Wish by Joseph Monninger

The book Wish by Joseph Monninger is the story about a girl named Bee and her brother, Tommy. Tommy is fascinated by sharks but, he has a cystic fibrosis. He will not live for a long time, so the Make-a-Wish foundation tries to fulfill Tommy's wish, to go diving with Great White sharks. Tommy is disappointed when they do not let him dive into the water, so his sister takes him to his role model, Ty, who had survived a shark attack, unscathed. Bee falls in love with Ty's younger brother, Little Brew. They try to teach Tommy how to surfboard, but he falls into the water. Because he has a breathing disorder, there is a very slim chance he will live. I liked how there were little facts about sharks scattered throughout the whole book. The book was well-written and captivating. Although Tommy knows that sharks can sometimes attack people, he says it is because people spend too much time in the shark's territory. Tommy always has a positive attitude. He never complains and always has a way of touching one's heart. Tommy's personality is one of the greatest things about the book.
Reviewer Age:13 Uxbridge, MA USA

A Crack in the Sky by Mark Peter Hughes

In A Crack in the Sky, global warming has destroyed the earth. The seas have risen and acidified, and a Great Sickness has wiped out a huge amount of the earth's population. Humankind survives, however, in clean, perfect dome cities run by InfiniCorp. Eli Papadopoulos is the grandson of the owner of the powerful company and is expected to follow in his family's management tracks. Everything changes when Eli is contacted by the Foggers, a group of people who live outside of the domes and claim that the earth is ending, and InfiniCorp knows it. The story follows Eli, his pet mongoose Marilyn, and star employee Tabitha as they struggle against the powerful company to figure out what is really happening to their world, inside the domes and out.

Fans of the Hunger Games will love this fast-paced adventure that explores controlling governments and the pollution in our world today. Hughes' characters were believable and interesting, and the situations they were put in made sense. Marilyn, Eli's mutant pet mongoose, Tabitha, the star employee turned traitor, and Spider, the creepy, powerful cousin, made me laugh, cry and shiver with everything they did. The setting was well done as well. I could easily visualize the clean, controlled domes, and the hot, dry and dusty Outside, with help from a perfect amount of detail. The journal entries at the beginning and end of the story added anticipation for, hopefully, a sequel. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure, humor, suspense and the occasional "What if?"

Rating: 9

Content Rating: 1

Reviewer Age: 15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Lederach, Pennsylvania USA

Modern Fairies,Dwarves, Goblins and Other Nasties by Edythe McFate

Fairies, goblins, and dwarves are a myth, right? Wrong.
Fairies are as real as you and I. But have you ever
wondered how can you tell where a fairy is hiding, or if
they are good or bad, or even if you should trust your
fairy godmother? That is where this book comes in! Miss
Edythe McFate will guide you through life, teaching you
handy skills, such as how to deal with a fairy, how to
know if a dwarf is ready to attack, and when to avoid
goblins. As the story progresses, you will learn how to
tell the difference between dwarves and trolls, where
fairy habitats are located, and the link between fairies
and diamonds. This information will help you when you need
it most. For all you know, fairies, goblins, and dwarves
aren t that far away.

This book is enchanting! I found
myself believing in fairies, goblins, dwarves, and other
mystical creatures! I was recommending this book to
friends from chapter one! If you enjoy fantasy, or even
love getting whisked away in a book, this one is for you!
Miss Edythe McFate has got some valuable information to
share, and I think it may come in handy one day. So go
ahead, believe in your wildest dreams, because this book
will give you faith!

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Panama City, Florida United States

Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers

Frannie has always been a bit of a loner, but when Luc Cain enrolls in her school Frannie can't stay away. But as tempting as Luc seems he is still unattainable, because he is on a mission for the king of Hell. Unfortunately, for Luc Heaven won't let Frannie go that easily when they send the angel Gabriel to save her soul. In the battle for Frannie's soul, everything could be on the line.

This book was absolutely amazing. I loved it. The author made the characters and setting come to life throughout the whole book. I would recommend this book to people who liked Fallen, Hush, Hush, Evermore and anyone who loves romance, angels, and demons.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Northglenn, CO United States

Heaven's Superhero by Jason Krumbine

Heaven's Superhero takes place on the third of seven parallel worlds created at the beginning of time. These worlds, or creations, are monitored and protected by Heaven's police force of angels. Daniel, one of Heaven's angels, is sent to the third creation after increased demonic activity is detected surrounding the multinational corporation, Halo Inc. When Daniel starts piecing clues together, he uncovers a sinister plot aimed at starting a war between Heaven and Hell. Along with the help of Sara Linfield, a company executive in the middle of a corporate war with Halo Inc., Daniel is in a race against time to stop those trying to take complete control of the third creation while avoiding government execution robots and bloodthirsty demons.
One of the greatest strengths of this book is its pace. Despite Daniel and Sara being on the run for decent amount of the story, clues and action scenes are spaced perfectly in this interval to keep the reader hooked. I was really intrigued by the author's vision and description of the angelic and demonic characters. Jason Krumbine's depiction of the Heaven vs. Hell theme allows readers to relate to the characters in a very human way while also recognizing that they are higher beings. One aspect that could be improved is the strands of plot. I felt that these different avenues could have been woven together in a tighter way. Nevertheless, Heaven's Superhero is a great book for action and fantasy readers who enjoy a fast pace.

Reviewer Age:20
Reviewer City, State and Country: Eden Prairie, Minnesota United States

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

The Graveyard Book is the story of Nobody Owens' upbringing in a cemetery after the tragic murder of his family. Bod--short for Nobody--is welcomed by the inhabitants of the graveyard (who are ghosts), after an attempt to protect Bod from the man Jack, the assassin who killed his family. Bod' s new guardians show him the ways of the graveyard, along with the many secrets and legends it holds. Bod encounters ghouls, witches, and other creatures of the graveyard throughout his bizarre upbringing. Ultimately, these experiences help him face his family' s killer with the hopes of seeing the world beyond the gates of the graveyard.

Neil Gaiman lives in a world that science fiction enthusiasts would do anything to explore. The number of creatures and worlds presented in this book are tightly woven together and creates endless possibilities to the reader' s imagination. Gaiman has written a book that mesmerizes readers while taking them on a journey of a boy' s coming of age. Gaiman effortlessly combines the fantasy world he created along with a tale of childhood that everyone can relate to. The Graveyard Book is a masterful story that I highly recommend.

Reviewer Age:20
Reviewer City, State and Country: Eden Prairie, Minnesota USA

Arisa by Natsumi Ando

The story begins with a promise between twin sisters, Arisa and Tsubasa. Then we enter the world of Tsubasa. She is 14 and has the nickname 'Demon Princess' due to her aggressive behavior toward people who have committed wrongs. She has been separated from her sister, but now is her first chance in three years to see her again. Arisa has written letters to Tsubasa for years detailing her days apart from her, but there is more to Arisa than just those letters.

Arisa sees how much her sister wishes to be her so she grants her wish and lets her be her for a day. Only after Tsubasa returns with the wonderful news of how that day went Arisa tells her that she doesn't "know their secrets or mine" just before she attempts to commit suicide. Now it is up to Tsubasa to act as Arisa and find out the secret of class 2-B.

I love Arisa. The protagonist, even though she is a twin, is so different from her sister and that's how real twins are. Tsubasa is so into justice that it is her mission to protect others. I love how open-ended the author left the book because now I have to read the next one.

I really relate to Arisa. She has a heavy burden to bear no matter how perfect her life seems. I laughed and cried because I know how the characters must have felt. Imagine people hating you so much you want to commit suicide.

Overall, I found this book very moving and powerful and I would recommend it to anyone.

Reviewer Age:20
Reviewer City, State and Country: Arizona City, Arizona USA

Killer Angel by William Frost

Killer Angel is about a group of friends who start a band, but dream of making it big. Meanwhile, the angel, Benjamin, meets up with his old friend, Levi, who has turned on him to become a dark angel. When Levi shows up in some of the band members dreams, he offers them fame and fortune in exchange for their souls. At this point, choices come in to play to decide what's right and wrong. Will they accept and live with fame and fortune, but no soul, or will they decide to avoid the situation and walk away, knowing they made the right decision?

This book really shows how right and wrong choices can affect your life. It makes me realize how one bad choice can snowball into more bad choices. The ending disappointed me because I was expecting the complete opposite of what really happened. Besides the ending, I really liked the book because it was a fresh idea for a book and I couldn't put it down. This book was very easy to read. I would recommend this book to ages 13+ because I thought the idea of the book was a little hard to process and understand.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Leawood, KS, USA

Invisible Things by Jenny Davidson

The second book in this series starts with the main character Sophie catching cats that are used in science experiments at the Institute for Theoretical Physics. From there the book gets even more bizarre. Sophie and her friend Mikael’s family live in flats at this Institute where some of Europe s greatest scientists meet. In this alternate society Germany has taken over much of Europe except for most for the countries near the Baltic and Northern Seas. Sophie learns much about her parents and the tragic explosion that took their lives and, after her great-aunt’s death; she learns even more why their family is so connected to the elusive billionaire, Alfred Nobel. Soon after her great-aunt’s death Sophie’s life begins to unravel as she discovers close kept secrets about the family she never knew about. Along the way she travels to Sweden and inside the Arctic Circle as she discovers herself and what really matters in her life.

