At LitPick, we review books from a variety of genres, as well as enjoy promoting reading and writing worldwide among adults and students. We also like connecting authors and publishers with readers.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
I thought that this book was a serious yet humorous story about a boy and his "quest" for the truth. If you read quickly it's a short read but something to occupy your time. If you are a slower reader then this will be a good book for you too. It's short as well as easy. It's got fun little doodles on some of the pages which just adds to the humor.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Sandy, Oregon USA
Sunday, May 16, 2010
My Double Life by Janette Rallison
The story Maestoso Petra is about a young colt that has a very exciting life. He goes to the Spanish riding school to learn how to get off his feet and to fly, he thinks of her mother because she taught him how to move and to speak to others. I like this book it has a lot of great details to it. Plus it would be great for kids under my age as well. One thing I dislike is that it could be a little longer.
2 because it has good details in it.
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: hopkins, michigan allegan
Chaosbound by David Farland
Chaosbound is an exciting book that keeps you on your toes; one moment everything is going great,
then in the next, the world is falling apart. This is the eighth book in the Runelords series, and it's confusing in
the beginning if you haven't read the other books; there isn't enough information for new readers. I loved how
Farland described the family, it really painted a picture in my head. The book is action-packed, but I think it was a little rushed and short. I would also recommend this book for older readers, because there is some mature content. Overall, it was a good book, but not necessarily the best I've ever read.
Sexual content.
Rating: 6
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Panama City, FL USA
Orange Planet by Haruka Fukushima
In this book you will feel you are apart of the story, because her life is probably as crazy as a normal junior high school students', or maybe even crazier. But then in some parts you will be - wow is that really happening? I would really recommend this book to anyone who likes a good romance Manga every once in a while. There is also humor, and just plain out embarrassing things on every page. I really think the main purpose of this author writing this book is that what goes on in Rui's life can really be happening to junior high schoolers today. So anywhere in the world there is someone who has lived in the footsteps of Rui.
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Casa, Arizona United States
Goose Chase by Patricia Kindl
I chose this book to review because I really like reading fairy tales and fairy tale remakes, and this one turned out to be really good. The author does a good job of putting together typical fairy tale elements such as romance, magic and concealed identities, and sends her heroine and hero on a quest that is only revealed after it s well under way. Many of the characters in this book were quite funny, such as the three ogresses, Lucinda, Nellie, and two-headed Tessa. Alexandria sometimes finds her gifts to be an annoyance, because they make it harder for her to go unnoticed, and when she wakes up, she has twenty-four carat dandruff. Alexandria's hair is fun to imagine, because not only does it give off gold dust, it has other magical powers that Alexandria can use as long as she speaks to it very nicely. I would recommend this book to fairy tale readers and fans of writers such as Gail Carson Levine and Shannon Hale.
Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Lake City, IA USA
Virginia by Susan Hughes
This book was rather interesting because it was the exact opposite of what I expected. I wasn't expecting the mystery of the novel to be about a modern day Virgin Mary. The plot was very well lined up and I was intrigued the entire way through. However, there were parts where the book switched back and forth between different points of view and it took me a while to figure out who those points of view were. Overall, a well-written book full of mystery and an interesting plot from cover to cover.
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Shippensburg, PA USA
Hot Issues: Cool Choices by Sandra McLeod Humphrey
The very first thing written in this book hit me and made me think of this book in such a serious light. It said, "In memory of Tommy who took his own life at the age of twelve years, two months, and ten days." This shocked me that someone so young had taken their own life. As I read through this book, I found myself putting myself into all of the situations and assessing what I would have done; sometimes I liked the outcome, and sometimes I didn't. It changed the way I view a lot of things, especially bullying. This is a must-read for children of all ages and would be especially helpful if it was then discussed with a parent or a teacher. I loved the layout, I loved the illustrations included, I loved that there were statistics and references included, and I loved the message this book sent.
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Shippensburg, PA USA
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
One In A Hundred Million by, Marion Urichich
I'm sure others might find this book very intriguing, I, however, had a hard time reading it. I didn't particularly enjoy the first chapter because it seemed like Marion spent the whole chapter telling readers that he wrote this book to share his stories and let others know how generous and big-hearted he was. However, if you look past the first chapter, the stories are interesting. It surprised me to find that Marion suffered awful injuries and hardly ever received medical care. Anyone who enjoys reading the unbelievable will probably enjoy this book as well.
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Mineola, Texas U.S.A.
Swim the fly by Don Calame
This book was a peek into the male mind. Reading Matt's thoughts and feelings was refreshingly funny and sweet. This book drags you in, to do crazy dares and goof off with Matt and his friends. The author's writing style made for a relatable and hilarious read. Be prepared to laugh-out-loud 'till your stomach hurts. Each chapter in this book plays out like a scene in a comedy movie. This book is perfect for more mature readers who enjoy quick, entertaining reads.
This book contained a lot of raunchy, sometimes crude humor.
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Wailuku, HI United States
Monday, May 10, 2010
Powerless by Matthew Cody
This book is now one of my favorites! The author made me feel like I was actually there. I felt like I could relate to all of the characters in some way. I also liked how the author described eveything in great detail so you knew exactly what was going on. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good adventure or mystery.
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Enon, OH USA
Invisible Girl by Mary Hanlon Stone
I think this book is well written from the view of a teenage girl. You can feel the pain of the character Stephanie when she is abused by her mother or when someone makes fun of her. The writing is heartfelt. When she felt something, I could feel it. The description of the feelings make you feel as though you are the girl who is being abused.
