teens. The author's vivid details make you feel like you're part of the story. I found the book's unusual form of magic to be very interesting because of its great contrast to the traditional type in witch and wizard stories. I think Magic to the Bone would be a good read for most teenage science fiction fans.

This story contains some vulgar actions and language.The flamingnet underwriter was Mrs.Bellis.

Reviewer Age:14Reviewer City, State and Country: Marble Hill, Missouri US

Inca Gold is a story where the reader and a girl named Sally both go to an airport in Cuzco, Peru to find the Lost City of the Incas. In this book from the Choose Your Own Adventure Series, the reader gets to make decisions that will determine what happens to them throughout the book as they search for The Lost City of Gold. The book will take the reader through many adventures including through jungles and many other treacherous paths. Be careful because others are out there looking for it too. The decisions you make in this quest could be good or bad. The wrong decisions could end your journey, but you can always go and reroute your path.

I like this book because it feels like you are in the book. You can decide what you want to happen. The author included details that helped me as a reader imagine the sounds and sights of each setting in the book. I like it because it's adventurous. It's the first book I've ever read that you can choose your own path and I really like that. My least favorite path is when I decided to go jump out of an airplane and my parachute would not open. I jerked it roughly and my chute opened, but the jungle was coming too fast and I crashed into what first looked like a soft blanket of green. The closer I got it seemed like an angry porcupine. The book let me know that this wasn't the way I was supposed to go. I had a hard time picking my favorite way to go. There were a lot of great ways.
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Leopold, MO USA

"Navigators: Stars & Planets" by Dr. Mike Goldsmith

Dr. Mike Goldsmith's "Stars and Planets" is a discovery all in its own. It discusses exactly what its eponymous title implies. The book starts out with the simple notions of the solar system and light, and cascades later into the more complex ideas of supernovas and space exploration. Each topic covers two pages and is akin to a poster that spans the left and right side of the book middle. Each section has a fun fact on the bottom of the page, a definition on the left side of the page, and a website to visit on the right side of the page. The middle of the pages are full of glossy, colorful pictures and short explanatory paragraphs. The contents of the book are what anyone could find online, but they are laid out in such a way that they do not seem at all intimidating to the non-PhD-holding reader.

This book is a great, quick read for kids of all ages. The holographic cover excites readers and makes them expectant for what lies on the inside of the book. The pages have plenty of pictures that make concepts understandable, but there are not so many pictures as to make the book seem too rudimentary. The scientific principles are all laid out, but there are only enough facts there for the reader to comprehend what lies within the book. The additional websites provided serve to guide readers to sites that hold more advanced science. Overall, the book is quite informative. In about an hour, it can transform any reader into a novice space connoisseur. From the enigmas of gravity to the wonders of ageless astronauts in hibernating capsules, this book will make you think and leave you with a sense of self-satisfaction when you are done.

Reviewer Age:17

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

I Am Apache by Tanya Landman

I am Apache by Tanya Landman tells the story of Siki, a fourteen year old Apache girl who chooses the path of a warrior to avenge the death of her brother, Tazhi. During her journey, Siki is pushed to her limits and discovers the truth about her father's dishonorable death. Little did she know, much more awaited her.

Tanya Landman vividly describes the Apache society, using terms such as moons and summers instead of years. Although the story didn't involve many cliffhangers, it was quite motivational and very empowering. She did a superb job in covering the three basics of any good story about a culture: war, society, and religion. The formal, and somewhat informal, language makes it seem as though the reader is merely a stranger being told Siki's life story. Landman excellently describes Siki's mental development after her brother's death and the manner in which she chose to deal with his death. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys reading about Native American or tribal cultures, subtle action stories, and anyone who likes to read about inner struggles.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Raleigh, North Carolina United States

Models Don't Eat Chocolate Cookies by Erin Dionne

Celeste Harris was like any other chubby 13 year old girl. She had a best friend, Sandra, who defends her against the perfectly popular Lively Carson. Celeste is happy in here life, besides the daily beat-down of Lively's words, she's happy. But being a bridesmaid at her cousins wedding isn't all its cracked up to be. With a fitting for the ugly peach dress, the peach monstrosity, Celeste's Aunt Doreen finds a modeling flyer for PeachWear Industries and automatically forces Celeste into it. When the acceptance letter comes, her mom drags out the P-word; repeating exactly how proud she is. Suddenly the not-so-nice Lively is stealing her best friend, the daily calls and lunchroom talks come to a screeching halt. And the only way Celeste won't be the new face of PeachWear Industries is to lose, or so she thinks. Soon her afternoon stack of chocolate cookies comes to an end, and Sandra is even more distant. How is she supposed to get back to the way things were.
I think that the book is well written and the story is something most teens can relate to. The way the author describes Celestes' troubles make you feel for her and want to help. It was good how the author describes Celeste, because it makes her easier to relate to. The plot was something that was easily kept up with. It wasn't confusing and most people can relate to how Celeste is dealing with things.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Shippensburg, Pennsylvania USA

Fact of Life #31 by Denise Vega

Kat, 16, is in high school and is known as an outsider. She works at her mom's midwifery, is an artist, and trains for a women's triathlon. Her classmates call her Yoga Girl because she sometimes does yoga in the hallway. She hangs out with her friend Christy known as Hat Girl because of her insane hat collection. She has a secret crush on a popular guy named Manny Cruz since the seventh grade. Her mother, Abra, called her to assist her with a birth (Kat had always wanted to witness a birth; none of the people who were actually supposed to do it were at hand.) Kat didn't do very well with assisting, so she leaves her job at the midwifery. Shortly after telling her mom she quit, Abra gave her two notebooks. One was her mother's old notebook and one was blank and Kat turned it into a book of facts of her life. These Facts of Life helped her keep her morals and traditional values straight.

I really liked this book because of its different twist with a normal theme. It has a constant theme that most books have: girl likes boy, boy and girl have a secret relationship, girl gets hurt, girl organizes her life and is better with out him. Some things that were different about the book though was Christy's hat collection and the wisdom on natural born child birth. These small aspects made the book more fun to read and it got harder and harder to put down.


Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Norristown, Pennsylvania USA

Rating: 9
Content rating: 1

Ender in Exile by Orson Scott Card

Intergalactic drama meets juvenile angst in Orson Scott Card's "Ender in Exile." A boy named Ender ensconces the plot. In the future, this boy is conscripted into the military at the age of six. In his preteen years, he capriciously hits a button and fires a missile at the enemy; he is afterward deemed a war hero. One side of the galaxy sees him as this ominously powerful man, while the other side of the galaxy views him as a boy-puppet with an insatiable appetite for blood. Melancholy spelunks deep within the cave of the reader when they realize that a boy has been robbed of his innocence very early in life, catapulted into a world of violence and despair that he does not [and may never quite] fully understand. Further thrills ensue when the boy's parent yearn for his return home and his siblings follow in Ender's footsteps by anonymously documenting his history. Science fiction is in the book, with mystical creatures and the notion of time with regards to relativity. Also, most mentions of war relate to Russia, although no notion of World War II or the Cold War are redundantly regurgitated. The story centers around the boy's internal struggle and is mostly respectful when it comes to discussing present nations in the future.
Young adults will grow from reading this book. There is just enough vocabulary to make readers little semanticists, but there is not so much that they get frustrated and want to put the book down. The narration sticks mostly to first person, although it intermittently changes perspective every couple of chapters. The emails at the start of the chapters make the scenes modern and dependent on computers (as most young readers tend to naturally depict the future). Additionally, there is some romance spun into the plot when Ender meets a girl named Alex. Alex's mother cajoles her into chasing after Ender in hopes of matrimony. Ender toys with Alex's emotions, too young to truly know what love is. There is much drama when Alex confronts her mother, as well as when Ender finally communicates his woes with his abandoned family. The book can best be summed up by one quote towards the end of the novel. "Surround a child with lies, and he clings to them like a teddy bear, like his mother's hand. And the worse, the darker the lie, the more deeply he has to draw it inside himself in order to bear the lie at all" (Card, 360).
Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Staten Island, NY USA