In my opinion this book was mediocre at best. Since I didn’t know this book was the second one in the series the parts in this book about the previous book were a little confusing. The author also used many words that I never heard of and the way the characters spoke was different than I was used to. The plot was interesting at times but could get confusing at certain parts. If you were to read this book definitely read the first one first.
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Loves Park, Illinois United States

Revenge of the Geek by Piper Banks

Miranda Bloom, a junior at Geek High, is ready for school, but Miranda must watch her back, because Geek High (the nickname for her prestigious school, Notting Hill) has a new student, Nora. Nora seems to be a nice friend whom she could connect with, but as time goes on, Miranda becomes suspicious about this girl. Nora is copying her clothes, slowly taking her best friends, and it seems like anything she says could be a lie. Miranda sees Nora for who she really is, but her friends accuse her of being paranoid and jealous. Miranda is determined to expose this copycat for who she really is.
I read the whole book in one evening. I could connect to Miranda, because anyone who has had someone take their ideas and imitate them, feels like she does. I also understand how her friends don't believe her at first. This book has interesting characters, an engaging plot, and it touches real-life topics, like imitation and friends being skeptical of you. This book is an enjoyable read for middle and high school students.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Leawood, KS United States

For The Love of Stranger, by Jacqueline Horsfall

Philoxenia- a Greek word meaning "love of strangers." Love is exactly what Philoxenia House- a house for women who need to hide from abusive husbands- shows to the strangers it takes in. Darya and Nikki are two children adopted by Tee-tee, the head of Philoxenia house, from Russia many years ago. Told from the point of view of Darya as she struggles with feelings of abandonment and being an adopted child, this story deals with the mundane as well as the fantastic, for little does Darya know that she is born to fulfill an ancient prophecy. As more and more deer are being culled and hunted, she is destined to protect them. Along with Rawley, a boy from the Virgin Islands, she must face an entire town bent on hunting these deer. Will you heed the call?

Personally, while I felt the book had believable characters and I liked the storyline behind and around Philoxenia House, the anti-hunting propaganda that littered this book was a major turn-off, and I had a hard time looking past it. I also wasn't too pleased with the overly feminist undertones of a horned deer goddess. However, looking past the obvious propaganda, the book wasn't poorly written. It was a simple and quick read that dealt with some heavy stuff, such as adoptive families, domestic violence, and feelings of inferiority. Being told from Darya's point of view, you experience some of the feelings of betrayal and neglect that she feels, and can easily relate to her problems. Overall, I give this book a 5/10 rating, and recommend it for readers ages 12 and up.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Sykesville, Maryland United States

The Christian Lady's Dating Constitution... by Jessica Martin

"The Christian Lady's Dating Constitution" by Jessica Martin is all about how Christian--and all--women deserve to be treated in a relationship. Martin outlines a woman's rights and uncovers some very big myths in the dating world. Copious Bible verses are quoted--hence the Christian theme--but the overall message of the book is for all. Different types of abuse (physical, emotional, mental, etc) are gone over. Case studies are even included where the reader have room to write down what she would have done in each situation.


This book does not talk about how to date or how to get a boyfriend. It is not that type of book. Rather, it is all about what abuse is, how to recognize it, and what steps to take to stop it. Statistics and hotlines make the book feel a bit more professional. The way the writing read, it sounds like the author is speaking one-on-one to the reader; she even shares her own story of abuse. My only criticism is that the syntax with commas and semicolons is not where it should be.
 
domestic abuse and its warning signs are discussed
 
Reviewer Age:19
Reviewer City, State and Country: Troy, NY USA

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Andi Alpers is having a tough senior year. After the death of her brother two years ago, she has been self-medicating herself on anti-anxiety pills and has started to slack off in school. The only thing that keeps her somewhat sane is music; playing guitar, studying famous musicians, and listening to her iPod are the only things that Andi has going for her. But when her absent father discovers that Andi has been slacking off so much that she might not graduate, he takes her to Paris with him so she can work on her senior thesis. While in France, Andi discovers the diary of Alexandrine Paradis, a young girl in Revolutionary France who is the companion of the dauphin, Louis-Charles. Immediately Andi finds a connection with Alexandrine, who's love for the young prince parallels Andi's feelings about her own brother. But one night in the Catacombs makes Alexandrine's story come alive, and changes Andi forever.

I thought that Revolution was a magnificient novel. It takes two tough stories - Andi's grief and Alexandrine's suffering during the French Revolution - and makes them feel real. The stories intertwine so perfectly; nothing is rushed and the different tales are not choppy - it's almost as if they belong together. The reader is smoothly and surely drawn into both Andi and Alexandrine's worlds. Jennifer Donnelly did an amazing job of writing about the French Revolution, one of history's most interesting periods. There is so much detail and you feel as if you are there with Alexandrine, experiencing the horror of the Revolution and the Reign of Terror. At time the plot is slow-moving, but it allows for a lot of backstory and for the reader to learn about the Revolution. The parallels between Andi and Alexandrine are uncanny - their names are even an anagram - and it's as if they are the same person living in two different centuries. Revolution was an amazing novel and I recommend everyone to read it.

Reviewer Age:18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Aston, Pennsylvania United States

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen

Flipped is, simply put, the story of a boy and a girl told from both of their perspectives. It follows them for six years. It starts days before their first day of second grade when Bryce moves in next door to Juli. And it follows them throughout elementary and middle school. Flipped documents their struggles and triumphs, giving opposing perspectives to each issue.

Fliped is an incredible story of a girl who loves a boy. And then a boy that loves a girl. The story follows Bryce and Juli, next door neighbors who can never agree. The book is from the perspective of both characters and shows the serious miscommunications they have. The tale takes place in elementary and middle school yet the romance is real. Van Draanen is able to intertwine grade school drama with deep feeling successfully. Van Draanen makes a high school student interested in the young romance.

Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Amherst, MA USA

The Last Seal by Richard Denning

A powerful demon named dantalion has been trapped below London for over 300 years. Ben is trapped in school, unaware of the rising threat to the city which will cause the Great Fire of London. When Ben runs away from the school he meets a nice squibe, who turns out to be a magican who is trying to keep Dantalion from rising to his full power, in his shop and buys some books, but gets more than he bargained for. As he is leaving the shop he runs into a thief who is no ordinary thief, but a girl trying to make her way in the world. Ben is charged with thievery and runs for is life after the thief who he teams up with along with the scribe, Gabriel, and a unlikely doctor to stop the rise of Dantalion. As London burns they must race against time to save London and the whole world. Will they stop Dantalion or will the world perish with them with it?

I didn't really like this book due to the fact that it had a pentagram on the cover. Other than that it was a really good book, the way it was written and the characterization. The strengths and weaknesses of this book are excellent word choice but it doesn't flow well. What I mean is that it was kinda of choppy and I didn't really get it half of the time. I would not recommend this book because it is all very religious and kind of boring. There are no inappropriate
scenes in this book but there is a lot of religious beliefs in it.

Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Hopkins, Michigan USA

The Skinny On Success by Jim Randel

The Skinny on Success brings attention to the several characteristics of successful people. This book was a self help book. It will help many adults. Maybe some teens or college students on how to be successful. It was a witty way to show you the importance of success.

The author would achieve his purpose on success if the readers are older.I say this because I felt it should be geared towards college students and adults. The strengths of this book are it definitely will help people with the success of jobs and guide them in the right direction. The jokes in the book and the wittiness is geared to adults so it didn't seem all that funny. This book made me realize being successful isn't always easy. Also you should never give up and you should stick to your goal no matter what. Also you can't expect instant success cause nine times out of ten it won't happen. The author could have made the jokes a little more funny because they weren't very amusing. I would recommend this book to older people college age and older. I think this because it was more job related and how to succeed financially and young people don't have to worry about this kind of material just yet.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Braintree, Massachusetts USA

The Official XXXHolic Guide by Clamp

Since the worlds that CLAMP has created are all incredibly complex, this guide is helpful in filling in the blanks that users might have about the manga series. The Official xxxHolic Guide starts out with six full-color mini posters depicting the main characters of the manga - namely Yuko and Watanuki. It then continues to go in depth about the characters, connections to other CLAMP works, and Yuko's best quotes, wardrobe, and favorite things. At the end are various readers' poll results, compatibility tests, and quizzes.

I have not read the xxxHolic manga series before, and this definitely piqued my interest. Having read other CLAMP works, it was fascinating to see the intricate plot threads and parallels that bind various CLAMP mangas together. Coupled with the gorgeous artwork, complex storyline, and explanations on Japanese legends and culture that were integrated into the manga, The Official xxxHolic Guide would be perfect for any CLAMP fan.

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

Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers

Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers is a teen novel about a 17 year old girl, Eddie Reeves, who loses her father to suicide. He was a semi-famous photographer, he was loved, and had a wonderful family, or so it seems. She is constantly enveloped in the question 'why?' She goes on a wild hunt searching for answers, anything that will help her understand why her dad chose to leave this world. With the help of a former student of her father, Culler Evans, she goes on a journey to discover who her father was, and why he made this decision. Along the way though, she finds love and understanding in many forms.