Content Rating: 1
Rating: 9
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Braintree, MA USA
Saturday, May 08, 2010
The Resurrection Fields by Brian Keaney
I liked the book The Resurrection Fields by Brian Keaney, however I did find it very confusing and dull, because I hadn't read the first two books. Everyone who reads this book MUST read the first two; otherwise the whole point of this story is a blur. However, the plot had an interesting storyline. Many parts were violent or frightening that would scare many children, but the literature was an extremely short and easy read. I recommend this series to anyone over 12 who needs an easy read on a rainy day.
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Osseo, Wisconsin United States
A Stone In My Hand by Cathryn Clinton
A Stone in My Hand by Cathryn Clinton is very interesting and deep. I was thoroughly haunted by the story of young Malaak and all of the troubles she has faced as a girl living in Gaza with deep restrictions forced unto the Palestinian people. The characters came to life, and I could really sense all of the emotion that sweeps through Malaak's heart as she struggles to keep her family together and to keep her sanity. I recommend this to everyone who feels they can truly understand Malaak's struggle and faith as she goes through this terrible time. A Stone in my Hand is very moving and thoughtful - I will never be able to think of Gaza or Palestine again without thinking of Malaak; the world is not at peace.
Some very frightening, graphic, and disturbing scenes that younger readers may not understand. Mainly age 12 and up.
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Osseo, Wisconsin United States
Thursday, May 06, 2010
The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary by Jeff Kinney
The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary was a nonfiction book that showed how scenes from the author's original series was used to create a movie. I thought it was a very good book but I didn't enjoy it as much as the actual series. The books in the series are funnier. I recommend this book to young readers.
Reviewer Age:9
Reviewer City, State and Country: Glenwood, Arkansas US
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
The Book of the Maidservant by Rebecca Barnhouse
servant. She is sent to another country, but she can't
speak the native language, while her master can. When her
master leaves her behind, she has to find some way to
communicate with the people around her. Readers follow
her on her journey to figure out the language of the
country.
This was a great book, it was interesting and
kept me reading to the end. You learn about friendship
and loyalty, and also about medieval life. This book is
wise and funny, and filled with excitement to the very
end. I would recommend this book for everyone. If you
don't read it, you are missing out.
1
8
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Panama City, Florida USA
30 Days to Finding and Keeping Sassy Sidekicks and BFFs by Clea Hantman
This book was an interesting read. I found the activities and information within the book helpful and it helped me to reevaluate the people that I am currently hanging out with. The book also gave me ideas to do with my friends. I would recommend this book to any girl, even if they already have friends. It never hurts to try something new!
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Brownsburg, Indiana United States of America
TIGER MOON
Raka, waits in fear of being killed by her husband. To
pass the time, she spends time with her sole friend Lalit
by telling him a story.
Thief and all-around bad guy Farhad Kamal has been
targeted by the Hindu God Krishna to rescue his daughter
who was kidnapped by a demon. Farhad has been given the
cycle of one moon to find the princess. Only given a few
riddles, Farhad enlists the help from the white tiger
Nitish and decides to go ahead with the dangerous task.
He knows that there are dangers everywhere he goes, but
Nitish and Farhad rely on each other to get through them
and an unlikely friendship begins to grow between the two.
As a lover of fairy tales, this novel caught my
attention immediately. I've never read a tale centered in
India, so I loved that aspect of it. Everything about
this story was amazing, from the characters to the plot
and the writing style. The themes in the novel also left
an impression, such as the importance of friendship. The
historical aspects were interesting as well. Once I
started this, I couldn't put it down. I would recommend
this novel to readers of young adult fiction, and
especially all lovers of fairy tales.
Reviewer
Age:23
Reviewer City, State and Country: Philadelphia,
PA USA
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
A Cousin's Challenge by Wanda E. Brunstetter
Do read this book. The setting is in an Amish community and while that is not the usual setting for most books, Wanda E. Brunstetter makes it work well. She uses phrases that the people in the community say that are not familiar to us but they help to immerse us in the reading. The characters were interesting and complex, and they were the reason that made me keep turning the page to find out what was going to happen next. The characters stories were intertwined in some way that made them interesting. The writing was effective and it was not too dull. The ending was good, it was not too abrupt and it told me what i wanted to know about the characters. I would recommend this book. It was interesting and a fun read.
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Pittsburgh , PA United States
Noodle Pie
Noodle Pie was a very interesting book. I found the description of the setting to be very vivid and descriptive, and I felt as if I were really in Vietnam with reckless drivers and polluted air. The book contains a humorous and yet serious tone. The book is funny because it is from an 11 year old boy’s point of view. However, the author also pinpoints the fact that there are thousands of street kids in Vietnam today. This brings a touch of seriousness to the book, but does not kill the humor in this book. I believe that the characters could be real because they act like any other kids would if they were in that situation. I think the way I felt about the characters really affected how much I liked the book. The author has a humorous yet serious tone. In this book, lack of detail was non-existent. The author left me hanging at the end, and I was left wondering about the main character’s adventures that started at the very end of the book. In conclusion, this is what I thought about the book Noodle Pie.
Content: 1
Rating: 6
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Braintree, Massachusetts United States of America
My Double Life by Janette Rallison
This book was simply amazing. I have read several of Janette Rallison's books before and this was definitely the best one. Her portrayal of Alexia had so much depth to it, as did her portrayal of Kari, a seemingly one-dimensional, shallow pop star. The twists keep you occupied because they just keep on coming and you never know what to expect. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone, as it was just extremely enjoyable to read and had me sucked in from the very first page.
