Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr

Ink Exchange is a fiction novel that should be categorized as fantasy and romance. This novel is about a teenager who is growing up in a troublesome household. Her mother has left, her father is a drunk, and he brother is a drug dealer. Leslie has to live her life day to day in fear and feels nothing is for herself. She decides to get a tattoo so that something is finally her own when things go awry. A man starts showing up everywhere she goes and she begins to learn that the world she thought she knew was more different than she ever could have imagined.

I would recommend Ink Exchange to those who like to live in alternate universes. This book took me a few chapters to really get into the story line but once I did, I was hooked. Melissa Mar makes her faery world seem like it could be real and makes you take a second look at the world we live in. The author makes a vulnerable weak person like Leslie look like a hero by the end of the book. You don't have to be big and strong to live your own life and not let others take it over for you. This book was very good and if you like fantasy novels you should read this book. The beginning is a little dry but the middle and the end won't let you put it down.

Reviewer Age:17

Reviewer City, State and Country: Mantua, NJ United States

Pirouette: Ballet Stories by Harriet Castor

The Pirouette is a collection of fiction short stories
based on ballet life. Harriet Castor has chosen the
stories for the book. The book has sixteen short stories
meant for teens. The focus is the different problems and
achievements made by young girls in the ballet world.
Harriet Castor wrote one story called Grace, based on how
a young girl who did not have the dream of ballet but her
mom did.

Each of the stories focused on one young lady
in the ballet world. One story may be about school and
ballet or about repeated frustrations during work outs.
Most stories were set in English schools and homes. It was
hard to see them due to not knowing England's countryside
or the differences in school systems that came up
frequently. The book would be wonderful for hopeful future
ballerinas. The everyday teen may have a hardtime sticking
with the book due to its focus solely on
ballet.

Reviewer Age:20

Reviewer City, State and
Country: Marble Hill, Missouri Bolliger

Assassin's Apprentice by SR Vaught & JB Redmond

Assassin's Apprentice is a fantasy novel about Aron Brailing, who was Harvested from his Home to go to the guild of Stone. This book is in the adventure genre. After Harvesting, Aron and his new Guild Master make the Journey to the Guild of Stone's HQ, Triune. On the way they must battle manes, and Aron befriends a girl named Dari who is a Stregan and looking for her sister. When they arrive at Triune they learn that Lord Brailing and Lord Altar have declared war on the other dynasts and Aron begins his training and has been punished to go woth the person he loathes most, Galvin Herder, to The Ruined Keep, where they might die.

In my opinion the book is a very engaging read. The authors are very good at describing all the characters. They have also got a talent for fantasy writing and keeping you curious until the end of the story. Their writing style makes it easy to imagine the scenes in the book. I would reccomend this book to anyone who enjoys a fantasy novel and a page-turner.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chippewa Falls, WI USA

The Sorceress by Michael Scott

The Sorceress picks up where The Magician leaves off. Nicholas Flamel (aka The Alchemyst) has decided to take the twins, Sophie and Josh, to London. Kind of a bad move since it's Dee's hometown, and The Magician has got A LOT of backup there. Mainly, Nicholas is trying to find a place to re-group and rest until he can figure out where to find Gilgamesh the King. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic, Perenelle is still stuck on Alcatraz. Perry has yet to think of a brilliant plan to get off the'sland. By now, the Elders are getting impatient, Dee's Elder especially. At the moment, they trust Machiavelli more than The Magician. Basically, Dee has one more chance to prove himself.
I liked this book, but the action was kind of slow with getting Perenelle off Alcatraz. Also, The Alchemyst was worried sick, but he still couldnt think of a way to help her, and the author just kept coming back to that. What really bothered me most though, was that the author never said anything about Scatty, one of The Alchemyst's strongest allies, who disappeared in the previous book. For most of this book, I was wondering, "Where's Scatty going to come in? Is she even alive?" Despite these shortcomings, fans of the Alchemist series will enjoy this next adventure.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Round Rock, Texas United States

You, Maybe by Rachel Vail

Josie is very content with her life, which includes working as a clown for children's birthday parties, having the funkiest friends, and being friends with a cute boy who is more like a friend-with-benefits than anything else. So when the hottest boy in school, Carson Gold, lands his sights on her and approaches her during lunch, she is happy with just having an occasional hook-up, but that only works when both people agree, and Carson wants more than just kisses; he wants her for his own. She tells him that she doesn't want to date but after a lot of begging and a little singing, she reluctantly says yes. Little does she know that by saying yes that she is in for way more than she could've ever expected, and that's not always a good thing. Her and Carson's relationship continues to grow as her other ones--as well as her life in general and everything that she once knew and believed in--crumble and fall apart. Sometimes instead of trying to fix the destruction that was caused, what's causing the destruction should just be gotten rid of, which in this case is Carson Gold, but for Josie that's going to be harder than she thinks.

The author, Rachel Vail, always does a splendid job of incorporating the book titles into her stories. You, Maybe made me laugh, cry, and feel all of the many emotions of the up and downs of teenage relationships, before, during, and after the break-up. It was easy to relate to Josie since we're both teenagers in high school, she was kind of shy, and the author described a lot about her thoughts, character, and personality. I could picture the scenes very well since they were well described. I liked most of the characters and their unique personalities except for the hunky Carson Gold because he seemed like a preppy snot who played girls and always seemed to get his way. The ending was fairly enjoyable and came as quite a surprise to me since it wasn't the perfect fairy-tale ending I was expecting. Overall this story was well-written and a fun read, but it left a few questions unanswered such as the outcome of her mother's health. I recommend this romantic and drama-filled novel to teenage girls looking for a quick summer read.

There was some sexual content and references.

Reviewer Age:15

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

Cycler by Lauren McLaughlin

Jill McTeague is your average high school girl. With the help of her best friends Ramie and Daria, she embarks on a mission to be Tommy Knutson's prom date. As she becomes more involved with Tommy, he opens up to her with a secret similar to her own. Can she tell him why she is really gone for four days each month, something she won't even tell Ramie?

Meet Jack - he lives for four days every month. Jill physically and emotionally transforms Jack, anatomy and all, and for the last few years he has been content with spending those days locked in solitude in Jill's room daydreaming of Ramie. Anti-Jack Mrs. McTeague keeps his needs satisfied with food and pornography, while Mr. McTeague has confined himself to the basement to meditate and practice yoga.

But Jack's contentment has reached its end. If life wasn't hard enough having such a secret, Jill must resist harder to keep him one as he fights to be known and released from his captivity.

Lauren McLaughlin did a wonderful job when writing Cycler. She discusses gender issues in a practical yet unrealistic way that allowed me to see a whole different perspective. The story is full of twists from the beginning that kept me reading. Just as I thought I knew what would happen, BAM! I think that some of the surprises were unnecessary, but overall I would recommend it to any young adult reader.

Reviewer Age:20

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

See No Evil

"See No Evil" is the tale of a girl named Nettie. She does not go to school like all other kids; instead, she has a private tutor. Her favorite of these tutors, Miss Kovachev, disappears under mysterious circumstances. After her parents refuse to tell her why, she asks for the help of her friend Bennie, the night watchmen's son. They soon begin to uncover the horrifying reality behind Nettie's father, Vladamir (aka Vlad the Impaler), and many other shocking truths.

I found this book extremely hard to follow and could not understand what was going on for the majority of what I read. All of a sudden, I'd understand something, but it wouldn't make sense in the storyline, since I didn't know what was going on in the first place. I thought Nettie was not a very interesting main character, nor was anybody else in the story. Her disdain for every tutor she had (except Miss Kovachev) made me think she was just a bratty main character and the disappearance of her favorite teacher is hardly a good reason to investigate. I was interested in the fact that Vlad the Impaler was Nettie's father, but even that was not enough to keep my interest in this book. I definitely would not recommend this.

Content: 1
Rating: 2
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Westerville, OH United States

Guinevere's Gamble by Nancy McKenzie

"Guinevere's Gamble" by Nancy McKenzie is a lengthy book set in the Dark Ages. It follows Guinevere, the girl who is to one day marry King Arthur. However, King Arthur is scarcely mentioned as a present character in the novel. Additionally, there is no interaction between the two, let alone talk of marriage. Rather, the plot sticks to Guinevere's friends and enemies. A large part of the book talks about one of Guinevere's friends being falsely accused of kleptomania.
Book two in a four part series, this book is easy to follow. Events and characters are explained in depth. The only bad part is that major plot events in the legend of King Arthur are omitted; these are most likely saved for the proceeding books. Most of the book is either full of drama or mystery. While well-written, this hefty book does have some parts that make the book unnecessary longer.

Reviewer Age:18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Staten Island, NY USA

Skunk Girl by Sheba Karim

Nina Khan is skunk girl. Not because she stinks, but because she has a stripe of soft hair that runs along her spine. Nina and her family are from Pakistan and she has genes that make her hairy. She and her sister Sonia were born in the United States and have never been to Pakistan, but her parents grew up there and were all about the traditions. These traditions include never dating, arranged marriages, and not being allowed to party. Nina is having a tough time with these rules, not that a boy has ever asked her out, but she'd like to have parties and some fun like any teenager would. On top of all of that, her parents aren't as impressed with her as they are her sister Sonia, the "supernerd", because she knows she can't live up to those expectations.
Then, the new school year starts. Her friends Bridget and Helena are easy to find boyfriends and they try hard not to make Nina feel bad. Deer Hook High, being the small town that it is, no one new ever moves in, but that all changes when the boy of her dreams comes from Italy. He's Asher, he's handsome, and all the girls want him, including Nina. Asher soon dates Nina's archrival Serena, but Nina can't help but think that Asher doesn't truly like Serena, that he really likes her. But how would that work, her parents wouldn't approve of a boy non-Pakistani, and she would feel guilty going behind their backs.