I was initially very intrigued by this novel. I was curious about a story of a young girl working through the suicide of her father. Soon though, I realized the book hit slightly less than my expectations. I was looking for an emotional and powerful novel of discovery and hope. Instead it focused more on Eddie's best friend Milo and his girlfriend, and how much Eddie hated her mom's best friend, and her father's only student and her small crush on him. I was disappointed that this novel was more of a high school - somewhat unrealistic - drama. It had far less depth and contemplation that usually comes with a story line focused on suicide. I was hurt at how the author seemed to almost completely overlook the suicide. Frankly, I was upset the way the suicide of Eddie's father was casually approached. If you enjoy a slightly clicheteen novel, this book is for you, but don't read it if you expect to find anything much deeper than that.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Minnetonka, Minnesota United States

Vesper by Jeff Sampson

Vespers, that's what they called the creatures that weren't like other humans, and Emily might be one of them. Emily Webb is a quiet nerd who never even thought about trying to fit in. But the night of the other Emily's murder, everything changes. She has become strong, wild, fast, and fearless, and she is scared of what the changes could mean. Has the other Emily's soul inhabited her body? Or could it be something that not even humans can control?

Vesper is a very exciting book. I have to admit that while first reading the book I kept putting it aside to read others, but the ending captured my heart with its romance and my mind with its action. I love how the author showed Emily telling her story; it added suspense and helped me to later on realize why everything played out the way it did. I think everyone should read this story at some point in life. Behind all the fantasy, it gives examples about how everyone at some time in life, especially in school, feel like they don't fit in. I can't wait to read it again.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Fresno, California USA

THE WAR ON DESTINY by J. Sciancalepore

Jenny Martinson, the sixteen-year-old main character in THE WAR ON DESTINY, possesses a very cynical outlook on the world.  After a visit to her oblivious guidance counselor and experiencing strange results on a website, Jenny is suddenly pulled into an adventure she never expected.

  Guided by two mini-soldiers, Jenny journeys into an alternate world with her two best friends.  Once there, she battles evil creatures and learns that she could quite possibly be ruler of this new kingdom.  However, things are more complicated than they seem and there is a twist waiting for Jenny and her companions at every turn.
  I found this book enjoyable, as the characters were all very realistic and there was plenty of action.  Every character had a unique personality, even those that could not talk, and this allowed me to picture them as actual people/creatures more easily.  Also, the author often showed character thoughts, which let me understand each character better.  The story was definitely suspenseful and it proved quite unpredictable.  Jenny, as the narrator, was very sarcastic in the way she acted and what she said.  I found this sarcasm very funny.  At parts, the book was slow and there were other pats that required more detail, but overall I really enjoyed the sardonic humor of the characters and the interesting plotline.  I recommend this book to fans of adventure, fantasy, and sarcasm.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Needham, Massachusetts United States 

Gwenhwyfar by Mercedes Lackey

Gwenhwyfar is a book written about King Arthur's Queen, Gwenivere. It is split into 3 parts; Princess, Warrior, and Queen, each representing a different stage in her life. Gwenhwyfar, Gwen, is the daughter of King Lleud and grows up a princess, but what she really wants is to be a warrior. Her father finally lets her and she begins one of the happiest and most successful times of her life which ends when she is arranged to marry King Arthur whom she has never met. She is unhappy with him, but knows her duties as a king's daughter includes what's best for the people. But it appears her evil sister, Little Gwen, who looks so much like Gwenhwyfar that she could be her twin even though they are a year apart, does not know her duties and will do whatever it takes to get Gwen out of the way.

This book is all about King Arthur's times, which I absolutely love, so I was very excited to read it, and was not dissapointed. There was a huge part that confused me however, and this might help clarify it to people: Gwenhwyfar is the main character, and her sister's name is Gwenhwyfach, also known as Little Gwen because of her resemblance to Gwen. This puzzled me for the first few chapters because I did not notice a difference in the names at first so I thought they were the same character. There is also a lot of other people with similar namesﾾGynath, Gwydion, Gwalchmai, Gwalchafed, Gwynfor, and Agrwn to name a few. Also, if you are hoping for Queen Gwenhwyfar, you will not get to her until the last third of the book. And lastly, I want to warn you, in this book she has sexual intercourse and describes it. Despite all that, I found that I enjoyed the book a lot and it kept me very entertained. I could see it as a great movie. Please read this book, I would highly recommend it.
In this book, Gwen has sexual intercourse with two men, while being married to one of them, and most likely a third man, though she is not sure because she was drugged. Also she is described quite a few times by herself and others as being bred. &the only thing that kept it from being rape was my consent& I was breeding. He stayed only long enough to put a child in me and then could not leave me fast enough.


Also, a few characters are seen using black magic to bring men to bed with them and other stuff like that.
 
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Gearhart, Oregon United States

What Can't Wait by Ashley Hope Perez

Marisa (pronounced MarisAH not dropped flat at the end: MarisUH) is stuck between a rock and a hard place. When she is at school, her teachers encourage her to do better. She is a senior in high school, and honor role student, she should be applying to college. And not just U of H, either, Marisa has a chance to get into UT Austin. However, Marisa's home life could not be more different. Her alcoholic father cannot seem to leave his Mexican childhood behind. Marisa does not have to get good grades as long as she graduates from high school. College? Totally unnecessary. All she has to do is work, give him the money, and take care of her young niece when her sister is at work to take care of her permanently injured husband. When does Marisa have time for herself? Also, what can(t) wait?
This book was thoroughly enjoyable. It covers issues that hit close to the youth of today including parental influences and multicultural conflicts. Marisa is a real character who is easy to connect to. Perez wove a wonderful story about an extraordinary girl whom the average teen can sympathize with. It is a fun and engaging read.

Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Leverett, MA USA

Vicious Grace by M.L.N. Hanover

Kim starts working at the mysterious Grace Memorial Hospital in Chicago where strange things have been happening. She soon realizes it is too large for her to handle herself and calls Jayn￩ and her group of friends to help. They face many difficulties, including an attack in the hospital, which they barely escaped. The mysteries extend to their house when they find two hidden rooms. In one of the rooms they find Jayn￩'s uncle Eric's private study. Inside they find clues to what is terrorizing the hospital and things that may tear them apart.

￩ to fight the evil spirits of the world and to protect them.  When she is not fighting the forces of evil, she is almost a normal girl who has family problems and fights to keep her new family together.  I think the theme of this story is the importance of teamwork. I would recommend this book to teens who like fantasy, mystery, and action stories.

Vicious Grace is a very unique book with many plot twists. I think M.L.N. Hanover did very well in creating an alternate world where demonic parasites, or riders, plague the world. Luckily for the people of that world, they have the powerful heroine Jayn
I gave it a 2 because it includes some material that may not be suitable for all younger children.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Makanda, Illinois USA

Pegasus by Robin McKinley

Princess Sylviianel is the fourth child of the king of Balsinland. She is bound at the age of twelve to a midnight-black pegasus named Ebon. As soon as they are brought together, the two new friends realize they can alk to each other in their heads. The first night after they are bound, Ebon takes Sylvi flying on his back, even though it is forbidden by law. For Sylvi's sixteenth birthday, Ebon invites her to visit the pegasus kingdom of Rhiandomeer. Sylvi accepts and while she is there, she visits the pegasi Caves and experiences ssshasssha (a type of pegasi recollection), as well as meeting Ebon's little sister. After Sylvi meets Niahi, she is able to silent-speak to the other pegasi as well. When Sylvi returns home, her kingdom is in great danger of falling to magical beasts including three rocs (giant birds, nasty habits) which are extremly hard to defeat. Will the king's army win the war? And how will Sylvi explain to her father what happened in Rhiandomeer

Pegasus by Robin McKinley was a wonderful book. It was extremely hard to put this book down. I loved all the pegasi, but I have to say Niahi, Ebon, and Hibeehea were my favorites. The kingdom of Rhiandomeer was amazing; I could see it as if I were there. I wish I could live in Sylvi's world, despite people like Fthoom, who was very strict about enforcing the rules about pegasi. I thought it was funny that Sylvi always broke the rules: no touching pegasi, no riding pegasi, no flying on pegasi. The rules seemed kind of pointless, because it didn't seem like most of the pegasi would mind being ridden. The author created a great cast of characters; the pegasi were as interesting as the people. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy, adventure, or magical creatures. I hope Robin McKinley will write a sequel to this book.

Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Lake City, IA USA

Old Photographs by Sherie Posesorski

In the story Old Photographs Phoebe Hecht finds herself trapped in the high class community of Forest Hill where she doesn’t belong.  Her best friend is back home in Tokyo for the summer and her mother is constantly shutting out their past lives back in Barrie. So Phoebe ends up spending her days reading under a tree or biking, until she meets Mrs. Tomblin. Mrs. Tomblin is a sweet elderly woman who easily befriends Phoebe and Phoebe’s crush, Colin.  Together Phoebe and Colin help Mrs. Tomblin solve the case of her mysterious robbery. 

