Vesper by Jeff Sampson

Emily Webb is a quiet girl, the kind of girl you could definitely call a geek. She has only one friend, and is perfectly comfortable hiding behind her glasses and oversized sweatshirts. Suddenly, it's as if she wants to change her ways, but only at night. It started the night that the other Emily was murdered. Ever since Emily C. from school was found shot, it seems that she has developed a split-personality, changing from a nerd to a party girl. During the day, she wouldn't dare to flirt with another girl's boyfriend or sneak out of the house from her second story window. She wouldn't dare to be courageous for any reason, but at night, it seems she does exactly this. She doesn't understand what's happening to her and she can't handle when things start to get even stranger. Will Emily figure out why she's going through such difficult and confusing changes? Will she figure out if all that is happening is related to Emily C.'s murder?

Vesper by Jeff Sampson, to start out, was absolutely fantastic. It was interesting, humorous at times, supernatural, and even witty. It had the perfect amount of detail and was very easy to understand. As soon as I received this book and started reading it, I just had read it straight through. I had to find out what Emily Webb would do that night, things getting more intense with every page that I read. I was filled will curiosity from head to toe as I turned the pages. Out of all the books I have reviewed for Flamingnet, it was my favorite so far and I would give it a higher rating than "10" if possible. It has definitely made my list of top books to read. Jeff Sampson did an extraordinary job on this novel and I recommend it to all young adult readers, especially those with a tendency to read about anything supernatural.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Fairborn, Ohio USA

I Will Save You by Matt De La Pena

Kidd comes from a difficult past into a group home where he feels misunderstood and abandoned until he befriends Devon, another troubled teen.  After Kidd is forced to renounce his friendship with Devon, he runs away to Cardiff, California and works at a beachside campsite.  In Cardiff, he falls in love with Olivia, a beautiful girl who understands Kidd and the responsibilities that come with being born into deceiving circumstances.  Just as Kidd begins to embrace his new life, his past catches up with him and he is forced to confront regrets that have shaped the rest of his life.  These choices lead him to discover that things are never as they seem.

Matt de la Pea tells Kidd’s story through journal entries that truly embody the perspective of the protagonist.  This style helps in understanding Kidd and left me wanting more.  The character development is a prominent feature throughout the novel and my only real complaint is the inconsistencies presented after the plot twist.  I wish that the plot would move along a bit faster, but for a lazy weekend read, this book is perfect.  I’d suggest this to older teens that are capable of confronting difficult topics and fans of realistic fiction.

Reviewer Age:17

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

The Legacy by Gemma Malley

Would you want to live forever? But what if there was a price? The drug Longevity can do just that, keeping your cells at a state of eternal youngness and making death something abnormal a person chooses to do. Here lies a problem. If no one is dying and there are still children being born the world's resources will be quickly used up. The solution to this dilemma is making a declaration for people to sign that if they are going to start using Longevity at age sixteen they can never have children. In this society children born illegally are called Surpluses, and live in a dark depressing building called Surplus Halls. Anna is one of these Surpluses who live in these buildings and fully believes that what her parents did was evil and that their purpose in this world is to work and atone for their parent sins. But one day her life is turned upside when she meets a boy named Peter who speaks out against the Surplus Hall and tells Anna about her parents who love her and who want to bring her home again. Anna and Peter eventually escape the Surplus Hall where they meet back with Anna's parents who work for the Underground, an organization committed to fight against Pincent Pharma the company that makes Longevity. Sadly, Anna's parents kill themselves to save the children and because of a little known loophole Anna, Ben and Peter are now legal citizens and are no longer Surpluses. Peter starts to work for the Underground and meets his half-brother Jude and the leader of the underground, Pip. It soon comes to light that a deathly disease is killing people who take Longevity. Richard Pincent, the mastermind of the Pincent Pharma Company, is on the hunt for the cure and will stop at nothing to find it. Through various clues Richard believes Peter has the formula on a ring he wears. And he will stop at no means to get it. Will the Underground get rid of the people's addiction to Longevity? Will Richard Pincent find a cure? Or will the world succumb to this horrible disease?


This book series is very well written and has a great plot that fans of science fiction will love. In the first book it starts off small mostly based in one location with few characters but as the series grows more characters are added with a faster paced plot and many twists and turns along the way. The ending was an especially delightful surprise and was a shocker! Every question is answered every loose end is tied up and it leaves with an epilogue that is the icing on the cake. I would highly recommend this series to anyone.

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

Flight of the Renshai by Mickey Zucker Reichert

The country of Bearn is faced with the threat of an army of pirates while the Renshai face banishment from their home. After an intense battle, the Renshai are forced to leave their home in the Fields of Wrath. Meanwhile, Saviar, Calistin, and Subikahn, the sons of Kevral Tainharsdatter, face their own trials: one from swordsmen, one from wounds, and one from himself. In all cases, the world is in peril and it will all come back to the army of "pirates" and their leader.

This book was hard to get into but once I did I loved it. Ms. Reichert is a talented writer but often goes into almost too much detail. Most of the characters are very well developed but some of the more important ones were not. Other than that, the book is well written and definitely a page turner. Mickey Zucker Reichert has a great series on her hands and I am excited to see where she goes from here.

Please note: There is some strong language in this book, and some adult themes.  Personally, I don’t know if this book is for younger readers.

Content: 2

Rating: 7

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Era, Texas U.S.A.

