Project Jackalope by Emily Ecton

Project Jackalope is about a boy and a girl who are on the run with a killer jackalope. A government agency named DARPA is after Jeremy who is a distracted boy, and Agatha who is a girl who is always trying to get good grades. These two kids are on the run with a killer bunny that Professor Twitchett, who is a scientist that dumped the jackalope in there hands, to take care of. But after those eyes blinked at Jeremy everything started going wrong. At the end do they get to keep it or have to give it to DARPA? Read the book to find out! 
I think that this book was very interesting. It is a fun and adventourous book. I recomend this book to all readers. It uses a swear word four to five times. I loved this book. 
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Tomah, Wisconsin United States of America

Fire Works in the Hamptons by Celia Jerome

The book 'Fire Works in the Hamptons' is the incredible third installment of a series by Celia Jerome. I would describe it as a mix of sci-fi/fantasy, romance, suspense, and magic, all in one extraordinary adventure. The story is written from the point of view of the main character, Willow Tate, who is an author/artist visiting her summer home of Paumanok Harbor, Long Island. The town is home to not only over half a population of psychics, but to a whole range of mysterious rumors that just so happen to be true. Willow is a visualizer, similar to being telepathic, but only with pictures. Somehow or other, she 'summons' magical flaming beetles (or fireflies, as they are referred) that are starting fires all over the town. With the help of an unusually gifted fireman, Willy has to figure out what the fireflies are there for and for a way to get them to leave. Within her stress-filled adventures, she encounters obstacles other than the beetles she feels the need to protect: a flame-crying baby with an abusive father out to get the both of them, a reporter who may not exactly be what he seems, a science teacher who is trying to catch the bugs for 'scientific' purposes, and not to mention the confusing romantic tensions filling the air.

While it took me a little while to actually get around to reading this book (due to a small pile of other books needing to be read first), I really enjoyed it. I was unhappy to learn, after I had already received it in the mail, that it was the third book in a series; however, I was very relieved to see that it was not the type that requires you to read the others beforehand. Though some parts of the storyline refer back to the two previous books, they are nothing too relevant to the plot, and are easily explained without feeling like you've just missed something completely. This book is a very fantastic story with beautiful descriptions that make you feel as though you yourself were witness to the awesome splendor of the 'fireflies' plaguing the town. Overall, it is a wonderful read, and I highly recommend it, along with the rest of the series, to anyone who loves a good fantasy.


The main character, Willow, is relatable to people from the ages of mid-teen to early thirties; she has several issues that I am sure a lot of young women can sympathize with (for instance, her mother constantly nagging at her to settle down with a man and give her grandchildren). I think she is a rather down-to-earth person, even if every psychic in town thinks she is both looney and 'cursed'. She cares a great deal for the dogs that her mother rescues-though she may not always admit it. She says that she can't stand her hometown, but I think she secretly loves it-she just tires of it easily almost immediately after arriving. She claims that she would be a horrible mother, but yet grew so attached to a little baby that she was often referred to as "momma."
 
Rating:  3  I rated this book 3 because while it does not actually contain any sex, it is implied and talked about. I do not feel that anyone under a certain age should read something like that-I would definitely put this book in the teen section of a library.
 
Reviewer Age:17
 
Reviewer City, State and Country: Oskaloosa, Iowa USA

After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steven E. Wedel

In After Obsession, there are four stages and none of them are pretty.

1.           Invitation: When you ask him in

2.           Infestation: When he destroys your home
3.           Obsession: When he destroys your body
4.           Possession: When there’s no coming back

After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steven E. Wedel is an amazing story that I just finished. It is about a girl named Aimee, who lives in Maine, and her best friend, whose dad died just a few weeks ago. Then, a boy named Alan moves to Maine. Right from the start, Alan and Aimee are connected. They know they will have to work together to save someone or something; the only problem is, they don’t know who, or how.

 This book was very good, and once I started I couldn't stop. The entire time I was reading, I felt as if I was there in the book. The book has a very mysterious mood and tone that keeps you very intrigued. The authors give so much voice into the characters that I believed everything that they did and said. The authors’ writing is very effective and powerful. The ending really surprised me. It was not something I expected, and it really made me wish there was more. I would definitely recommend this book to a reader looking for a great story with a little mystery and some interesting characters.

 There is some mature content, strong language in this story, and some violence, so I would recommend this book to older teens. 

 Rating: 7

Content: 2
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Leawood, Kansas United States of America

After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steve E. Wedel

A boy named Alan is forced to move from his home town in Oklahoma to Maine to live with his aunt and his cousin, Courtney, who has just lost her father in a boating accident. Alan meets Courtney's best friend Aimee and they immediately feel a strong connection. It turns out that they both have special powers that in the long run will save all of their town and Courtney's life. They start having feelings for each other and both struggle to keep them under wraps.  Aimee just broke up with her boyfriend a little after Alan arrives so she doesn't want to immediately start another relationship, because he is acting strange in a bad way. In fact the whole town is acting strange. It turns out that many years ago a brave hero trapped a dragon in the lake. Every decade, he tries to take over someone's body, in order to live and spread his hate. It has taken over Courtney, and Alan and Aimee must work together to get the spirit out of her before it completely takes over.

I loved this book and I had a hard time putting it down. I would recommend this book to anyone older than 14.   There is a bit of strong language, so it is more suitable for older teens.  I thought Carrie Jones and Steven Wedel made an amazing writing team. They make you feel like you're right beside Alan and Aimee through all the ups and downs. Their detail is amazingly good and it blew me away. The thing I loved most about the book was the character of Alan. He is kind and gentle, but has a hidden strength that makes him a reliable person. His relationship with Aimee was also written really realistically. The other interesting part about the book is that one paragraph is written through Alan's eyes and the next is through Aimee's eyes, so the chapters switch back and forth between Alan and Aimee (which was a new and enjoyable twist). I give this book two thumbs up!

 Rating: 9

Content: 1
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Tucson, AZ usa

Mallory in the Spotlight

I read the book Mallory in the Spotlight by Laurie
Friedman.  The main characters in the book are Mallory and
Mary Ann.  When their school decides to put on the play,
Annie both girls try out for a part.  Mallory wins the
part of Annie but Mary Ann does not get any part at all.
Mary Ann begins ignoring Mallory.  Mallory is sad and
doesn t know what to do about the situation.  Two girls in
the class begin to be nice to Mallory.  They act like they
are her new best friends.  Mallory sends them an email
explaining how sad she is that Mary Ann is ignoring her. 
They send the email on to Mary Ann. Mary Ann becomes upset
and Mallory get embarrassed. In the end Mary Ann and
Mallory work out their problems and promise to stay best
friends.

Mallory in the Spotlight is a good book and I could barely
put it down because of the excitement.  It was well
written and I wanted to know what would happen next.  My
favorite part is when Mallory and Mary Ann become friends
again. Jealousy can ruin a friendship.  These girls work
out their problems but that does not always happen in real
life. Mallory in the Spotlight is the fourteenth book in
the series.You don't have to read the first ones to
understand this one but now, I want to read them all.   I
think that girls seven through twelve will like this book.
  
Age 8
Jackson, MO USA

You Have Seven Messages by Stewart Lewis

A year after Luna' s mother dies, Luna wants to take a chance. She decides to clean out her mother' s studio and finds her mother' s cell phone. Bright red. Fully charged. With seven unread messages.
When I picked out this book, I though it would be a well-written murder mystery. It isn' t. The only part of the plot that' s good is Luna 's trying to find out how her mom died. That took up about one-third of the book. The other two-thirds consisted of drama, teen angst, puppy love, and extremely unrealistic and paper-thin characters. The plot was just drawn out over way too many pages, when it could 've been put nicely into a smaller book.