I thought Old Photographs was a good book. The plot was pretty simple, but still interesting.  The characters were well developed, but at times they seemed to run together. I also found the book a little boring. I’m not the particular mystery type of person, but still I would not have my main character pretend to be a great detective just like the ones in the books she reads; its been done. But if you enjoy mystery stories or want a quick short read this a good book for you.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Hopkins, Michigan United States of America

The Sentinels: Stone of Tymora by, R.A. Salvatore

In the finale book of the the Stone of Tymora series Maimun's story has kept his pirate captors from killing him. But he knows that his story will end soon. He knows that he must at least attempt to escape. When he finally makes his move, though, the pirates are ready to catch him. Maimun has no way of fleeing the island that he is on, but the pirates don't seem to want to kill him. Can he really trust these pirates, or will they kill him as they intended to do in the first place? Find out in the thrilling conclusion to the Stone of Tymora trilogy.

There is no way that any book could get more epic than this one. The Sentinels is the best book I have read, no doubt about that. It was a roller coaster of events. First, it was the slow climb to the first climax, the pressure building and building as it went along. Then you finally get to the top and, bam, every thing goes much faster than before. Events taking place, secrets being reviled, epic battle fought and won. It doesn't stop until the book comes to an end, seemingly too soon. Anyone could read this book and fall into the adventure that is captured in those pages. So read what many have probably read and discover the pure awesomeness that others have experienced.      

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Mineola, Texas America

The Traveler by Jeremy H. Barefoot

John doesn't see the world like everyone else; from the time he was eight, he has had strange dreams and finds bizarre differences with things he's seen a million times before. There are also the letters that pop up unexpectedly at random intervals in his life: CDRS. As he comes to realize that these things are not normal, he digs deeper. He and his friends discover the existence of travelers, people who can journey through time and space and who seem to follow him. When John learns of this, things become even more complicated. John doesn't know why his terrified girlfriend gets shouted at by a traveler, or what the eccentric and beautiful Tabitha, who shows up in the thick of things, is really doing there. He doesn't know if the travelers are meant to help or destroy, but he had better find out soon, before the end of the world is provoked, or prevented, by them.

This book was original and very short, which I liked, but it was also very confusing at times. Sometimes there would be scenes that seemed to serve no purpose to the plot that were just popped into places where they didn't fit. I was also waiting throughout the book for the plot to develop and turn into something, but it didn't happen until the very end, where a development was made and the book ended as a cliffhanger. It was written pretty well, I believe, in the way that I didn't want to stop reading, but it was kind of tense and a little bit awkward at points. This was overall an interesting book, but it had some issues that could be fixed with more development to the plot and a lot more organization. It was also written from the point of view of a sixteen-year-old boy, whose mind wasn't very pleasant to be in at some points. There was frequent crude language and scenes that were inappropriate for young ages, along with references to his activities with his girlfriend that also were unsuitable for younger minds. All things considered, I would recommend this book for someone who is in need of an interesting short read and is doesn't mind language and references to some questionable behavior.

For frequent crude language, a couple times with the f word, underage drinking, and teen sex mentioned and portrayed as okay.

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

Saraswati's Way by Monika Schroder

A young boy named Akash loses his Bapu (father). Then,


Akash's Daddima (grandmother, father's side) orders him to

go work for the land owner to pay off his family's debts,

but Akash realizes that the amount of work he does is

unimportant, because he will never be able to earn enough

money. Akash escapes to Delphi to seek an education.

There, he learns to live as an orphan at the train

station. Through a series of lucky events, Akash finds

that soon, he will be living out his dream- attending a

city boy's school


I did not really like this book because although it did

have an adventurous plot, it just did not seem like my

kind of plot. It was a common 12-year old, living out

ordinary events, such as sleeping on rooftops, selling

drugs, ect. Also, although I understood how the end was -

well, an end, it just sort of dropped off suddenly. I

think if there were an epilogue it would be better, but

this book would do best in a three or four book series.


Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country:

Santa Fe, TX USA

Threads and Flames by Esther Friesner

Threads and Flames was a book about a girl named Raisa, who had been hunted by disease in her hometown, or shtetl. Raisa arrives in America with a cousin named Brina and 2 friends, Zusa and Luciana, in tow to find that her sister is gone. She scouts the whole neighborhood for a place to board, and eventually runs into Gavrel, a boy who takes her to his home. His mom, Mrs. Kamenski, welcomes Raisa and 5-year-old Brina into her home. When Raisa finds a job at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory and is convinced by Gavrel to follow her dreams and learn English, life settles into a routine. Until a certain New Year’s Eve, Raisa works, learns and hangs out with friends. On that day, she discovers her romantic side, which changes her life. On a memorable Saturday she settles in to work when a shout echoes throughout the workroom: Fire! A tragedy occurs that day, and forever in Raisa’s mind. When she struggles to uncover the mysteries of Zusa, Luciana and Gavrel, friends who have missing since the fire, she learns a new story. Enjoy this book of heart-throbbing tragedy, families found, a bond of friendship, eternal struggles and a touch of romance.


After finishing the last sentence on the last page, I felt satisfied. The plot of the book had power and twists, the characters had personality, and the author’s voice was captivating. I disappeared into the pages of this book; I was Raisa and then Gavrel and then Zusa. Gavrel did annoy me, but when he vanished I missed him. It was completely realistic. Esther Friesner gripped you and held you tight until the end, when she released you gently. I would never put this book down, but the beginning was a little slow. I would recommend this book to anyone who loved a page-turner and Historical Fiction.

Rating: 9
Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Ellicott City, MD USA

Fate of Thorik by Anthony G. Wedgeworth

From the first sentence, this book grabs you and doesn't let you go. The action moves at a breathtaking pace from the quiet, charming village of Shorview where the Nums spend their days hunting, fishing, and caring for their families, to the awe-inspiring, divine city of Kingsfoot, to the city of Weirfortus where the climax between Darkmere and Ambrosius takes place, you hardly get a moment to catch your breath. Locations are described in minute detail so that you actually feel as if you are walking next to Thorik and his band. The cast of characters that Thorik meets along his journey add friendship, understanding; of himself and others; and of course just a bit of animosity to keep you on your toes. One thing is for certain, this band of travelers will accomplish the taks set before them, and I for one, can't wait to continue on with them through their journey.




I enjoyed this book, and look forward to further installments of this series. Those of us who enjoy fantasy literature always are looking for new worlds and characters to explore, but were often disappointed. Too often its more of the same, and Piers Anthony and J.R.R. Tolkien did it better. Wedgeworth may not be in their league yet, but he has created characters with depth and believability that we can care about, and the action keeps moving. The descriptions of Thoriks world are vivid in detail, yet they do not overwhelm the narrative. Plot turns and twists are reasonable, but not ridiculous. The story stands on its own, yet leaves the reader with an interesting cliffhanger to bring him or her back. A fine first offering."


Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Hearne, Texas US

Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

'Falling under' is about Theia Alderson, an exceptionally overprotected girl who has never really had any interest in the male gender. Theia s disinterest appears that it will continue forever, or at least till she is out of the grips of her father. However, a new, utterly beautiful and utterly mysterious new student threatens to change all that. His dark past and allure is only magnified by the fact that he has been slipping through her dreams for weeks, before she had ever laid eyes on him. He sends her mixed signals, flirting with her through her subconscious, touching her with his mind, kissing her so she can feel it somehow, when he is yards away. What is he? Who is he really? Is this book just 'Twilight' down to the letter? All important questions, all of which are answered in Falling Under.

At first glance, 'Falling under' IS 'Twilight'. For the first 100 pages, there is not really a difference to be found. This had the potential to be annoying, and the author realized this. She managed to make the book poke fun at itself and its similarities to the saga within the dialogue. The best example of this is in the book, during one scene, (which is the 'Falling Under' equivalent of the famous Say it. Out loud. scene from 'Twilight'), it shamelessly points out the glaringly obvious and slightly humorous similarities to the saga. Theia actually says 'You aren' t going to tell me that you are a vampire who sparkles in the sunlight, ARE YOU?' Luckily, Haden is a demon, not a vampire, and about 50 times more believable and WAY more attractive than Edward can ever dream of being. In my opinion, this is a much better book, written with MUCH better technique, and the audience quickly forgets the saga altogether as the plotline gets more intense. The hilarious, dark cast of minor characters (including a drag-queen psychic, a man-eating, gorgeous goth girl, a terrifying demon queen and a beautiful, but naive best friend) make this book edgy, enjoyable and funny. A lesser author with the same plot would have found it impossible to make this story not be depressing, due to the incredibly sad and dark subject matter, but there is never a point where our hearts remain broken for too long, which is a very, very selling quality. A gripping, uplifting tale of growing up and teenage rebellion, 'Falling Under' is to be one of the best books of the year.


Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Exeter, NH USA

The Ugly Tree by Tamara Lyon

In The Ugly Tree, by Tamara Lyon, the protagonist’s world is ripped apart the day she is born. Cane Kallevik is the sole survivor of a car crash that killed her father, mother, and her unborn twin. On one of the early summer days before she turns sixteen, she meets Justice Schaeffer who unknowingly saves her life that night. When the worst twister in history rips through Cane’s small town, it threatens to take away the rest of her world. Her only living relative, and her sole caregiver, Grandma Betty, is knocked unconscious and remains in a coma for months. When Cane’s only option is to move into the Schaeffer house, she learns hard lessons about life and love that help her grow as a person.