Flight of the Renshai by Mickey Zucker Reichert

The Flight of the Renshai is a story of three brothers on a journey to find their place. Their tribe, the Renshai, are a tribe dedicated to the sword. Long ago they were exiled from the Northlands; the tribe had settled in Bearn working for the King as a part of his army. Now spies from the North have succeeded in the banishment of the Renshai yet again. Additionally, a fleet of pirates are on the verge of destroying all of Bearn. In the middle of all this are three brothers: Calistan, Saviar, and Subikahn. One is a brilliant swordsman who is traveling to the North to kill the man who murdered his mother. Another brother is struggling with who he is and his parents separate heritages. The third brother is struggling with his sexuality and who his father wants him to be.  The whole time, the pirates are drawing nearer, and an epic battle awaits the people of Bearn,who will need the Renshai to survive. In the end it takes the Renshai and the Northmen coming together along with the Bearn to defeat the marauders.  By the end, the brothers have made their own personal journeys. Calistan discovers that vengeance is not the answer,  Saviar learns that a man can live happily honoring both of his heritages, and Subikahn finally accepts who he truly is and also gains his father's acceptance.

My opinion of this book is that it is very complicated.  I had a hard time getting into the story

itself.  It has several plots that are happening at the same time and it was difficult for me to follow.  I did enjoy reading about the struggles that each brother went through on their own journeys, but it wasn't enough to hold my attention.  I feel that maybe this book was meant for someone older then my age of twelve.

Content: 3

Rating: 4

Reviewer Age:12

Reviewer City, State and Country: Mineola, Texas USA

Rhymes With Cupid by Anna Humphrey

Elyse swore off of boys when she found her boyfriend cheating with her best friend...on Valentine's Day. This makes working at a gift store, almost a year later, kind of difficult, but she has other problems to worry about. She can't pass her driver's test, she and her mother are barely making ends meet, and Elyse's friend, Dina, is still obsessing over her ex-boyfriend. So Elyse tries to set her up with a cute guy that walks into the store while she and Dina are at work. It turns out that the cute guy is Patrick, her next door neighbor and new driving teacher. However, it seems like Elyse and Patrick have more in common than Patrick has with Dina. Which will Elyse choose: her friendship with Dina or her love with Patrick?
Rhymes with Cupid was an okay read. The story line was pretty typical and I felt like the characters did not act their age. The characters are supposed to be juniors and seniors in high school and I thought they acted a couple years younger. I did like the ideas the author had for the characters and I think she mostly developed their personalities. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a high school romance novel.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Brownsburg, Indiana United States of America

Yummy by G. Neri

The book Yummy by G. Neri is about an eleven year-old boy named Yummy. The book relates the difficult life of Yummy and how in an instant his whole life was turned upside down. Yummy is known as a troublemaker and people always portray him as a gangster. His father is in jail and Yummy was taken away from his mother due to child abuse, so he lives with his grandmother and the many grandchildren she takes care of. Yummy is a member of a gang called The Black Disciples, and he is always looking for ways to prove himself to them. If you want to advance in the gang you had to prove yourself, so that's what Yummy tries to do. In the middle of the story things go terribly wrong when Yummy tries to prove himself. When Yummy is walking he sees that a few members from a rival gang are playing ball in the Black disciples' territory, so he decides to take care of it. Yummy is scared and doesn t know what to do, so he decides to make a run for it. The members of the gang hide Yummy, while a huge manhunt is underway. Everyone is looking for Yummy and it is all over the news. At the end of the book we see that the Black Disciples are getting tired of hiding Yummy. What will they decide to do?
When I close my eyes I picture myself in a dirty crime-filled city. I see people hurrying down the streets because they are scared of the gangs that have taken over their city. I can hear gun shots in the distance and the wail of police sirens. The main character is Yummy and he can be the sweetest little boy at times. On the other hand he can also be the scariest person. The mood or voice of the book was sort of a thriller where I couldn't wait to read what happened next. There was sufficient detail, not too much and no too little. I believe the author G. Neri achieved his purpose. The book was unlike any other I've read, and it was very inspirational.
Gangs and violence Reviewer Age:13 Uxbridge, MA USA

The Inheritance Almanac by, Michael Macauley

Ever wondered what Aren meant? What if you needed the inside scoop on elves? Well, then look no further than the Inheritance Almanac. Learn all there is to know about dwarfs and dragons. Discover the importance of many different locations and battles. Find out everything about the books Eragon, Eldest, and Brisingr. So read the Inheritance Almanac and explore the world of Eragon.

Probably the most informative book I have ever read in my life. This book is full of all kinds of things you might not know about the world of Eragon. I have a lot of friends that read the Eragon series and now I know what they're talking about. I think that everyone would love this book and find it as cool as I have. Now I can tell my friends that I know everything about the series from A-to-Z.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Mineola, Texas America

Steampunk'D by Jean Rabe

This book is an anthology of short stories by different authors. Each story is very different, but all are under the category of steampunk. Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction. In steampunk, the stories are set in the late 1800s or early 1900s in a world that resembles our own. However, the story explores futuristic technology based on steam. Also, the history of the world may be different. For example, in one story titled The Battle of Cumberland Gap, the Americans lost the Revolutionary War. When the story takes place, the British and the French are battling over coal in Kentucky using steam-powered and land-traveling warships. This altered history and technology are typical of the stories in this anthology. However, the characters and plots vary greatly. Also, some stories contain fantasy elements in addition to science fiction ones.

I greatly enjoyed this collection of stories. I have always liked science fiction, but I had never heard of steampunk before I read this anthology. However, I discovered that steampunk is a very interesting and diverse genre of literature. Every story in the collection was set in its own unique world. The amount of character and plot development varied from story to story and, because of their shorter length, each story is simpler than a novel would be. However, each had enough substance to be entertaining. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy reading science fiction, fantasy, or alternative history and who enjoy short stories.

Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Royersford, PA United States

Rex Zero by Tim Wynne-Jones

Rex Zero: The Great Pretender is a book about a boy named Rex Norton-Norton who is known as Rex Zero by his friends. In the beginning, Rex is going on a vacation with his friends, James and Buster, to a cottage in Quebec. Rex is fired up until he hears his family is moving. At the cottage, Rex tries to put moving out of his mind and almost does until he, James, and Buster start talking about the new 7th grade school, Hopewell, that they would all go to if Rex were not moving. When Rex gets back home, he tries to find a way to still go to Hopewell from the new house. He starts struggling with registration, transportation, deceiving his parents, and finally, money.



I think the author's purpose was to entertain young readers with his work and he did an awesome job of it. The writing flows well but at times the author used terms that were unfamiliar to me. I think that the book would be appropriate for ages nine and up. My overall response was that it is interesting, and it is a great book. The book always keeps you guessing. I would definitely recommend this book to all of my friends and even some adults.



Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Dickinson, Texas U.S.A.

Rex Zero by Tim Wynne-Jones

Rex Zero, The Great Pretender is the last book in the Rex


Zero series. Rex is a 7th grade boy whose family is moving

to a new school district. He is not happy about having to

make all new friends at his new school and about 3 big high

school bullies. He is also very concerned about losing his

old life and his old friends. The book is about how he

deals with these problems. One thing he does is develop a

plan to pretend to his parents that he is attending the new

school, but take the bus back to his old school. Another

thing he does is he tries to outsmart the bullies.




My opinion of this book is that any boy my age would like

it a lot. I really enjoyed it because Rex deals with the same

kinds of problems we all deal with, such as how to stay close

with our friends despite obstacles in our way and how to deal

with bullies. The fact that Rex is the narrator helps make it

easy to understand what he is feeling and where he is coming

from. I liked the book as much as crispy turkey bacon in the

morning. My favorite part is when Rex and his class at his

new school write a story together. The description of how they

do this is really funny. The fun he has doing this helps the reader

see that he is adjusting to his new social situation while remaining

connected to his old friends.

Always a Witch

Always a Witch, the sequel to the acclaimed novel, Once a Witch, depicts a young witch named Tamsin, her witchy family, and the antics a magical teenager can get herself into. The basic plot is mostly about the rivalry between Tasmin’s family (the Greenes) and the other evil witch family living in New York City at the time. Tasmin must go back in time to make sure that history doesn’t get all screwy, the way her family predicts it will. She employs herself in the evil household and makes nice with the 1800’s version of the family she hates, all to save her modern-day family. And it turns out that this long standing family rivalry is well deserved. The evil family has even more secrets than we know. Tasmin must stand victorious or else the fabric of time will be unravelled and all will be lost.


This book was pretty good, but took a long while to get into. I would have enjoyed it more if the author hadn’t put in so many sensory details. The plot was embedded so far into the overabundance of details and side stories that it was difficult to remember all the main points. This did enhance the picture in my head but made the book far too wordy. I had to reread paragraphs several times to get back into it at some parts. This book was enjoyable up to a point, but after reading for so long, I stopped being interested. It read like a good Fanfiction, which is by no means a bad thing, but gives you an idea of how incredibly detailed it was. I would only recommend this book to avid fantasy readers, and I do think that most of the people that enjoy fantasy would enjoy it. I read MacCullough’s two “Witch” books out of order, so I think it works well as a standalone book.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Exeter, NH USA

The Shadow Project by Herbie Brennan

Danny Lipman is just your average thief, or so it seems. One day, while attempting to rob an ordinary looking country house, he stumbles upon something greater than a few expensive paintings. Young Lipman has actually discovered the headquarters of one of the biggest MI6/CIA secret organizations, the Shadow Project. Inside the walls of the Project's underground fortress, teenagers learn to leave their bodies behind and travel in an invisible, immaterial, seemingly unstoppable energy body. Using this new technology the MI6 is able to find out vital information and track the terrorist group, the Sword of Wrath, which is becoming more powerful every day. But when one of the agents gets trapped in her energy body, the leaders of the Project are unsure what to do. They realize that Danny has a special talent that may be able to help the Project more than they had thought.
The Shadow Project by Herbie Brennan is a good, entertaining book! I found myself turning page after page and just couldn't put it down. Throughout the whole book there are scientific descriptions behind everything, MI6 and CIA spy action, and a bit of magic! The way Brennan mixes sci-fi with action and fantasy is enough to keep readers fascinated. I found this book enjoyable and interesting!

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Harleysville, PA USA

Deadly by Julie Chibbaro

Imagine living in a time period when no one knew how infectious were spread. Prudence Galewski, the main character of Deadly, by Julie Chibbaro, sees people around her becoming ill with typhoid, a deadly disease that once plagued many. Prudence is a budding female scientist who quits school to work as an assistant in a laboratory. She and her supervisor discover what they think is the key to the spread of typhoid - human carriers. Prudence must learn to balance her own doubts with scientific facts in order to stop the spread of typhoid and establish a successful career for herself. Part mystery, part historical fiction, this book is an exciting, fast paced read.