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Westerville, OH United States
Monday, May 03, 2010
The Secret Satrudays by Elizabeth Hurchalla
I thought the book was way, way too short. If you aren't going to read the whole series, don't read this book because it ends in a cliffhanger and the entire book is mostly just an introduction. The introduction takes up too much of the book and the action is crammed into the end. I think it should have had more of a plot. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but it was unsatisfying.
Unsatisfying because too little action and too much introduction.
Reviewer Age:10
Reviewer City, State and Country: Sammamish, WA USA
Vibes by Amy Kathleen Ryan
Vibes was definitely not what I was expecting. Kristi was a great main character that kept me glued to the pages. Her witty, but deep, narration made her one of the most unique characters I've ever read about in a YA novel. She was someone I would have loved to know in real life. Not only was Kristi a fantastic character, but I enjoyed many of the minor characters as well. Gusty, Mallory, Jacob, her mother, Aunt Ann... they all had a great place in this heartwarming debut. The plot was original and realistic even though I couldn't connect with a lot of the things Kristi was going through. Readers will feel for Kristi and go on the wild ride of her life all the way until the end. Kristi matures a lot by the end of Vibes and really discovers who she is. The writing style was fantastic, and the descriptions sucked me right into the novel. I can't wait to read Ryan's next book!
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Hightstown, New Jersey USA
Bakugan: Battle Brawlers by, Elizabeth Hurchalla
My opinion of the book was that the author did a very good job of keeping to the episode it was based on. However there were a few mistakes. One of those mistakes was switching the names of some of the Bakugan. Besides a few mistakes the book was very good. I hope you all get a chance to read this wonderful book.
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Mineola, Texas The United States of America
Sunday, May 02, 2010
The Debs by Susan McBride
what they want. Their names are Laura Bell, Mac Mackenzie,
and Ginger Fore, who have dreamed of becoming a debutante
(deb) ever since they were little girls. Laura is a little
overweight, but that doesn't stop her from attracting a
hot jock named Avery, making her rivals fiery with
jealously. Ginger falls in love with this older, college
guy named Javier, which almost lands her in jail. Mac on
the other hand, is the calmest out of the three. She
doesn't really want to be a deb, but will do whatever it
takes to make her friends happy. But the three girls have
some competition on their hands, Jo-Lynn Bidwell and her
posse, Camie and Trisha, who will do anything- I mean
anything- to keep Laura and her friends out of the Class
Slipper Club. Scandal, Lies, Secrets and much more lies
ahead.
The book was very interesting and made me want
to know what happened next. It gave great detail about
the characters and made me feel as if I knew them in
person. One thing I had to get used to at first was that
each chapter was about a different character and their
actions, but it all blended well together. I would
recommend this book to any girl in high school because
this book contains what most girls go through in high
school, such as making the wrong friends, dealing with boys,
backstabbing, and heartache. I would definitely like to see
a Part 2 of this book, and see what else Jo-Lynn has in
store for the girls.
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer
City, State and Country: Cumming, Georgia United States
Noonie's Masterpiece
The book’s illustrations by Sarajo Frieden are of high quality. The pages themselves have decorations and color; even the text has color. The plot itself isn't too intense, but this book is meant for the grammar school age, anyway. While it is great that a girl pursues her art dreams, it is a bit disappointing that she is noted as disliking math. Overall, this book is a nice bridge for young ones, and one that will prepare them for chapter books.
Reviewer Age:18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Troy, NY 12180
Revenge Fires Back by JR Thompson
I think this is a really good author. When I got my book, it was personally signed by him! It was amazing to see, which made the book even better to me to read. Once you read this, you can really tell that this author puts a lot of thought into his work. What he wrote about was truly delightful, but it's also sad because it talks about things that some people don't think about, but they're things that are really happening out in the world. This book will rip at your heart and make you ache to read more. I think JR Thompson really did achieve his purpose and that he worked really hard on this book. It was all worth it. I found it very moving and interesting. I wanted to read more to see what was going to happen next and see what else he wrote about in the book to make it connect with the rest of the story. I recommend this to anyone who gets that feeling in their hearts when they read a heart ripping story and a beautiful tale.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Mineola, Texas USA
Saturday, May 01, 2010
Flight of the Renshai by Mickey Zucker Reichert
In the middle of all this is three brothers: Calistan, Saviar, and Subikahn. One is a brillantswordsman who is traveling to the North to kill the man who murdered his mother. One is struggling with who he is and his parents seperate heritages. One is struggling with his sexuality and who his father wants him to be.
And the pirates are drawning nearer; an epic battle awaits the people of Bearn,who will need the Renshai to survive. In the end it takes the Renshai and the Northmen coming together along with the Bearn to defeat the marauders. Calistan discovers that vengence is not the answer. Saviar learns that a man can live happily honoring both of his heritages. And Subikahn finally accepts who he truly is and also gains his father's acceptance.
My opinion of this book is that it is very complicated. I had a hard time getting into the story itself. It has several plots that are happening at the same time and it was difficult for me to follow. I did enjoy reading about the struggles that each brother went through on there own journies, but it wasn't enough to hold my attention. I feel that maybe this book was meant for someone older then my twelve.
This book deals with homosexuality
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Mineola, Texas USA
Friday, April 30, 2010
Dirty Little Secrets - C.J. Omololu
like for Lucy. With her mom's obsession of keeping useless
stuff and shoving it futher into her trash-compacted
house, Lucy has never been able to have friends in her
home. But things are turning around for Lucy. Her long-
time crush finally wants to date her and she is making the
popular girls envy her. But one day she comes home to find
her life completely turned around. How will she live a
normal life? You'll have to read the book to learn
her "Dirty little secret".