To Bee or Not to Bee by John Penberthy

Buzz Bee is just like any other bee; he pollinates flowers and helps build the hive where he lives. But unlike the other bees, Buzz questions his life and existence. Buzz gets fed up with aimlessly working all the time and decides to go out to clear his head. While he is out pondering he meets an older bee named Bert. Through the help of Bert, Buzz sorts through his confusions about God and religion and learns about his place in the larger world. While Buzz is learning from Bert he also becomes interested in a mountain pass close to his hive. The pass is 3000 feet high, with unpredictable weather, yet Buzz has a feeling that going up the pass is do-able. After the passing of Bert, Buzz decides to climb the mountain pass. It starts out easy but as Buzz gets higher and higher the wind gets stronger. He pushes through the pain and gets to the top. After getting to the top, his gut tells him that he has learned what needed to be learned from the journey and heads home. The next morning the hive is attacked by a bear, and gets dismantled. All the bees worry about where to rebuild it when Buzz suggests the cliffs. At first they think he is crazy, but when he takes them closer they agree with him. Like everybody else, Buzz finds himself collecting pollen and building on the new hive. Buzz comes to understand that his role in life is right where he started, all through his crazy adventure.

One of the best things about To Bee or Not to Bee are the illustrations included in the book. Half the book is words and the other half is illustrations of places Buzz visits and things Buzz does. The book's serious topic about finding yourself is considerably lightened through the illustrations. Author John Penberthy does a wonderful job of writing through Buzz's eyes. Buzz is a confused bee going through problems that people go through every day. But by writing about bees instead of humans it makes it more amusing and interesting to read, since you don't really think about bees going through problems like humans do. Overall, I found this book to be a fun yet moving story about a bee looking for his purpose in life that many people will be able to relate to. I would recommend it to people who are looking for books with serious topics but who would enjoy pondering those topics in a relaxed and fun way.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Champaign, IL USA

Rating: 8

Content Rating: 1

The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry

"The Amaranth Enchantment", by Julie Berry, is a Cinderella type fairy tale. This magical tale is about a girl named Lucinda who once had a perfect life before she lost her parents. After her parents died, she was sent to her aunt and uncles to work in their jewelry store. She is treated poorly by her aunt and misses her previous wealthy lifestyle. One day when a mysterious lady brings an amazing rare piece of jewelry, Lucindas life is changed forever. This unusual jewel causes Lucinda to be entwined with the troubles of a thief, a witch, and even the King. She must get through all of these obstacles in order to find her “happily ever after” again.

This exciting fairy tale had me interested from the beginning. It begins with the discovery of the jewel, takes you through an adventure, and on to the shocking conclusion. I was entranced throughout this excellent tale. I thought the story was well written in plot and dialogue. The characters were intriguing, each with a colorful personality. My favorite character was "Dog", her eccentric goat sidekick, that always had you laughing.

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country: Lemoore, CA US

The Second Virginity of Suzy Green by Sara Hantz

Suzy Green is not your typical good girl. Suzy and her friends get up to a lot of mischief, drinking, playing tricks and having full blown relationships with the guys. They are on the fringe of Goth and love it. But when Suzy's sister Rosie dies and the family move across the county, Suzy must clean up her act. She finds herself at a new and very posh school. Here she wants to make a good impression and become a member of the in crowd. The only way to make it in, is to join the Virginity Club. It's just that, well, Suzy doesn't really fit the virgin criteria but who cares, right?
The Second Virginity of Suzy Green was a light-hearted and funny teen read. It was written using a little too much teenage slang but was a very enjoyable novel. Suzy was a great narrator to the book. She was written to be a jovial and witty character but she was able to be deep and emotional. This book was set in Australia, so I was able to understand fully how and why things were being done. I really liked the unique idea of this book. It was not quite as good as the Gossip Girl type teenage drama novels, but much better than a lot of the girly high school books going around. I would definitely recommend it to friends of mine as an easy going read.
Mild Sexual References. Infrequent Swearing
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Melbourne , Victoria Australia

Why Don't Your Eyelashes Grow, by Beth Ann Ditkoff, M.D.

Have you ever wondered why pee is yellow? What are bedbugs? Why do we have nightmares? Or can chicken noodle soup really cure a cold? This book is written by Dr. Beth Ann Ditkoff and answers all of your gross, weird, embarrassing, and even funny questions about the human anatomy! This book has everything from questions children might ask to questions adults still may ponder. Why don't you eyelashes grow? This book will tell you!

I enjoyed reading through this cute and short reference book. It's very entertaining and has lots of fun factoids. It is also very informative! Everything is easy to find and is organized just right. It gives you just enough information so you're not looking for more and or you don't become bored on an individual subject. There were certain categories that sparked my attention which were "Urban Myth and What if?" and "The Weird, The Ugly, and the Downright Gross! I would suggest buying this book just to have on hand in case you have some baffling body questions!


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

Phoenix Wright by Capcom

There is one name that criminals and lawyers alike fear: Phoenix Wright. This lawyer always finds the truth and the evidence to back it up. Phoenix Wright defends his clients with ease, with the help of his cute assistant, Maya, and many others. In this book they investigate twenty different cases, with everything from ghosts to ramen noodles.

This was one of my least favorite mangas. It was based off of a video game I have never played; therefore, I didn't understand a lot of what was going on or what the characters did. Also, because it was drawn and written by twenty different people, the characters all looked slightly different in all the stories and I sometimes had difficulty identifying them. Some of the stories were cheesy and overdone, but some of them were enjoyable.

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

Portia's Ultra Mysterious Double Life by Anna Hays

This book is about Portia Avatar who is a twelve year old girl living in Palmville, California. When a sudden earthquake hits her town at 3:47 AM, she finds a mysterious picture of her missing father. From the picture, Portia decides her father is a detective. Portia decides that she will solve the case of her missing father, but can she keep it a secret from her vegetarian mother, Indigo? In the middle of her case, Portia discovers a ring which she believes is her mother's wedding ring. Will Portia be able to find out anything about her father from Indigo? Will she find her missing father?

This book is one of the best books I have ever read. Once I started reading, I just couldn't stop! The book was written really well; reading it was easy, and I could relate to Portia's determination to reach her goal once she set her mind to it. I would definitely recommend this book to girls my age. This book was a cliff-hanger that kept me guessing to the very last page.