This book was filled with information, but was presented in an engaging, interesting way. I enjoyed that the book was written in a journal format because it made me feel more connected with the main character. I did find some elements in the book to be slightly unbelievable, such as when one of her father's old friends found a way to contact Prudence after her name is printed in the paper. I enjoyed reading from Prudence's perspective, however, because I found her to be a fresh, engaging narrator. This is the first book I have read about the history of a disease, and I found it quite enjoyable. I would recommend it to teenage girls interested in the history of medicine.

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

Darius Bell and the Glitter Pool by Odo Hirsch

Darius Bell and the Glitter Pool is a wonderful novel by Odo Hirsch. It takes place at Darius' house. To sum it up, it's about a young boy named Darius who is trying to help his parents find or get something great for the Bell gift. You see they are poor and the Bell gift is always something spectacular. They are afraid that 1) they won't be able to give a great gift which would mean the Bell name will no longer mean anything or 2) they will lose their house. The deal is they present a gift every twenty years and they get the house. After an earthquake, Darius finds what he names the "glitter pool" and hopes that they can use it as the Bell gift. Will it all work out? You'll have to read Darius Bell and the Glitter Pool to find out.



I enjoyed this book. I would recommend it to others. It was easy to read and follow. I think that an age group of nine to twelve is good for this book. It was interesting to see what poverty is like and what they would do in that kind of situation. I didn't find this book as entertaining as other books but I still liked it.
 
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Sandy, Oregon U.S.A

History of the United States by Erik Sass

I recently finished the book History of the United States by Erik Sass. This book was about the entire history of the United States, and it covered everything from the Pilgrims coming over to the Americas on the Mayflower until the NASA space rocket missions. Although the word History may make your eyes glaze over in boredom, the mix of fun facts that are mostly unknown among the common population in the book make the book seem more fun than reading a history textbook. In the mix are lies turned truth, fun facts, and sidebars about useless information that will boost your trivia knowledge. I hope you will consider reading this book. Read the book History of the United States by Erik Sass and prove your history teacher wrong when they are giving yet another false lesson. With this book, you won t be that clueless again.

The book History of the United States by Erik Sass is a very unique one, a history book with very unusual and strange facts tied into the mix. It was a easy book to digest, however, I found that at some points I found myself being averted from the book because sometimes, the book phrased things just like my history textbook does. Then, I would suddenly read a fun fact and I would have all my attention on the book once more. This book goes through almost every event in US , including the ones that I would rather not mention. There were a lot of details, which I learned from, but at the same time I found myself skipping over some. I suggest that Erik Sass go through the book and just cut the details down just a little bit. If this is done, he will have a very successful book on his hands. I would recommend this book to others because it made history fun for me. So for all you history buffs out there, here is some more history to drink in. And for those not so keen about history, give this book a try, because this is the book for you.

his book receives a 2 because there are some topics that adults should screen before letting their child read it. Examples are references to alchohol, intimacy, drugs, etc.
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Braintree, Massachusetts United States of America

The main character gets caught at a party were drugs and alcohol are discovered. Her parents send her to a summer camp for "troubled teens," where she discovers that nothing is as it seems. She falls for two boys both misterious in their own ways. One linked to her past the other trying to hide his away. She grudgingly stays at camp trying to leave, not beleiving she's just as different as the rest. All the while her ghostly stalker fallows her trying to tell her the truth.

I thought this book was very exciting, taking twists and turns I never expected. The main character grows very well throughout the story, overcoming obsticles and realizing things she never thought possible. I liked how she made friends with the people she was forced to stay with, and kept peace between them as well. I think that this is one of those books that you can only like if it ends a certain way, and the author masterfully ended it just right. Leaving an opening for a second or even third installment. I can't wait.

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

Trickster's Girl by Hilari Bell

Trickster's Girl is about two main characters and their hopes of saving the planet. This book is set in the future where trees are in grave danger. Without trees the earth can't survive. A shape shifter named Raven comes to find Kelsa (our main character) in hopes that she will be able to believe in magic to help him save the planet. Kelsa has just lost her father and is still grieving but when Raven shows up it gives her some kind of purpose so she can go on. Throughout the book they go on a journey to Alaska but meet obstacles along the way.

Trickster's Girl fits into the genre fantasy and adventure. I was very interested in the plot the author had set up. The whole magic aspect of the story makes me very excited because I love magic. I loved this book but I am sad to say that I felt a little old reading it. I think teens and preteens who love magic and a good adventure would love this book. It has everything you need: some magic, a little bit of mystery and a lot of adventure.

Reviewer Age:19
Reviewer City, State and Country: Mantua, NJ USA

Secrets of the Demon by Diana Rowland

Kara Gillian is a homicide detective with the Beaulac, Louisiana Police Department. She also happens to have a special talent for detecting anything "arcane" in our world. Not to mention she can summon demons in her basement.


Kara is currently assigned to a special task force along with FBI agents Ryan Krystoff and Zack Garner. Right now they are assigned to investigate murders linked to a rock band. But these murders are definitely looking like the work of someone or something "otherworldly".

Readers of books one and two in Diana Rowland's series will definitely not be disappointed by this third installment. Rowland once again writes the perfect blend of police procedural and paranormal fantasy. So whether you are a fan of either genre or both, you will be sure to enjoy this riveting novel.

I really liked how Ms. Rowland gave some more info (although just a few hints) into the background of agents Garner and Krystoff. And speaking about the sexy Agent Ryan Krystoff (in my mind he is sexy) I am dying to know where his and Kara's relationship will go. Does he want friendship-or something more?

Also explored is the relationship between Kara and the demon Lord , Rhyzkahl, who she is now bound to and must summon once a month so he can "explore" our world. Sure Kara gets to ask him three questions, but asking questions of a demon lord must have a price, right?