This book was good, but a little cliche. Its plot was basic and a lot of other books I've read have the same kind of thing. Girl meets boy, girl wants boy, girl can't have boy, and so on. When you get to the middle of the book, you can pretty much guess what happens for the rest of it. Although, it did have a turn around from other books with this plot. The fact that Nina was Pakistani, it had a lot of their traditions, language, and food. I thought it helped me understand the culture a little bit because I didn't know anything about Pakistan.

Some drinking, mentions of sex, but no details.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Norristown, Pennsylvania USA

Flirting with Boys by Hailey Abbott

Every summer Celeste Tippen has to work at her family's resort. She also has to deal with the son of their family's wealthiest clients, Nick, flirting with her constantly. This year is different. Celeste's boyfriend, Travis, has a job at the resort as well. Nick and Celeste need to plan a party that will be the biggest event that her resort has ever seen, but Travis cannot leave Nick alone. Celeste's feelings change towards both Travis and Nick as she learns more about who they really are.

I thought that this book would be an easy, but fun, read. It was entertaining, but the level of difficulty was too low for me. Almost every event in the book was conventional and expected. The book was not unique, but it was still a good book. The dialogue between the characters seemed to be unrealistic at certain spots, and the characters' emotions were pretty extreme. This book is most likely suited for girly-girls. I would recommend this book to teenage girls who want a fun book to read in the summer.

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

Sisters in Sanity by Gayle Forman

Sixteen year old, Brit Hemphill can be seen as your typical semi-rebellious teen. She is lead vocals in her rock band, sports a tattoo, and can't for the life of her get along with her father and step-mother. Any other parent would just let their child live out their rebellious teen years. But not hers. Her father and step-mother send her to Red Rock; a boot camp like institution that breaks people down in order to "share their emotions." Here, Brit learns about her real mother, who lives in an institution with schizophrenia. Along the way, Brit meets four other young women who encourage each other to stay sane in this insane environment. These "Sisters in Sanity," as they call themselves, must stick together and find some way out of Red Rock; back into normal, real life.

I really liked this book. I have to admit, as an eighteen year old, it took me a little longer to get into the book. The issues Brit dealt with were very much so for a sixteen year old, like having her first crush and being totally against everything her parent's said. But once in Red Rock, I was intrigued. The situations each girl was in were very real and raw. For example, one of the girls, Cassie, was a bisexual. There was no hiding behind a blanket; the girls' issues were thrown right in front of you. At times, especially the end, the book jumped quickly from one scene to the next. I know the book can't go on forever but I saw some scenes that were more important than others and they were left for my imagination. But maybe that's how a good writer writes. Overall, it was a good book that made me take a step back from my sheltered life to see what other girls have to deal with in theirs.

Reviewer Age:18

Reviewer City, State and Country: Villa Hills, Kentucky United States

Rise of the Heroes - Hero.com #1 by Andy Briggs

When Toby, Lorna, Pete, and Emily stumble on a website that gives them superpowers it soon gets them in trouble. In order to get hero points they must perform jobs. When Toby and Lorna's mother is kidnapped they have no choice but to save her. With their friends' help of course. Can they do all of this even though they get bullied all day from the school kids? Will these mere kids be enough to stop a super villain? Find out when you fly through the pages of this book!

This was a really good book. I loved the concept of how a website could give you super powers. Giving the super powers to little kids and not grownups made the book even better. The book was very simple with a few hard words and I flew right through it. The book had very vivid imagery which felt like you were in the experience with them. Though when your mother is torn away from you I believe you would do anything in your power to get her back!

Mild Violence
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Northport, NY USA

Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur

"Love, Aubrey" by Suzanne LaFleur is about a girl whose
little sister and father die. Traumatized by the experience, Aubrey's mother just walks out on her one day. The grandmother takes Aubrey to live with her upon
discovering that Aubrey is alone. Up in Vermont, Aubrey makes friends with the girl next door and learns to cope with her life. In the end, when her mother comes to her
senses, Aubrey must choose between moving back home and staying in Vermont.

This book revolves around a melancholy issue, but it does not make readers sad. Rather, it makes readers think about their own lives and just how precious
life is. The plausible drama in the book makes it a page-turner. Also interesting are Aubrey's meetings with her guidance counselor and her letters she writes to her
sister's imaginary friend and dead family members. This book is great for young ones, making them think beyond their years.

Content: 1
Rating: 9
Age:18 Staten Island, NY USA

The Entomological Tales of Augustus T. Percival by Dene Low

What if your uncle (and guardian) started eating bugs? What if, on the day of your coming out party, two important guests - and later, your dearest friends - were kidnapped? What if your heart's true love still treated you like a little sister? And finally, what if your pesky, insane relatives got wind of this scandal and came knocking at your door?

Preposterous you say! But it's exactly what happens to Petronella Arbuthnot. Now it is up to her, Uncle Augustus, the handsome Lord James Sinclair, several old biddy aunts, and some bumbling investigators from Scotland Yard to rescue the threesome, and possibly save England. Grab your intelligence, a copy of Insectile Creatures (in case Uncle Augustus gets hungary), and some relatives to boot! This quirky Victorian story is bound to tickle you pink and leave you waiting for the next preposterous adventure!

Complete with zaniness and historical events, The Entomological Tales of Augustus T. Percival (whoa, even the name is preposterous) was quite an entertaining book. Not to mention it was nice to read something different for a change! It wasn't an extreme page flipper, but it had just enough fun and mystery to keep you occupied. It reminded me a lot of a Charles Dickens novel, but minus the sad or dark approach because this book was always light and humorous. The language was easy to understand,despite it staying true to the 20th century grammar or the "large" words throughout the novel. "Large" words? Hey, don't be scared off that easily, it was just part of Petronella's character! I found Petronella to be a very good heroine since she stayed completely one top of the kidnapping case and wasn't afraid to "tally-ho" into danger (or rather relatives with pointy umbrellas). What of Petronella's bug-eating uncle? Now, that was the best addition to the story - never a dull moment with him on the scene!
I truly think Low has a knack for the preposterous: funky wordplay and the outrageous characters. All in all, this book was fun and I would highly recommend. Mind you though, stay away from the Tou-eh-mah-mah beetles or you'll wind up like Uncle Augustus....

Recommended for ages 11 to teen
(Nine yrs. seems a little too young for the semi-Victorian style language)

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country: , NM USA

Alvin Ho by Lenore Look

This is a funny book about Alvin Ho, a second grader, who is afraid of everything. When his father suggests going on a camping trip, Alvin is terrified. He asks his brother, Calvin to help him be less afraid. Calvin orders special camping equipment, including night vision goggles. The camping trip was filled with some unexpected moments and Alvin learned to overcome his fears. In the end, he actually enjoyed it.


I liked this book because it is the funniest book I have ever read. Alvin met a friend while he was camping and they pretended to be superheros. His sister, who was usually annoying, was a big help on the trip. The best part was that Alvin faced his fears while having fun. If you like to laugh and like adventure, you will love this book.

Reviewer Age:10

Reviewer City, State and Country: Baltimore, MD USA

Peril on the Sea by Michael Cadnum

Sailing the seas in the summer of 1588 was a risky voyage for many people and for the heroic Sherwin Morris, it was a job that he must do. Riding on the sea vessel named Vixen, captained by the pirate/gentlemen Brandon Fletcher, Sherwin is assigned the job of writing the life story of Captain Fletcher. On their perilous journey, they manage to strike a deal with the once wealthy Sir Anthony Westing to kidnap his own vessel. They are told to hide it away from the Spaniards and other men who would love to get their hands on its precious cinnamon and spice cargo. In the mean time they are also to take his daughter, Miss Katharine Westing, along with them so she will not be caught in the middle of the Spanish Armada attack. Little did they know that they were sailing right into the Spanish Armada and who knows what lies ahead in their path.

I had hoped this book to be a lot better, but it wasn't. It lacked excitement, and seemed to linger on the same subject forever. It took me a little while longer to read it because it didn't interest me as much. It also took a long time to get to the battle scene, and when it finally did I didn't have a clue what was going on!! It did have a good story line and yes I would recommend it to someone who likes historical fiction. If you like books with a lot of action, this isn't the book for you. I would recommend this for ages 13 and up.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: , New Mexico USA

Lights, Camera, Amalee by Dar Williams

Amalee has inherited a unique memento from her grandmother, who has just passed away--a large champagne bottle filled with over a thousand dollars in coins. Told to do something special with the cash, Amalee sets out to make a movie on what she is most passionate about-- endangered species. Over the course of the summer, Amalee has fun making her movie, with help from family, friends, and neighbors along the way. She also finds a connection to her mother, whom she never got the chance to know. From behind the scenes, Amalee learns more about herself and the people closest to her.