The Ugly Tree is one of the most interesting books I have read in a long time. It has an intriguing and original plot line. A reader will easily relate to Cane’s feelings for Justice. It perfectly describes a teenage girl meeting her first love. Her questions about life and why she was the only survivor of the car crash gets the reader thinking about why things happen for any particular reason. Cane’s character seems to be a little advanced for her age in the way she thinks, but most of the time she seems like any other ordinary teen age girl.

I rated this book a “3” because it does have some intense sections involving Cane and Justice together, and there is also some language that should be for older people only. The other reason is because there is some faith in it, but it isn't completely based on faith.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Makanda, Illinois USA

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Rhine lives in a world seemingly devoid of hope -- men now die at the age of twenty-five and females at a meager twenty. When she is kidnapped and sold into a marriage like countless others, Rhine is determined to revolt against the bonds that secure her to this new husband and somehow reunite with the twin brother who was torn away from her. Even in a world like this, opinions and relationships shift and change. But escape -- escape is always on her mind.

I devoured and simply adored this new YA dystopian novel. There are moments when I found myself engrossed, grasping the little paperback and yelling No at the words squiggling across the pages as the story unfolded around me. The plot is captivating and the writing artfully done. The characters were authentic and contained a certain depth that made me love the book just that much more, as I could relate to the pain they experience throughout the book. There is a slight Hunger Games feel to the it, which I do not object to at all. This is definitely one of the books I've read in 2010, and I cannot wait for the next installment of this trilogy.

mild sexual references

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Los Altos, CA US

The Storm Witch by Violette Malan

The Storm Witch starts out with a bang. Parno Lionsmane and Dhulyn Wolfshead board a ship to sail away to save their friends when they found out that the ship is infested with Nomads in need of their services. They will kill their captive friends if they don't agree to sail with them. They agree to, and all is good. But something haunts Dhulyn throughout their trip; a foreboding vision could separate Parno and Dhulyn? And Parno is growing closer and closer to their captives. In a freak thunderstorm who knows what will happen.

This book was not very well-written. It took me a long time to understand what was going on, and then it was so boring I could barely finish it. It had a good plot. It was just not written out very well

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Dorr, Michigan United States

The Haunting of Charles Dickens by Lewis Buzbee

Meg lost her older brother, Orion, 6 months ago. She and
Mr. Dickens, after believing that they saw him one night,
renew their search for him. The clues lead to a mysterious
triangle names. Though, this triangle of names is even
more important when, underground, they found children,
half-dead, half-alive, and press-ganged into work, forging
bolts. Finally, they learn the location of Orion, but can
they rescue him in time?

I thought that, although a good
plot and extremely descriptive detail, there was a little
too much detail. It seemed like there was too much slow
parts in between the exciting. There was not a good
balance between dull and exciting. Otherwise, it was a
good book, as I said before, I liked the plot, and how you
just might be able to figure out the ending, just before
it actually happened.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Santa Fe, TX USA

They Call Themselves The K.K.K. by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Lynch, betray, murder -- this is what several shameless people decided to do to harmless civilians of a different race. They Called Themselves the K.K.K. provides hefty amounts of information about how the Ku Klux Klan was created and about the people they affected. Surprisingly enough, the basis of the KKK wasn't formed to destroy African Americans and most other races or religions. It was created as a clan that would joke around and crash parties at night. This is just tidbit that readers will find surprising in this book. This book offers glimpses idea of what was going on inside KKK members' heads. The amount of information that is held within They Called Themselves the KKK is immeasurable, and is filled with facts that readers can use for the rest of their lives.

I was disgusted while I read this book, not in a bad way though. I learned so much about the KKK and have been able to use information from the book on several school papers. Normally, when someone writes nonfiction, especially history, the reader is bored as soon as the first page is finished. This book did not do that for me because it was written with such superiority and efficiency that there wasn't a dull moment. I would recommend this book to any history or literature teacher; any student who needs to work on a research paper, or anyone who is interested in the history of the KKK. This is an amazing resource, with easy to understand explanations, so this would be my number one choice for research.

This is nonfiction, therefore original quotes have not been altered; graphic language is used. There is also some graphic material that might concern parents of younger children.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Osseo, Wisconsin United States

The Properties of Water by Hannah Roberts McKinnon

The Properties of Water is a book about a girl
named Lace who's sister Marni has a medical condition. She
almost drowns underwater after she jumps off Turtle Rock .
Lace's mom and sister are at a far away hospital for
people like Marni. Lace and her dad are home by themselves
and her dad can't handle it, so he hires a helper named
Willa Dodge. Lace thinks that Willa Dodge is a thief, so
she keeps a close eye on her. But Lace finds out something
about Willa besides stolen goods.

At first reading The Properties of Water I didn't
really like it. I thought it was a little unorganized.
But after I found out why Marni and her mom were so far
away I started understanding it and liking it. I
recommend this book for people who like finding things out
later in the story rather than all in the beginning. I
think that The Properties of Water is kind of a mysterious
book.


Reviewer Age:10
Reviewer City, State and Country:
Claremont, N.H U.S.A

Getting the Girl by Susan Juby

The book starts out talking about the school.s tradition
of defiling girls, which involves getting your picture put
up on all the bathroom mirrors with a D written on it.
The main character is a ninth grade kid, Sherman Mack. He
has a huge crush on this tenth grade girl, Dini. When he
suspects that she might get D-listed, he sets out to find
the culprits of the Defiling, and gets himself into more
that he can handle.

Getting the Girl is one part mystery, two parts funny,
and one part just plain weird. The book starts out talking
about the schools tradition of defiling girls, which
involves getting your picture put up on all the bathroom
mirrors with a D written on it. If a girl is defiled,
then she is socially ruined forever. The main character is
a ninth grade kid, Sherman Mack. He has a huge crush on
this tenth grade girl, Dini. When he suspects that she
might get D-listed he sets out to find the culprits of the
Defiling. His investigation takes him on a wild ride. He
ends up finding out who is the defiler. I bet you can't
figure it out before they tell you. I thought the book was
enjoyable, a fun read, and funny as heck. I love how the
author showed common high school problems. One thing that
bugs me was she made high school seem like a battle zone.
(Ok, it can be; but, it's not that bad.) She over
exaggerated the cliques and groups that kids sort
themselves into. I thought Sherman was a very weird
fifteen year old boy. I have no idea how the male minds
works, but he just seemed a little off to me. Overall, the
book was a very enjoyable read.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country:
Carbondale, IL United States

Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block

Charlotte Emerson has been young, beautiful, and rich for almost a hundred years. She's a vampire, but has been struggling with her existence for almost the entirety of her change. Charlotte's life may seem perfect, but has been keeping a painful list of grief that just gets longer with the suicide of her best friend Emily. Soon after, Charlotte's nail breaks. Something that hasn't happened since she was human. Could Charlotte's deepest wish be coming true?

I was not that impressed with Pretty Dead. First off, it just seems to be another faceless book in the vampire genre. There are way too many now, and if an author doesn't want her book to get lost in the shuffle, it must be extraordinary. I didn't care for any of the characters, which I blame on the fact that Block doesn't go into much detail. Everything is kept on the surface, including some of the plot. I would have liked to learn a lot more about the vampire lore, Charlotte's past and her relationships with the other characters. The only thing I liked about Pretty Dead was that it tried a new idea, with a vampire turning mortal. Normally books deal with the opposite, so I was interested in learning more about this process, but everything was very vague. If you want to read about vampires, I would recommend skipping Pretty Dead and finding another book.

Reviewer Age:18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Aston, Pennsylvania United States

Come Fall by A.C.E. Bauer

Salman Page is a foster child bounced from home to home all of his life. Over the years, he has learned how to not be noticed, and to never make friends, because you always have to move away. When he moves to a new school to live with foster parents Ozzy and Tina on their farm, however, that is exactly what he ends up doing. Lu Zimmer has been appointed as Salman's "Designated Buddy", not expecting much from it, but she gets quite a bit more than she bargains for-including two friends. Blos Pease is quite literal and likes things to be "just so". No one really understood or like him, until Salman came along. Little do the three know, however, that while their friendship is forming, there are outside influences on them all. Titania and Oberon- the king and queen of faerie, are fighting amongst themselves because of a promise Titania made to watch Salman until he was grown. Puck, the mischievous messenger, is forced to go back and forth between the two, interfering in the lives of the three unsuspecting friends.

When you throw together three unlikely friends and the tricky messenger of fey, you end up with an interesting and warm tale of friendship and a wonderful read. When reading this book, I was sucked in by the intriguing characters and warm fall feeling, setting an overall tone of warmth. Switching between the perspectives of each character also gave the book a curious feel as you got to see the experiences of each one. The characters were believable and unique, each one with their own quirks and personalities that help shape the odd and indescribable feel of the book. Overall, the writing was lovely, but simple. The book continued to feel warm through the suspenseful bits. Despite this, however, the author still managed to evoke that feeling of anticipation throughout those scenes. I loved the book for what it was, but it isn't exactly the best book I've ever read. I'd recommend this book for readers ages 10 and up.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Sykesville, Maryland United States

Short Circus by Stephen V. Masse

Jeremy (Jem), is back at school with an assignment to write about his summer. Short Circus is Jem's story. This book is action packed with stories of dirt bike contests, camping trips, and trips with Jesse, Jem's Big Brother, from the Big Brother Association. When Jem and his friends find out that Jesse might have to move, they make a plan to keep his house from being sold. Even after school starts, Jem continues to write about his life and his adventures with his friends.