In my opinion, this book is crawling with mystery, horror, and sorrow. I found myself crying for Lucy as she struggled with her temperamental
mother. I never met a dull moment in this book. Secrets are a part of everyone's life, but Lucy possesses a secret that could never be matched. I also felt like I was in the cramped house, crying with Lucy. I could read this book over and over and never tire of it. C.J. Omololu has
created one of my favorite books.
It's scary.
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Panama City, Florida United States
The Family Greene by Ann Rinaldi
This book, while not my favorite by this author, was an interesting read. I enjoyed getting to know the two main characters, whose likeable personalities made me want to keep reading. The setting did not serve to spark my imagination, but I was still interested in the characters' surroundings. I thought the relationships between the characters were strong and believable, but I was left wanting a little more action besides what they did in their everyday lives. In my opinion, the quality of writing was the same as other books by this author, but the plot was a little lacking. I liked the ending, and I also enjoyed learning about the real family, the Greenes, who this book was based on. I would recommend The Family Greene to all historical fiction lovers, or anyone else who enjoys a story with strong female characters.
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Bayside, WI U.S.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Shadowglass by Erica Hayes
In the dark fairyworld of the Shadowfae, hidden in the human world, Ice is just one fairy trying to survive the violence and catastrophe that surrounds her. The fairies are obsessed with clubbing, sparklies, and sex. Ice lusts after the hot metalfare, Indigo, a dangerous thief with a secret. When he turns her down, yet again, she throws herself into the arms of the demonlord, Kane. After a sultry night at his apartment, she leaves and steals a shiny mirror from his coat pocket. Soon, she and her friends begin to hear whispers after they looked in the mirror. The mirror shows Ice her counter-self, and it scares her deeply.
This dark and sultry novel kept my attention all the way through to the end. The storyline was exciting and kept me on the edge of my seat constantly wondering if the characters would figure out the mystery behind the mirror. The author made an exciting mix of romance, action, and psychology into this one novel. Although the storyline was intriguing, I was somewhat disgusted by the amount of sex scenes in the book. It seemed as though one was happening every other page. At the beginning of the book, I was reminded of Tithe by Holly Black because of the genre. However, Tithe is a more PG-13 alternative to the rated R Shadowglass.
Sex scenes
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Shippensburg, PA USA
Monday, April 26, 2010
Think Again by JonArno Lawson
I enjoyed reading Think Again and it was nice to pick up and read when I had a few extra minutes throughout the day. It was very convenient to read because it presented many different opportunities/places to stop at since it had a new poem on every page. I thought the poems were cute and pretty creative and the author did a good job at writing it. One thing I didn't like, however, was the shortness of the book. It didn't take very long to read and I was disappointed when I came to the end. I think Think Again would be great to take to the beach or just read before going to bed. It made me light-hearted and I got a few good laughs from this quirky book of four-lined poetry written by JonArno Lawson.
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA USA
Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
Shade was a decently written novel with a mildly interesting plot and characters. It seems as if pretty much as if all of the supernatural beings, such as ghosts, werewolves, and vampires, have pretty much been written to death, but that does not stop even more from continuing to be published. While Shade had some unique characteristics, such as using obsidian and the color red to ward away ghosts, for the most part, the story-line and setting were not especially unique. I was intrigued by the strong and willful character of Aura, who kept going, even after her mother and boyfriend died and her father disappeared. Shade was a decent read, but it was definitely not a masterpiece.
Alcohol and drugs were part of the plot.
Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Charleston, SC USA
Saturday, April 24, 2010
The Adventures of Jack Lime by James Leck
"The Adventures of Jack Lime" uses convivial details to add to a solid, enjoyable plot. Leck uses his characters to add great panache to the tale, cleverly supplying the main character Jack with catchy sayings and endearing quirks. The book doesn't aim to be thoroughly thought-provoking, and instead intends to entertain and amuse readers, something it does well in its concise 126 pages. Written entirely in the first person, the book continually involves readers although it does not flow as one long tale. The book begins in the middle of the action and ends with the proper back story into Jack Lime's P.I career, but this backwards way of story-telling manages to work with Leck's atypical flare. The book goes down like a chilled glass of lemonade in the summer: tangy, refreshing, and just what you need to kick back and relax with. A nice read for middle and high school students, The Adventures of Jack Lime proves an easy yet highly entertaining novel that will keep you grinning with every page.
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: South Pasadena, CA U.S.A
Birth Marked by Caragh M. O'Brien
Birth Marked by Caragh M. O'Brien was a good book. Birth Marked is a little bit creepy because it takes place in the future and could possibly, but hopefully not, happen. The creepiness is part of what makes this book so good. The science in this book is about DNA. The scientists in the book have to check people's DNA to make sure no siblings marry each other. There were a few slow parts in the middle but other than that it was very interesting. O'Brien's writing style reminded me of Margaret Peterson Haddix's Among the Hidden books. I enjoyed both of these authors so if you like the Among the Hidden series, you will probably like Birth Marked. Overall, Birth Marked was a very interesting and captivating book.
This book is fine for young adults, but, since the main character is a midwife, there is a lot about giving birth in it.