Overall, this was an enjoyable book to read. I felt that Amalee's efforts and achievements seemed quite realistic, and this story was portrayed from a reasonable middle schooler's view. I felt that this book reflected a good theme--the importance of friends and family. In addition to that, many of the characters were fun to read about.

Unfortunately, this book was slow at times. I also noticed that this book lacked some interesting descriptions and details in parts. I would recommend this book to girls ages 10-13 because I believe that they will really be able to relate to Amalee's story of finding herself.

Reviewer Age:13

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

Dessert First by Hallie Durand

Dessert First by Hallie Durand is a pleasant little book for young readers. The main character Dessert starts third grade, and her new teacher tells the class to march to the beat of their own drum. Dessert interprets this to mean that she should do whatever she wants (i.e., eat dessert before dinner at home). Drama ensues in her family with this, and Dessert ends up eating a special dish her mother made for a birthday party. To make up for this, Dessert does something very special that teaches readers a valuable lesson.

This book is great for little eyes. The thin book has large print, and it is not at all intimidating. Additionally, the black and white illustrations hold the reader's interest with great detail and often facetious depictions. Interestingly, Durand makes the text larger when characters are being loud and smaller when they are being quiet. This is unique and especially beneficial to young readers because it encompasses the full scope of the story's scenarios.

Reviewer Age:18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Staten Island, NY USA

One Lonely Degree by C. K. Kelly Martin

Change is gradual, and for Finn, she can never remember when everything was exactly right. She can'' remember when her parents started to fight and she doesn't recall ever being normal in school. But when Jersy (her best friend from age six) moves back into town, things start to change. Finn finally starts to like him when her best friend, Audrey, starts dating him. They date for the remainder of sophomore year, but when Audrey leaves for the summer, Finn gets closer and closer to Jersy no matter how much she didn't want to.


This is a book of love and loss, a book that depicts the teenage life of a high-school girl and a book that I couldn't put down. This is a book written for and about teenage girls. Finn experiences some of the problems that girls have today and for girls to able to read about it will give them something to connect with. I liked this book so much and didn't put it down until I was finished. So, pick up One Lonely Degreeand read about Finn's adventures through her high school experience. Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country

Tempo Change by Barbara Hall

Tempo Change is the story of a girl named Blanche Kelly who has a rock star for a father. Because he left when she was in 1st grade, no one at her school knows her dad is famous. Her mom doesn't understand that her dad, as an artist, needs space to be happy and make music and that's why he left them. Blanche is in touch with him through email but doesn't tell anyone, including her mom about it. Suddenly, Blanche decides to make a rock band for the school's talent show and they become popular enough to qualify for a big music festival. She realizes that this could be a way to see her father again and get a better chance to talk with him. More importantly, this could be a chance for him to see her and her band. Self-discovery and family issues are an important concept of this book.

I found the book really interesting and different. Blanche had a very strong voice and was also a realistic character. Throughout the book, she was sarcastic and independent, but not always completely sure of herself. She questioned herself and those around her often, showing well her confusion as a teenager and making her someone I could relate to. The other characters were also believable, because they changed their minds and went through problems with their own families or ideas. All of the people in the book sounded genuine, because of the diversity and imperfection in their personalities. Details weren't a huge part of the book, but when the author really described something, I could picture it well and tell it was important. Sometimes a little more detail was needed, but most of the time that added to the style of the book. The plot was original and the author wrote it well. I learned about the relationship between teens and their parents and would recommend this to people who don't require lots of action but like a good storyline and strong characters.

Reviewer Age: 13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Needham, Massachusetts United States

Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head

"Samantha Hansen Has Rocks In Her Head" by Nancy Viau is a fun chapter book for young readers. It recounts the scientifically passionate life of little Samantha, a tomboy in the fourth grade. She goes on a class trip to a cave, performs at a talent show, sees the Grand Canyon, and develops her first crush. In general, she is in love with rocks and earth science. Aside from the main plot events, there are also parts where Sam needs anger management, learns to get along with her sister, discovers facts about her late father.

The love of science is portrayed greatly and may inspire children to make little science journals of their own. However, the stereotype that girls are not good at math is subtly implied. In the book, Sam has problems with fractions and writes them backwards (which may confuse young readers). Also, when the journal entries are written out, some words are misspelled or have incomplete descriptions with questions. Although it may be realistic since the journals are supposed to be written by a fourth grader, they do not help young readers pedagogically.

Reviewer Age:17

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

The Lincolns by Candace Fleming

The Lincolns by Candace Fleming is a fabulous non-fiction book about the lives of Abraham and Mary Lincoln. Everyone has heard the story of Abraham Lincoln, but I loved it because it also told the story of Mary Lincoln. It was interesting to see the contrast between Abrahams and Marys childhood. Abraham was a hard working farm boy and Mary never worked a day in her life, coming from a rich family. In this book the reader also learns about the lives of the Lincoln's sons, Tad, William and Thomas.

I liked this book because it contains hundreds of little articles. This is a book written like a scrapbook and is filled with pictures, timelines, letters, and newspaper articles. I wish the author spent more time talking about Lincoln's assassination. Still, I think this the best book for kids about both Abraham and Mary Lincoln. I would recommend this book to anyone that loves facts and biography fans.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Lake Bluff, IL USA

Darkborn by Alison Sinclair

Darkborn only survive in the night and burn in sunlight. Lightborn are the opposite, but some lightborn are given the power of magic. Rarely their is a darkborn mage. Darkborn and lightborn are separated, living in different worlds. If they dare enter the others' world, they will die. Darkborn alternates between Balthasar, Telmiane, and Ishmal. Balthasar is a darkborn doctor in training while Temaine is a lovely woman from the royal family. The very unusual gift Talmaine has is to touch-read peoples minds, so she insists on wearing high gloves everywhere she goes so she cant read their minds. Ishmal is a darkborn mage in training and a shadow hunter. When a former friend of Balthasar comes to him one night, pregnant with twin boys, he must take her in for the day. After the twins are born, men arrive and nearly beat Balthasar to death. When Balthasars wife, Telmaine, and Ishmal arrive and as the men were hurrying to leave, they snatched Telmaines oldest daughter from her arms. As Telmaine and Ishmal enter, they find out Telmaine is a Darkborn mage as she heals Balthasar. As Telmaine, Ishmal, and Balthasar head of to find their daughter, who kidnapped her and the limits of Telmaines power, they discover old friends that arent their friends at all.

Alison Sinclair does a wonderful job with her details that make the reader seem that they are in the scene with the characters. In the beginning of the novel, the differences between darkborn and lightborn are confusing. Too many questions come in the beginning that arent explained until later. These questions drive the reader on, curious as to what happens and what is the limit of power Telmaine possesses inside of her, waiting to come out. This book stands high among my favorite novels. I adored this book so much I am sad to see that there are more books to read till the whole mystery is figured out and happy to read more to find out how their journey ends. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves magic, love stories, fantasies, and figuring out destinies. It is a marvelous book that is perfect with detail, story line, the characters bonds, cliff hangers, and an ending that leaves the reader wanting more.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Lake Bluff, Illinois United States of America

Bad Girls Club by Judy Gregerson

Bad Girls Club was the dark, heart wrenching novel by Judy Gregerson that explored how two sisters’ lives can be changed forever by mental illness. At the beginning of the story we learn pretty quickly that Destiny and Cassidy’s mother has a mental illness and rage issues. Destiny tells us how her life falls apart while trying to keep her family together. Throughout the story we learn how her mother’s illness started and the reason why her family is so tediously working towards a better life. All members of the family are manipulated by the pressure and responsibility of taking care of her mother, that Destiny is neglected and the problems she can see disregarded. We see Destiny’s almost normal life fall apart until she has nothing to live for. To overcome their mother’s illness and a childhood of trauma and uncertainty sisters Destiny and Cassidy, must look out for each other, stick together and decide what is right for themselves.


This was a very powerful and emotive book. Bad Girls Club shows you how much of a problem mental illness can be for some families and shows you the journey one teenage girl took to overcome her familial restraints. I thought this was a capturing and moving book that gives you an insight into others pain and troubles; this book gave me a great sense of perspective and made me appreciate the family I am in. Gregerson writes with such colour and brutal description that allows you to sympathize and understand how the characters feel and the way they are interacting. She showed very well the effects abusive and negligent parents can have on children of all ages. We were also able to see the amazing road Destiny had to take to work out her own life and what was best for her precious sister. This was a worthy read filled with disturbing scenes and warming passages of strength and redemption. A book that will not soon be forgotten.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Melbourne , Victoria Australia

Claire and the Bakery Thief

Claire and the Bakery Thief by Janice Poon is a fun graphic novel for children. Claire is in a new town because her parents want to start their own baking business in the country. While her parents work, Claire goes outside with her dog to play during her summer vacation. Claire makes a new friend, and they discuss family troubles they are both having. Claire’s mother leaves her father for a bit, and her friend’s father absconded to Mexico when she was younger. Later, a villain enters the picture and suspense ensues as Claire and her friend must save the day together.

Told in graphic format, the black and white story comes to life. Little diary entries are interspersed to inspire girls to write their own feelings down. This graphic novel for youngsters features an excellent role model for young girls; Claire is healthily proportioned. Better yet, at the end, there are fun recipes children can try with adult supervision.