Diana Rowland has worn many hats in her life including a street cop, detective, crime scene investigator, computer forensics expert and morgue assistant (among many others) and I can see where she uses her expertise in these fields to add to her research for the Kara Gillian series.

I really enjoyed Secrets of The Demon and highly anticipate book four from Ms. Rowland.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: hearne, Texas USA

The Immortals by Paul Stewart

Nate Quarter is a lamplighter for a phraxmine in the Deepwoods in the third age of flight.  His only possesions are a small lufwood box and a portrait of a sky pirate from the first age of flight.  When the mine sergeant threatens to kill him, Nate escapes from the mine with a goblin named Slip.  The two friends go to Great Glade, one of two great cities.  There they meet a man known as the Professor, a banderbear named Weelum, and a mineowner’s daughter, Eudoxia Prade.  They soon learn that Eudoxia’s father has been kidnapped by gyle goblins from Hive, the other great city.  They leave for Hive at once. They find that the only way to rescue Eudoxia’s father is to pretend they are soldiers from the Hive Militia.  Eudoxia’s father, Falston, is rescued, but Eudoxia and Nate, upon leaving the gyle goblin palace, are caught by the real Hive Militia, and forced to march.   When they reach the Midwood Docks there is a battle between the people of Hive and Great Glade.  During the battle, an ironwood bullet lodges itself deep in Eudoxia’s ear.  Will Nate be able to get Eudoxia to Riverrise in time?  And what will happen to the rest of the Edge with a mysterious storm brewing overhead?

The Immortals was an astounding book.  It has the same qualities as the other Edge Chronicles books: adventure, fantastic creatures, flight, fussy academics, and a little romance.  I have read all nine of the other books and I have to say this one is my favorite. The first nine books were actually three trilogies, each about one character, but this book is as good as any trilogy.  I found it amazing that because they were storm-touched, Quint, Twig, and Rook could never really die until Nate got rid of Golderayce One-Eye so Twig and Rook could be united with Quint. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a change from his or her normal read.  The Edge Chronicles are wonderful, and I am sad that they had to come to an end.

Reviewer Age:12

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

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

As an angel-blood, Clara has a purpose in life, the sole reason she exists on earth in the first place. With nothing to guide her but visions of a boy in a forest fire and the annoyingly confusing comments her angel mother tells her, Clara and her family move from sunny California to snowy Wyoming in an attempt to complete her purpose. It is there that Clara comes face to face with Christian, the boy in her dreams, and delves into the complicated world of high school love and Nephilim war. As circumstances become even more perplexing, Tucker appears in Clara's life. Fun, normal, dimpled Tucker. Clara is the one who must make the decision, for who else can do so for her?


Cynthia Hand's debut, Unearthly, was gorgeously written. She managed to depict an authentic teen voice without going overboard with the standard ALL CAPS to express emotion and the internet slang (ie. OMG, LOL, WTF) that has infused itself into the world of teenagers. To say that I flipped open this book with skepticism would be an understatement, since I've had almost traumatic experiences with YA angel books before. Surprisingly, Unearthly proved to be different from the rest. Unlike the cliches that are prevalent in other angel books, the dark and brooding fallen angel who falls in love with a human girl, this book delivers a unique twist that left me flipping the pages one after another deep into the night.

Of course, we also encounter the infamous love triangle here, but the author handled it well, and I thank her for not following the conventional route most other YA books do. There is actually a development in the boy's and girl's relationship, a concept often lacking in YA fiction. Instead of love at first sight, a steady build-up of attraction occurs that seems real instead of crafted. I especially adore the ending. Oh, how I grinned like a maniac at the book in my hands when Clara finally makes up her mind.


This is the beginning of a great series, and I will definitely be on the look-out for future works by Cynthia Hand.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Palo Alto, CA US

Spinning Out by David Stahler Jr.

Gerry, a.k.a. Frenchy, is a loner. Besides his best friend Stewart, he has nobody. That is until Stewart signs them up for the school play together. But as soon as play practice starts Stewart isn't himself. His grades start slipping, he never talks to his parent anymore and he s working on a suspicious project titled The Don Quixote Project . Frenchy tries helping Stewart, but Stewart just says it's the wind towers that are getting to him. As Frenchy prepares for opening night him tries to keep his one and only friendship.

I loved this book. I especially enjoyed that the author captured the true perspective of wind turbines. I knew exactly what Stewart's family was going through. I enjoyed the plot very much and all of the other crazy characters in the story. I think the author did a wonderful job with this story. I highly recommend this to somebody who is looking for a good realistic fiction read.

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

Jake by Audrey Couloumbis

Jake is a ten-year-old boy that has a mom and no dad. One

day his life changes; a few days before Christmas his mom

slips and breaks her leg on ice. Jake has no one to look

after him for Christmas beside his granddad in North

Carolina. He comes with a dog that has an attitude. In

the end Jake realizes that his friends and neighbors are

his family.

The writing is friendly and will sweep you away into

the story. You will read into the night trying to finish

it, you'll want to because of how good it is. I

guarantee that you will love it! I did too.

Reviewer Age:12
Uxbridge, MA usa

Other Words For Love, by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

Ari Mitchell feels she is extraordinarily average - especially in comparison to her beautiful friend Summer who attends a prestigious private school in Manhattan. But when Ari receives an unexpected inheritance that allows her to attend Hollister Prep, it gives her hope that she will someday get into Parsons School of Design and become an artist. While at Hollister, Ari becomes friends with Leigh, who introduces her to her cousin Blake. Blake is older, attractive and wealthy - and Ari has never had a boyfriend before. Soon enough, Ari and Blake's relationship becomes serious. But when tragedy befalls Blake's family and he becomes distant, Ari has to deal with the subsequent break-up and the hard feelings that come after losing your first love.