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Harleysville, PA USA
Worldshaker by, Richard Harland
This book was one of the best that I have read in a long time. It had a revolution, surprises, twists, turns, and just a little bit of romance. I kept turning page after page as fast as I could to get to the end. The author describes the juggernaut where the characters live with such vivid details that I think I might could navigate the structure! The part of this steampunk story that I liked the best, though, was when Colbert, the main character, realizes exactly what kind of person his grandmother and grandfather are. Let's just say nothing in this story is what you'll expect, but everything fits. ANYONE who gives this book a chance will love it. Guaranteed!
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Mineola, TX U.S.A.
Friday, April 23, 2010
The Gates by John Connolly
about a young boy, Samuel Johnson, and his dog, Boswell.
Not meant to necessarily be comic reading, the author
weaves the story with a funny twist, so as to render a
laugh or two in the process. Here is the plot of the
story. Samuel and his friends (and dog) happen to stumble
upon some strange activities going on at a neighbor's
house, just a few days before Halloween. The neighbors,
the Abernathys, while tinkering around with some
recreational devil-worshiping, just so happen to
mistakenly call forth Satan who ventures through a pair of
very large gates - the "gates" of Hell. It is then up to
Samuel and his friends to save the world from Satan and
his often funny demons by closing the gates before Satan
takes over the planet. The adults in his world don't
believe that the gates exist and that makes it harder than
ever to fight the battle.
Overall, I really liked this
book. I felt like the author brought me into the plot and
I could actually see myself as one of Samuel's friends,
running around with him and trying to save the planet.
I'm also a dog lover, so I easily identified with Boswell
and his keen senses and intelligence. As a follower of
many fantasy books, this one held my interest throughout
the entire story. There was enough of everything - scary
parts but not too scary, funny scenes, scientific
information (which I can identify with, too, since I am
interested in all types of science and experiments), and a
good, follow-along and kid-friendly story. I couldn't put
the book down for too long because I kept wanting to see
what would happen next. The characters were all developed
well and I could easily follow who did what and when. My
favorite characters were some of the demons. The story
flowed nicely and it wasn't too confusing like some books
can be. This book was probably one of my favorite to
review ever.
Reviewer Age:14
Towson, Maryland U.S.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Conspiracy 365: February by Gabrielle Lord
Since I read the first book I've been itching to read this one, and it lived up to my expectations. February's book went by really fast, but was still written very well and was overflowing with action and excitement. Even though I felt frustrated at the cliff hanger ending I still really applauded it. Before delving into this story, though, I recommend finding out how it all beganin Conspiracy 365: January. Ages 12 up.
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: , New Mexico USA
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Lawn Boy Returns By, Gary Paulsen
I like how in this book it flows very smoothly from the last. I like how his friends come back and they help him out. I like the new character Zed. I really like the ending how Lawn Boy moves up north and gets an ice-cream maker. It sets the book up for another sequel.
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Mineola, Texas United States
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
The Book of Samuel by Erik Raschke
In my opinion this book was ok. It was definitely not my favorite book I have ever read, but it was probably the most interesting. Some of the things that I didn't like about The Book of Samuel would be, the plot. There really was nothing for me to hold onto in that area. I couldn't exactly get into the book when the main idea of the story was a mystery to me.
In The Book of Samuel there is some very questionable content. Some may not be very suitable for younger children. Such as graphic fight scenes, racism, and some foul language.
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Mineola, Texas United States
Monday, April 19, 2010
Green Dragon Codex by R.D. Henham
I very thoroughly enjoyed the Green Dragon Codex. The harrowing tale of a boy who stumbles upon a dragon egg was very intriguing. I think many would love this book for its surplus of high adventure and suspense. Its fast-paced action and nerve-racking mystery really kept my attention. Of course, this is my opinion. So pick up this book and decide if you can handle the story.
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Mineola, Texas America
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Swoon at your own risk
Reviewer
Token of Darkness by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Token of Darkness, by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, is a fun, quick read. It is not overly challenging to digest but still has an imaginative and intriguing plot. It takes an unusual (but welcome) turn away from the typical ghost story and still maintains some of the familiar elements of the genre that will keep the reader in their comfort zone. Atwater-Rhodes presents interesting characters that are vividly rendered and always have a certain aura of mystery about them. The characters who I found most enjoyable to read about were Cooper and Samantha. The dynamic and fun banter between them were excellent elements of the novel and their developing relationship was a great part of the novel. The one thing I really disliked about the novel was the relationship between Delilah and Brent as all their interactions seemed contrived and out of place. I also think that there were too many loose ends at the end of the story that I would have liked to see tied up. Other than that, this novel was very entertaining and kept my attention the whole way through. The settings felt true-to-life and were very well described. The dialogue between characters was, for the most part, natural and flowed very well. I would recommend this to any reader who enjoys reading about the supernatural and is looking for a quick, roller-coaster of a book. I definitely look forward to reading some of the author's other books in the future.
Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: San Diego, CA USA
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Changing the World edited by Mercedes Lackey
I thought a lot of these stories were great! In certain stories, the characters have a lot of depth. I think Mercedes Lackey (The creator of Valdemar) could have done a better job of editing. A handful of the stories weren't even about the Heralds and Companions. One of the stories called "For Want of a Nail" takes a lot of background to understand. Even though the stories weren't long, you got attached to the characters quickly. You felt their pain, happiness, and grief. Over all it was a very good book.
A few of the stories may require guidance for 13 and 14 year olds as they contain sexual innuendo or references. I didn't notice them, but my mother did and thought this should be mentioned. Most of the stories are quite safe though.
Reviewer Age:10
Reviewer City, State and Country: Rockwell City, IA USA
Friday, April 16, 2010
The Clearing by Heather Davis
life to be different, even if different means moving into
a small trailer in a rural area with her Great-Aunt Mae.