Content: 1
Rating: 9
Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Staten Island, NY USA

World of Warcraft by Christie Golden

Arthas Menethil is the Crown Prince of Lordaeron and heir to the throne. He quickly became the most powerful figure as he emerged as the Lich King. This book tells the story of his journey from his peaceful childhood to his reign as the evil Lich King. Wars are fought and blood is shed. The journey takes us through the arctic northern wastes toward the Frozen Throne. Will his plan to destroy all life on the World of Warcraft succeed? The future is uncertain.

Not being a World of Warcraft fan, I was not very captivated by this book. I did not know any of the characters beforehand, so it was very hard for me to follow them. But I'm sure that a person who knows the storyline very well would find this to be a very entertaining read. It is action-packed and plot-oriented. But it's not only just about action - it also contains rich emotion and details. Christie Golden did a great job of portraying Arthas throughout his life. The bottom line is - if you love World of Warcraft, this 320-page book will truly be a rewarding experience!

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Palo Alto, CA USA

L.A. Summer by Sheryl Mallory-Johnson

"L.A. Summer" by Sheryl Mallory-Johnson is a highly disappointing read. It chronicles mainly the story of three teenage girls. Accessory characters are mentioned, but the focus is on Stacy's old best friend Mikki visiting for the summer only to find Stacy has a new best friend named Charlette. Anyway, all three have boyfriends for the moment and tend to only discuss boys. Over-the-top drama ensues as the girls argue. There is little suspense, and the plot is highly predictable. Sadly, the whole story can be summed up from the back cover.


Derogatory, sexually perverse, and grammatically incorrect, this book is a train wreck. The teenage girls are described by how much curves they have. Sentence fragments flood the pages, and slang words from the eighties are profuse. Girls give up their virginity in horrific detail. While set in LA, the story is anything but classy. The African American characters are just further stereotyped as hoodlums.

perverse graphic nature

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 0

Reviewer Age: 17

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

The Princess and the unicorn

"The Princess and the Unicorn" by Carol Hughes is a modern fairy tale. It mixes the age-old themes of mystical creatures and royalty with up and coming devices like laptops and cell phones. The plot jolts back and forth between Eleanor (the princess) and Joyce (the fairy). Basically, the unicorn helps keep Joyce's forest thriving. When Eleanor takes the unicorn with her, Joyce just try to get her back. Suspense ensues when someone close to Eleanor betrays her and prevents her from helping her newfound fairy friend.

With a majestic unicorn and blonde princess on the pink cover, readers expect the same old happily ever after story. The book is full of frolicking; right? WRONG. Hughes manages to weave a masterful plot that both engages the readers and makes them think. Additionally, the descriptions take readers to a far away place of fantasy and beauty. A page-turner in every sense of the word, "The Princess and the Unicorn" is a must have for girls that want to be lost in a book that is both girly and 'literarily' strong.

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

Arrival Of The Prince by James Rutledge

It is September of 2007, and the world is in turmoil. Major religions all agree on one thing: the end of days is fast approaching. What roles do an expert linguist, a geneticist, and a professor of archaeologist play in the heavenly drama? This question and others are answered in a flashback to the summer of 2006. Myla de Naci is searching for the first genetically modern human, an individual that she believes revolutionized the human race almost overnight. Her research leads to her to Dr. Robert Pearlmutter, whose archaeologist team is conducting a South African excavation in a mysterious cave that he believes housed the very humans Doctor de Naci has been searching for evidence of. Another researcher somehow linked to this puzzle, Dr. Gideon Law, has received several ancient stone tablets which point to a hidden message revealing information about the fast-approaching apocalypse. These three brilliant experts in their fields soon find that they, as well as some of their other colleges, are merely pawns in a larger plot, one devised by Satan himself.

The idea behind this novel is very nicely conceived, well-thought out, and interesting. Unfortunately, the writing doesn't back up the storyline and often hinders progress on the reader's part. Reading this book was a chore. The different time jumps and scads of characters don't mesh cohesively until about the middle of the book, making the beginning less than engrossing. Many characters were poorly developed and strangely accepting of the bizarre circumstances in which they find themselves. It was sad to see such wasted potential in a book, as some of the part could have been developed into really interesting reading. I wouldn't recommend it, but will perhaps look out for other work by the author, James Rutledge, in the future.

This book contains a few explatives, mild sexual content, and descriptions of violence.

Reviewer Age:15

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

Magic in the Blood by Devon Monk

Slightly humorous with an interesting character, Magic in the Blood is an exotic story put together in a way that a reader can connect. Because of a new concept of magic, crime different to what is known can be committed, such as living as a ghost after death. Something a little out of the ordinary, yet easily understandable, Magic in the Blood is just a taste of the more modern genre of fiction.

I did not enjoy the book Magic in the Blood for a multitude of reasons. From the lack of detail throughout the book to the rhetorical questions asked by the character during thought process, I found the book extremely disappointing. Magic in the Blood left out all of the romance of loving the setting, theology, and plain magic of being able to transport your mind to a different world, which should be found when reading all fiction books. Devon Monk did achieve the purpose of keeping the plot simple. The writer was very successful in her description of characters throughout the book, but not in describing settings or objects. In all, the author had a great idea, but she did not exactly follow through.

The book mentions some sexual intercourse.
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Lake Bluff, Illinois U.S.

Running For My Life by Ann Gonzalez

Andrea McKane has Post Traumatic stress disorder. Her Mom has schizophrenia,
a disease which makes her do crazy things. Andrea needs a way to escape and
leave her problems behind. When she discovers running, it does just that.
Andrea also goes to Samantha, her therapist, who helps her straighten out her
life. This realistic fiction book really opens your eyes to the hardships you never
imagined.

I really enjoyed this book for many reasons. I never imagined
someone would have to face the challenges Andrea had to face. This book was
quite powerful. It made me want to help kids with post traumatic stress
disorder. The characters were unique, and I could connect to them easily. The
plot was really interesting, but I had never heard of either of the disorders. I
really enjoyed the writing style because it captured how Andrea was feeling
perfectly. I would recommend this book to people who enjoyed the book Rules,
by Cynthia Lord

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country:
Lake Bluff, IL United States

If the Witness Lied by Caroline B. Cooney

The Fountain family has faced endless grief within the last couple of years and their future seems quite bleak as well. First the childrens mother died, after refusing treatment for her fatal cancer so that she could give life to their baby brother Tris. Then, just two years later their father dies in a terrible accident leaving the four Fountain children alone and parent less with only their self-involved Aunt Cheryl left to care for them.

Within weeks the two Fountain daughters, Madison and Smithy flee, one going to live with her godparents and the other going to a boarding school hundreds of miles away. This leaves Jack to be the strong one, the one to take care of Tris, because Cheryl really only cares about herself and home makeover shows on TV.

As Tris third birthday approaches, Cheryl decides that she is ready for fame and sells the familys soap-opera story to a reality television producer and Jack knows that his life is about to be thrown upside down once again. The thing is though this event brings the family together again. Along the way they find out some troubling information that makes them question if the witness of their dads death lie?d

I believe if you looked Caroline B. Cooney up in an encyclopedia you would find & author of heart-thudding thrillers. I could literally not stop reading this book and absolutely gobbled it up. The book as a whole was great, but there were definitely some holes that I wish had been patched up.

First of all, the plot was very original and was the driving force behind the heart-thudding feeling you got while reading the book. I loved how the author took a mystery and turned it into a novel about family, friendship, trust, loss, and love. These themes melded perfectly throughout the book and really made the reader take a step back and evaluate their own life in a different light. I did have a couple issues with the plot though. Some of the events, such as Cheryl gaining custody automatically over the children and there being no original investigation into the fathers death, were completely left out. This left a big gap for me as I felt it could have been a crucial part in the story. The storyline was also a bit predictable, but the suspense created by the little details really helped the reader to not focus on what was coming next.

As for characters, this is really where the book lacked. All of the characters were one-dimensional; especially the adults, and I wish they were so much more. The little we did get to learn about the characters though was great. Jack was definitely the hero in the book and by far a favorite, as he sacrificed his social life in order to step up to the plate and care for his younger brother.

Another plus for this book is the authors writing style. She made the book incredibly realistic and all throughout the story I felt like I was reading an article from the local newspaper instead of a piece of fiction. Also the point of view she wrote the book in was quite interesting. It felt like a mix between third and first person, but all in the present tense, much like in Lisa McManns novels. This quirky style took a while to get used to but in the end it definitely added to the book.

Overall this was a good novel that all teen readers will enjoy. It had enough action to satisfy anyone and will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat. I loved how the author dealt with the breaking and healing of a family and really showed what love is and its immense powers.
TSamb - Reviewer Age:16 Reviewer City, State and Country: Currituck, NC United States

Pandora Gets Lazy by Carolyn Hennesy

Pandora and her friends, Iole, Alcie, and Homer are on a mission to capture Laziness. While on their way, Pandy is separated from her friends and her dog, Dido, who was captured by Hera. She must travel through the wilderness by herself until she meets two boys named Ismailil and Amri. The three of them are captured and taken prisoner. They must travel to Jbel Toubkal, where Atlas holds up the heavens. Iole, Alcie, and Homer are taken to work on a ship called the Syracusa. While there, they find and capture Misery, a lesser evil. Will Pandy be reunited with her friends? Will they be able to find and capture Laziness? Read this great story that will keep you guessing until the end.