Reviewer Age: 12

Reviewer City, State and Country: Enon, OH USA

The Pact by Monica McKayhan

The book The Pact by Monica McKayhan is about a teenage couple who are going their separate ways during their summer vacation. They decide to make a pact to have fun during the summer and to meet new people. If they found someone they liked more than each other then they would split up and if they didn't they would get back together upon returning. During his summer break Marcus Carter was faced with the decision on whether he wanted to stay with his mother in Texas or go home to Indigo back in Atlanta. Marcus also gets blamed for some things that he wasn't responsible for and he has to pay the price. Indigo Summer's grandma is hospitalized while Indigo is staying with her and she has to go stay with her cousin untill her grandma gets better. While staying with her cousin she is pressured to do some things she wouldn't normally do and her cousin's boyfriend tries to take advantage of her.

I enjoyed this book because it was very personal and I could relate to it in more than one way. This book is very detailed and it has a lot of issues that everyday teenager sometimes face. It explains the difficulties of young love and how if you truely love someone you will do anything for them. This book will prepare young teenagers for life and love.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Leopold, MO USA

J. K. Rowling by Joan Vos MacDonald

This book tells you how people protest J.K. Rowling's books. It gives you information and pictures of what some people do to books when they don't like them. This book touches on a lot of people's opinions and beliefs of her work. It explains some of the Harry Potter books then tells why people do or don't like them. Then when people don't like the books, they destroy them. Overall, it is a lot of opinions and how far people will go to prove their points.

I did not enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. I was expecting some more information on J.K. Rowlings life. I wasn't expecting a lot of information about how people protest against her books. I like her books and I wasn't interested in hearing about how people destroy her books. I think that a book is a book, and if you don't like the book then don't read it.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Leopold, MO USA

War Is

War Is... by Marc Aronson & Patty Campbell

For many people, war is an experience that is far away from their daily living, yet it plays an intrinsic role in the lives of all humans. The book War Is... seeks to bring the issues surrounding war to the reader. The book is divided into three parts. The first part is short piece that deal with people’s opinions on war, including newspaper articles, song lyrics, and interviews. The second part deals with different soldiers’ experiences, ranging from soldiers in World War I to the Iraq War. The third part examines soldiers’ experiences when they return from a war. The different pieces are all short, are written in many different forms (blog, short story, play, interview) and are by many different authors.

Anyone who wants to know more about war, or people’s experiences in war, should read this book. It is geared to young adults who, I think, would benefit the most from the book’s selections, but the book is accessible to anyone.
It is very difficult to find an unbiased view on the subject of war. However, this book did a wonderful job of balancing diverse opinions on matters, especially since the editors of the book held very different personal views on war.

Most of the pieces in the book were very well combined. Overall, they were very interesting, and spoke about many different issues. Mostly the book focused on the Iraq War, which made it very relevant to the current times. I did feel that the letters from the soldier in World War I was out of place. This selection was a collection of personal letters from the editor’s father, and I did not feel it was an appropriate choice. However, I felt all of the other selections were wonderful.

I would definitely recommend this book to any young
adults who wish to understand more about the world around
them.

There is some bad language in the book; however,
the book does NOT have graphic violence.

Rating 9
Content 3

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Urbana, Illinois USA

Ranger's Apprentice - The Sorcerer of the North

In Ranger's Apprentice- Book 5: Sorcerer of the North, a young ranger named Will is given a special task by the Ranger Corp. He and his life-long friend Alyss are sent to the north of the kingdom where they must discover what is behind the mysterious illness of Lord Byron, master of the castle. What they find is a tangled web of deceit, dark magic, and hysteria. Will and Alyss must learn to quickly tell their allies from their enemies as they battle against time. The mission becomes deadly when Alyss is held hostage and Will must decide whether his loyalty lies with his mission or whether he will risk it all to follow his heart. The book is full of surprising twists and turns, and it leaves you wanting the next book. With plenty of fantasy creatures and magical mystery, it fits right into the Ranger's Apprentice series.

John Flanagan is a talented writer and he weaves a suspenseful tale throughout the Ranger's Apprentice series. This book is no exception and from the beginning you get vivid detail and thorough descriptions. This installment in the Ranger’s Apprentice series has a dark tone, much like the past books. The main character in this novel is Will, a young ranger, but he is joined by his good friend and love interest, Alyss. The book is centered around their trials and tribulations, but they often receive help from past characters like Will’s former teacher Halt, and Alyss’ and Will’s good friend Horace. Will is a well known character in the series and his good nature, quick wit, and knack for always saving the day makes him a very lovable character. Alyss is a poised, beautiful, and caring individual and her hidden strength and selflessness makes her a powerful female presence. The book often alternates from different focal points, one chapter focusing on Will, another focusing on the villain, and the next showing Alyss. These changes help to give the reader a view of everything that is going on, so that you get a sense of what all the characters are doing and how one character’s actions will affect the other. In this novel, conflict draws ever closer until you reach the final climax where battle is about to break loose. It is at this point that the book ends and you wind up feeling like the entire novel merely set up the next book. There is no heavy action, no final confrontation, and the ending felt severely lackluster. Everything in the brilliant tale Flanagan has woven thus far simply seems cut off. This book was a tremendous read up until the end. If you wish for a full novel with a beginning, climax, and ending you will be a bit disappointed. Although the plot crumbles at the end, all the way through the writing is vivid, effective, beautiful, and interesting. The book is part of a very action-packed fantasy series and although it holds very little action itself, it does continue to build on Flanagan’s elaborate fictional world. I would have to say that is the weakest Ranger’s Apprentice book so far due to the lack of conclusion, and the fact that on its own it does not stand a very complete book. As mentioned before, this book is best for those who are already avid readers of the Ranger's Apprentice series, as it contains many old characters, but it is not an entirely lost cause for those who have not read the series before. I would recommend having the next book ready to read immediately after finishing this one, so that all of the brilliant reading you have just done does not feel entirely wasted.

Content: 1
Rating: 7
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: South Pasadena, California USA

Encyclopedia of the End: Mysterious Death in Fact, Fancy, Folklore, and More by Deborah Noyes

The Encyclopedia of The End: Mysterious Death in Fact, Fancy, Folklore, and More by Deborah Noyes, deals mainly with different funeral customs around the world. It also deals with the science, theology, and folklore of death. This book alphabetically covers everything from an amulet of good luck for the dead to wreaths for funerals. The book contains pictures and sub-notes. You will find out about the origins of modern Goth culture, where the tradition of the hearse at funerals started, what necromancy is, how a body decays, and more in The Encyclopedia of The End by Deborah Noyes.

I give the Encyclopedia of The End: Mysterious Death in Fact, Fancy, Folklore, and More by Deborah Noyes a ten. It is a great introduction to the topic of death. This is a topic that is not discussed in today's world as much as it was in the past. This Encyclopedia brings death, an essential part of life, to light in a gentle way. If the reader has basic questions about the culture or science of death, this book will answer these questions. Even if a reader is scared of death, nothing in this book will scare them. I enjoyed the part on holidays about death, such as Bon, Day of the Dead, and Halloween. I found the Japanese holiday of Bon especially interesting. Bon is a holiday where the dead family members come back to earth. The Encyclopedia of the End by Deborah Noyes will make you find out more about death, whether by interviewing a funeral home director, reading the works of Edgar Allen Poe, or visiting Nagasaki, Japan during Bon.