Luna, as a character, is confusing. One minute she says she isn' t into guys, and the next minute she says she' s liked one since eighth grade. She starts out as a shy but strong person, but actually gets weaker towards the half-way point of the book.... and goes downhill from there.


Luna' s father is a wimpy, horrible character. He' s truly not fit to play the father role, and I disliked him very much throughout the entire book.


Tile, Luna' s brother, was the only really good character. While he may seem naive because of his age, he experiences life like no other person and changes for the better over the course of the story.


While the overall message of the book is good, the way the author gets to that message is unnecessarily complicated.  Saying that people who' ve not had sex before they turn 15 are prudes is highly subjective.  That parents are liars, and that marriages can' t last forever is not what I want to be reading about; and unfortunately, that' s what I got when I read this.
There are multiple curse words (no f-bombs, thankfully). The concepts of divorce, adultery, molesting, and homosexuality are talked about and seen.
Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Yucaipa, California USA

By The Time I'm Twenty

In By the Time I'm Twenty, Lawrence attempts to make money in the hood by selling drugs with his friend Winston until two of his friends get shot in a crack house. Then Lawrence realizes how dangerous drug dealing is, and he wants out. The problem is,  he doesn’t have enough money to "buy himself out" so he ends up telling his parents about all of it.  Now he has to make a decision, to tell the police, or not. Meanwhile, Winston and L.C, the drug lords, are after him.

In the book it makes you feel like you are right there in the action.  The characters of this book seem like very real people. Lawrence, the main character, is just like any other teenager, but is put into a tough situation. This book is written as a play so there is no feeling of a narrator. At the end of the book you actually know what happened to most of the characters. I believe the author shows about how drugs can ruin a person’s life in many ways. The book had a good climax and falling action which is very exciting. After finishing this book I learned about how school is important and how terrible drugs are. I would recommend this book to my friends because it is entertaining and after I finished the book I think I will never forget it.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Fairborn, Ohio USA

Blood Sun

Book Title: Blood Sun
Author: David Gilman
ISBN: 9780385735629
Summary: Blood Sun By David Gilman

The book Blood Sun was about a teenage kid named Max Gordan who tries to uncover the truth about the mysterious death of his mother. She died in the dangerous forests of Central America. There, man-eating snakes and deadly creatures wait at every turn. A powerful agency is also hunting down Max to exterminate him. Max is willing to die to uncover the truth, and he must find it before it's too late.
Opinion: The book Blood Sun was an amazing novel that generated constant suspense. I could actually imagine what everyone and everything looked like. I could understand everything the author said and found the book entertaining and interesting to read. I liked how in the end, Riga teamed up with Max to uncover the truth. I loved this book and it is definitely one of my favorites.

Content:1


Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Springfield, Ohio United States

You Can Run

Book Title: You Can Run
Author: Norah McClintock
ISBN: 9780761383123
Summary:  You Can Run is a book about a girl named Robyn who has a fight with a another girl from her school, Trisha. The same day they have the argument, Trisha mysteriously disappears. Robyn is afraid that she was the cause of Trisha's disappearance. She tries to find out everything she can about this girl to help get her back, but along the way, she could find herself in danger. She doesn't know why Trisha ran away, but she wants to find her to bring her home.
Opinion: This book overall was okay. The ending was fabulous! All the loose ends were tied up, and everything made sense. Unfortunately, the rest of the book was kind of slow. There wasn't much suspense, or shockers. I would have liked to have seen that in the book.

Content:0


Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Enon, Ohio USA

Forced Out by Gene Fehler

A new catcher has joined Zack's travel team, the Roadrunners. His name is Dustin and everybody is wondering why he gets so much playing time. How did he even get invited to such a good travel team? Everyone is also wondering how the team can finally afford to go to an expensive tournament. It creates lots of problems and threatens the Roadrunners chance at winning the championship. A rumor starts about Dustin and the tournament. Then Zach finds out what Dustin's dad is secretly planning that Dustin doesn't even know. But what can Zach do about it?
Overall, it is an interesting story about teamwork, choices, and fairness. All Dustin's dad cares about is himself and his son. His choices affect the whole team. It gives a vivid description without too many adjectives, and I can picture things in my head. I can also tell a lot about Dustin and Zach's personalities. They are very believable characters. The vocabulary was appropriate for the recommended age, but it is about high schoolers. High schoolers with lower reading levels would probably enjoy this book as well. The bad thing was the plot seemed to drag a little bit at some points.
Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Calhoun, GA USA
 

Unleashed by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie

In Unleashed, a girl named Katelyn McBride moves from colorful California to dull, rural Arkansas to live with her grandfather after her mother dies. Wolf Springs, in the Ozark Mountains, has hidden surprises. Katelyn is warned of walking alone in the forest but never believes there to be true danger until she is attacked by a wolf one unplanned evening. One of her only friends, Trick, is intensely disliked by most, if not all, of the locals. Cordelia, her only other friend, seems to have secrets of her own. Katelyn begins to uncover some of the town's mysterious wolfy secrets, and along the way she gets herself into danger.

Unleashed was not overly original, but neither was it incredibly boring. I did not enjoy the way that Katelyn discovered some of the town's secrets (a school project), as it seemed somewhat commonplace. Still, the local werewolf populace was interesting, as was Cordelia's eccentric family. Trick, the disliked writer of poetry, was certainly unique, as were many of the other characters, such as Katelyn's unconventional grandfather. Unleashed is a decent rainy-day read and may leave one with anticipation of the second book in the series.

Reviewer Age:19
Reviewer City, State and Country: Charleston, SC USA

Graffiti Moon

Graffiti Moon
What has mystery, intrigue, and deceit
lurking around every corner? Cath Crowley's new novel,
Graffiti Moon, of course! Lucy Dervish, just graduating
from high school, has an obsession. Obsessions, actually.
She s obsessed with art. And glass-blowing. And colors,
trillions of colors. And a notorious graffiti artist
named Shadow who has all of her sweet obsessions rolled
into one tantalizing package. Yet, as always, there is a
problem. She hasn't even seen Shadow, much less has been
introduced to him. But she wants to. She really, really
wants to. Lucy believes that Shadow has all the answers
she wants. Answers about love, hidden wants, and, most of
all, art. So how could she refuse when her best friend
Jazz suggests that they go out on the town to celebrate
their graduation? Lucy believes this is her only chance
to find Shadow before she goes off to college. She has an
entire night to get what she desires. But there s a
hitch. She has to go on her Shadow-hunt with Ed, a guy
she spent the most embarrassing date with in her entire
life. Yet she has to find her man.
Ed, by the way, is no more interested in this hunt
than he is in physics. He has had enough of Lucy Dervish,
thank you very much. He certainly can t help that she
broke his nose during the most awful date of his eighteen-
year life. But when the two are thrown together by pure
fate, Ed finds himself being sucked into Lucy s satisfying
aurora. Something is stopping him, though. It turns out
Ed just might a secret of his own...
Let me make it this time. Let me meet Shadow.
Poet too but mainly Shadow. The guy who paints in the
dark. Paints birds trapped on brick walls and people lost
in ghost forests.