Henry Briggs wishes that he wasn't stuck in the eternal
summer of 1944, avoiding the tragic events that would
occur if he had lived past that day. One day Amy discovers
a clearing, where she meets Henry, the most polite and
decent boy she has ever met. He helps her deal with her
past and she helps him deal with his future.
I thought
that this book was okay, but not great. I generally don't
read love stories, so on this type of book I haven't read
enough to compare it to other books. The story was great,
but it wasn't carried out as good as it could have
been.
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and
Country: Garden Ridge, TX USA
Before I Fall
I really enjoyed reading “Before I Fall”. The novel was so original, because even though I have read books that involve a dead protagonist, this one had one day repeating over and over again. This concept might seem boring, but each day Sam does something different and the author reveals new information that makes you want to keep reading. I also really liked Sam as a character. In the beginning, she's not the nicest person. She's rude to other students at school and shows no respect to her parents at all. But as the novel progresses, Sam begins to appreciate life more and sees the mistakes that she has been making. I thought “Before I Fall” had a great message, to appreciate every day, and I think the author executed her ideas flawlessly in a well-written story.
This book contains material such as underage drinking, strong language, and drug use, which is only for mature readers.
Reviewer Age:18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Aston, Pennsylvania, United States
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
A World of His Own by Arlette Gaffrey
On top of meeting Monsieur Charlevoix, Andre also meets his daughter, Julie Marie, a stunning girl, but much younger than Andre. He thinks nothing more of it, and returns to the city with Charles, where he meets Gabrielle Ste. Claire. She is a gorgeous young woman, but as the reader soon discovers, she is spoilt, full of pride, vain and flirtatious, and will use her beauty to her advantage.
Andre is persuaded to marry Gabby, though he does not love her, he only lusts after her. Her large dowry convinces him that it is the right choice, and so she gets what she wants. However, she is clearly unprepared for many of the things that come with marriage, and Andre finds it very difficult to deal with her and keep her secrets and scandals from their family and friends.
Years pass, with numerous adventures contained in them, and Andre finds that his only sources of happiness are talking to Julie and reaping the rewards of his land.
Andre now finds himself facing an incredibly difficult situation. What will he do?
Arlette Gaffrey has interwoven history and fiction beautifully in this book. I really loved the depth of the characters and how none were completely stereotyped. The language is easy to understand, but does not lack in descriptiveness. I liked that the relationships in the story all faced unique problems and how the story showed that looks can certainly be deceiving. It was refreshing to see that not everyone in the story had a perfectly happy ending, making it more like reality.
I cannot compare the story to anything I have read so far, though parts of the story reminded me of the movies True Women, The Duchess and The Other Boleyn Girl.
As an Australian, I didn't know much about American history, and even less about New Orleans. This book was a wonderful introduction to the society of the Creoles and the situations that they faced in life. I found the book very interesting and was very happy with the ending, though I wanted to know more about the children. I would love to read a sequel that explores them growing up.
Although perhaps accurate to the society and period, there are quite a few sensitive topics. As a result, I would only recommend this book to older readers, at least 15 or 16 years old.
There are multiple sensitive topics in this book including alcoholism, slavery, sexuality, rape, depression, abuse, violence and suicide.
Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Brisbane, Queensland Australia
The Color of Heaven by Kim Dong Hwa
Even though the authors voice is clear throughout the book, it becomes tedious and redundant at times. The story is lovely altogether, but while reading this book you feel as if you're reading through pages and pages of the Ehwa, the main character, waiting for her love. A wonderful end to the trilogy, though not as good as expected.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Bayside, Wisconsin United States
Monday, April 12, 2010
Hastur Lord, by Marion Zimmer
Unfortunately, the review of this book will be slightly biased. Personally, I
don't enjoy many science-fiction novels. There were times in this novel where I became lost and was left wondering, "which empire were we talking about?" I never quite understood why the ecological systems were involved, and I thought this book had many awkward moments dealing with the gay relationship of Regis and his lover, Danilo. I suppose if I had read the other books about Darkover before reading this one, the story line might have made more sense. This book is appropriate for high school students, and I believe science-fiction fanatics would enjoy it. For others that are not avid science-fiction readers, I would recommend they pass this one by.
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Mineola, Texas U.S.A.
This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Like the rest of the "moon trilogy", This World We Live In was a nail-biter. What sets this book apart from the rest of the trilogy however, is the emotional honesty we see from all of the characters. There comes a time in this novel where everybody finally realizes that things aren't going to go back to "normal" and that they must make choices that will permanently adjust their way of life. In the previous novels, we witnessed a shocking lunar event; the terrifying story of Alex and his family; and now, as Miranda and Alex's stories are intertwined, we begin to see how the past events have changed them. Miranda is no longer innocent towards her tragic environment and Alex has become extremely reserved and protective because of his devastating past experiences.
Once I started reading This World We Live In, I could barely tear myself away. The special thing about this trilogy is that the setting is so realistic; however, the one thing that I did not buy with this book was the relationship between Miranda and Alex. I'm not quite sure if there was something "between the lines" I couldn't grasp or if the author was just trying to speed things up, but Miranda's romance with Alex didn't seem real. It was rushed. In fact, the last quarter of the novel was very rushed. I wanted to know exactly what happened to the Evans family, but instead Pfeffer left you with a cliffhanger. To me, this one of most unfair moves for author to do to his readers, especially at the end of a series.