I really enjoyed Other Words For Love. I loved that it was an historical novel in that in took place in 1985, however, it just seemed like a simpler twenty-first century. Everything was pretty much the same as now, except there were no computers, cell phones or iPods. It made the love story simpler in that there wasn't facebook or text messages complicating everything. It was fun reading about a time period that I missed living in by only a few years. Besides the setting, the characters in Other Words for Love were really strong. Ari is the responsible one, the daughter who will get a good education and have a career before she gets caught up in boy drama. But when she meets and falls in love with Blake, everything changes. Even though Ari's life starts going downhill, she still manages to fix everything in the end. I also loved reading the romance between Ari and Blake because they seemed like a real couple. Overall, Other Words for Love was a very well-written and sincere love story that girls of all ages will enjoy.

Reviewer Age:19
Reviewer City, State and Country: Aston, Pennsylvania United States

Fallen Angel by Heather Terrell

Ellie, a seemingly normal girl, is anything but ordinary. Her first day back to school and a mysterious boy catches her attention; Michael.  Like Ellie he is anything but ordinary. Upon their next meeting they instantly connect and feel that they are made for each other. Every night Ellie dreams of flying and Michael shows her this is no dream--she can fly and also read people's minds by touching them and by tasting their blood.  This leads to the conclusion that Michael and she are vampires. One night when she is supposed to meet Michael, her parents catch her and tell her the truth; well half of the truth anyway.  While Ellie learns the truth Michael does as well from a different source; Ezekiel. Though grounded Ellie manages to sneak a quick visit with Michael, but to her surprise Michael has joined forces with Ezekiel and now plans for her to join them as well.  With no other choice Ellie decides to leave her home and search for answers on her own all the while avoiding being captured by Ezekiel.

 

Invasion by Jon S. Lewis

Colt McAlister’s parents have just died, and he is forced to go live with his grandfather in Arizona. Things seem okay when he meets up with his childhood friend, Dani, and meets a new and mysterious person, Oz. After a few phone calls and meeting an odd person, Colt begins to suspect that his parents’ murder wasn’t an accident. His mother was about to publish an article revealing secrets about Trident Industries, one of the biggest industries in the world. Colt soon realizes that it is his job to avenge his parents’ deaths and stop Trident Industries.


This book was okay. The idea of other worlds and advanced technology were some of the things that intrigued me but it could have been better. Colt seemed a bit real but not enough. I would have enjoyed the book even more if it was written in first person. I would recommend it to people who liked The Compound or The Gardener by S.A. Bodeen, or most si-fi fans.

Rating: 6


Content Rating: 1

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Northglenn, Colorado, United States

CLOSE TO FAMOUS by Joan Bauer

CLOSE TO FAMOUS, written by Joan Bauer, is a story about Foster McFee, a young girl who lives with her single mother.  After being forced to leave Memphis, the Mcfee family ends up in a small town in West Virginia named Culpepper.  There they meet many interesting people, each with a dream of their own.  Foster’s mother dreams for a day when she can be the lead singer instead of always being the back up singer, while another woman dreams of helping the community church.  As for Foster, she dreams to one day have a cooking show on Food Network.  Even through all the obstacles she must overcome, Foster continues baking and touching hearts.

Similar to many books written by Joan Bauer, I found this one quite enjoyable.  It was both inspiring and sweet, filled with unique and lovable characters.  The setting—a very, very small town—was the perfect place for this book to take place and it was very realistic; I could easily imagine it.  The main character, Foster, used cooking to help her conquer fears and obstacles, which I found to be very interesting and relatable.  Some portions of the book required more description and it was not a book for action lovers, as it was very slow moving.   As the story wrapped up, the main themes of following your dreams and overcoming obstacles became very clear.  They gave a motivating message to the story: anyone can change their world.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Needham, Massachusetts U.S.

Annexed by Sharon Dogar

Annexed by Sharon Dogar is the eye opening tale of one Peter Van Pels, the young man who spent two and a half years in the annex of a building with the Frank family during WWII. Also known as the boy who loved Anne Frank, Peter is a teenager who must go into hiding due to the annihilation of Jewish people in Europe in the 1940s. Although it is historical fiction, it tells a powerful story from a new perspective. This book outlines the years in the annex, how the Holocaust altered life and how Peter changed throughout those fateful years. It looks through the eyes of a teenage boy who loses everything he has ever known, and becomes someone else entirely. It is a novel that illustrations how people, emotion, and life vanished from many places during WWII. It is the world through Peter s eyes, ready to tell a moving story of a self-destructing world.

This book was phenomenal. Dogar takes you on a journey to a place few people can imagine - the annex of Anne Frank. For once it was not through the eyes of Anne herself, instead you see the world of Peter Van Pels. Dogar did an amazing job of creating these people that you want to reach out to and hold forever. You feel the emotions of the characters, you cry with them, laugh with them, fear with them. And while most people know how life ended for the Franks and Van Pels, readers cannot help but hope and believe that these people will make it. This novel really makes people step back and examine the world they have, the simple daily things that seem so basic and unimportant, and how they can end up being the things people wish for the most. Dogar's narrative voice is strong and enticing, as a reader I did not want to put the book down. It felt so real that it brought tears to my eyes, and made me want to step into their world and be with them. It is a truly amazing book, and I look forward to seeing more of Dogar in the literary world.