This was a great book to read. The characters were believable for Greek mythology. The plot was full of excitement and adventure. The end of the book was more exciting than the beginning. I would recommend this book to people who like adventure, excitement, and Greek mythology.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Enon, OH USA

City of Time was an adventure where Owen, the navigator, goes to The City of Time because there is no time left. Owen and Cati start seeing things that are paranormal, like skeletons of killer whales trying to eat fish, and a message from Cati's father who got lost in time (first book). They talked to Dr. Diamond, and he said they had to go and get some time to save the planet. I thought the plot was interesting because Owen has to get some time from another world to his world. The author makes the story able to be easily visualized.

I feel that it is a extremely powerful book because it was so vivid in information that I couldn't put it down. I would recommend it to anyone who likes an action/adventure story. There were a few parts toward the end that I didn't like. Otherwise I thought that the rest of the book was phenomenal and vivid with action. I think that the vocabulary was perfect because it fit in with the age group (12-14).

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Lake Bluff,
Illinois USA

Son of the Great River by Elijah Meeks

Son Of The Great River is a story about three children growing up in the pre-Bronze Age, and their journey to find themselves. The story starts out with Saffu, who is forced to leave his tribe and his true love, Naganawae, to journey to the south to return a mysterious cylinder given to him by a strange woman before she died. On the way, he discovers metal, and lives with bears. When he reaches the city from which the cylinder came, he meets Samhail, a young mercenary, and the fiery Rheem, who Sanhail rescued from her family. Saffu and Samhail bond over difficult circumstances, and soon the three must choose their paths as the king makes Rheem princess and Saffu discovers his father was a trusted friend to the king and is offered a position in court. Samhail also must decide whether to stay with the king or continue on. Things become even more complicated when Saffu's old love, Naganawae, shows up.

I thought this book was very interesting, and exciting. It was very informative of the time the book was set in, and some of the actions in the book seemed like they did not belong in that time, but that did not detract from the book. The ending was unsatisfactory, because of the deaths of many main characters. They seemed to be unnecessary, and why they occurred was confusing. Also, I would have liked for Rheem and Samhail's characters do be developed more, as I did not really understand their motivations.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: New Tripoli, PA America

The Hollywood Sisters: Truth or Dare

"The Hollywood Sisters: Truth or Dare" by Mary Wilcox is a
fun mix of chick-lit and mystery. Jessica's sister Eva is
a movie star, and Jessica is an extra with her friend,
Rebecca. When expensive props go missing and rumors of a
ghost arise, Jessica must try to figure out what is going
on. All throughout, she is clumsy and has a "celebrity
jinx" that is most facetious. The ending is surprising
and well worth the read.

Even though this is book five
in a series, readers won't know the difference. The story
flows well and there are no details left out. Also, the
book is organized in a fun way, with acts and scenes
instead of parts and chapters (each scene has a quote from
a celebrity). While teen romance is involved, young
readers need not worry because there is nothing
graphic.

Reviewer Age:17

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

Starfinder by John Marco

Starfinder is about a boy named Moth. His mother died and he went to live with his grandfather and his bird. The bird is really a skylord named Esme. Skylords live across the reach which is a place where people are not allowed to go. But, when Moth's grandpa dies he tells Moth he must go across the reach to turn Esme back to a Skylord. He gives moth a gift the Starfinder which you can use to see and control anybody. The Skylords used it to control everybody so they wouldn’t fly. But, it was stolen by Esme and that is why the Skylords turned her into a bird. In the end the Skylords had a fight against the Humans, Cenatours, and the Dragons. The Skylords lost the battle and Moth went back home.

I liked the book. It was a very magical fantasy type book which I love. It was a action packed book. It was very fast paced. You didn't have to wait very long for somthing interesting to happen like meeting a mermaid or a great fight. That is why I liked the book.
Reviewer Age:12
Leopold, MO USA

Libyrinth by Pearl North

Libyrinth is a fantasy novel that draws you into a dark world where two different opinions can turn into war. The main character, Clerk Haly, respects her life and beliefs at the labyrinth until the discovery of one book (The Book of the Night)
changes everything. This discovery led Haly to be kidnapped by the supposedly evil, book-burning Eradicants. Haly discovers that sometimes people are not what they seem during her adventures with the people she thought were
beasts.

I thought the book was quite exciting, but had some parts that didnt really spark my interest. Libyrinth had an interesting plot that made the reader not want to put the book down until finished, though some parts the author did not elaborate on that could have been a lot more specific. Pearl North could have explained the settings quite a bit more, and she left a bit too much to the imagination. However, the main characters were very believable, and I could imagine them perfectly fine. The writing was powerful, and at some points, I didn't want to put the book down because they were so exciting. Also, the ending was very abrupt and didn't exactly sum up the questions I was asking, but North did do well on leaving some parts of the book to the imagination even though some weren't needed. Overall, I enjoyed the book, and I would recommend it to anybody who is ready for intense action and a slight hint of romance.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Lake Bluff, Illinois United States

Gorgeous by Rachel Vail

Being the middle aged Avery sister isn't always the easiest thing to do. Allison Avery is sick of her boring old life and wishes for nothing more than to be gorgeous, just like her two sisters and the new girl at school. Having too many problems, such as having the hugest crush on an older boy that probably doesn't even know her name if he even knows she exists, her mom is on the brink of losing her job, and she can't do much else to make her friend upset with her, she realizes that she can't possibly deal with them all herself. Allison knows that she needs help from possibly some unnatural forces and maybe a new friend because she can't do it all alone, and is willing to give up almost anything to turn her life around; so when the opportunity finally presents itself, Allison can't resist. That opportunity came from no one but the devil himself, and usually when the devil's involved, it can only mean one thing: trouble. Allison agrees to sell her cell phone to the devil in exchange for the gift of being gorgeous since she is convinced that she has no soul. Allison will soon see whether she regrets that decision or not; but if it involves the devil, she probably will.

So far Gorgeous is the best book of the trilogy by Rachel Vail starting with Lucky, but I have yet to read Brilliant. I thought that it was a lot easier to relate to Allison rather than Phoebe since we are of closer ages and have the same issues such as wanting to be gorgeous and trying to fit in, as well as trying to get that special older boy to like you and your friends to fully accept whom you are. Some of the scenes were interesting and held my attention pretty well, such as when she went to some of the parties, but I thought that a few of the other scenes weren't fully developed and somewhat boring and the story didn't really take flight. The ending was very unexpected and caught me by great surprise. Overall, the book was pretty well written, enjoyable for the most part, and a nice breezy story for a hot summer day. I recommend this novel to younger teenage girls around the ages of 11 to 15. I'm looking forward to reading Rachel Vail's next book Brilliant and seeing how this drama-infused trilogy ends.

There was some alcohol substance throughout the story.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, Pennsylvania USA

Witch Child by Celia Rees

Witch Child was a fascinating look at the Salem witch Trials from the perspective of a girl named Mary. When her grandmother is killed by witch hunters in England, Mary must flee the country or risk the same fate. On the boat to America, she meets up with a community of puritans, which take her in like family. When they arrive, America is not what they imagined it to be. Half the puritans families are dead, and those who remain have turned into total jerks that are constantly plotting their sisters and brothers downfall. In brutal New England, rumors fly and Mary is slowly alienated. What will happen to her? Find out in Witch Child.

This book was really interesting. I have always been enthralled by the Salem witch trials, and this fresh new perspective was both scary and extremely believable. Throughout the book, I could never tell whether the book was fiction or non-fiction, and that also added to the intrigue. The author lingers on details and descriptions of the surroundings and situations and this makes the whole book seem real. Some of these descriptions really added to plot, but some, like the uneventful sail across the ocean were a bit tedious. There were some funny parts on the boat, but it was unnecessarily long. All in all, I liked Witch Child, it is a good read and would make a good resource for people who are trying to understand the culture of the 17th century.

It wasn't inappropriate, but the nature of the book may offend religious parents

Reviewer Age:12

Reviewer City, State and Country: Exeter, NH USA

The Sam Gunn Omnibus, by Ben Bova

This book is a science fiction and adventure novel. It collects all the tales about Sam Gunn that have ever been written and ties them together with the story of a reporter collecting them. Sam Gunn was an adventurer and womanizer who died just before the start of the novel. A reporter who lives on the moon named Jade decides to collect stories about Sam. She interviews people, both friends and enemies, who were involved in Sam's life. Throughout the course of the novel, Sam emerges as likable, reckless, and disrespectful of authority. The individual stories are roughly chronological in order.

I had mixed feelings about this book. It started off as enjoyable, but quickly became much more tedious. It was action packed and funny, especially during the stories about Sam. The story about Jade was also fairly well developed. However, many of the stories were too predictable, and the book in general was too focused on lust. The novel is by no means hardcore science fiction, as the book focuses on the characters and their exploits rather than on science or discovery. The novel is more of an adventure novel that happens to be set in a not so distant future. For people who have read some of the Sam Gunn stories and enjoyed them, this book is recommended. If you are interested in a science fiction story in general, this book is probably not for you
This book has strong language and sexual references.