Reviewer Age:18

Reviewer City, State and Country: Urbana, Illinois U.S.A.

The Truth about Horses, Friends, and My Life as a Coward

The Truth about Horses, Friends, and My Life as a Coward by Sarah P. Gibson is about Sophie, a girl who has had some interesting experiences with horses -- to say the least. The book is in first person with Sophie as the Narrator. She has been forced into a life with horses because of her mom's love for the animals. Each chapter describes a mishap Sophie has had with one of the horses her family owns. For instance, when she is little her mom buys her and her sister a pony named Really. Sophie never asked for a horse, but her mom is convinced this will make her happy. One of her mishaps occurs when Sophie has a friend over and her mom decides they should go on a cart ride with Really. During the cart ride, Really decides to take over and soon he is running full speed, pulling the cart behind him, with Sophie and her friend hanging on for dear life. This is one of many cases that has caused Sophie's aversion to horses. However, throughout the book Sophie grows fonder of them and learns they are not as frightening or as demonic as she initially thinks. Along the way she makes friends who love her horses, but best of all, love her for who she is.

I read this book in one sitting, cover to cover, because I could not put it down. It is the perfect blend of comedy and drama, chronicling Sophie's life with horses. Sophie is a likeable character that the readers will fall in love with as soon as they read page one. The author does a good job with imagery and all the passages were funny because they seemed like they could happen in real life. I found this book appealing because it takes a different view on life with horses. It is not the typical "girl loves horse" story. I did, however, like that the author ended the book with Sophie's obvious growing compassion for the horses she cares for. This book is good for children of any age who already love horses, or those who are curious about what occurs behind the scenes while taking care of them.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Westerville, OH United States

Charles Darwin by Alan Gibbons

Charles Darwin takes an epic adventure in which today is said to be one of the greatest scientific discoveries ever. The book is facts mixed in with a little bit of fiction. Throughout the period of a four year ship ride on the HMS Beagle, the main character, James Kincaid, writes a dairy entry every now and then telling about the finds of Charles Darwin and the fun that was held on the islands they traveled to and from. It is a great short read for young adults and a good book for young readers that have not yet mastered chapter books. The book is full of cool creatures and amazing illustrations from the start of the first page.

Charles Darwin by Alan Gibbons is a book with an exclusive setting of the island of South America. The writer makes the characters pop out of the book so you get the idea of who they were and what they were like. The characters are very likable and are fun to read about what they did and what their life was made up of. It was written in the appropriate manner of first person. I read as though the main character was reading his dairy entries right to me. The book had many strengths, but one of its greatest was its illustrations. They were colorful and vibrant, making it seam as though you were there in that animated world. I really have never read a book like it so I couldnt compare it to anything. I learned a lot while reading Charles Darwin, it is filled with facts. As a chapter book reader, it was more of a burden to read the book. There wasn't a part that really pulled me in because it was so short. If I had to choose whether to recommend it or not I would have to say it matters who you are, a chapter book reader like me, or a short book reader. It would also depend on your preference in general.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Merino, Colorado (CO) United States of America

My One Hundred Adventures

Jane Fielding lives in an ocean-side cottage in New England with her mother, a local poet, and her three younger siblings. At the age of twelve, she is yearning for
adventure amidst the otherwise hum-drum goings-on in her little sea-side town. Surely enough, adventure finds her, first with a hijacked hot-air balloon ride, and then with the strange appearances of her mother's old boyfriends--and her possible fathers. Befriending the town's preacher and babysitting the unruly Gourd children lead to even further adventures. But beyond the simple pleasure of finding excitement and mystery, Jane's adventures lead to her own revelations about life, relationships, faith, and, most of all, herself.

The book's most remarkable feature is its beautiful imagery. From the sand blown across the floorboards of the Fieldings' cottage, to a dumpy trailer park, where there lives a man with an acute resemblance to Santa Claus, every image is stunning and memorable. Jane's exploits do not drive the novel's plot, instead the reader's interest is drawn to the adult characters in Jane's life. I found that the adventures and conflicts that surrounded Jane were more compelling stories than Jane's own trials babysitting and trailing behind the eccentric preacher. At a later part in the novel, Jane reflects that "all our lives are mundane but all our lives are also poetry." Indeed, My One Hundred Adventures is simply a story about a girl's
summer, but in the way that it's told, the mundane becomes poetic, and even a day at the beach can be an adventure.

The novel contains some domestic violence.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Concord, MA USA
Rating 8
Content Rating: 2

The Night of the Living Dead by Casey Daniels

The Night of the Living Dead is a thrilling science fiction book. You follow along with Pepper Martin, a trendy and beautiful, cemetery tour guide. Who, by the way, can talk to the dead. While on a trip to a cemetery convention, which she only went to because her boss was sick, she runs into a ghost. Madeline is her name, and she has been dead for 3 years. She tells Pepper about a study that Dr. Gerard is holding. Madeline tips Pepper off that maybe this study isn't as legal as it may seem. But when she tells Pepper, Dan, a guy Pepper is falling for, may be involved, the whole case changes. And what happens when more than just dirty secrets are revealed?

This book was a great science fiction book. This is a great mystery book for teens. This book was well-written, a good mystery, and wonderful science fiction. I would definitely recommend this book to mystery freaks. I have to say the ending was pretty good and I hope there is a sequel, because I feel like I was left hanging on a thread.

Reviewer Age:14

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

Swimming with the Sharks by Debbie Reed Fischer

Five-foot eleven. Freckled. Flat as a surfboard. Peyton
Grady sees her role on the varsity cheer squad as the only
thing keeping her off the social sidelines at wealthy
Beachwood Preparatory Academy. It's her umbilical cord to
cool-and it's constantly in danger of getting cut. As a
base, it's Peyton's duty to be stepped on-literally-by
cheer queen Lexie Court. So when Lexie hatches a fierce
hazing campaign against the frumpy new girl, Peyton has no
choice but to support her flier. Soon the pranks become
sadistically cruel, even criminal. Suddenly, Peyton has
more to lose than her new-found Alpha celebrity. Will she
gamble her entire future for "the good of the squad"?

Debbie Reed Fischer's second novel, Swimming with the
Sharks, is an easy-to-read page turner filled with many
laugh-out-loud moments. Right from the beginning, I was
hooked. I loved how easy it was to connect with the
narrator, Peyton, and how I could feel every emotion she
experienced. Fischer did an amazing job describing
everything that was going on, making it feel as if you
were really there. Swimming with the Sharks taught a very
important lesson in friendship and relationships. This
book was a good way to teach readers that hazing is wrong
and that you should always do the right thing.
This book contained hazing and bullying.

Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Leopold, MO USA

Triple Shot Bettys in Love by Jody Gehrman

Triple Shot Bettys in love was a book about two girls who work in a coffee shop (neither one of them is named Betty. Their names are Geena and Amber actually.) Geena is a very smart girl with a perfect boyfriend named Ben, whom she has been going out with for 5 months. Amber is completely head over heels with Geena's English teacher, Mr. Sands. Geena just may have a crush on him to, but she doesn't know what to do about it because of Ben. When a crazed, mean model makes a play for Ben, Geena sees her chance to do something about her crush, but will she? Find out in Triple Shot Bettys in love.

This was a fairly good read. The plot line was very complicated and some of the characters were weak and hard to identify with, but the core story was funny and touching. It is a story we have all heard (or seen for ourselves) 1000 times, I mean, everyone has had a crush on a teacher before, right? But these two girls take it one step further and actually date the teacher, so I think some parents would be opposed to having their child read this book. This is a must read for girls my age. This is the sequel to Confessions from a Triple Shot Betty.

mild language, and sexual content

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: exeter , NH USA

Rescue Me by Alex McAuley

Maggie Leigh is trying to be a normal girl. But that's hard when London is in the midst of World War II and German bombs are raining on the city every other day. After an attack that leaves Maggie's aunt in a coma, Maggie's ultra-religious mother sends her to a faraway boarding school in Wales. The school is run by nuns that are even more religious than her mother and slightly crazier to boot. After only one day at the school, an incident on the beach causes Maggie and her three friends to flee for their lives.

This book was weird. Most of the characters were really odd, with the exception of the protagonist Maggie and maybe a few minor characters. I have read other books where girls in this time period are sent to boarding school, and this doesn't compare at all. I feel like the author wanted to write a historical novel but didn't quite know how to do it. So he wrote in a lot of things, like the crazy nuns, to add to the "creep" factor and then turned the plot upside with a huge twist at the end. I want to say if this story was better written I would have liked it, but even then I don't think I would have.

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

Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Orphaned at 13, Quincie Morris is left in the care of her uncle. She finds support and comfort in her werewolf best friend and love interest Kieren. Quincie and her uncle manage the family's Italian restaurant. Four years after the death of her parents, they decide to renovate the restaurant to a vampire themed night spot. They expect that in the unusual town of Austin, Texas, where Vampires and Were-people are tolerated, the vamp theme will attract and inspire all sorts of new guests. And so it does. A month before the opening of the restaurant, the head chef Vaggio, is viciously murdered. Bottling up all the emotion from the death of Vaggio, Quincie must decide where her allegiances lie. When a tantalizing new chef is hired by the restaurant, whose shoulder will she turn to?

I did enjoy this book but found it a little slow and dull at times. It has a great story line. Most of the characters were described well but others failed to grip my attention. I loved the strained relationships and love triangle between Quince, Kieren the new chef, Bradley Sanguini. I think the author was clever in the way she twisted the plot and made it hard to decide what was coming next. I felt disappointed at the end as I expected a big ending and really got no closure. This was an easy read that at times, fascinated and enthralled me. I would recommend this novel to teenagers from 12 up as a book not to taken too seriously. A tantalizing read with all the seduction of good spaghetti and all the fright of men in capes.

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

My One Hundred Adventures by Polly Horvath

Jane Fielding lives in an ocean-side cottage in New England with her mother, a local poet, and her three younger siblings. At the age of twelve, she is yearning for adventure amidst the otherwise hum-drum goings-on in her little sea-side town. Surely enough, adventure finds her, first with a hijacked hot-air balloon ride, and then with the strange appearances of her mother's old boyfriends--and her possible fathers. Befriending the town's preacher and babysitting the unruly Gourd children lead to even further adventures. But beyond the simple pleasure of finding excitement and mystery, Jane's adventures lead to her own revelations about life, relationships, faith, and, most of all, herself.

The book's most remarkable feature is its beautiful imagery. From the sand blown across the floorboards of the Fieldings' cottage, to a dumpy trailer park, where there lives a man with an acute resemblance to Santa Claus, every image is stunning and memorable. Jane's exploits do not drive the novel's plot, instead the reader's interest is drawn to the adult characters in Jane's life. I found that the adventures and conflicts that surrounded Jane were more compelling stories than Jane's own trials babysitting and trailing behind the eccentric preacher. At a later part in the novel, Jane reflects that "all our lives are mundane but all our lives are also poetry." Indeed, My One Hundred Adventures is simply a story about a girl's summer, but in the way that it's told, the mundane becomes poetic, and even at day at the beach can be an adventure.

The novel contains some domestic violence.

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country: Concord, MA USA

Rating 8

Content Rating: 2

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Nineteen-year-old Cassandra (Cassie) Parrish is dead in a motel room in New Hampshire. Before she died, she called her best friend, Emma (a struggling bulimic), begging Emma to pick up. After leaving Emma thirty-three messages, she suddenly died. Now, Emma is being visited by the "ghost" of Cassie. Emma once again turns to bulimia to try to cope with the situation. This life-altering decision will send her down a path to destruction, with the ghost of Cassie leading the reigns.

Though the book was interesting in some parts, I thought that it was hard to understand. The way that the author wrote some of the paragraphs was somewhat hard to comprehend; the narrator would say something, then cross out the idea and re-write it. Once I decoded what the author was trying to portray, I thought that the idea was interesting and that the writing was written exactly like people think. Personally, I thought that the topic of the novel was very realistic. The whole concept of Emma fighting an inner battles (her vs. her weight and her vs. the guilt of not picking up the phone when Cassie called) and the battle with her best friend (Cassie vs. Emma) was heart-wrenching. I would suggest this book to anyone who enjoys reading a story about coming-of-age and likes reading about overcoming obstacles.

Reviewer Age:15

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

xxxHolic: Anotherholic by Nisioisin

Kimihiro Watanuki is plagued by spirits; he can never get rid of them. One day, he stumbles upon a bizarre wish-granting shop owned by Yûko Ichihara. She tells Kimihiro that she can make the spirits go away & for a price. Now he must serve her and help with her business. He encounters many strange phenomena while working at this shop.

This book was based off of a manga series and is, in my opinion, not as good. This book isn't very descriptive. It used only the main details of the plot. The imagery that you usually get from a good novel wasnt there. It was like reading a manga without the pictures. It was not the best book I have ever read.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Shippensburg, Pennsylvania USA

The Hammer by Vance Neudorf

Corvan was finally turning 16, the age of becoming a man in his little village town. All he wanted as a birthday present was to be able to stand up to the bullies at school and have his families financial problems disappear, but Corvan got a whole lot more than that. Beginning with the finding of a single hammer with strange blue writing on it, mysteries begin to unfold after his parents hint around about the real meaning of his name and the secrets of the hammer. Corvan is confused and scared and turns to his one and only friend Kate. This decision pulls Kate into a world of dangers behind doors of which only Corvan can save her. Corvan is forced into a world with prejudice, dangers, and lies, with only the hammer to guide him as the Cor-Van, this world's only glimmer of hope. The Hammer is an enjoyable adventure/fantasy book.

This book really captured my attention with the fantasy and adventure that came with it. The plot was very simple and was an easy read but, was slightly confusing in explaining the characters attitudes and looks. I had a hard time picturing the plot and that caused me to guess a lot of the events. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend this book as an easy and adventurous read. I will most definitely read the upcoming sequel to end this decent series.