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

Museum of Thieves by Lian Tanner

The Museum of Thieves is about a girl named Goldie. She lives in the terrible city of Jewel that is ruled by the terrible Blessed Guardians. In Jewel, being bold means punishment chains, and impatience is a sin. Each child is bonded to a Blessed Guardian or parent by a guardchain. On Separation Day, the chains are removed and the children are free. Sadly, for Goldie, right before she was going to be separated a bomb exploded. Suddenly, the Fugelman (the leader of the Blessed Guardians) comes in running and screaming. The ceremony ends abruptly. Goldie runs away from the grand hall and eventually finds herself at the marvelous Museum of Dunt. The museum keepers protect her from the Blesseed Guardians. She becomes the fifth keeper. At the museum there are two nearly extinct animals, Morg the slaughter bird and the Broo the brizzle hound. Morg is the pet of Toadspit, one of the keepers and Broo helps the keepers with their daily tasks. Among the many rooms at the museum are the war rooms. The "Dirty Gate" guards the war rooms and protects everyone from what is in them. The Fugelman comes to the museum to open the Dirty Gate. Goldie works with the keepers to protect the museum.



The author provides a good and interesting story. The Museum of Dunt has a vivid setting. It is easy to see the buildings in your mind as you read the book. This book is dark and scary in some parts, but most of the time it is light and adventurous. The author closes the story very well. There are some open items that could be used in a sequel. The novel is written in third person narrative. This book is appropriate for 10-14 year old readers.

This book is very good and would make my "top ten" list. There is nothing obvious that could be added to make it better. I would recommend this to others who are looking for an exciting page-turner. The Keeper series could easily match up to the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson series.

Reviewer Age:10    Uxbridge, MA USA

Lucky Luciano by Tim Newark

Lucky Luciano: the Real and Fake Gangster is a biography of the mobster who most people believe was the most notorious mafia boss of all time. But this book reveals that most of the stories of Luciano's great endeavors were just that: stories. Tim Newark takes the urban legends and pulls them apart to reveal the simple truth: that Luciano was a good mobster, but not the legend he is usually thought to be. He mainly attacks The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano, the biography said to be taken straight from Luciano's own words. He tells us that The Last Testament was a display of the one thing that Luciano was truly notorious for: lying. So he exposes the truth of many of the legends created by the mob, Italian folklore, and even the U.S. government.
The thing about this book is that I found it somewhat hard to reach. I think this was mostly because I hadn't heard of Luciano before then. If I had heard any of the things the author was disproving, maybe I would have found it more interesting. In fact, the one part that I had some familiarity with, namely the murder of Thelma Todd, was the most interesting to me because I had seen a few movies of hers. So I would recommend this book to someone older who had heard more of the myths and legends of Luciano, but probably not to someone my age.

see opinion section of review.
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Fairfax, Virginia USA

Glimmerglass by Jenna Black

What do you do when you're fed up with your mother's drinking problems? Run to your dear old dad. At least that's what 16-year-old Dana Hathaway does. When her mother shows up drunk to her voice recital, Dana decides that it's the last straw and decides to pack her bags and run away to the faraway and enchanted land of Avalon in search of the father she s never known. Her mother had been deliberately moving and hiding her from him for fear of what could happen if Dana got caught up in the intense political affairs of Avalon. Her mom had all the right to worry after many perilous and confusing events start occurring at a breakneck pace once Dana arrives there. From kidnappings to finding out about her sacred position as a Fairiewalker to hot Fae playing tug-of-war for her loyalties to attempts on her life, Dana certainly can't complain about being bored. Maybe running away wasn't the best idea after all.

I really enjoyed reading Glimmerglass and it's a wonderful start to what is bound to be an enchanting series. I constantly caught myself cracking up because of the large amount of humor and the comical personalities of the characters and situations they found themselves in. The scenes that included Ethan were very cute and had the perfect touch of romance and intrigue that would make any teen girl fall head-over-heels for the dreamy hunkmuffin; he really helped to brighten and create liveliness within the novel. l think the story overall was very well-written and thought-out, but I also think that the world of Avalon could use some more depth, and some more description through-out the entirety of the novel would be nice. The characters were fairly easy to relate to since they were around late teenage years and Dana had a lot of problems that many normal teens face in reality today, such as starting into the whole dating business and also possibly having a family member that drinks too much. If nothing else, the enticing cover art alone will make you want to buy this novel; it is beautifully created.

There is alcohol and talk of sex.

Content:3
Rating: 8
Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA USA

Glimmerglass by Jenna Black

Dana is fed up with her mother's alcoholism; so much that she decides to run away and live with her father. Dana has grown up knowing that she's part fae and that her father is a faerie, but she doesn't realize how much of a problem that will be when she enters the magical world of Avalon and is subsequently kidnapped by her aunt Grace. As Dana learns more about her heritage and the dangers of fae politics, she finds herself the target of both assasins and abductors. Between her father, her aunt, and her new friends Ethan and Kimber, Dana doesn't know who to trust and how to make her life return to normal.

At first, I did not like Glimmerglass. One of the reasons that I didn't like it was that I couldn't get used to a magical world that everyone knows about. In many fantasy novels, the mythical world is kept hidden from ordinary humans. But not in Glimmerglass. In this book, everyone knows about Avalon and fairies and a whole host of other things. It kind of threw me off, but soon I started really enjoying Glimmerglass. I especially liked Jenna Black's writing and Dana's voice. It sounded just like a teenager: complete with witty comments and funny thoughts. I think I laughed out loud a few times. Throughout the book there were a lot of twists and turns that made me want to keep reading. There is a sequel that I can't wait to get my hands on. Glimmerglass is a great novel for fans of fantasy.