Short Circus has something for everyone. It is a realistic fiction novel with action and a bit of mystery. The characters all have unique personalities and are believable. Also, the events that take place in the book are original. I especially liked the part when Jesse took Jem and his friends to a festival in a nearby town. I would suggest this book for kids ages 10-12.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Leawood, KS United States

The Law of Nines by Terry Goodkind

To Alex Rahl, his twenty-seventh birthday was just another day of the year. However, he is almost victim in a car accident, and he meets a mysterious yet beautiful woman. At first he seems to think there is nothing unusual about these two encounters. However, as the weeks progress, and Alex finds out more about himself, he also discovers that there is nothing ordinary about the gorgeous woman who walked into his life, or the men who mysteriously have been following him.

"The Law of Nines" was an exceptional book that had me on the edge of my seat and wanting to read more. It contained few flaws, and a brilliant plot, which made it one of the best books i have ever read. The setting was somewhat scarce at points, however this was appropriate, as a setting wouldn't have done much good. This left some of the book at the mercy of the reader's mind, making it rather interesting. The mood of this book was one of bewilderment, however it also contained much romance. This romance between Alex and Jax grew and matured in a very realistic and lifelike way. Being so lifelike, this love drew me into the novel and helped me understand the characters, and not think of them as fictional.

The narrative of this novel was direct and very scarce, as it needed to be. The emotions of the dialogues was what truly captured the overall feel of the novel, and made the book understandable and enjoyable. The ending of the novel was both fulfilling and not fulfilling at the same time. While it is implied that everything will be alright in the end, one never gets to surely see if the events that transpire do indeed end well. This sort of ending that really makes a reader feel as if they had just experienced an excellent book.

Terry Goodkind achieved a fantastic, gripping novel that has complicated subplots, a twisted web of emotions, and a fantastic ending. There was, however, just one weakness of the book. During long monologues, the characters would speak in one sentence paragraphs. I found this to be confusing, mainly because I would be forced to be constantly checking for quotation marks at the end of paragraphs to be sure the same character was still talking. However, this did not affect the plot, and I was both mentally and emotionally moved by the novel. I would recommend "The Law of Nine" by Terry Goodkind to anybody looking for a very good read, as I enjoyed it very much.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Baltimore, Maryland USA

Secondhand Charm by Julie Berry

In Secondhand Charm by Julie Berry, Evie lives a quiet life in a small village with her grandfather. She's the village healer, the person everyone turns to anytime there's an illness or emergency. One day, the village receives word that the king is coming, to see the famous feast of Saint Bronwyn. They very quickly clean up the town in order to make it presentable for the king. When he arrives, he brings with him a sickly Lord Chancellor. Luckily, Evie is able to save him, and Evie and her best friend Priscilla are granted a place at the university at the kingdom's capital. They have difficulties getting there, since the carriage is overrun by bandits and their ship sinks in a storm. Evie learns that she is
magical and has a pet leviathan. In the capital, she gets caught up with politics and becomes best friends with Annalise, a princess meant to marry the king.

Secondhand Charm was very enjoyable to read. It was well written and had an interesting plot. Also, there were no stereotypical werewolves or vampires. Leviathans were a nice change. Evie was a well-rounded character with realistic feelings. Her surprise at finding out about her heritage and leviathan were palpable. It was interesting to read about Evie's surprise when she discovered that she was a Serpentina. While some parts were predictable, such as the soon-to-be
Queen Annalise's motives, the book was not ruined. Overall, Secondhand Charm was an exceptional novel with interesting characters.

Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Charleston , South Carolina, USA

Banished by Sophie Littlefield

Hailey has never fit in at her high school. Her grandma is a drug dealer with mental problems; at least she has her foster brother, Chub. Then shortly after a girl is injured in gym and Hailey's aunt Prairie shows up. Aunt Prairie tells Hailey that she is a healer, and that their lifes are in danger. As Prairie's past starts to show up, Hailey realizes that there is a lot more to this adventure than she thought.

From the first page the author draws you in. You can easily feel Hailey's pain and confusion throughout the book. The setting and plot are believable. Since this book is written in first person, it takes the story to another level. It was wonderfully written and I could easily see a sequel. I recommend this book to people who liked Double Identify, the Mortal Instruments series and anyone who loves the supernatural or is just looking for a great book.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Northglenn, CO United States

Factotum by D.M. Cornish

Rossamnd Bookchild is not human. In fact, he learns that he is a monster while searching the world for the truth about himself. He knows nothing about his parents or where he came from. Rossamnd lives under Europe's gaze, the most famous monster hunter in the Half-Continent. He takes the position of factotum under Europe's watch and gives her complete loyalty. As she teaches him what it takes to be a monster hunter, strong powers are tracking Rossamnd down because they believe that he has a secret.

My initial reactions to the novel were how well Rossamnd's emotions are displayed and the great dialogue. I enjoyed reading the conversations between characters because of their word choice. In the very beginning of the novel, the crew of the Widgeon speaks how one would imagine sailors speak, and this makes the dialogue interesting. The author also describes the setting in a detailed manner.  I felt as though I was walking through the rooms as Rossamnd walked. I recommend this book to those who have read the first two in the trilogy and who enjoy fantasy novels.

Reviewer Age:17

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

The Sweetness of Salt by Cecilia Galante

The Sweetness of Salt by Cecilia Galante is a story about a girl named Julia and her sister Sophie. After Julia becomes valedictorian at her school, her sister comes to visit. Sophie gets in a big fight with her parents over a big secret that they will not tell Julia. Sophie had given Julia a car for a present. When Julia goes to a party, Sophie leaves. Her parents tell Julia about their sister Maggie who supposedly died of asthma. Later on, Julia leaves to go live with her sister who is short-tempered. They are talking when Julia tells Sophie what their parents had said to her. Sophie looks frightened and tells her that that was not what really happened. The sisters become closer as Julia comes closer to finding out the truth.


I liked the book because it made me feel like Julia, wanting to know the secret that her family had kept from her for seventeen years. Until she was seventeen, she did not even know she had a sister let alone know how she had died. Julia was anxious to know what had happened just like me. I could not put the book down! I would recommend this book to any teen that likes adventure, a secret, and a little bit of romance.

Reviewer Age:13 Reviewer City, State and Country:  Uxbridge, Massachusetts USA

Where The Truth Lies by Jessica Warman

Emily Meckler's life is perfect. She has two wonderful parents, the ideal school, plenty of friends, and just about anything else a 17-year old girl could ever want. Unfortunately for her, the perfection does not last as
Emily makes her way through this book. Soon, Emily finds everything is changing, both around and inside her, and completely out of her control. When Del Sugar, the cute new boy, enters the scene, will things work out between them? And what if Emily's perfect parents are holding onto a deep, dark secret, that, once uncovered could change everything? Through truth and lies, Jessica Warman's Where the Truth Lies uncovers the life of a teenage girl getting through rough times and tells us that sometimes, it is better to lie.

In my opinion, Where the Truth Lies is an excellent and praiseworthy novel full of romance and fierce adventure. I liked this book a lot because of the all of the character's realistic speaking. The way they talk seems so real that it really helped me create an image of the story in my mind. Despite the realistic and exciting excerpts, I felt the book was sometimes a little slow to get to the point. Over all, this book is an entrancing read and will catch the interests of most young adults.

Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Akron, Ohio United States of America

The Dark Hunters, Vol. 3, by Sherrilyn Kenyon

The Dark Hunters Vol. 3 is a continuation of the acclaimed Dark Hunters series by Sherrilyn Kenyon. The Dark Hunters are mythical warriors under the direction of the gods who have sworn to protect the earth from soul-sucking vampires. The main character, Talon, is a Celtic Dark Hunter with a cursed past. In this volume of the series, he makes a discovery that could ultimately lead to his redemption. This discovery comes in the form of Sunshine, a girl he meets while living in New Orleans. While Talon and Sunshine’s romance develops, a grand scheme of destruction brews, and some characters are not what they seem. The end of the story will leave readers asking for more as the clash between vampires and the Dark Hunters is about to escalate.
The strength of this volume is its focus on the main character, Talon. Talon’s past and the curse he has to live with for the rest of his life makes you empathize with his character even though he is an immortal being. The theme of an imperfect hero is very apparent in this story as the Dark Hunters are the only force in the way of earth’s destruction, yet they must not exist in the eyes of humans. They carry their own curse, and it can cause them to sway away from their cause. The raw relationship between Sunshine and Talon is a bit underdeveloped. However, the flashbacks and links between Sunshine and Talon’s pasts are excellent. Where this book falls short is in the action. I had expected more action and fight scenes in the story. Nevertheless, this volume of The Dark Hunters serves its purpose, and readers should be very excited for the next entry in the series. Manga enthusiasts and those infatuated by the Twlilight/Vampire craze will enjoy this book.