Reviewer Age:12

Reviewer City, State and Country: colleyville, Texas USA

Black Dragon Codex by R. D. Henham

Black Dragon Codex is a very interesting adventure book. It starts with a bang, and the beginning really holds the reader's interest. However, after that, there is a lull of action and it is quite boring for awhile. Then, the end is also very exciting.
The two main characters in this book are Satia, a girl taken by a dragon, and Septimus, the black dragon that snatches Satia. An evil wizard named Thordane captures Septimus's mother, who transforms Septimus into a boy. Now, Septimus and Satia are together, and they make a pact that they will help rescue Septimus's mother, and Septimus will, in return, take her home. In order to find out what happens next you must read Black Dragon Codex.

In my opinion, the book Black Dragon Codex is a fairly exciting story. One thing I especially like about this book is how, in the action-packed parts, you can't wait to turn the page. Also, I like how the book starts out with a bang, and that makes you want to continue reading it. Another thing I enjoyed about this book was how it varies the main focus. At some points, it concentrates on Septimus, while at other points, the main character is Satia. This is nice, because it gives the story two different perspectives.
There were quite a few things I did not enjoy about this book. I did not like how during the middle of the book, there was very little action and excitement. Also, the author never made me feel like I was one of the characters in the book. I liked Bronze Dragon Codex much better than Black Dragon Codex. Overall, I wouldn't say this book is great, but it is surely not a bad book.

Reviewer Age:13

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

"The Crown" by Deborah Chester

Deborah Chester's "The Crown" is an exquisite fantasy novel. It has all the aspects of a fairy tale, as well as action that one would find in a blockbuster. The book follows the story of Lea, a princess of light. She is captured by Shadrael and his men. Pretty as can be, Lea is subjected to wooing from Shadrael's men; yet Shadrael himself shows no sign of his libido around her. Shadrael has no soul and was supposed to deliver Lea to his brother. Instead, he sends Lea to Vindicants in exchange for a soul. Over the course of the novel, Lea bewitches Shadrael so that eventually, Shadrael realizes that Lea is the most important thing in his life. After all, Lea has several opportunities in the book to run away from Shadrael or kill him; however, she stays by his side and even protects him. Drama and action ensue as one of Shadrael's men betrays him and Lea is used as a source of life for evil lords. The overall genre is fantasy, but this book incorporates all genres into it, making Chester worthy of her national bestselling author title.

This book is a page-turner that will keep readers on the edge of their seats, reading the entire book in a night. Deborah Chester's "The Crown" spins a tale of romance and forbidden love, action and classic light vs. dark combat. The chemistry between Lea and Shadrael is wonderfully composed. It is subtle at first and escalates to matrimony towards the end of the novel. The love between the characters is tender, yet there are no grotesquely chauvinistic love scenes described. Hence, this book is great for those whom love romance yet do not want to read a steamy book full of explicit descriptions and no literary density. Also, many small internal conflicts arise between characters and their families. Chester's writing style flows superbly, and the chapters coalesce in an ebbing fashion. Lea struggles against her fate with light, whilst Shadrael struggles against his taste for blood and deceit. This novel is magical and depicts the coveted struggle which is so clearly portrayed on the cover.

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

The Stepsister Scheme

The Stepsister Scheme by Jim C. Hines revisits the classic fairy tales Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White as the first installment of the Princess series. In Hines' fantasy, these "happily ever after" fairy tales come to us with a twist. Cinderella's (known to her stepsisters as Cinderwench) real name is Danielle Whiteshore, Sleeping Beauty is actually a martial arts master who goes by Talia and hates fairies despite their blessings, and Snow is a sorceress who changed her name to hide her royal roots. After Danielle's stepsister attempts to take her life and her husband, Prince Armand, is kidnapped, these three princesses head out to Fairyland on a mission to find the evil stepsisters and rescue the prince. On the way, the princesses are forced to revisit their pasts, outthink riddles, conquer magical beings, and, most importantly, trust each other.

This princess trio is certainly one to admire, full of courage, wit, beauty, and fun. As a great lover of fairy tales, I enjoyed how Hines combined the traditional fairy tales with the Disney ones in his own retelling, empowering the female characters as they went to rescue the prince. These strong heroines were well-developed and relatable, and their unique abilities and personalities balanced each other well. The Stepsister Scheme is full of action, moving the plot along while helping to attract a male audience in addition to the obvious female one. After being introduced to Danielle, Talia, and Snow in The Stepsister Scheme, I can't wait until The Mermaid's Madness is released to see how Hines merges these tough princesses into the tale of The Little Mermaid.

Content: 1
Rating: 8
Reviewer Age:19
Reviewer City, State and Country: Farmington, CT USA

The Chimera's Curse, by Julia Golding

Connie Lionheart is once again dealing with the stress and
dilemmas of the magical society. Ever since the first
book, Secret of the Sirens, Connie has been growing and
strengthening to defeat the evil being, Kullervo. When
Connie first found out that she was a Universal Companion,
or able to communicate with any mythological creature, she
had no clue what she was up against. Connie started to
train with a rock dwarf in the earlier books, but Connie
now finds herself learning different attacks on her own.
She plans to use these attacks and weapons to defeat
Kullervo. The leaders of the society want to keep her safe
and free from danger, so they do not want Connie to go
anywhere near him. Meanwhile, Connie's brother, Simon, has
been acting strangely around the woods of their home. Does
he have any connection with the chimera that has been
roaming around? What will the society do about Simon, and
can Connie defeat both the chimera and Kullervo?
I thought that The Chimera's Curse was a good end to the
Companion Quartet. Although it was a bit slow at times,
the relationships and intentions of the characters were
very realistic. I also liked how Golding incorporated many
conflicts to stand in Connie's way and the steps she took
to overcome them. Unlike the first in the series, I did
not think that this book was a page turner. The vocabulary
was written primarily for readers that are in their early
teens. I would only recommend this book to people who have
read the other three, but I do recommend this series to
everyone who has spare time.

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

Death by Denim by Linda Gerber

Death By Denim is the third book in a series. It is about a high school girl named Aphra Connolly whose mother is a CIA agent. Currently they are hiding out in Paris and running from bad guys who work for a person called The Mole. The only way for her to survive is to keep away from her love interest, Seth, who is also being chased by The Mole. But when one of her mom's coworkers is found dead in the river with a deadly message in his mouth, she knows she will keep running and hiding until the Mole is dead... so she does the only thing she thinks is right, but was it the safest decision?

This book was wonderful and although it is not the first book in the series, it explained a lot so I wasn't lost. If this book were a movie (it would make a good one at that) it would be a similar genre to Pirates of the Caribbean because it is full of action but has romance in it at the same time. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes a good book.

Reviewer Age:14

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

Brisingr by Christopher Paolini

The adventure of the Dragon Rider, Eragon, and his dragon, Saphira continues in this third installment of the Inheritance series. In a time of chaos and war, it is up to Eragon to secure the Varden, create alliances, and discover secrets. In this novel, Eragon matures into the strong and determined warrior necessary to save his friends and family from the evil clutches of the Empire.