Reviewer Age:15
Royersford, PA United States

Cheech and Chong:The Unauthorized Autobiography

This book was highly drug related. I recommend it for ages 14-20. It is all about how Cheech met Chong, and how they became best friends. It all starts with a rough road trip, and a nice meeting in a warm area. It tells the rich history of a drug filled friendship that will only end when the drugs and music are gone.

This book was really interesting. It had a few to many drug references for me. What was moving was the fact that they are still very close, even after their movies. It didn't really touch down on too many details. It could have been written more fully.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Seaside, Oregon USA

Castration Celebration by Jake Wizner

Olivia is your average girl, excepting the fact that she walked in on her father fooling around with one of his students. She is now at Yale University for the summer for the arts. Now, she hates men and is writing a musical called Castration Celebration. At Yale, she meets Max. Max loves women and everything about them. He tries to make Olivia like him, but it turns out to be just one snide comment after another from her. As Olivia's musical progresses, will reality and her work have the same ending, or will they be on opposite ends of the spectrum?

This book was overflowing with hilarious witticisms and sexual innuendo! The lewd, yet serious tone of the novel makes this such a great read and it had me laughing the whole time. The songs written for the musical have similes and metaphors that leave you wanting more. Max and Olivia have interesting conversations filled with biting sarcasm and hilarious satire. This book discusses everything from eunuchs in Imperial China to screwing a sheep.

Has a lot of talk about sex and mature ideas.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: , PA USA

GakuenPrince I by Jun Yuzuki

Azusa Mizutani is the new kid at a school that used to be an elite private school only for girls. Now there are a few guys there, but they are really outnumbered. So the girls need to satisfy themselves in a competition for the guys in the school. Azusa is almost molested, but manages to save himself through a loophole: should he so chose, he could pledge himself to one girl, and no other girl would be allowed to have sexual contact with him. And this is what he does, against the girl's will.

This book was totally engrossing! I couldn't stop reading and finished it in one sitting. The characters had depth and their feelings were shown very well throughout the book. It was very funny and made me laugh. The book grabbed my attention through to the end with its interesting plot and intricately drawn illustrations. However, it has a lot of talk about sex and has some very inappropriate images for younger people in it.

This book had a lot of talk of sex and some VERY inappropriate images.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: , PA USA

Perpetual Check by Rich Wallace

Brothers Zeke and Randy Mansfield don't get along at all. Zeke is the older brother and is stronger and plays sports. Randy is the younger brother and spends most of his time making up words and being himself. However, they share one interest: chess. They both have made it to the regional competition and have the chance of facing each other. Randy can beat Zeke nine times out of ten, unless Zeke actually tries. Which one, if either, will make it to the next level?

This was a fast, simple read. The concept of the novel and the emotions weren't deep and the character's feelings were not expressed very well. The author had a chance to elaborate when talking about the boys' home situation; he never quite explains everything with it. The entire book could have been expanded and more detail could have been added. It jumped from one event to the next without much transition and made for a choppy read. On the other hand, the chess games were explained in somewhat easy to understand terms. All the names he used were explained.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: , PA USA

Wings of Wrath by C. S. Friedman

Wings of Wrath by C.S. Friedman is an exciting story, with several different events occurring and intertwining at the same time. Kamala is the first woman to become a Magister, an order that can draw upon humans' souls to use magic. She has just killed another member of the order, and is hunted for it. To save herself, Kamala flees to the Northern Protectorates, where she meets Rhys, who, with his Lyr blood, is immune to the Wrath, a sorcerous boundary that warps magic used by anyone and causes terror in all who approach it. It was formed to keep Souleaters, creatures who feast on the souls of humans, away from civilization. After saving Rhys from a traitorous tribe of the Northern Protectorates, the Alkali, they together search for a disturbance in the Wrath which Rhys had been sent to find. They find one of the stones that forms the Wrath had been broken, and a witch was inside, having been sacrificed to create it. This causes Rhys to doubt his people's beliefs, as they believe that the Gods had created the Wrath to help them, not to torture their people. Rhys is unsure of what to do when he returns to his leaders, as telling them the truth could ruin their morale, as their beliefs will be shattered. Meanwhile, another story takes place south, in the High Kingdom, where Salvator Aurelius take the throne from his father. He renounces his vows as a Penitent monk, and takes his role as ruler of the Kingdom. He is faced with trouble when reports of attacks from the Northern Protectorates come in, as his mother is half Lyr, and is Rhys' mother as well. The third thread of the story is centered around the Witch-Queen of Sankara, Siderea, whose use of magic has brought her to the end of her life. Her soulfire, which is used to make her magic, has almost expired. She is saved when she is shown a group of Souleaters hiding in the mountains near her home. She is paired to one, and it renews her soulfire, while she sets it free from its prison. Siderea is concerned with allying her home country with the High Kingdom to ensure peace. Meanwhile, in the High Kingdom, Salvator finds out from Rhys that the Alkali had betrayed the other Protectorates, and they are the ones that attacked the High Kingdom in an attempt to start a war between the Protectorates and the High Kingdom. However, Salvator allies himself with Rhys' tribe and the other tribes, and they begin a campaign against the Alkali while Rhys and Kamala sneak through to the main city of the Alkali on a secret mission.. Will the fighting be enough to distract the Alkali and allow Rhys and Kamala to succeed, or will Salvator and the others fail and doom the entire Northern Protectorates? Read Wings of Wrath to find out.

While I have never read the first book in the trilogy, Feast of Souls, Wings of Wrath is a very confusing book, with a plot that has good ideas, but is hard to understand. The author refers to places and events from the first book too much for someone who hasn't read it to understand. The different threads of the story based on different characters, along with the constant flashes to the past, make it very difficult to follow as well. Even if I had read Feast of Souls, I feel that Wings of Wrath would still be a confusing and difficult read. However, if you can read through the confusing points of the book, the plot is good, and can keep you interested if you understand it. While I would not recommend this book to someone who has difficulty concentrating while reading, I do think that anyone who has read Feast of Souls and enjoyed it should definitely consider reading Wings of Wrath.

ViolenceSexual Themes

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, PA US

Everwing by M.J. Grothoff

EverWing is the story of a man named Gavee. Gavee is just like any other person, except for one tiny detail: he has wings. He is a part of a race of people known as the Masura. He finds out that what he sees as right and wrong aren't the same from the group of people he lives with (his clan). He must decide whether he will follow his heart or go with what his clan wants. EverWing follows his so-called gripping adventure.

I really tried to get into this book. Unfortunately, this book turned out to be far less gripping than the back cover promised. The author spends way too much time describing what Gavee planned to do rather than describing him doing it. For instance, Gavee was about to fight a dragon and he dropped his sword in the tall grass nearby. He spent four pages trying to find his sword and reflecting on memories. He spent a half page surprising and killing the dragon. It just seemed like a horrible balance. The storyline really captivated me at the beginning, but the thrill soon wore off. It does not come through on any front and I would definitely not recommend it.

Reviewer Age: 15

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

Dragon Wishes by Stacy Nyikos

After the death of their parents, Alex and Isa move to Northern California with their Auntie Ling and Uncle Norbert. Isa has stopped talking and Alex's art skills have been limited to drawing only dead trees. Alex is unhappy with her new school but soon makes a new friend, who also loves art. To afford art classes, they begin painting faces at school soccer games until Alex tries to leave early one day. 

Dragon Wishes is a wonderful story about a girl dealing with the death of her parents. Nyikos captures true sorrow, love, friendship, and the concept of home. Auntie Lings story is inspiring. It completes the book, and defines real magic. Many people will be able to relate to Alex and Isa's problems. You laugh, cry, and read until the story is finished. On a scale of one to ten, I would give it about a nine.

Reviewer Age:11

Reviewer City, State and Country: Fortuna, CA USA

Stepping Up by Mark Fink

 This book is about a 14-year-old boy who goes to a summer basketball camp. Ernie Dolan talks with a lisp and is the average guy. He struggles with the fact that his best friend, Mike Rivers, is better than he is in more than one thing. Sports, girls, and all the things in between seem to come to Mike like breathing, and that bugs Ernie. At the beginning of the plot, Ernie feels like a geek and feels out of place next to his sporty BFF. But, by the end of camp, he feels like a man who has reached his full potential.

Mike Rivers has been Ernie's best friend since they were little. But once Camp NothinButNet comes along, Mike accepts a better group's call to join them. However, that group of friends find themselves in a sticky situation. Will Mike go back to Ernie and his other roommates, or will he continue to hang out with that popular group?

Rick Craig is the man behind Mike's new group, and because of Rick's popularity, he is Ernie's least favorite part of camp from the first time they set eyes on each other. Rick is the jock because of his skills, and he frequently lets that go to his head. After an accident, Rick gets benched from all movement and that puts his life into a better perspective. The team makes it to the camp championship, and the boys gain new friendships in the most unlikely people.

The setting of this book is the shore of Lake Michigan at NothinButNet Basketball Camp. The technique that Mr. Fink uses in his descriptions of events is effective in creating the mood, as well as allowing you to finish painting the picture the way you want. The perspective of the book allows you to get more of an insight to what the average person would see and say in a particular position. In addition, the author makes you feel like you are every bit as involved in the plot since it's written from Ernie's point of view. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys realistic fiction, sports-especially basketball, and high-quality adventure stories. 