This book had its good points and bad points. One
thing that extremely disappointed me in this novel was the
language. We re talking about major profanity here. I
had to lay down the book a few times to clear my mind. It
also could get a little dull at times, especially when Ed
would reminisce about his past girlfriend. I just felt
like screaming "Get on with it!" sometimes. Yet, even
with its faults, it also had many strengths, too. It
really shows how tough life is for some young Americans.
It made me feel eternally grateful for my privileged life
I live. I also liked how deep it was. These kids
thought and thought hard. I picked up many good points in
here that portrayed the human soul, deep inside, just
waiting for you to take it out, release it, examine it,
and cherish it. Another thing I enjoyed was the poems
scattered throughout the book, written by Ed' s partner in
crime, Leopold Green. They really got me in touch with
reality. This book had a beautiful blend of romance,
drama, and mystery to keep me entertained most of the
time, yet sometimes I felt slightly bored with the
patterned plot. I believe that if you love art, you'll
probably love this book. If you don't, you feel
uninterested sometimes, but all in all, this book is a
good read.
I close my eyes and spray and piece in my head, a
wall with a shadowy guy on it and a shadowy road in front
of him.
I would recommend this book to ages
fifteen and up, just because of the language would
definitely not be suitable for a younger age.
So, will Lucy find her man or her match? Will Ed
ever spill his dirty little secret? To find out, read
this exciting novel by Cath Crowley!
The profanity in this novel was a force to be reckoned
with. Reader discretion advised!
Reviewer
Age:12
Leopold, Missouri U.S.A

Shadowrise by Tad Williams

This fantasy novel is the third book in a series. It takes place in an imaginary land. The twin heirs of Southmarch Castle, Prince Barrick and Princess Briony have been separated as they each battle with two very dangerous enemies to their kingdom. Each must find a way to save their kingdom from these powers as well as some mysterious force awakening underground.

I've never had a problem with long books, nor with detailed books. I absolutely love to read, and the size of this book did not deter me from wanting to read it. As soon as I actually started, however, my opinion started dropping pretty quickly. I like William's description and character development; Briony, for example, is very easy to sympathize with, as is Barrick. But there is just too much going on with the plot; there are too many subplots and characters and it is quite hard to follow what is going on. The detail would have been fine if not for this flaw, but the addition of so many new characters every chapter made it tedious. I felt bogged down with so much detail and so much new information coming in at once; it felt more like an assignment than a book one would read for pleasure. I fought through the book for a few more chapters, but I was unable to read on when the combination of an overly-detailed plot, uncomfortably ornate descriptions, and unbelievably tiny font gave me such a big headache that I was forced to stop reading. The thought of picking this book back up is extremely unappealing. Again, the detail would have been a huge plus in a book that was around 300 pages, but for a 625-page book, it was way too much. I don't think the author achieved his purpose because the book was extremely boring to me and the writing would have been a lot more effective if there was just less of it. I'd recommend this book to hard-core fantasy fans or to people with lots of time on their hands and a magnifying glass handy, as well as a character web ready to fill out in order to keep all of these characters straight. All in all, definitely not the next Harry Potter or LOTR.

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country: Columbus, Indiana United States

Mourning Under The Bridge by C. Amethyst Frost

Mourning Under the Bridge is about a girl who was an orphan. She had some other older orphans caring for her. Her favorite was a seventeen year-old girl named Jo. While Mourning was prowling around the Pullman s old, burned house, she is caught by a count named Damien. He takes her to the dungeon under the castle. While she is there, she saw Jo, who was to die. Orphans were killed or sent to a workhouse. When Count Damien did her blood test to see who her parents were, the results showed she was the last Pullman heiress. Damien was her brother. She now has to learn how to behave like a normal person after ten years on the street. Is she successful or should she have stayed on the streets?

The book had a very exciting topic, which I find unique. When I picked it out, I suspected it would be very interesting. It has a very exciting suspense in many of the chapters. I have definitely added it to my favorite books. Mourning Under the Bridge shows a real example of what it is like to be an orphan on the streets and how to deal with the outcome. I recommend it for 12+.

Reviewer Age:11

Reviewer City, State and Country: Leesburg, Virginia

The Pale Death Moon by C.P. Goy

Terry and his friends have been whooshed into another world by a taurus(a kind of portal). They landed in a world on the edge war - a group of people broken away from their leader, who's started sacrificing blood offering to the "black spirits", finds Terry and his friends. They bring them in telling them that their old friends, Yalf, foretold their coming and that they (the people) were to help them. Terry requested their help finding the 3 tumblestones hidden in their world - one of which has reportedly fallen into the hands of their evil leader, Akru. Then, matters get even worse as Terry's new friend from the broken-off village, Pendu, is captured by Akru's men and is meant to be the next blood sacrifice at the full moon. Can terry and his friends find all three of the tumblestones and rescue Pendu, before it's too late?

This book is really fascinating! The wonderful grasp of the English language that the author enriches the book beyond words. It's the best imagery of the landscape, the word choice is fantastic, just... no words to describe it. Also, the writer's huge vocabulary prevents the book from becoming repetitive - instead of saying "the forest was green, and teeming with life", Goy says it at least 20 different ways. The details are so exact it feels like you could tell when a leaf dropped - even though it doesn't say so in the book. (If that makes any sense.) Not only that, but the plot is exciting and really, really deep. As the book goes on,you're able to slowly piece things together, and you realize things like, "Oh! That shadow - that was.... ohhh..... OMG." *reads next page frantically* The whole book was just amazing.

Reviewer Age:14

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

A Girl's Guide To Guns and Monsters by Martin H. Greenberg

This is a women butt kicking collection. I like when I read A Girl's Guide to Guns and Monsters, which was 13 different stories and all had fast action. Most had some monsters, craziness, and different tones. The stories are in time order from the Old West to the future. Don 't worry you won t get confused.

One little problem from the stories was the setting. Some of them were set in the worlds of the author's other writing. I didn' t know the worlds or characters, but I could still follow them. I like that women were the main characters. It made the story seem strong.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Newburgh, NY US

Fangbone: Third-Grade Barbarian by Michael Rex

Fangbone is a graphic novel that was written by Michael Rex. It is the first in a new series about a third grade barbarian named Fangbone. He is a barbarian boy from the planet Skullbania that was sent to Earth to guard the toe of a great villain named Drool. This was an important job for Skullbania because if Drool got his toe back, he would become so strong no one on Skullbania would be able to beat him. While on Earth, Fangbone enrolls in Eastwood Elementary and meets lots of new friends including a boy named Bill. Bill becomes his best friend and Fangbone learns about all sorts of things that are not on his planet. Fangbone and his newfound friends have lots of crazy and exciting adventures and work together to try and stop Drool.

I was surprised to find out this was a graphic novel. It was full of humor and was very easy to read. This book was recommended for readers that are 9-12 but I feel it is better for 8-10 because of the word level and the length of the book. The book is great at getting your attention and because of this I plan to continue the series to find out what happens next. I do not read graphic novels often but this one seemed to be good for entertainment. I would recommend it to others looking to read something fun and adventurous.

Reviewer Age:12

Reviewer City, State and Country: Henrico, VA USA

The Lunatic's Curse by F.E. Higgins

In The Lunatic's Curse, Rex Grammaticus is living in the town of Oppum Oppidulum. In this thrilling page-turner by F. E. Higgins, Rex is living with his father, Ambrose, and his new mother, Acantha. He hasn't been as happy since his father got engaged, but one night things really get bad. His father goes insane and he is sent to the asylum, but under false pretenses. Rex knows that he can get his father out. Now he just has to find the evidence to prove his father sane. He knows it will be a challenge, but he just doesn't know what he's getting into.

I believe that F. E. Higgins does a great job explaining the setting and immersing you into the characters lives. The characters are very interesting and aren't like any other characters you have ever known (except maybe in the authors other books). In this polyquel book the names of all the towns and people are kind of hard to pronounce, but that makes them all the more memorable. I have read many books, but this one is pretty high up on my list. I'm not sure I would rate it that high, but I would definitely recommend it.

It is a very good and interesting book, but it does have a bit of death, blood, and gruesome details. It has some... interesting descriptions, but it gives good reasons why it would put them in.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Overland Park, Kansas United States

The Vampire Diaries: The Hunters Vol.1 Phantom by L.J. Smith

Elana and her friends are back at Fells Church. But now there is a new evile their at Fells Church. This eveil is a Phantom that Stefan thinks Tylers cosen Calob let it lose to distroy the small town. When Elenas friends are trying to get rid of the Phantom. Elana is dreaming about the dead Damon. Merdith who is as strong at a bull, but is jealous Celia witch caused the Phantom to come to Fells Church.