When I saw that there was a third novel about Eragon and his adventure, I was thrilled! I loved the first two books and I had high hopes for this one as well. Brisingr, however, was not my favorite. There were some wonderful plots and surprising twists, but sometimes the reading was tedious. There were many graphically violent and bloody battles that were not my cup of tea. I do, however, still love the characters and I am therefore excited to see what will happen in the fourth and final installment of the Inheritance series.

Reviewer Age:17

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

Zodiac Girls: Star Child by Cathy Hopkins

Every girl wants her special day, usually her Sweet Sixteen. But what if she got a whole month? One month that is all about her. One month when she gets special presents and where she gets to meet all sorts of cool people who's main focus is making the month the best for her. Well this month it is Thebe Battye's turn. She's a Virgo girl and she couldn't be happier. But what happens when all the people who are supposed to make the month amazing for her focus more on her family? Her time as a Virgo girl is almost up, but what can Thebe do to make everyone realize how she feels? This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and once it's gone it's gone and she will never get to have this experience again. What can she do before it's to late?
I loved this book! At first I was a little hesitant thinking that this book would be too predictable, but to my surprise not only was this book interesting and fun, I also was provided with a lot of information about my birth sign. I learned about other signs, as a lot of questions I had about the stars were answered in this book. For anyone wanting a light, pleasant read, Virgo girl is for you.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Casa Grande, Arizona USA

Vidalia in Paris

Vidalia's life is great for her, but it is full of stress. She just won a scholarship to study art in Paris during the summer. Her mother is extremely needy and relies on Vidalia way too much; Vidalia is happy to have a break from that. In Paris, Vidalia meets two boys. One is named Julien, who she thinks of as just a friend, and the other is Marco. She falls for Marco rather quickly; however, Vidalia also learns of his career as an "art dealer." Her relationship with Marco overpowers her feelings toward his illegal behavior. Can Vidalia maintain her life as it has been and help Marco with his problem?

This romance book was, to me, extremely appealing. Normally I do not like books that are realistic. However, "Vidalia in Paris" reminded me so much of my own life. I believe that anyone could relate the characters to themselves or people that they know. The realness of the book made the plot so much more intense and exciting. I take French classes in school, and I was happy to read the bits of French that were scattered in the dialogue. Though the book is not very short, it could be finished rather quickly. I thought that the ending of the story was the way that it needed to end; it was realistic, depressing, and beautiful at the same time. I recommend this book to people who speak French, are interested in French culture, or who like romances.

There are sexual scenes and thievery.

Reviewer Age:15

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

Astonishing Fantasy Worlds by Christopher Hart

Take a portal to a fantasy world full of faeries, ogres, fierce vikings, and all sorts of other creatures with this art book. Learn how to draw medieval characters, Gothic style creatures, and any faerie you can think of. This book has clear and complete step-by-step illustrations that will help you through any creature in this book. Your mind and imagination is the only limit.
This was a great drawing guide for fantasy art. I loved how it gave great tips on how to draw the object/creature and especially the faerie variations. This book is great for any art fanatic that is lacking the skills on their fantasy side.
Caution: sexual references
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Northport, New York USA

Fortune's Magic Farm by Suzanne Selfors

Fortune's Magic Farm by Suzanne Selfors is an amazing new fairytale that tells about the strength of the heart and the need to be strong to save those that we care most about. Ten years ago Isabelle was left on a doorstep in a town called Runny Cove, and was taken in by an elderly woman named Grandma Maxine. Grandma Maxine tells stories about long ago when it didn't rain every day and the town was called Sunny Cove. Back then the fathers would fish for food and profit instead of working in the umbrella factory. Now, because of a man named Mr. Supreme, everyone in the town works in the factory, because if they didn't they would starve, since the fish swam away. Isabelle is curious about her past, and it comes and finds her in a way she didn't expect. Her family's farm has an interesting past, but can she find out why she was left on a doorstep, and can she convince her grandfather to help her friends in Runny Cove to be free of the wicked Mr. Supreme?
This book is an amazing find. It has magic on every page and surprises that keep you guessing. I enjoyed reading this and loved every minute of it. Suzanne is an amazing author. She develops her characters so well that you begin to believe that they are real. I hope that she will continue to write more and believe that she has the ability to become the next J.K. Rowling.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Colleyville, Texas USA

My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger

My Most Excellent Year tells the story of three students-
now seniors- most excellent year (their freshman year)
and how their lives all changed for the better. First,
there's T.C.( Anthony), who's obsessed with all things
related to baseball, his best friend Augie, and
Alejeandra, the girl he's in love with, but who doesn't
return his feelings. Augie loves all things that have to
do with Broadway and his best friend T.C. Also, everyone
knows Augie's gay, but he just hasn't realized his true
feelings yet. Lastly, there is Alejeandra. Alejeandra grew
up in a very political and fundamental family. Her father
is a rich diplomat. Though, Alejeandra is expected to
grow up to be just like her parents and her brother her
true love is dancing and singing which is unacceptable to
her family. As, she pursues this passion in life she
begins to become friends with Augie and T.C. and just may
fall in love with the T.C.

My Most Excellent Year was a truly hysterical and cute read that had me turning the
pages nonstop. Steve Kluger told this story in diary entrees, instant message conversations, and letters. I've read this type of writing before, but have never enjoyed it as much as in this novel. It let me get to know the
characters, probably better than it being told in first or
third person, and it kept the story interesting most of
the time. At the beginning his writing could feel a bit so-
so , but as the story continued, and as the characters
began to get more developed, it picked up and started to
get pretty funny. Especially during Augie's parts. Also, I
enjoyed seeing how each character began to grow in one way
or another throughout the novel. At the end, I was sad to
see it come to a close, but knew that it was just the
right time to conclude it. Overall, this story was a cute
coming of age novel that I recommend to all age groups.
Be aware, though, that the beginning was a tad boring.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country:
Mountain Top, PA USA

The Tsarina's Daughter by Carolly Erickson

The Tsarina's Daughter, a historical fiction book, begins as Tatiana, the daughter of the Russian Tsar Nicholas II, is an old lady living in Canada, retelling the story of her childhood. However, she is not referred to as Tatiana; rather she is known as Daria Gradov. This story explains how her name changed from Tatiana to Daria. Only her husband, who is dead, knows the whole story. Her story begins in 1904 at the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia. Tatiana's father, Tsar Nicholas II, is the tsar of Russia and her mother is Tsarina Alexandria. The people of Russia like her parents. Tatiana is living happily in the royal place, receiving a good education. However, things begin to change. Tatiana leaves the Royal Palace and sees that the people of St. Petersburg are living in poverty. At the same time, the citizens of Russia revolt and the Russian Revolution begins. Both of these events have a huge affect on her life. Tatiana decides she must help her citizens, so she trains as a nurse and cares for the injured soldiers in the Royal Palace. Tatiana falls in love with an injured soldier, Michael, who she nurses back to health. Michael works for Tatiana's father during the Revolution, but the family is overthrown and forced from the palace to Siberia. Here, they live a very hard life and they held prisoners in their house by the Cossacks. Tatiana becomes very ill in Siberia and Michael nurses her back to health. The local nuns and citizens are trying to free Tatiana and her family. Most of the plans fail because her father is reluctant to leave because he doesn't think the plan will work. Her mother just gives up on all escape plans. At a festival in Siberia, the family has plans to escape. The Cossacks cannot follow them into the church, so a plan is developed for their escape. You'll have to see if the escape plan works!