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Knoxville, TN USA

Fall of Light by Nina Kiriki Hoffman

Fall of Light by Nina Kiriki Hoffman is a story about magic, love, and movies.

Opal LaZelle is a make-up artist with magical abilities, which she uses to better transform the actors and actresses into their characters. She was hired to turn Corvus Weather into a dark monster for a horror movie and strange things begin to happen. Corvus begins to turn into the monster that stars in the movie and is taken over by another more supernatural force. Opal has to figure out how to save Corvus before the other creature absorbs Corvus and those around him and bends them to his will. She will have to look into her past for support for her power alone is not enough to confront this much more powerful and possibly evil force.

In this unique story, the author used details when describing certain parts of her story, so I could imagine those parts very well but then other parts were harder to picture. The characters were developed fairly well, especially Opal, and the author is able to show the conflict and how Opal feels about it well. She is definitely a believable character, because she often has second thoughts about things and isn't always sure of herself or other people. Since I found Opal to be more realistic, I liked her character better. The story was a little confusing at the beginning and the idea was a little strange, but as it played out it made sense and the book was well-written and captivating. The ending tied up some parts nicely, but left a lot of threads hanging and I'm not sure exactly how everything worked out. I wish there was a little more of an ending to the story, but I thought the book was definitely interesting and different from most other fantasy books I've read. I think it would be a good book for people who enjoy lots of magic, some twists, and a strong character.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Needham, Ma. USA

Sayonara, Zetsubou-Senei by Koji Kumeta

The teacher Nozomu Itoshiki is extremely depressed. All that he wants to do is kill himself. He is loved by the students in his class, even though none of them are normal either. There is a stalker, a shut-in, and an extremely meticulous girl. They all try to stop him from harming himself. New students join his class and react to Nozomu's suicide attempts in different ways. What will his reaction be to the students getting in his way of death?

Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei is an average manga. I enjoyed reading the manga, and it did not take long to finish. The drawings were beneficial to the story, but they were not the best that I have seen. The storyline was unique at the beginning, but nothing new happened throughout the story. Rather than the plot following the teacher's plans to kill himself, it focused on different students and their lives. I think that readers who love manga should read this book, but other people should find a more interesting book to read.

Suicide is a big part of this book.

Reviewer Age:15

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

Sayonara, Zetsubou-Senei by Koji Kumeta

The teacher Nozomu Itoshiki is extremely depressed. All that he wants to do is kill himself. He is loved by the students in his class, even though none of them are normal either. There is a stalker, a shut-in, and an extremely meticulous girl. They all try to stop him from harming himself. New students join his class and react to Nozomu's suicide attempts in different ways. What will his reaction be to the students getting in his way of death?

Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei is an average manga. I enjoyed reading the manga, and it did not take long to finish. The drawings were beneficial to the story, but they were not the best that I have seen. The storyline was unique at the beginning, but nothing new happened throughout the story. Rather than the plot following the teacher's plans to kill himself, it focused on different students and their lives. I think that readers who love manga should read this book, but other people should find a more interesting book to read.

Suicide is a big part of this book.

Reviewer Age:15

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

2012: A Conspiracy Tale by Bryan Collier

This book is more of a future type of book. It foreshadows what will eventually happen in the future to come. The government will take over the world until nothing and no one is left to be bossed around. The main character is a business man with a corporate business, and he realizes that the government is taking over the world. In 2012, the world will end.

The book was an easy read and it was interesting. I enjoyed how the main character discovered the government plot to take over the world. The main character is a CEO of a corporation, and he doesn't know how to respond when the government throws everyone for a loop.

Reviewer Age:18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Newville, Pennsylvania U.S.A

Beautiful Americans by Lucy Silag

Four American teens go away to Paris for a semester for very different reasons. PJ is in Paris to avoid a scandal involving her parents. Dancer Olivia is there for a job while Alex and Zach are looking for the perfect boyfriends. For some, their situations at home prevent them for letting go completely. But all of the teens hope to reinvent their lives while in Paris.

Once I started reading this book, it was hard to put down. Sometimes it would get confusing having to keep up with so many characters. But they were all so different and their stories were interesting to read. Setting the story in Paris just added to the intrigue. This is the perfect summer beach read. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel later this year.

Reviewer Age:22

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

Just Another Judgement Day by Simon R. Green

Just Another Judgment Day by Simon R. Green is novel about the city of Nightside, which is the sinful parallel of London in another universe. Every kind of sin is practiced here. God sends the Walking Man to destroy all Evil doers. The only problem is that in Nightside, everyone is connected with sin in one way or another. The Walking Man was destroying all of Nightside. A private investigator named John Taylor and a holy Sikh monster hunter named Chandra Singh are sent by the Authorities in Nightside to stop the Walking Man. The only question that remains is: how does one stop the wrath of God?

I would give Just Another Judgment Day a 7. As a disclaimer, I have not read any other Novels of the Nightside series. The novel is interesting, but lacks depth and the book has a lot of set-pieces of random violence. The novel could be made into a nice physical action movie if the screen writers added more depth to the story. It raises the question, whether good can be evil. It also raises the question can villains have a good side? Is an amoral person evil? I found the psychological questions raised in this book interesting.

Reviewer Age:18

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

The Day I Hit a Home Run at Great American Ball Park

The Day I Hit a Home Run at Great American Ball Park by Paul Millen is a book about Cory and his love for baseball. In the beginning of the book Cory, a sixth grader, is trying out for C-Ball. Cory's dream is to hit a home run in the Great American Ball Park. Along the way Cory is both encouraged and criticized by his dad. The book shows how Cory's relationship with his perfectionist father grows. Cory learns to believe in himself.

I was hoping for a book full of baseball adventures. This book did not give me that. It was a rather dull book with very little adventure. This book was more about relationships and learning to believe in yourself. Some people will really like the book but I would have liked a lot more action.

Age:12 Leopold, Missouri USA

Fate by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

After receiving a mysterious tattoo two years ago, Bailey Morgan's life has changed. Not only does she have to deal with the social pressures of high school, but now she has to weave the web of life in the Otherworld for every being on earth. She does this because she is the third Fate, the mystical being who controls the fate of the world. But why then is it so hard for her to see her own future after high school? Caught between two worlds, Bailey faces tough decisions as she tries to balance her life as a graduating senior in high school and and mystical being at night.

I really enjoyed this novel by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. I absolutely love contemporary fantasy novels, so this was right up my alley. Having read the first book in the series, Tattoo, I was very comfortable with the characters that appeared in the sequel, Fate. But I was pleasantly surprised to meet some new characters who made up the mysterious and frightening "Sidhe". Barnes does a wonderful job describing her characters' personalities and allowing the reader to get into the head of her main character, Bailey. The plot was fun and gripping and the climax was really exciting. Ultimately, I enjoyed this novel, and I hope Barnes keeps writing this series!

Reviewer Age:18

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

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Twenty Boy Summer follows the characters of Anna and her best friend Frankie during their summer adventures with Frankie's family in Zanzibar Bay, California. That would be normal, were it not for the fact that a year earlier, Frankie's older brother died tragically in a car accident. Also, Frankie didn't know that Anna liked him due to a promise that she, Anna, made to him, which she planned on keeping until the day that she died. Their A.B.S.E (Absolute Best Summer Ever) plan to get twenty boys in approximately twenty days comes to an end when they fall for Jake and Sam. For the first time since Frankie's brother Matt died, Anna feels as if she can care about someone the way she did with Matt, and Frankie appears attracted to Jake. Unfortunately, secrets are revealed in the worst possible way, and it appears that Frankie and Anna's friendship is destroyed when Anna's journal is discovered.

This book was decent, but not amazing. The characters seemed realistic in their actions, as did the fact that Anna got through her grief by writing letters in her journal to the deceased and beloved Matt. Twenty Boy Summer wasn't anything special and didn't really "grab" me. The language wasn't awful but neither was it mesmerizing. This is an ok book for a quick read when one is rather bored but not if one's looking for a worthwhile book. It does have good aspects such as the plot, but overall is severely lacking in character and originality and is pretty mediocre.

There were aspects involving the social lives of Frankie and Anna that would not be suitable for readers below high school.

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country: Charleston, SC US

The Penalty, by Mal Peet

In the second Paul Faustino novel by Mal Peet we are once again drawn into a world of mystery surrounding a famous soccer star. After superstar El Brujito simply disappears, Faustino is thrown into the deepest, darkest parts of South America to find him. The story is intertwined with vast African American history and culture, including flashbacks to the life of a slave boy almost 100 years ago when practicing magic and selling people was the norm. Faustino is forced to follow around crooks and off shore criminals while taken captive, to write the story that was never his. He learns to reserve trust and experiences things that a reporter never expects to face.
After the first Mal Peet novel, Keeper, I was expecting further information on El Gato's story. But that was not to be. After immersing myself in the new situations created surrounding El Brujito's disappearance, and the spiritual flashbacks I was intrigued. The differences and correlations Peet shows between the two story lines really made you feel like you were there.He made it easy to sympathize and celebrate with the main characters. This book included less football technicalities which was good for the not so fanatical, but I found myself a little lost during some of the major spiritual scenes and action scenes. The Penalty was definitely a worthwhile read, filled with excitement, deception and passion.
Some scary and violent scenes are described.
Age:14
Melbourne , Victoria Australia

Regenesis by C.J.Cherryh

Regenesis by C.J. Cherryh is the sequel to the book Cyteen. Ariane Emory is the main character in both books, Regenesis and Cyteen. Ari is one of the greatest clones. She is intelligent and does not have the human flaws that the original Ariane Emory possessed. Throughout the book, Ari is trying to discover who killed her original human. Ari finds information hidden for her by the original Ari to help her solve the mystery.