I find that this book is an amazing book that shows how importent friendships are. I have a friend who is just like Bonnie and that made this book even more fun to read! I have recommended this book to almost all of my friends and can't wait to recommened it to a lot more of my friends. The only down fall to the story is that I fell bad for Elena and her friends for never getting a brake. I can't wait for the next book to come out.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Sandy, Oregon U.S.A

Lenobia's Vow by P.C. Cast

In Lenobia' s Vow, readers are welcomed into the back-story of the favorite House of Night professor. Set in France in 1788, at the urging of her mother, Lenobia takes on the role of Cecile, her recently deceased half-sister, to better her life in New Orleans. Fate has a different plan for her, which centers around a mulatto she loves, horses, and the evil Bishop. Lenobia s plan works until the Bishop recognizes her as the illegitimate child and not Cecile. By the end of the novella, she has been introduced to world of magic and marked as a vampyre.

I must admit, I have not read any of the other House of Night novels, so I did some research before diving into a series midway. The novella is a wonderful stand alone book, but the Casts have caught my attention with Lenobia' s story, and I m ready to get lost in the magic of the House of Night.
Although I started of cautious at the beginning of Chapter One, by the end of it I was completely hooked. Needless to say I finished it in one sitting. To all magic lovers and House of Night fans, read this book!

Although the descriptions and language were not too graphic, especially for the setting, I still recommend parental guidance. The rest of the series is for more mature readers.

Reviewer Age:23

Reviewer City, State and Country: Bay City, Texas USA

The Secret Room (eBook) by Beth Kanell

While measuring an old stagecoach inn's dimensions for a math project, new friends Shawna and Thea discover a secret room behind a pile of wood in the cellar. A seemingly nonsensical code covers the walls, and the two math whizzes are determined to figure out what the secret room was used for. Unfortunately, word about the room gets out, and soon the whole town is excited about the room they assume was part of the underground railroad. Knowing that there is more to the truth than the solution that seems most obvious, Shawna and Thea enlist the help of the historical society to try and prove what everyone else is just assuming. Not only is Shawna kept busy with the secret room's mysteries, she is also sifting through her family's dirty laundry, struggling to make sense of her estranged older sister Alice and the sideways glances being exchanged between her family members.

The Secret Room was an interesting double mystery, and the author did an excellent job of weaving the two distinctly different plotlines together. Shawna, the overweight eigth grade math whiz, and Thea, her new best friend, are unique and well described. Their thoughts and actions fit their situations very believably, and their reactions were exciting enough to keep me involved in the story. The plot itself went fast in teh beginning as they found the room and began to puzzle out it's significance, but slowed down considerably in the middle with a lot of non-action progress being made on the research. The end sped up with a terrifying search and rescue, as well as resolutions to the big mysteries. Not all the loose ends were tied up, however, and I was a bit unclear as to the final verdict on the secret room. All in all, The Secret Room was a good story, and gives an important lesson in fact gathering and research credibility. I would recommend this book for preteens and teens with an interest in history and realistic fiction.

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country: Harleysville, PA USA

Gamers

You' d think that this was a perfect computer generated high school. In LifeGame, you couldn' t be more wrong. In this adventurous novel, Gabby discovers the true side of the life she 's been living. The system she thought was perfect turns out to be extremely violent, and questions are left unanswered. When the Frags contact Gabby from outside of her small town, she is wary to trust them. Throughout the novel she learns who her real friends are and who can be trusted. But in life or death situations, can even your closest stay by your side? Gabby fights for her life as the obstacles presented to her get more and more difficult as well as more and more threatening.

I enjoyed the book Gamers by Thomas K Carpenter for many reasons. Typically when an alternate universe or future community is written about, the descriptions overrule the action in the book as the author tries to explain their idea. Luckily, that wasn' t the case in this book. Thomas K Carpenter had a way of having enough description that the reader understood the plot, while still keeping plenty of suspense to keep the pages turning. Another plus to this book was the character development. There were tons of action to go around, but there were also enough feelings within the characters to keep the events more personal. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Hermantown, Minnesota USA

This is not a Test by Courtney Summers

Sloane and five other teens are trapped inside their high school during a zombie outbreak. Just one bite to kill you and reanimate you as a vicious creature without any sense of love, compassion, or remorse: only a hunger for human flesh. People have become erratic and sometimes Sloane doesn't know who to trust. The necessities of the group change drastically, everything turns for the worse, and their willingness to survive takes them to a new level. The dead know the living are inside the high school and it's only a matter of time before the dead get past the barriers until something happens that will change the group, for better or for worse.

This book was one of the best books I've ever read. It was filled with action and suspense and sometimes I found myself yelling at the characters because of their slow thinking. But I don't blame them, because if I came face to face with a zombie there would be a lot of hesitating. This book isn't completely filled with action but instead focuses on the mind of someone who was in Sloane's situation and how they would react to the mental changes that turn them from a human to a survivor. It was the first zombie book I have read and it has convinced me that I've found my genre.
It is violent and gory.
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Leawood, Kansas United States

This One Time With Julia by David Lampson

Joe hasn't had an easy life. His parents were killed in a car crash when he was five and he was raised by his older brother. Besides that, Joe also has developmental disabilities that have prevented him from becoming a functioning member of society. He can't read and has limited cognitive abilities, so he's not sure what to make of his twin brother's disappearance. But when Alvin's ex-girlfriend Julia shows up, he decides to accompany her back to Tennessee and work at her family's hotel. It is here that Joe discovers the truth about Alvin's disappearance and just how much Julia's family is involved.

This One Time With Julia was a lot different from other books that I've read, and unfortunately I did not enjoy it that much. The only character I sympathized with was Joe because he seemed very geniune and sweet. But he was so unobservant that it made him an unreliable narrator. It was hard to get into the story when the main character doesn't even really know what's going on. I didn't like any of the other characters, and none of them were developed beyond a few superficial characters. A lot of them  just seemed like a caractitures of people. I didn't care for the plot, as there was a lot of telling about events and not showing them. For example, Joe discovers the truth about Alvin's disappearance via a ghost/hallucination. The only good thing about This One Time With Julia is that it's a short and easy read.

Reviewer Age:20
Reviewer City, State and Country: Aston, Pennsylvania United States

Lunch-Box Dream by Tony Abbott

In the Lunch-box Dream by Tony Abbott, the character Bobby and his brother Ricky go on a road trip with their family to visit Civil War battlefields.  The year is 1959, the era of the Civil Rights movement, and Bobby does not like black people. He calls them chocolates and does not want to have anything to do with them. When an accident cuts their trip short the family ends up taking the bus back to their hometown of Cleveland. Bobby and his family come face-to-face with racial discrimination that may jeopardize a black family' s seats on the bus.  The reason the family has to be on the bus though is because their child is missing in a different town.
This book was not one of my favorites. I did not really like the structure of the book. This book was not a back-and-forward book. It was a back-and-back-and-forward-and-other-and-another-and-other again book. The book was also very confusing since it contained many characters which made it hard to try to keep track of who was who.  Most of the book was building up to the end which wrapped up in two chapters.   If there were fewer characters telling that story it may have been better.

Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Rochester, New York USA

Sorghaghtani of Mongolia

        I read the book Sorghaghtani of Mongolia by Shrin Yim Bridges. It is a nonfiction book about a princess named Sorghaghtani. About the age of twelve Sorghaghtani married Prince Touli who was the son of Genghis Khan. While still a teenager she gives birth to their first son. Later she had three more sons. Touli spent most of his time away fighting while Sorghaghtani stayed home to care for their children. She also had to deal with government business if her husband was away. When she was only forty her husband died after a night of drinking alcoholic mare's milk . After her husband's death her brother in law gave her all authority over her husband's land . Later when this same brother in law tried to take control of most of China Sorghaghtani had to be wise and brave to keep him from taking all the land. In the end Sorghaghtani's son was elected the supreme ruler. Sorghaghtani was respected for her wisdom and for teaching her sons to be kind leaders that hel their people.


       This book is more than a story about Sorghaghtani life. It is also about the culture of the Mongol tribes who lived north of China. The book shows pictures of some many everyday things Sorghaghtani would have used. Princesses wore a dress with trousers tucked into boots. When they got married they wore a Baqta which was a hat that showed they were married. I was surprised to learn that the women did all the hard work of loading the wagons and getting the horses ready when the tribe decided to move to a different area. This book was very interesting and fun to read.

Destiny and Deception by Shannon Delany

The Rusakova family has just begun a normal life, as they have taken the cure to extend their lives and cease being werewolves. However, normal seems to be a let down after the previous adventures Jess has had with her boyfriend, Pietr Rusakova. Upset that his attentions seem to now be lying elsewhere, but determined to support him through anything, Jess finds herself caught between her wants and her promises. Then danger comes to the town in the form of a new werewolf pack. Will the Rusakovas be able to overcome past grievances to save the town? Or will their attempts simply crash and burn?

Destiny and Deception was an engaging read with interesting plot twists. However, the way the author connected the two interwoven plots of the story was oftentimes confusing. The plot seemed to rely more on the romantic interests of the characters than the dangers occurring in the town, a disappointment, as these conflicts were interesting and engaging. Nonetheless, Destiny and Deception was well written and the chapters written from each perspective gave the reader an understanding into every character s feelings and purpose. I would recommend Destiny and Deception for those who are fans of mysteries and fantasies, as well as those who have read the books in the 13 to Life series preceding this one.


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

Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey

Eloise has lived a normal life with her funky single mom, Jaz, and her two best friends, Devin and Jo. She also had no idea that faeries existed; that is, until she was abducted by Strahan, the king of Faery. Strahan wants to use Eloise as a bargaining chip to get Eloise's Aunt Antonia back to the Faery court. Antonia is the only one who can stop Strahan, who has yet to give up his crown after the maximum seven years of ruling. Eloise must figure out a way to escape and help Antonia defeat Strahan, before the conflict of the Faery world trickles into the human world.
I wanted to read Stolen Away because I previously loved Hearts at Stake, another book by Alyxandra Harvey. Unfortunately, I didn't think that Stolen Away was as good as the author's other series. I liked the premise of Stolen Away, especially because I don't read that many books about fairies. However, I wish the book was a little bit longer so there was more development about the Faery court and politics. That seemed very interesting but was just glossed over. I also wish the characters were developed a little more beyond some superficial characteristics. Other than that, I really enjoyed the action at the end, and the romance between Eloise and Lucas and Jo and Eldric added something extra to the novel. Overall, even though Stolen Away wasn't as good as I was hoping, it was still an enjoyable novel.

Reviewer Age:20
Reviewer City, State and Country: Aston, Pennsylvania United States

The Phantom Limb

Summary: I read The Phantom Limb by William Sleator and Ann Monticone. I greatly enjoyed this book. It had an interesting plot and was unlike any other book that I have ever read. It is the story of Issac, a boy with a dead father and a mother in the hospital. Friends reccomend a hospital for Issac's mom, so the family moves to a new house with Issac's grandfather who hasn't been himself in years. Issac feels neglected and alone until he finds a mirror box in his new bedroom. When he tries out the mirror box, he realizes that it not only reflects his other limb...it reflects the limb of another boy. With Issac's mom getting worse, Issac turns to the phantom limb for help. Doing a little poking around, Issac soon learns that the phantom limb belongs to a boy murdered by the same doctor operating on his mother now. The phantom limb directs Issac on how to save his mother. But can Issac trust the phantom limb?


Opinion: I really enjoyed The Phantom Limb. It was extremely original, I doubt you could find anything else like it. William Sleator and Ann Monticone really made you feel for the main character. The boy who has been through so much, you really get a sense of who he is. However, my only problem was that the book was a little bit predictable. I didn't really see the ending coming, but I saw the rest of the book coming within the first half. The end wasn't one of those books that makes you want to throw it across the room, it ties up all loose ends which I liked. It's a short read, but each chapter leaves you wanting more. All in all, I would highly recommend The Phantom Limb.


Content:1

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7

Reviewer Age: 13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Tipp City, Ohio USA

Horse Diaries: Black Cloud by Patricia Hermes

Horse Diaries is about a horse named Black Cloud.  The story begins when he is born.  He explores around the meadow as his mother keeps them from harm.  After discovering many things throughout the meadow, they go back to the herd of horses.  He meets his father and some other colts and fillies.  After many days of playing, grazing, drinking, and sleeping with the other foals, a strange machine flies above their herd.  When all the other horses go running, Black Cloud follows.  He runs from the machine, which his mom calls a helicopter, for hours on end.  Soon, many of the horses begin to fall and never get back up.  When the machine leaves, the horses stop near a foul-tasting creek.  Many horses are captured by humans.  What will happen to Black Cloud?

The story wasn't as long as it could have been.  It was a nice story someone could read to a little brother or sister.  If it had more chapters, it could have been more interesting.  It had a lot of repeat sentences in the first two chapters.  The story didn't get me attached to the characters in the book.  Horse Diaries didn't have a lot of details about most of the things that happened to the horses.  I wouldn't recommend this book for people over the age of 9.

Reviewer Age:11

Reviewer City, State and Country: Leesburg, Virginia U.S.A

 

Battle of the Onoxmon by Alison Kartevold

Princesses Sophie and Veronica live in the castle in KenKarta, located on Virtier. Above Virtier are the Upper Tiers, where magical creatures live. In the Lower Tiers, the evil creatures are imprisoned. In KenKarta Veronica and Sophie spend their time playing, studying, and learning to use their Gifts. (Gifts are a little like magic powers but not quite the same.) Sophie, Veronica, Queen Alison, and King Dale make up a very happy family. But all that changes when Alison is stuck on an entirely different tier, Dale is being held and tortured who knows where, and Sophie is kidnapped! Veronica sets out to save her little sister, but ends up with the task of saving her entire world. She has some help from old friends, Julia and Dalminyo, and the help of a new friend, a stable boy named Zane. Even so, is she up to the challenge?
This book was one of the best books I have reviewed! The plot was complicated and kept changing, so you never got bored, but you didn't become really confused either. The characters were really relatable (for me at least) and had a lot of the impulses I do. I love how one of the bad guys isn't completely bad and Sophie is the only one who can see the good in him. I would suggest this to fantasy readers ages 10-14 (especially those with younger siblings) because it's one of the better books around with main characters close to that age.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Rockwell City, IA USA

R and the Sabre of Slaytr (eBook) by Summer Lockhart

This book is about a young orphan who goes on a quest to find out who his parents are. It starts out with him on a beach not knowing anything about himself. He then sees terrifying dreams. Except the dreams he sees are real events that happened. He is then taken to an orphanage by a man called Right Virgil. After a few years Right Virgil dies and on his deathbed tells him to read from the Sabre of Saltyr.
I loved this book. It was really well written and had me guessing what came next. In the end there is a twist so huge not even a magician could have predicted it.  The vocabulary was a little interesting and I had to look up some words but not to many. This book compares to Eragon but is more amazingly written. This is a beautifully written book with a beautiful ending.
I would recommend this book to anybody who liked Eragon but can handle a more twisted plot.





Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Hunting Valley, OH USA

The Knife and the Butterfly by Ashley Hope Perez

After a huge gang fight between Azael's MS-13, and a rival gang, 16-year-old Azael wakes up to a familiar sight--juvie.  Or is it?  No lawyer, no phone call, and no news about his brother. The only thing they make him do is watch some white girl he doesn't know and remember what happened.

Lexi Allen has no trouble remembering the fight, but her family and lawyers would love it if she could choose to forget it once it's time to testify.  She may be the key to Azael's understanding of what happened. There's a connection intertwined between them that goes deeper than they could both imagine.  Will Azael be able to figure out what happened before it's too late?  Can Lexi sort through what's right and what's wrong?
At first, I was a bit apprehensive about this book because of the language. Azael uses a lot of swear words and likes to describe girls in a rough manner. Not to mention that there were a lot of Spanish phrases that I did not understand, having never taken Spanish before. Then I realized that it was all part of the character. Perez does a beautiful job getting into Azael's head, and had she not used this language, Azael would not be believable.
The whole book is rather like a mystery trying to figure out what happened during the gang fight, and once I finished, I read it again and was able to pick up clues. The ending was absolutely beautiful, and immediately I gave the book to my English teacher to read because I really think she will like it. The chapters switch between then and now, so the reader finds out more of Azael's past along the way and what caused his tough life. Through his past, the reader is able to find Azael's lovable side of the boy who's just trying to survive. Even the disrespectful Lexi has a heart, and I came to love her, too.

I loved this book so much. If it were a movie, it would probably be rated R because of the profanity and gang violence, but it would be powerful enough to get nominated for an Academy Award. I would recommend this book to anyone, and think it should be read in school. And I will say it again, the ending is beautiful!
There was a lot of swearing and some slang descriptions of girls that would be a little disrespectful to someone who may not be OK with that. 

Reviewer Age:18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Gearhart, Oregon United States

Narrative Loserdom by Ryan Collins

     Narrative Loserdom, by Ryan Collins, is a classic tale of two teenage boys.  This book is written in the journalistic style by Justin Taggart; he writes about all the interesting things he and his friend Adam do.  From video games and girls to money, they're always doing something different.  Justin's fear of being rejected makes his dating life very miserable.    Find out if Adam and Justin make it through high school, in Narrative Loserdom.

     The plot to this book was very interesting, yet confusing.  Justin would often have flash backs or change the scene.  The author did a nice job at making you feel like you're part of the book.  You could feel Justin's voice the whole time.  This book is not meant for younger kids, although it's short.  It involves stealing and some pornographic references.

I gave this a 3 because there is references to Adam watching pornography, and stealing.

Reviewer Age:12

Flying to the Light (eBook) by Elyse Salpeter

Flying to the Light by Elyse Salpeter is about two brothers- Michael and Danny- whose parents get kidnapped at an awards ceremony late at night. The next morning, they wake up to immediate chaos. Michael sees news reports telling of his parents being partners with an evil biochemist, Samuel Herrington, and soon the bad men begin chasing them down, desperate to capture Danny. Michael doesn t know much at first, but he discovers that Danny isn t just his innocent kid brother. Danny can do the impossible: he knows what happens after you die, and Herrington is after that ability. Through betrayals, discoveries, and Danny s unique abilities, Michael and Danny do their best to escape from Herrington s men- and find their parents.
What I enjoyed most about this book was learning about Danny s powers. At a few points in the novel, I was shocked by how creative the author was being. She drew me into the story by exposing little by little of Danny, and each part made me want to discover more. I also liked the characters of both Danny and Michael. Danny seems like just a regular little boy, and he doesn t act like his ability makes him all that special. Michael always does anything he can to get him and his brother out of tight situations.


The author s style is just perfect for the plot of the book: she has fairly good writing, but it didn' t go into too much detail about every little thing, which I liked.


Some things I didn' t like about the novel: I felt like almost every chapter, there was a new discovery about someone they trusted being evil. Although it kept the plot moving, it was a little too much. Overall, I would recommend this book to someone who likes mystery novels and adventure- it was a page turner.



Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Burke , Virginia USA

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Aria has been cast out of Reverie, out of the Realms, out of her home.  Now she is in the outside, "the Death Shop".  With the raging Aether storms, she doesn't know how long she'll be able to survive.  Then she meets an Outsider named Perry who is her only chance of survival.  Despite their mutual hatred for each other, Perry and Aria come to an agreement so both can get what want most: Aria her life and Perry his salvation.  But will they be able to work together long enough to save everyone they know?

Under the Never Sky was an amazing book.  I could not put it down once I opened it and read it in one sitting.  Veronica Rossi has the book switching back and forth between Aria's and Perry's perspectives.  This helps the plot to be smooth and continuous and melds the lives of Aria and Perry.  The characters were extremely well developed, and there is never a dull moment in Aria and Perry's story.  I would recommend this book to anyone who liked the Uglies series by Scott Westerfield.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Brownsburg, Indiana United States of America

Cutting Cords

Book Title: Cutting Cords
Author: Jo Ramsey
ISBN: 9780983262428
Summary: This book was about a young girl named Shanna, who's father just moved out, due to an unhealthy marrige. Shanna is now left with her abusive mother. The only person she can look to for comfort is her best friend, Jonah. Jonah is trying to teach Shanna about being of light, banishing demons, and how to meditate. A friend of Shanna's, named Tammi, is cursed with a demon, and the demon has created an invisible cord, attached to Tammi, so she can drain Tammi's energy and transfer into the real world. Shanna must overcome her insecurity, and fear of her mother, to cast out the demon in Tammi.
Opinion: Wow. This book was amazing. I loved how the book started out by introducing the marrige problem between her mother and father right off the bat. It made me want to keep reading to see what might happen next. I loved the suspense that the author used at the end of some of the chapters. It gave the book an element that kept me reading. I appreciated that. I also loved how she eventually became more comfortable with her friend Jonah. It gave a romantic edge to the book that was very fun to read about.

Content:1


Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Enon, Ohio USA

True Grime by Natasha Deen

True Grime, by Natasha Deen, focuses on the adventures of a teenage fairy cop named Pepper Polly Pebble Petunia Powder Puff, but don't ever call her that unless you're her partner Harley Hands! Pepper and Harley, two hard-working Grime cops, work to keep magical creatures from misusing their magic. However, when a high-tech bomb set by terrorists turns Pepper into the world's first fairy amputee, things get personal. Pepper and Harley go undercover as humans to keep the very same terrorists from destroying all of humankind by unleashing a Violent Illness of Unusual Resistance and Strength (V.I.U.R.S) in one of the human world's biggest shopping centers. The mission, however, ends up being tougher than Pepper had expected -- what with the fancy new technology of the terrorists and the unpredictability of humanity.
I did not find the book to be a particularly engaging read. While the characters were witty and likeable, the plot was quite predictable. The writing style and vocabulary were not very advanced, though that may be due to the fact that the narrator is a teenage fairy. The book was a mix of fantasy, adventure, and teen romance. Many aspects of the fantasy world created by Deen were unoriginal and made me immediately recall markedly similar elements or items from popular series such as Harry Potter. I will say that True Grime was a quick read and fairly amusing. However, readers should not expect to find any underlying themes; it's a story told for the sake of telling a story.

Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Columbus, IN USA

The Undrowned Child by Michelle Lovric

Teodora has been long anticipating her trip to Venice, a place where she feels she belongs. She has come from Naples with her adoptive parents, and is eager for an enchanting vacation in the little city. Teo is touring a charming old-fashioned Venetian bookshop when one of its volumes falls on her head. Venice turns out to be more than meets the eye as Teo begins to unlock centuries-old secrets that have led the ancient city into perilous danger.
I liked this book! It' s a little slow to take off, but once it does, it's an interesting story that ties into Venice s history and gives it a magical twist. If you 're someone who likes details to be perfect, parts of this story might bother you: The characters often accept undeniably magical and impossible situations and don 't question it. Personally, I didn' t mind and still found this story to be a satisfying read that taught me a little about Venice and told a good story at the same time. The young heroine in this tale will charm readers of all ages. An overall good read!