Rating: 8
Reviewer Age:18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Aston, Pennsylvania United States

Across The Universe by Beth Revis

In Across the Universe, by Beth Revis, Amy decides to freeze herself
cryogenically in order to remain with her parents as they travel to another planet
300 years away from Earth. However, 250 years into the journey, she becomes
unplugged, and nearly dies. Onboard the strange ship named Godspeed, Eldest
rules every single person. Elder, the only teenage boy aboard the ship, is in line
to becoming Eldest. Upon discovering that she cannot be refrozen, Amy has
trouble adjusting to life on the massive ship. She teams up with Elder and they
together attempt to uncover some of the secrets aboard the ship, such as what
really happened during the Plague. Suspense increases when more cryogenically
frozen passengers are unplugged, sometimes resulting in death.

cross the Universe was an extremely original novel with interesting characters and plot.
Amy' s surprise upon discovering the artificial sun, the genetically altered cows,
and the modified history records is tangible and realistic. I very much enjoyed
this book and the, for once, surprise twists. It was also interesting to read of the
technological advances, such as the communication implants. Overall, Across the
Universe was a unique book with strong characters and is definitely
recommended.


Reviewer Age:18

Reviewer City, State and Country: Charleston , SC

Vampire Crush by A.M. Robinson

Sophie McGee's junior year starts off like normal. She's fighting for the position of editor-in-chief of her school newspaper, has an annoying family, and is living a boy-free life. Then, these new kids show up who talk like they are from the 19th century and are always staying at school as late as possible. And to add to her list of problems, James Hallowell is back. The James that used to be her best friend until he moved in elementary school. The James that now makes Sophie's heart melt whenever she sees him. Sophie's investigating skills kick in when she realizes that James is more reclusive than he used to be, is stronger than normal, and is harboring the same secret as the rest of the new kids at school.

I enjoyed reading Vampire Crush. I found the story interesting, even if it was a little repetitive. I found many similarities between this book and Twilight by Stephanie Meyer, and I wish A.M. Robinson had thought of some other ideas for her story. I really liked the ending of the story because it was unexpected and different. I would recommend this book to people who like vampire and romance novels.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Brownsburg, Indiana United States of America

Taking off

Annie is a high school senior cursed with apathy. She has her boyfriend Markand her hometown of Houston where NASA engineers live and half the population never goes anywhere. After her friend Lea introduces her to Christa McAuliffe, Annie finds herself a role model. Christa is the woman from the famous 'Teacher in Space program'. As basic American history dictates, the spaceship explodes before leaving earth. Faced with sadness, Annie is confused about everything and--quite frankly--a hot mess. On her trip, she comes to know a boy named Tommy and must choose between him and Mark. A page-turner for sure.
Truth be told, as an engineer, I was excited to read this book.  However, I had been disappointed in the past when reading about The Challenger in other teen books.  Fortunately, this book did not let me down.
There were no creepy romance scenes, and I actually wanted to keep reading.  Emotion leaks off the pages, and readers find themselves identifying with the characters.  Moss also keeps her book real and does not end with Annie becoming an engineer.  While I'd have liked for Annie to study math and science, I found myself smiling for her when she finally started to make her own decisions and do what she wanted.

Reviewer Age:19
Reviewer City,
State and Country: Staten Island, NY USA

Entice by Carrie Jones

Various predicaments have presented themselves to Zara since the death of her stepfather and the unwilling move to Bedford, Maine that followed. There is, of course, the whole pixie situation, but now Nick, her boyfriend and warrior werewolf, is gone, too. Zara, heartbroken and determined, allows the pixie king Astley to transform her into a pixie herself as a last resort to aid in the quest to retrieve Nick. The problem is: the only leads they have are the words of a disdainful Valkyrie and the existence of a mythical place, Valhalla, said to be the ruling place of the Norse god, Odin. As Zara and the crew continue to search for more clues, evil pixies led by the newly appearing king, Frank, are kidnapping boys left and right. Zara, now the Queen of King Astley, also faces entirely new problems as her relationship with Astley and the trust of her friends are brought into jeopardy by these recent turn of events. However, Zara is nothing if not stubborn, and she will not rest until Nick is safely returned to Bedford.

As I read each of the NEED books one after the other, the growth of the author was especially evident. Descriptions of the background and setup of each place, which were lacking in the first two books of this series, are found embedded throughout ENTICE, creating an even more realistic world for the reader. I adore the steadily increasing plot complications, too. A series that started out with a relatively simple concept - eliminate the evil pixies and their violent ways - has successfully morphed into an intense story involving mythical places and the existence of benevolence in an initially evil species.

Young adult books nowadays all seem to contain the classic love triangle scenario, and this book is not an exception. There does seem to be an almost two-dimensional quality to Zara and Nick's relationship, though. Why are they even in love? I suppose there was a time limit on the development of their relationship since Nick was whisked away to Valhalla so soon after the series started. On the other hand, the author did a great job with Zara and Astley, whose relationship is multi-faceted and angst-filled enough to keep me interested. It also seems obvious who Zara will choose at the end, if one were to observe the popular trend followed by other YA novels. But who knows? Maybe Carrie Jones will spring out a surprise for us at the end of the series.

ENTICE is packed with action and is easily my favorite book out of the NEED series so far. I will be looking forward to the next installment of the series.

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