If you have not read Cyteen you will be confused and lost. It is not the type of book you can start midway into. I would highly recommend you start with the first book. I thought the book started out a little slow. The book has a lot of details and sometimes I felt that I got a little lost. You really have to pay attention when reading this book. I would suggest this book only for advanced readers. Overall, the book was interesting to read. I was disappointed in the ending though. At the end of the book not everything was concluded. I hope there is another book to help tie up the loose ends.

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country: Lemoore, CA Kings

Lost Childhood by Annelex Hofstra Layson

Lost Childhood is a memoir of Annelex Layson, a young girl who lived in a Japanese internment camp on the island of Java (now part of Indonesia). Annelex was born into a wealthy Dutch family on the island. When she was four years old, the Japanese invaded Java, and her family was sent to an internment camp for Dutch inhabitants of Java. Annelex lived for three years in the camp. She had to live in horrible living conditions, suffering from lack of food, frequent bouts of malaria, and constant fear of her Japanese captures. Lost Childhood is her story of her life in the camp, and how she managed, as a young child, to survive this ordeal.

The amount of literature available to read about life in internment camps is enormous, but each books seems to have a slightly different perspective. I have read numerous books about other interment camps during World War II, but this was the first memoir I had seen about the Dutch internment camps on Java. This book is certainly a quick read, but it is a powerful book nonetheless. Annelex was a very young girl when she when she lived in the internment camp on Java, and her memories are very much those of a younger child. This perspective made the book all the more moving, since life in the camps clashed with her childlike innocence. Her memories of seeing dead bodies, or women being beaten, were strikingly sad since they had been seen through the eyes of a four-year-old. The book, however, is not very graphic, and is approachable for a reader of any age. Annelex's story was poignant, but it was also hopeful. In the end, she managed, along with members of her family, to survive the ordeal and live a happy life. I enjoyed reading her story. This was one book where the writing style, while not perfect, was not very important since the content was what truly mattered. I found Lost Childhood to be a moving book about a part of history that should most certainly never be forgotten. I would recommend this book to anyone.

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country: Urbana, Il USA

The Circle of Friends: Book 1 by L. Diane Wofle

This is story is about a high school couple, Jason and Lori. They are both seniors in high school. Lori has big dreams of going to the Olympics and winning a gold medal in swimming. Jason is a very talented football player who dreams of someday playing in the NFL. They have to find a way to keep their relationship working even though they are going to attend different colleges. Will they be able to make their relationship last?

This is a great book about two people working hard to achieve goals, but still finding time to spend with the people they love, most of all each other. Reading about them achieving their goals encourages you to follow your dreams. Even though at times they seem impossible to achieve. It's a book you won't be able to put down. You have to find out what will enter their lives next.

The content isn't really inappropriate, but it seems to be written for older readers.

Reviewer Age:12

Reviewer City, State and Country: Cedar Grove, IN U.S.

The Mousehunter by Alex Milway

Emiline is a well-known mousekeeper who has always wanted to go to sea. She gets the opportunity almost by accident while visiting the docks. She volunteers to capture a Sharpclaw Mouse onboard privateer Devlin Drewshank's ship, and he asks her to stay on as his own mousehunter. On their quest to capture the pirate Mousebeard, they encounter fearsome storms, giants, an eccentric forgetful inventor, one near hanging, and all manner of mice. Will Emiline ever be normal again?

Though Mousebeard was a bit of a clich and I found the ending too abrupt to be satisfying, my overall response to the book was very positive. The writing was effective. I could easily see the setting if I closed my eyes and the vocabulary was not difficult. Hopefully the author will write continuing adventures of these interesting characters.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Lusby, Maryland USA

Wild At Heart by Michael Morpurgo

This book contains twenty-one animal stories, most being excerpts, written by the likes of Jack London, Oscar Wilde, and E.B. White. From a spider that saves a pig, to Noah and his ark, this book provides some well-known excerpts from "Charlotte's Web", "Noah's Ark", and "The Call of the Wild", to lesser known stories and authors. It also contains a non-fiction excerpt from Darwin's "The Voyage of the Beagle". There is also one poem at the beginning of the book, called "The Birds Began to Sing" by Janet Frame. All of the stories contain similar themes: animals.


This book bored me to death. Since all the stories were so short, none of the characters developed. To be honest, I never finished the book, since I was far enough into it that I realized that only a person forced to read this book would read it all the way through. I had trouble writing the above summary. I can't really blame it on the author, Michael Morpurgo, since all of the stories were written by other people but edited into one book by him, but the stories were very dull. I will mention that "The Snow Goose" by Paul Gallico was an improvement from the rest of the book. Rhayader and Frith both grow as characters in their own ways. The topic was interesting and relatively original. Compared to the rest of the stories, it's a masterpiece. It's so great I plan on one day getting the full story, since it was just an excerpt. Even the excerpt from Charlotte's Web can't save this book from dullness, though I praise the author for trying.

I wouldn't really suggest this book to anyone unless they were SERIOUSLY in love with animals, even though I am as well and I didn't enjoy it. Since most of the stories are mostly classics (such as Call of the Wild and Charlotte's Web), I guess a person interested in literature classics would be interested in the book as well.

Reviewer Age:12

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

Captain Wentworth's Diary by Amanda Grange

Captain Wentworth's Diary by Amanda Grange highlights the beauty of lost love through the eyes of Frederick Wentworth. The book imitates Jane Austen's novel Persuasion, a story about Anne Elliot, daughter of a baronet in nineteenth century England, and Frederick Wentworth, a navy officer in England's war against Napoleon's France. Captain Wentworth's Diary gives readers of Persuasion a glimpse at the story through Frederick's eyes, and what happens when he leaves Somerset. The story spans eight years, the summer of 1806, when the young lovers meet, and then returns to the summer of 1814, after the war. In the beginning, Wentworth travels to his brother Edward's home for his brief shore leave. He is carefree and young, desiring to meet the pretty young ladies of town and dance frivolously with them at parties. Then his eye lands on the timid but intellectual beauty, Anne Elliot. Frederick admires her mind, her beauty, and her ability to endure such a horrendous family. The couple falls in love over the summer, however the people in Anne's life persuade her that the love cannot last. In frustration and anger, Wentworth flees, back to the sea. When the story returns, Wentworth has risen in the ranks, the war is over, and he returns to Somerset as a captain. He visits all the old haunts, reliving hard memories. Can old love be reborn? Captain Wentworth's Diary is the tortuous tale of past love and future questions

Persuasion is one of my favorite novels, and the primary reason is because Anne Elliot is a wonderful heroine, her inner beauty is as powerful as her looks and her charm. Captain Wentworth's Diary was a much harder read because Frederick Wentworth is not a natural hero. He struggles with his decisions, with his pride, and with the characters surrounding Anne. He becomes jealous of men she talks with, angry with her family, and hateful towards Lady Russell for ruining their engagement. The story is of lost and found love, but does Anne deserve a lost soul like Frederick? His voice and actions cost the story. He was a hard character to like, even if he did love the perfect woman. The novel itself is well written, but Persuasion is a hard act to follow.

Reviewer Age:17

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

Pease, Love, and Baby Ducks by Lauren Myracle

Fifteen year old Carly attends a private school, lives in a gated community, and can have all the expensive clothes that she wants. But what Carly wants is to be different and for people not to see her as a rich girl. So when her younger sister Anna turns Barbie doll pretty over the summer, it's hard for Carly to create her own image. As Anna begins high school, Carly must cope with a changing relationship with her sister, and rediscover the bonds of sisterhood that have been there all along, even if she couldn't see them.
I thought this book was so cute. Having a younger sister myself, I could relate with Carly. Sisters don't always get along, but they love each other no matter what, which was a major theme throughout the book. Even though Carly or Anna would get into all kinds of shenanigans, they each had each other to turn to for help and support. I liked reading about these two sisters, a simple story of the bonds of siblings. Peace, Love and Baby Ducks is also very funny; I would find myself laughing almost every other page. Just a sweet and heartwarming story that will make you want to give your sister (or brother) a hug.
Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Aston, Pennsylvania United States

Freaked

This book is about a teen-aged boy who was great in school... until he got mixed up with drugs. He was kicked out of so many schools that he was finally sent to a boarding school. There, he lives with his roommates who are also into drugs. The main character gets involved with the wrong people and hurts his future.

I didn't really like this book because I don't like reading books with people and drugs; it's a bad thing to get involved with. However, the story itself was good. The characterization was well done. I learned who the characters were and I could picture what they looked like in my head.

Reviewer Age:18

Reviewer City, State and Country: Newville, Pennsylvania U.S.A