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Tigard, OR USA

The Lily Pond by Annika Thor

Stephanie finds herself a year older and still in Poland. Her parents still suffer in war-ravaged Germany, trying to survive. So when Stephanie gets the chance to continue her schooling beyond six years she does everything in her power to be able to stay at the school on the mainland. Stephanie is staying with a fairly rich couple that rented her foster parents' cabin the summer before. She soon begins to fall in love with the couples son, who is five years Stephanie s senior (he' s nineteen, she s fourteen). In the end Stephanie is accused of cheating on a test, and Sven, the couple's son, tells Stephanie something that devastates her so much she is willing to give up her education, which would help her have a better life

At first I was kind of disappointed in this book, but then around the second or third chapter things started to pick up, and the book began to have more action. Soon it was as if someone had glued my eyes to the pages of the book and I couldn 't put it down.
The ending did surprise me, when it came my mouth formed an O shape. I was stunned I would have never thought they' d be friends again (Stephanie and Sven). I thought Stephanie would' ve been to embarrassed to show her face again, I thought she was going to just wallow in her pity, but this ending literally left me there thinking WOW, I never would' ve guessed this book was going to take me by surprise. I 'd rate this book out of ten ponds, eight ponds. I really believe you wouldn' t regret picking this book to read (if you' re a girl.) because of the romance in it.


P.S. I also think the author left all loose ends tied up at the end of the book, and this book taught me that nothing is always easy, but if you persevere that things will end up all right.


Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Nampa, Idaho U.S.A

Over the Edge by Norah McClintock

When Peter (a person from Chloe's school) is found dead at the bottom of MacAdam's lookout, nobody knows if he jumped.... or if he was pushed. And to top it all off, Peter's mother seemed to think that Chloe was a friend of Peter's, when Chloe barely even noticed him. Will Chloe find out what really happened to Peter?
Although this book was good, it was my least favorite of the whole series. It didn't have as much action as the other ones in the series. This book was still amazing, though! It just didn't answer a few questions I had at the end of the book.... such as, what happened to Mrs. Flosnick? What happened to Lise's father? What happened to Daria? What happened to Matt? Although there were a few questions unanswered, I didn't figure out the ending before it happened (like I did with the other books in the series). The ending was a complete surprise to me. This book was very good (other then the unanswered questions), and I suggest you read it! :)
I rated this 2 because there are some violant scenes that may be too much for the younger age.
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Yucaipa, CA USA

Spirits of the Noh

Kara Harper and her friends survived a nightmarish summer fighting to stop the Kyuketsuki. They succeeded in closing his window into our world. The demon left them with a curse that would draw demons that would exact the revenge of the Kyuketsuki. After months of dread, things seem to be back to normal. School was back in session, and people were moving on, but the darkness is looming. Worry starts to arise when two students go missing after working on the play Dojoji for Noh Club. The official theory is that they ran away together, but after Miiho is attacked they know something more sinister is afoot. There is a demon in Miyazu City that seems to be only interested in the Noh Club kids. Kara and her friends decide to attempt to protect the club members after the violent murder of the play's star by the demon, Hannya. In this pursuit Miho is kidnapped and wakes up trapped in the Hannya's lair. To find out what happens read "Spirits of the Noh" by Thomas Randall.

"Spirits of the Noh" is a riveting story that has the reader holding their breath up to the last page. This book can be a little complicated at first if you have not read the first book. If you want to have a better understand you really should read the first book, "Dreams of the Dead". The story flows from one point of view to another without warning. Each of the characters has a distinct personality that seems to bleed through and blend with the other character's perfectly. I would recommend this book to anyone who would like a thrilling read with hints of mystery, romance, and the supernatural.

There are some graphic scenes described.
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Makanda, Illinois USA

The Space Merchants

Book Title: The Space Merchants
Author: Frederik Pohl and C.M. Kornbluth
ISBN: 9781250000156
Summary: In an overpopulated, future Earth, Mitch Courtenay is a star-class copywriter in a world run by business. He has been given the job of advertising an ad to attract colonist to Venus by the Fowler Schocken advertising agency that he works for. Venus has just been judged to be hospitable, even with the harsh climates. Mitch’s relationship with his wife, Kathy, is in turmoil. His relationship with his boss, however, is strong because Fowler Shocken is giving Mitch the most important job that the agency has ever been a part of. The Taunton agency is fighting for the right to have Venus and will do anything to get it. However, Mitch’s career takes a turn for the worst after a betrayal leaves him with nothing and he may never have the same life again.
Opinion: I really liked this book. The author used a good setting of how the world could easily turn into. The characters fit very well into the setting and plot of the book. I would have liked the author to explain some of the products in the book a little more clearly such as the anti-soot plugs and what they were used for. The twist that the author put in the book had me turning the pages just to find out what he does next. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes science fiction and/or dystopian novels

Content:1


Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Springfield , Ohio United States

The File on Angelyn Stark

Book Title: The File on Angelyn Stark
Author: Catherine Atkins
ISBN: 9780375869068
Summary: “You think you know me?” This is how Angelyn Stark would respond to meeting a new person. As an outsider, you would not know much about Angelyn. Sure, at school, kids see the bad girl side of her, the one that doesn’t mind getting in trouble. But what happened to the good girl, the one that studied with Mrs. Daly after school when she was younger? And why does she hate Mrs. Daly’s grandson, Nathan, so much? What did Nathan do to make Angelyn’s mom and step-father hate her? And then there is Mr. Rossi, Angelyn’s World Cultures teacher that says Angelyn is “one smart girl.” Angelyn hates teachers, but Mr. Rossi doesn’t act like a teacher…he’s more of a friend. But how friendly will Angelyn and Mr. Rossi become?
Opinion: The File on Angelyn Stark was a good read, but the title of the book left me confused. When I first started reading the book, I thought that a file of records would have a significant meaning in the book, but there never was a file. Although I was confused by the title, I liked the book and thought that Angelyn was an interesting character. I never knew what she would do next, which left for an exciting plot. However, the book was a little slow at some parts and, to me; the author took awhile to let you know some major events that would affect the plot. All in all, the book was a good read. I would recommend this book to girls 14 and above, due to some language and sexual content.

Content:2
Contained profanity and sexual content. Also involved a student-teacher relationship.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Springfield, Ohio USA

Unto the Breach

Book Title: Unto the Breach
Author: Sidney Gale
ISBN: 9780557687640
Summary:

Unto the Breach By: Sidney Gale

This book may not seem like something you would pick up at the library and read, but you definitely should. Sidney Gale offers us a story into which the readers quickly become interested.  While the rest of the students in their class attend a school-sponsored camping trip, three students, along with their teacher, decide instead on a boating trip around Lake Ontario.  When things go terribly wrong, three young kids fight to stay hopeful.  Will the boys make it back in time before their beloved teacher Mr. Benson goes to sleep with the fishes?   In this book, the story picks you up off your feet and into the life’s of these three kids. Unto the Breach by Sidney Gale is definitely a story any sailor, or non-sailor for that matter, will love.
Opinion: This book by Sidney Gale was awesome. The story honestly made me feel something, which is something that every author should want to achieve when writing.  Honestly, I can say that when I was reading this, I felt scared for the kids.   Sidney Gale has definitely achieved something in his writing. Unto the Breach could give a different feeling to  all of us, but to figure that out, first you’re going to have to prop up a chair and open Unto the Breach to find out.  You definitely should!