Reviewer Age:20
Reviewer City, State and Country: Eden Prairie, Minnesota United States

Summer and Shiner by Nolan Carson

Summer and shiner is a heartwarming tale about a boy named Carly and his best friend, Troop. This is a book filled with action-packed adventures and hardships that the young boys encounter along the way. Follow them as they have competitions with the Spiders, and another gang in their town. On those long summer days, Troop and Carly go down to the creek and go fishing. There they make some unexpected discoveries.

I liked this book because it involves the outdoors, and for the boys adventures. It made me feel like I was really there watching them do funny, and sometimes naughty things. If you are the outdoors type and want to
have an adventuresome book that at some points will have you sitting on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next, then this is your book.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: allegan, mi, america

Gemini Night by Bonnie Hearn Hill

Gemini night is about a teenager, Logan McRae, and how astrology runs her everyday life. Logan gets an internship at CRUSH magazine and if she can predict the next month of a celebrity's life, she could get her own astrology column. Everything is going really great for Logan until she finds out that Arianna Woods, the celebrity whose astrological chart she is predicting, is in danger. Logan has to solve the mystery before Halloween or something terrible could happen.
I've always liked looking at my horoscope now and then, but this book takes it to a whole new level. I loved the story and characters, but it was just too much astrology for me. On a good note, I did learn lots about my sign and astrology. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in astrology or anyone who just likes a good mystery. Great story, just not for me.

Reviewer Age:18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Reading, PA USA

Dash and Lilly's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohen

Two teenagers exchange words with a red notebook that is left in various locations around Manhattan. Clues and dares are profuse as the characters' souls leak onto the pages for the other one to read. Towards the end--surprise, surprise--the characters meet face-to-face. Other secondary personas enter the story to give it some pizzazz. The dares and situations get fairly ridiculous, and the fact that it is Christmastime adds to the chain of events to keep up with.
Seeing as how the book alternates between the male and female characters in terms of narration is interesting. The love story is sweet, but the philosophies tied into the book are anything but subtle. There are some blows to Catholicism--jest or not--and a pinch of nihilism added in for what appears to be for the authors' idea of good measure. While the book is fast paced, it does teach youngsters that going out in the middle of the night to meet strangers is all right; this should be cautioned against, especially in the city.
Homosexuality is seen as normal, and some crudeness is included. Not for young readers.
Reviewer Age:19
Reviewer City, State and Country: Troy, NY USA

Thaw

This book is about a young girl named Dani Kraft. Her best friend Jake has been missing for over 2 weeks. An unexpected visitor named, Vincent, comes looking for Dani because Jake has entered a world never seen before, and he can't come out! So, Dani and her other good friend Trey are on an adventure to save Jake's life.

I really enjoyed reading this book; great cliff-hangers at the end of each chapter, lots of description of the characters, a great theme, which is friendship, and an amazing lesson, which is to never doubt your good friends. But unfortunately I wouldn't recommend it to a school library because of some of the violent words and actions in the book. But in a local/public library, most definitely! I was really disappointed at the end of the book because it left me with a cliff-hanger, and now I'm never going to know what happened with Vincent, and what is going to happen with Trey, Jake, and Dani. But overall, good book.

This book is talking about a burned-down, abandoned, old camp ground. And when it was burning down, there were little kids, and camp counselors inside of them! This book wouldn't be good for just any 6th, 7th, or 8th grader. They would have to be mature about it!

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Lakewood, Ohio United States

Sphinx's Queen

Sphinx's Queen picks up where Sphinx's Princess left our


trio of Nefertiti, Nava, and Prince Amenophis. After

escaping from Thebes in the last book we pick up with the

first sunrise of their quest for freedom. Together they

make their way to Dendera but about half way the odds turn

against them. With luck, our protagonists make it to

Dendera, then they are no sooner sent to Thebes. Now

is the time for justice to reign as Nefertiti is judged by

Ma-at, an Egyptian goddess. If the verdict of innocence

is given will she be able to be with Amenophis or will

they be separated forever? On the other hand, if her

verdict of guilt is said will Nefertiti survive? This tale

of justice and love is predictably unpredictable.

I found Sphinx's Queen to be be an enchanting tale. The

detail is amazing and brings the reader into the story.

On the other hand, I found the author may have gone a

little too far after Nefertiti's trial. For whatever reason, I loved the book up to the

point where it becomes more of a romance. Had the book

ended shortly after the trial and quickly turned into a

happy ending or a sad ending, I would have been pleased and

wanted to know more of what would happen, but there is a

fine line in giving the readers what they want and what

they need. I need to be stopped at a point at which I want

more but never get it. This leaves me to imagine what

could happen, but by ending it with a complete ending I

lost interest quickly. I did enjoy the book immensely but

I found it to linger on past it's point of leaving the

reader wanting more.

Reviewer Age:20
Reviewer City, State and Country: Az city, Arizona USA

Elegy for April by Benjamin Black

It's a cold, bleak winter in Ireland, and April Latimer is gone. The question is, where? Phoebe Griffin, April's concerned friend, goes to her father, the somewhat unhinged but brilliant Doctor Quirke. She claims that April is missing and probably dead, although her only proof is that she hasn't seen April in over a week. Nonetheless, Quirke digs a little deeper and finds some disconcerting evidence and telling truths on the scandals of the well-to-do Catholics of Ireland.

I enjoyed the language used in this story, because it made it unnecessary to describe the setting in much detail. He only had to say where they were with a few minor details, and the language painted everything gray by itself. It all sounded bleak and lonely, but beautiful nonetheless. The words read like Robert Frost poetry, lovely but dark and lonely at the same time. The plot was kind of slow, and the main conflict seemed to take a backseat in some parts, but it stayed on where it needed to and wrapped up quite nicely. I also thought that the story was focused more on the characters than the plot, which I enjoyed. There were a lot of third person narratives and not as much movement, which was interesting, but if you're looking for thrills and action, you have to wait until the very end of the story. The twist at the end is killer. I would (and already have) recommended this book to all my friends.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Fairfax, VA USA

Justin Bieber by Justin Bieber

This book essentially tells the story of how Justin Bieber made his claim to fame. It starts off with his life and family and progresses to when he started singing publically. The book then goes into the story of how Bieber bonded with his manager, recorded his first songs / albums, met celebrities, and became a star. Included are tweets from Bieber that were posted online with date and time cited. His personality is revealed as he talks about pranks and the fragile state of his parents' relationship. The font is large, and there are many pictures. The book cover serves as a poster when turned inside-out, too.

I wanted to see what all the fuss was with the so called "Bieber-Fever." Truth be told, I was expecting some obviously ghostwritten tale of how some pretty boy is fantastic. Surprisingly, I did not get that, and I really enjoyed Bieber's book. His voice is clear in the prose, and sincerity leaks from the pages. Also, I was impressed with how he acknowledges that his success comes from God. Sure, he's not perfect (he's a little girl-crazy and one of his photos has him singing shirtless while grabbing his--um, er--manhood). Still, the book is not overtly offensive, and through all the stardom, readers can hear the tale of a real boy.


Reviewer Age:19
Reviewer City, State and Country: Troy, NY USA

DEAR MRS. KENNEDY by Jay Mulvaney

DEAR MRS. KENNEDY explores the assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy.  In the book, the reader is given the opportunity to read some of the most poignant letters sent to Mrs. Kennedy after the tragedy.  These letters demonstrate the compassion given to the First Lady and they also show the impact that one man had on the lives of so many.  This book gives an astute impression of what it was like to live through such a historically tragic event.

  The author succeeded in enlightening his readers on this important period in our history.   I set the book down both entertained and reassured of the good nature of people.  The author managed to capture the loss that the United States felt, while allowing a strong feeling of hope to permeate through the pages.  I would suggest this book to anyone who is interested in history.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  However, it may not live up to the expectations of a reader who is not passionate about history. .

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Midlothian, Virginia United States of America

Time Riders by Alex Scarrow

Three times in history, a mysterious stranger shows up right before a child was about to die in a disaster. Each time he offers the child a choice: to come with him and live an invisible life, or to stay where they are and die. The three children that accept are taken through time to the year 2001. There they learn about their new job as time riders. They are in charge of keeping an eye out for anything out of the ordinary that would signify a change in history. If they find one, they must risk life and limb to go back in time and correct the change.  One day, all of a sudden the United States in no longer its own county; it is part of Nazi Germany. The time riders must go back to when the change was made and correct it if they want their world to stay the same.

I thought that this was a good book overall. As far as I know, A. Scarrow came up with a completely original idea and made it into an amazing book. It was easy to identify with the characters; I can see some of the same qualities in myself and my friends. The vocabulary was challenging enough to make the book seem like it was written for teenagers, but not so challenging as to discourage readers. I would definitely recommend this book too. I have a lot of friends who are in to science fiction novels and would enjoy reading through this book just as much as I did. I' d love to see what Scarrow would do with a sequel of this book.

Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Berwyn Heights, Maryland USA

How to Trap a Zombie by A.R. Rotruck

Ever had the need to make a wand on the go, or make a monster-catching net? Well look no further, because How to Trap a Zombie has just what you need. With this handbook you can learn just about everything you need to know about monster-hunting, and make cool stuff with everyday items. If you ever have the urge to go on your own hunt then get How to Trap a Zombie and be on your way.