Even though I was disappointed with the ending, I'm glad I didn't have to wait very long to read this final chapter in the lives of the Evans and Morales family. I think this is a great series for anybody and should go right up there with Scott Westerfeld's Uglies. I do hope Pfeffer will have more adventures to share with us in the years to come. In the mean time, have your library get this series! They won't regret it.
Recommend to ages 12+. Graphic descriptions of death and some sensuality.
Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: , NM USA
The Story of Cirrus Flux
The book is fun to read because there’s a lot of action, including many thrilling incidents, which really draw the reader on to the next chapter. The author keeps you guessing about which characters are sinister and which kind. The names of characters in this book are unique and interesting, and sometimes even funny, as in Cirrus’ best friend from the foundling hospital, Bottle Top. Though this book is set in what seems like a historical London, there are some fantasy elements, such as a bird made of fire (which turns out not to be a phoenix) an all-seeing eye and magnetized water.
The main weakness of this book is that the author never reveals the true nature of the “Breath of God” even though all the action in the book relates to it. I think this book would have been more interesting if the ending had been more satisfying, for example, if Cirrus had gone traveling with his father’s friend. Most of the characters’ plot lines seemed unresolved at the end. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fast-paced adventure with a hint of fantasy.
Content: 1
Rating: 7
Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Lake City, IA USA
The Returners by Gemma Malley
The beginning of the book was a little different. It takes place in 2016 in Britain. If you don't understand some British talk it could be a little bit confusing. Also during the first few chapters you realize how loner-ish and depressing sounding the kid is. But after the Returners are introduced the plot gets better. Another thing that’s mildly annoying is the characters of Patrick and Will's dad who are in the party who don't like the immigrants that are in Britain. The ending of the book was pretty good because Will realizes things about his destiny and past lives that are interesting. All and all the book was good it wasn't an epic page turner but it was worth reading.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Loves Park, Illinois United States
Only One Wish by Mia Ikumi
This manga by Mia Ikumi is a fun read. I would say that it does not rank near the top of others that I have read, but it was still decent. The drawings are very complimentary to the story, and the plot is intriguing. I like how the characters are different for each chapter, but the angel and her personality remain the same. This book is appropriate for any age; there are no references to derogatory themes. I recommend this book to one who likes manga or a person looking for a quick read.
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States of America
Behind the Columns by Arlette Gafrey
This is a strong and very descriptive book. It has a very well thought-out plot and is very easy to understand and visualize every scene. This is definitely a book like no other I have ever read before. I think it had a certain style to the writing that made you feel really connected with Desiree and her feelings, and you got her point of view. Although this is a book for an older audience, I would definitely recommend it to those of you, who love the old time romance, and challenges of the 1800s lifestyle.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Mineola, Texas United States
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Monster Fliers by Elizabeth MacLeod
The pictures illustrated by John Bindon are marvelous. There is a pristine quality about them that makes them appear quite real. Besides the lively illustrations, the facts are presented in such a way as to not appear intimidating to young readers--small sections of information are given, instead of massive chunks of wording. As a non-fiction book, this will excite readers and, contrary to the title, even girls will enjoy this book. Additionally, this book is not overtly pro-evolution.
Some pictures show creatures eating other creatures
Reviewer Age:18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Troy, NY USA
Friday, April 09, 2010
Vampire Sunrise by Carole Nelson Douglas
Vampire Sunrise was an interesting book but it definitely was not one of my favorites. There wasn't much plot to the story and it was very confusing. The reader is introduced to too many characters and you have to try to remember who is who. I later found out that this book is part of a series which could explain some of the confusion. The author, Carole Nelson Douglas, did a good job of keeping us in tune with some of the characters thoughts and feeling. She also kept the story going and didn't over-explain unimportant details.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Brownsburg, Indiana United States of America
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Night Head Genesis by George Lida
I thought the author did a very good job of telling the story. Since the book was a manga book, the setting wasn't difficult to visualize. The book kept a constant action feel. The characters were very believable and their powers were pretty cool. Some parts of the book didn't fit well with the others and I got confused in some points.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Oakville, Pennsylvania USA
Daughter of Kura by Debra Austin
I really enjoyed this book. It took me a while to get into it, but it was worth my while reading it. The characters were so real, and scenes so descriptive that I had no trouble making them into a mental movie. The book talked about real life problems, like difference in thoughts about leadership and different religion. Another thing I really enjoyed about this book was that here and there, the author would use an African word. There is a glossary at the back of the book with the words in it. This made the words genuine, like there was actually someone saying them, only many years ago. The characters, scenes, conflicts, and even words in this book were real, and that made the book fantastic.
Sexual content
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Leawood, Kansas United States
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
Hallowed Circle by Linda Robertson
I adored the novel. It always kept my on my toes, and I thought the plotline was interesting. In this time where everyone is obsessed with vampires and magic, it's refreshing to see a twist on the classic vampire-is-in-charge-of-human plotline. All of the plotlines were tied up at the end, and I put the book down feeling satisfied. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy with a roll-and-roll twist.
Sexual situations.
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Pottstown, PA United States
Paper Daughter by Jeanette Ingold
"Paper Daughter" is a good enough book, but not spectacular. Maggie didn't show very much emotion at her father's death and, because of that, I couldn't feel like I was looking through her eyes. I also was confused by the ending. It was cookie-cutter precise -- Maggie got better at her job, her father's name was cleared, the scandal was exposed, and she found out who her ancestors were -- except for Sucheng Li. She never received any justice for the murder that she had committed, except for living in "a shadow world of madness." That does not make sense to me -- Maggie's father is killed trying to expose the truth and she gets to walk?