I would recommend the book, The Tsarina's Daughter for many reasons. I think this book was very suspenseful and full of excitement. Although it is fiction, much of the information about Russia at that time is true. Carolly Erickson wrote many nonfiction books before writing this fiction book. I did learn a lot about the Russian Revolution and would like to read more books about it.

Sexual content and fowl language

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country: Finksburg, Maryalnd USA

Mexican Whiteboy by Matt de la Pena

This novel starts out with a simple plot: a boy moves to his cousin's home, who is very popular. The boy is just about the complete opposite of his cousin, Sofia. Danny is shy, doesn't talk much (because he is ashamed of his non-Mexican accent), and doesn't understand the fashion style in Sofia's world. Sofia introduces him, gets him started in school, and Danny begins his story slowly, revealing his anxiety and self-mutilation problems. A few chapters into the book, an African-American/Spanish boy named Uno enters the story, from his point of view. He doesn't trust Danny and has already given him stitches. However, he is infatuated with Sofia.

I wasn't as happy with the beginning; it had a very small plot, and I was hoping for a more involved story. But Matt de la Pena soon complicated it, and was able to captivate me by the fifteenth page! I was very impressed by his foreshadowing, and there were many examples of it, such as hitting a road sign with a stone: three out of five hits means whatever you're wishing for will happen.

De la Pena was adept at explaining how racial status meant so much to those who were under pressure for it. Spanish, English, and African-American people experience so much more than I had imagined. I am very glad I had the chance to read Mexican WhiteBoy.

Reviewer Age:14

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

Thornspell by Helen Love

Ever since he was little, Prince Sigismund has heard about the stories. Of dragons, giant snakes, fairies, and heroic quests that involve princesses being rescued. Could these stories actually be true? From the day a mysterious lady shows up at the castle gates and speaks to him, the young prince's world turns completely over. He dreams of a girl trapped in thorns, a palace waiting for something, and a man in red armor riding a red horse that suddenly turns up at his castle! Sigismund is about to learn whose real, whose fake, what's real, what's a dream, and what's a dream that becomes real.

This book was probably the best book I have gotten from Flamingnet! It was so descriptive. Basically, this book is a version of Sleeping Beauty. Sigismund is the type of character you instantly love and want for a big brother. There are good fairies and bad fairies. But the author is from New Zealand so they call them Faie or Faerie. It was a little confusing at first! I would reccomend this book to anybody who loves adventure, romance, and mystery

Reviewer Age:14

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

Key to Redemption by Talia Gryphon

This book is absolutely amazing! But Key to Redemption is definitely a PG-13 book. I just couldn't put the book down! I like how it doesn't recap the character's lives for a few chapters but gets straight into the story. Key to Redemption has some great humor, and yet, some very serious points. In the book, Gillian Key is a therapist to the paranormal that have been recently legalized. Someone from her recent past comes back and ends up making the therapist need therapy. I really hope another book will come out and expand upon one of Gillian's client's.

I liked how the book was written. It covers all the thoughts of the characters but mostly sticks with Gillian throughout the book. And doesn't randomly cut to another person at a really exciting moment. I also feel like that I can connect with Gillian and feel what she feels. Furthermore, I like the explanations of some of the paranormal creatures that she deals with. This is a series that you don't have to necessarily read in order.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Guilderland, New york USA

The Knights of the Cornerstone by James P. Blaylock

This novel is set in the isolated, present-day town of New Cyprus. Calvin Bryson is a man who lives alone with his collection of old books. One day, he receives a strange package in the mail and is told to deliver it to his aunt and uncle in New Cyprus. The package supposedly contains the haunted shroud of a dead relative he never knew. On his way to delivering the package, it is stolen. When he arrives in New Cyprus, his uncle tells him that it was a fake and that the real shroud has already been delivered. Calvin stays to visit with his family. He meets a woman named Donna, and they soon get close. However, curiosity, bravery, and danger shatter Calvin's peaceful world. Calvin discovers that the shroud is actually a holy relic and that New Cyprus is the home of the Knights Templar, which he is invited to join. A sinister group led by Bob Postum plan to steal the relic and wreck the Knights' society. Calvin must collaborate with the Knight to save New Cyprus. This novel was written to entertain and is an adventure and mystery novel with religious occult undertones.

I found this book a bit mediocre and confusing. The plot is fairly typical, with a secret society that the main character joins and fights for. The romance is quick and straightforward. The religious occult part of the book make it unique, yet also confusing. The powers of the relics are never truly explained. Also, near the end, the plot moves very quickly with too little information or explanation. I never quite figured out each character's role in the ending action. The book was not bad, but I felt it was just mundane.

This book has some sexual references, violence, and death. There are also religious references, but the book does not require knowledge about religion or belief in God to read.

Reviewer Age:15

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

Slant by Laura E. Williams

Lauren is a Korean-American teenager, who was adopted when she was a year old. Being Asian her eyes are slightly different from everyone else in her class. Her best friend tells her she has beautiful eyes, but some of the boys in her class disagree. They call her derogatory names such as "Slant" and "Gook". After a long time of listening to their racial comments, Lauren finally has enough money to pay for a special eye surgery. This surgery will deepen the crease of her eyes to make her look like everyone else in her class. When she finally has her father's agreement on the surgery she has to make the decision: should she undergo the surgery and hope she obtains confidence and the popularity that she desires, or can she obtain the confidence she needs in herself without such drastic steps?

I thought this book faced a very important issue, discrimination. By Laura E. Williams having Lauren face teasing because of her race, she connects her book with anyone who feels different. I thought it was particularly interesting how Lauren feels that she needs to be so drastic in her way to overcome her emotional conflict. While the book deals with a very heavy topic, it reads very quickly. I thought this book shed light on an issue that some people did not realize existed.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Plesset, Maryland USA

Out of Reach by V. M. Jones

Out of Reach by V.M. Jones is a story about a struggling relationship between a father and son. Thirteen year old Pip McLeod has been playing soccer since he was little. He is always striving for perfection to meet his father's approval. After every game Pip played, his father looked at him in disappointment, wondering why he wasn't like his brother Nick. Pip wasn't like his brother. He didn't like soccer and he could never have the same bond his father and Nick shared. One day Pip came across a new sport, climbing. He began to climb and soon couldn't stop. Pip enjoys the sport and all he can do is think, dream and live climbing. The only thing keeping him from reaching the top is his father and their relationship that is falling apart.

I thought the book Out of Reach by V.M. Jones was a great book. The beginning was boring, but once you got past the introduction it was hard to put down. Somewhere after the introduction I began to be interested in the struggles Pip and his father shared and began to wonder what would happen next. The strength in this book was the ending. The ending left you with very few questions and many answers. The weakness was the introduction. The author had many messages in this book. One that stood out was how you can have a best friend; but when it comes down to it family is always going to be number one. I recommend this book to anyone who likes stories based on relationships and family struggles.

Reviewer Age:14

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

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