Content:1


Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: ENON, Ohio United States of America

Silver Zombie

Book Title: Silver Zombie
Author: Carole Nelson Douglas
ISBN: 9781439167816

Summary: Carole Nelson Douglas does a wonderful job at combining companionship, action, and a little romance to spice things up. Although this journey starts in Vegas, Delilah, her partner Ric, and her half wolfhound companion Quicksilver go to Kansas to learn more about Delilah's past. It doesn't take long before Delilah begins to realize trouble lies ahead of her. She is soon dealing with zombie cowboys, weather girl witches, and a Hollywood fanatic. Although all of the battles Delilah faces, she is forced to face her biggest fear yet. This yellow brick road trip seems to have taken a wrong turn.

Opinion: In my opinion, this book was alright, but not one of my favorites. It was very difficult for me to read. I really enjoy the basic idea of the plot, but the way the author uses states the sentences doesn't really draw you into the book fast enough. The first few pages get you going, but the following pages don't pull through for me.   The one thing I loved about the book is how the author combined companionship, Delilah and Quicksilver, Romance, Delilah and Ric, along with action throughout the story. Maybe it was because I have not read the earlier books in the series, but this book did not jump out at me.

Content:1


Rating (0 - 10 scale): 4
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Enon, Ohio USA

Taken at Dusk by C.C Hunter

In the book Taken at Dusk by C.C. Hunter, Kylie thinks that now that she has gotten away from the sadistic vampire her life will get easier. Now she just has to figure out whatshe is. On top of that, she has two boys chasing after her. Lukas and Derek are both great for her , but how can she decide? Her newest ghost is an amnesia afflicted woman who can 't remember anything except that someone is going to die. Will Kylie s world come crashing down or will she learn to accept how she is?

This book was good. I didn't t likethat the book was written in third person. This made it somewhat hard to get engaged in the book. Overall, the characters were developed very well throughout the whole book. I would recommend this book to people who liked VampireAcademy, House of Night series, Hush, hush, Nightshade, Fallen and Hex Hall.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Northglenn, CO U.S.A.

Lovetorn

Lovetorn


Recently, I read the ethnic novel, Lovetorn, by Kavita Daswani. Times are tough for Shalini, a sixteen year old Indian girl freshly uprooted from her native country, India, to the United States, where her father now has a position in a nationwide company. Used to her extended family always surrounding her and the comfortable life she has always lived, Shalini is in for a rude awakening when she moves to Los Angeles, where her now-immediate family starts to slowly fall apart. Her mother, pining for her familiar Indian home, is slowly slipping into a state of depression.Shalini, on the other hand, is new to this way of life, and is shunned by what seems like herentire new school, just because she is different. Also, she is not only homesick for India and the shelteredlifestyle she once lived, but now is missing her fiance, Vikram, whom she has been betrothed to since her third birthday. She is constantly thinking of him until she meets Toby. Finding she is woefully attracted to the handsome yet radical flute player, Shalini is trapped between her duty and her desire for love. She had once believed she and Vikram were meant for each other, but Vikram has never made her feel the sensations she now experiences when she sees Toby. Just starting to fit in, Shalini is fearful that if anyone hears of her engagement even her new flame, Toby--she will be an outcast once more. Guilty about her infatuation with the swashbuckling soloist, Shalini does not know which way to turn. Suddenly there are just too many decisions to make.

"He was staring at me. I looked away to avoid his gaze. I was barely breathing. He felt so close, so touchable. The air between us felt heavy, unmoving."


I was really disappointed in this book. All you heard about was Toby. Shalini's obsession with him was maddening! The book actually started out good for the first fifty pages until Toby waltzed into the plot. Then it just kind of got into a pattern-- She likes Toby, then feels guilty that she doesn't love Vikram, she likes Toby, then she feels guilty about Vikram...it just goes on and on. I honestly had to motivate myself so I could get through the next chapter! It seemed like she had nothing better to do than sit in her room fantasizing about Toby. I really wish that the novel focused a little bit more on the other secondary characters and would hone in on their stories more. It was all about Shalini and of course, her knight in shining armor, Toby. One thing I really liked about this book was that it exceptionally portrayed the insecurities of a new student and the difficulty people have accepting new cultures or anyone who is not like them, for that matter.

"I glanced up and saw Sasha and Magali standing by the door, both staring straight at me, huddling close to each other and laughing."

I would recommend this book for ages eight and up, partly because of the vocabulary and partly because of the story plot, which would be difficult to follow for younger readers. I assure you there are no sexual situations in this book, and the content is sparkling clean.





This book is all about how hard it is to fit in, especially when people have a narrow mind when it comes to accepting different ethnic groups, just because they are not alike. Shalini tries to break through all these barriers, and then has the choice to try and forgive those who once tormented her. Trapped in between these two countries, will Shalini finally find her place in her strange new world?



Age:12
Leopold, Missouri United States of America

Extraordinary by Adam Selzer

For Jennifer Van Der Berg, life totally and completely sucks. When Eileen Codlin wrote that book about her, that wasn't even close to the truth. Jennifer felt the need to set everyone straight and write the real version of her story. Eileen's story makes Jennifer out to be a fairy princess with a fairy godmother who helps Jen get her prince charming. Wrong! In reality, Jen is just an average girl with purple highlights and a horrible fairy godfather by the name of Gregory Grue. Soon, Jennifer's life starts to get all tangled up into one big knot as  more and more problems start to unfold. Can Jen set everything straight and save those she loves, or will the  bad guys get the final word?
Adam Selzer did an amazing job writing the novel Extraordinary. This story was the perfect mix of everything for fantasy: fairies, vampires, unicorns, romance, and lots and lots of purple! I hope Selzer writes another novel as intricate in details as this one was. While reading Jennifer's story, I felt everything she felt; that is how realistic Selzer's writing was. I recommend this book to ages twelve and above. I recommend this book to ages twelve and above.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Fresno, California USA

Nathan Dee: Search for the Tree of Life by R. Shalendra

Nathan Dee is an average, run of the mill school teacher, until he finds out that his father was the head of the ROSAA - Recovery Of Space Alien Artifacts. Nathan soon finds out that his father's  journal that he has in his possession is the key to the kingdom, the way to find the Tree of Life. Nathan is now face to face with friends, traitors, lovers, and even aliens. All in search of one thing, the Tree of Life. Follow this  adventure through the streets of Vancouver, helicopters in China, and the Himalayan mountains of Tibet. All this and more awaits you in Nathan Dee: The Search for the Tree of Life.


I personally didn't enjoy this book very much. It was pretty slow and at sometimes even confusing. Now, don't get me wrong, some parts of the book have my rapt attention and other times I just wanted to read so I could get it over with. The ending was really good though, it was the only reason I gave the book a review this high. I also found the book was full of grammatical errors. I hope it isn't finished being edited. If you have nothing else to read, only then would I suggest reading this book. Otherwise, I suggest reading something that makes sense and can hold your attention. :)

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Silver Spring, Maryland USA

The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder

Cam is a typical 17 year old girl, except she has been fighting cancer for ten years.  When the doctors give up, her mom, in a last effort to save her oldest daughter s, takes her on a trip to a magical city in Maine. Cam who doesn' t believe in hope or miracles reluctantly follows. Even with miracles so close like the flamingos in Maine, purple dandelions, and sunsets that last for hours, Cam still won 't believe. But as she starts to believe in love, she also starts to change. She decides whether she can believe this place can save her or if miracles are for the naive.
I loved this book. It might have been Wendy Wunder s first novel, but you couldn' t tell. The Probability of Miracles is full of emotion. You 'll laugh. You' ll cry. I would warn, it uses a fair amount bad language and some scenes hint at adult things. I would recommend this book to anyone who believes in miracles.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Cibolo, Texas United States