However, I did like how Maggie grew stronger throughout the novel by exposing her family's past instead of closing her eyes. Accepting a paper-thin lie instead of the truth made her stronger, and we all can learn from that.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Seaside, Oregon United States of America
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
Leprechaun in Late Winter by Mary Pope Osborne
This was a good book. I personally liked it. The only thing that I don't like about this series is that the author always follows the same format. She never varies or differentiates from her strict format. Other than the story itself. That is what gets you fed up with the series. You know, if you're not a 7 year old.
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: flushing, New York United Sates of America
Dear Big V by Ellen W. Leroe
Reviewer Age:14
Monday, April 05, 2010
Savind Maddie by Varian Johnson
There are some parts in the book that are unnecessary. Sure, Maddie and the preacher's son never "make babies," but they get awfully close and in detail that readers will not want to hear. Also, while God is mentioned, there is not any explicit discussion of Jesus. There are even points in the book where Catholicism is subtly demoted compared to other forms of Christianity. Towards the end of the book, readers discover why Maddie acts the way she does. There is a seed of sympathy, but that seed is not planted on good soil (pun intended for Bible scholars). The book is engaging, but readers are left unhappy with the ending, longing for a more Christian basis for a book with a cross on the cover, and an edition of the book with perverse scenes deleted.
Inappropriateness
Reviewer Age:18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Staten Island, NY USA
Saturday, April 03, 2010
Still Sucks To Be Me by Kimberly Pauley
Kimberly Pauley sucks the reader in with her capture of Mina's voice. Her writing style makes a reader feel as if Mina is their close friend. Her sarcastic and witty humor keeps a reader laughing at every turn. I was glued to this book from start to finish and if a reader enjoys teen fiction, then they will be too. Mina's life is a roller coaster of laughs and thrills all the way to the finish.
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Leverett, Ma USA
The Seven Rays by Jessica Bendinger
Jessica Bendinger, is about a girl named Beth Michaels, a
seemingly normal girl who's a senior in high school and
on her way to go to Columbia University, after a lot of
hard work. She receives a strange golden envelope, at her
school, with an intriguing message that's not even
addressed to her, rather to an Aleph Beth. Then she
starts seeing things, strange things, like dots, bands,
and ropes. She has surgery done to her eyes because she's
so worried about her strange vision, but it doesn't work.
She also falls in love with a guy from school, Richie. He
happens to be the brother of her best friend's love
interest. Beth eventually ends up in a mental institution
because she keeps seeing things and has episodes. She's
diagnosed as a schizophrenic. While she's there, she
befriends a girl that happens to be deaf, learns difficult
truths about her mother and best friend, who actually
turns out to have a terrible character, and discovers that
she's actually not crazy.
The Seven Rays started off
pretty boring, when Beth got her golden letter. It got a
lot better in the middle, when Beth was at the mental
hospital, but got worse when she got even more messages in
golden envelopes. It was somewhat interesting when she
broke out of it. The plot was interesting, though not
spectacular, and Beth was a decent character. It was,
however, pretty predictable. I could tell that something
was off about her mother from the beginning. This was not
one of my favorite books, but neither was it one of my
least favorites. It was pretty strange when Beth got a
tattoo and started talking to a deaf person, who talked
back, at the mental hospital. I got mildly sad after
Richie, Beth's boyfriend, left. If you're looking for a
fantastic book to read, go somewhere else. If you're
looking for a decently written book with interesting
characters and an somewhat unusual plot, then read The
Seven Rays.
There were some inappropriate and
disturbing scenes with Beth and Richie.
Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Charleston, SC US
Friday, April 02, 2010
Prowling The Seas by Pamela S. Turner
Daniel Corrigan just moved to Nodle's Green, Pennsylvania and notices something strange. Soon, he figures out that his new friends have superpowers. One can fly, one is super strong, and another can turn invisible. These kids watch over the town and keep everyone safe. The only problem is that the superheroes are disappearing one by one because when they turn thirteen, their powers and any memories of them disappear. To find the villan that is stealing the powers of the kids of Noble's Green, everyone will have to work together and stop him once and for all.
This book is now one of my favorites! The author made me feel like I was actually there. I felt like I could relate to all of the characters in some way. I also liked how the author described eveything in great detail so you knew exactly what was going on. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good adventure or mystery.
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Enon, OH USA
I Kissed A Zombie, and I Liked It by Adam Selzer
The book I would say have mainly the ideas of the book have love,fighting,death.I would say Alley has the characterictes of in a popular and a stab in the back with disses.She really likes to make fun of people.It was kind of dull. Adventure here, attack over there. Lots of talking. A little weird with some of the things.Make it some more romantic. If she did a vampire I think it would been a little more exciting.I don't think I would recommend it to others with how the story went.
Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: katy, Texas U.S.A.
Hunted by P.C.Cast and Kristin Cast
I thought that Hunted was an amazing book. It was really suspenseful, and had me reading all the time. I couldn't put it down. This book is filled with action, friendship and romance.Zoey's romance problems were unpredictable, and exciting. I recomend this book to anyone who likes vyampire fantasy.
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Springfield , Ohio US
Defining Twilight by Brian Leaf M.A.
Teen girls will find this book very useful with their studies. They may even find it fun, I know I did. Brian Leaf found a way to teach teens vocabulary, and it's fun. This workbook makes you think and if you are a vocabulary buff like me it does have words that even you won't know. I hope this book helps you I know it helped me :)
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Tipp City, Ohio United States