How to Trap a Zombie was an awesome book. There were so many crafts and activities that it made me want to do them all. With instructions on the proper way to track a vampire, to learning how to make a wand would be fun for just about any young wizard. Almost anyone with a wild imagination could love this book. Just remember to ask an adult wizard before doing anything.

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

The Skinny On Willpower by Jim Randel

The Skinny on Willpower is a book that emphasizes the ways that you can build your self confidence. It also uses pictures and comics to help you better understand the topic. There are many great quotes and sayings but one really popped out at me. That saying is: "I find that one reason that people lose the will to achieve their goals is that they don't understand that achievement is tough for everyone. They look around them perhaps at people who seem to get what they want so easily, and conclude that achievers are somehow different. This then causes them to give up, or lose their willpower when confronted with difficulty. But here is the truth: every single person who achieves something of value struggles and at times thinks about quitting. The person who succeeds is most simply the one who does not quit." (43) This taught me that your willpower is strictly controlled by you. Not the people around you. Not the people that think that they can get around things the easy way (because they are the ones that mostly quit.) It is entirely up to you whether you want to proceed and succeed, and be proud of yourself because you know that you powered through it or you can choose to quit when the going gets tough. One of the other reasons that I would recommend this book to any adult or teen is because it teaches you that it is your decision to be strong or weak. It is your decision to be heard or to be ignored. And it is your decision to believe in yourself.

I thought this was a great book! It was definitely a huge page turner. The author makes you feel like you are in the story. He talks directly to you. The tone of the author's voice is calm and nice, and it can also be happy and excited at times but is never angry or sad because it focuses on willpower. There are basically three main characters: Jim, Beth and Billy. Jim acts like the narrator and does most of the talking. Beth and Billy are a married couple and they are only in the comics and pictures. The author is great because he achieved and succeeded his purpose to build my willpower in this book. The writing is very effective, powerful, and touching. This is one of those books that I would definitely recommend to those adults and teens that may need to boost up there self confidence and have faith in themselves.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Overland Park, Kansas USA

Cate of the Lost Colony by Lisa Klein

Lady Catherine Archer, the heroine of Cate of the Lost Colony by Lisa Klein, is an orphan without a cent to her name until she is called by Queen Elizabeth to be one of her maids of honor. At Queen Elizabeth’s court she soon catches the eye of Sir Walter Ralegh, a man with ambitions to establish a colony in wild, unexplored Virginia. Unfortunately, the queen also has her heart set on Ralegh, and banishes Catherine to the colony of Roanoke in Virginia when she hears of their romance.

Catherine, now called Cate, embarks on the dangerous voyage, filled with hope and eager to start a new life. When she reaches Roanoke, she and the other settlers find that life is harder than they imagined, and must deal with hostile natives, hunger, and poor leadership. Cate befriends an Indian named Manteo, who aids the colony and helps them survive. Eventually, Cate and the remaining colonists live with the natives because of near starvation and dwindling numbers. Back in England, Sir Ralegh longs to be reunited with his Lady Catherine and convinces the queen to let him go back to Roanoke to reclaim her. Cate must decide whether to embrace her new identity and make a new life with Manteo, or go back to England with Sir Ralegh.

Cate of the Last Colony is a historical fiction novel that, through the eyes of Catherine Archer, tells the story of what happened to the colony of Roanoke. Cate of the Last Colony was an engaging, fast-paced book that wove historical details with fictional material. The heroine, Catherine Archer, was a lively, spirited young woman who was both sincere and relatable to the reader. The setting of bleary, rugged Virginia was made clear by the descriptive language found in the book. I enjoyed how the narrators changed from Sir Ralegh to Manteo to Cate throughout the book, and thought it provided more information to all sides of the story. The characters were, for the most part, strongly supported, and I found myself relating to brave, quick-witted Cate. I was pleased with the higher level of vocabulary and found the content appropriate for the age level the book was written for. I liked this book better than the other I read by the same author. I enjoyed the ending, even though it was a bit predictable. I thought it was an excellent example of historical fiction, and I would recommend it to girls interested in the Elizabethan era and the colonization of America.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Bayside, WI U.S.

Full Metal Jackie: Certified by Jackie Kajzer

Full Metal Jackie Certified: 50 Most Influential Metal Songs of the 80's is a very informative and enjoyable book. This book discusses the lyrics of some amazing songs of the 1980's. It contains 32 artists/bands and 50 songs with deep backgrounds. Some of these include: Ozzy Osborne, Metallica, Slayer, Black Sabbath, and Judas Priest. If you like metal music or even punk, you will be very pleased with this book.

I thought that this book was very interesting, especially since it was about the lyrics of the songs and not the music. So, even if you don't really like metal music you can still appreciate this book. I am happy to say though that I have many more songs to put on my iPod. There were only a few things I didn't like about this book; I thought that the chapters were a little long for just one song and that the book didn't really tell you what the lyrics to that song were. So, in the beginning of the book when it says to print out the lyrics, do so. But, overall if you like music then you should definitely read this book to help you brush up on your rock history.

Sexual,drug, and alcohal refrences and use. Explicit language

 Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Hopkins, Michigan United States of America

Ascendant by Diana Peterfreund

Astrid is back in the mind-consuming book, Ascendant. When one of her friends gets hurt while on a unicorn hunt, Astrid is given the option to leave and watch over the girl or stay and continue hunting with the other girls. Upon leaving, she faces another opportunity; to work in a lab and help the unicorns. Once she gets she gets there, she finds out that her ex-boyfriend is under employment there, and she ends up realizing she isn't sure if she can hold onto her new long-distance relationship. To add on to the troubles, she also isn't sure if unicorn hunting is the job for her anymore. Confused and troubled, Astrid moves on through the whole book making different lives for her self. Which one will she choose, or will one be chosen for her?


This was an amazing sequel to Diana Peterfreund's first book, Rampant. Astrid is here again with even more flair and determination than before. When I was reading the book, it felt like the book was turning its own pages for me. It had everything from being realistic to having lots of action. It even had some romance scenes. I can't wait to see what Diana brings up next if and when she makes another companion to Ascendant.
 
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Fresno, California USA

Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson

In this stunning sequel to the National Book Award Finalist Chains, Isabel and Curzon are once again faced with a trial of survival and must continue their fight for freedom amid the backdrop of our country’s War for Independence. As the tale unfolds this time from Curzon’s perspective, Anderson takes us on a journey to the Revolution’s most famous battle of will, Valley Forge. Enduring the harsh winter as an escaped slave, Curzon must learn to fight his fears and find the strength to hope.

Following events and important figures throughout America’s Revolutionary War, the thrilling story of two young, runaway slaves is not the only thing that makes Forge a unique book. Readers will marvel at how Anderson has brought history to life and has shown us little known facts about our nation’s beginnings.

In the first novel, our heroine Isabel takes us to the streets of New York City where some of the first battles for freedom began. In Forge however, Anderson lets us follow the events through a new set of eyes. Curzon is an interesting character voice that differs from Isabel not only because it’s from a young man’s point of view, but from a solider’s as well. In this second installation to the Seeds of America series, Curzon gives us an even more gruesome and realistic look into the time period, war, and  the hardships of a slave. As a big fan of historical fiction, I absolutely loved reading both Chains and Forge; I believe Anderson gives great insight on what was going on (rather than just the war) during 1777-78. Anderson is truly a gifted writer.

Readers of all ages will become absorbed in Anderson’s captivating and well researched novel of early American life and slavery. Living up to its expectations, Forge will not disappoint. 

Recommend to ages 12 and up.

Reviewer Age:18

Reviewer City, State and Country: , NM USA

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Nine of them came here. They have powers we could dream of having. They are far stronger and faster than we are. They live among us and look just like us. They are the Loric, aliens from another planet that was destroyed by power hungry,war obsessed other species of aliens called the Mogadorians. The nine Loric children were lucky to escape the total annihilation of their planet, along with nine adult Loric. All were sent to Earth to live, train and become stronger to fight against the Mogadorians. But to survive as long as they can and not be noticed by the Mogadorians they must split up. With the help of a protection charm that was cast before they left Lorian which only allows the Loric children to be killed in order of their number, Number Four and the adult Lorian in charge of him (Henri), have survived by being cautious and only staying for a few months in each town they have lived in. But now after ten years Number Three is dead and the Mogadores are coming for Number Four! After actually making a few friends in Paradise, Ohio John (alias of Number Four) doesn’t want to leave. Does he listen to the advice of Henri to get up and move somewhere else? Or will the Mogadorians find him and kill the people he loves?

This book was very well written and will make a very good movie when it comes out in February 2011. The book has a good ending but still has some questions to be answered because of the cliffhanger-ish ending. It’s interesting how the author mentions his name a few times in the book. The question is how did he know about John’s life in Paradise since he wasn’t there? Since the ending doesn’t really have a conclusion other than a death of a character, death of some Mogadorians and a “the rode off into the sunset” feel, it has some things that will tie it into the sequel. I definitely recommend this book especially to people who like some alien action!

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Loves Park, Illinois United States