Monterey Shorts 2

"Monterey Shorts 2" is a collection of short stories written by authors of the Monterey Peninsula in Central California. Each of these wonderful stories takes place somewhere in the area of the Monterey Peninsula. The stories date back from the days of the gold rush to present time. Another interesting aspect of the book is that some of the stories refer to characters in another story. This helps tie key parts of the plot together and gives a better overall understanding of the stories. If you like stories of all varieties without a large time commitment, this is the book for you. "Monterey Shorts 2" gives you the thrill of a best-selling novel and the feel-good lessons of life with its many stories written by some of the best authors in the country.

I thought this book gave great insight to the reader about life in the Monterey Peninsula. There is an excellent variety of stories from psychological thrillers to the stories that send great universal messages. The stories incorporated a lot into the plot and storyline, but not too much to confuse the reader or detract from the main idea of the story. Many of the authors wrote more than one story in the book, and I was impressed with their ability to write high-quality work from vastly different genres. I thought the subtle details blended with the plot very well to keep the reader on edge at all times. This book will not bore the reader because of the many twists in each story along with the wonderful pictures the authors paint the reader. "Monterey Shorts 2" is one of the best books I have ever read, and I recommend everyone to read it.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Eden Prairie, Minnesota United States

The Invisible Detective by Justin Richards

A local drunk is found dead days after he claims to see a thing in a soldier uniform with metal claws coming after him. Fear not for The Invisible Detective is on the case. Using his wits and a little bit of luck The Invisible Detective and friends solves the case of the Ghost Soldier. Meanwhile in the present his grandson Arthur is trying to solve a mystery of his own, read how it turns out in The Invisible Detective: The Ghost Soldiers.

This book is a paranormal mystery book complete with evil scientist and of course ghost soldiers. It keeps you guessing through half of the book and repeatedly loses you through a lot of loops and turns, most of which are irritating. Then the author brings you back with a lot of minor clues and explanations. Then, it loses you again with its continuous flash backs, which ranges between 1936 and the present. It can be somewhat confusing. I think the author does a good job of explanations though they are rather tedious. By the end of this book you basically know what has happened in the previous books of the series. This book is slow and takes a while to get through, but it has potential. The story of Arthur Drake finding his grandfather's journal made in Arthur's own handwriting from years before he was even born is a very intriguing plot. I am interested to see how the series will end. I recommend this book to people that enjoy reading slow mysteries, and have the time to sort through this book.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6
Reviewer Age: 16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Starkville, Mississippi USA

Emma's Secret by Veda Boyd Jones

Twelve-year-old Emma Farley worries if her family will survive the cholera outbreak that was caused by the terrible flooding of the Ohio River. Emma wonders if her dreams of becoming an animal doctor will ever come true, because in Cincinnati in 1832, girls have to become wives and mothers instead of having careers. Emma tries to keep her dreams and her family alive during this hard time. What will happen to the people of Cincinnati and how will they ever get this mess cleaned up? Find out in this exciting story called Emma’s Secret.

Emma’s Secret is one of the many wonderful books in the Sisters In Time series. Emma’s Secret kept me up all night long and I liked reading about this time period in history. Emma’s Secret is a faith-based book that shows you how sometimes when you believe in God, good things may really happen. I think that this story could be improved by having more adventure and additional things happen. I really enjoyed reading this book and I recommend it to kids ages 9-12.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA United States

Return to Quag Keep by Andre Norton and Jean Rabe

A group of adventurers, who have been whisked away from Earth to a magical land much like the one they play Dungeons and Dragons in, are forced to protect a caravan to pay off their debt that they made when they accidently started a bar fight. On their way to one of the towns, one of the scouts, Ingrge, captures a man who was following them. The man tells them he was sent here to, and why they were whisked away here after they touched the figurines. He also tells them that the only way to get back to Earth and to save Earth is to save a wizard locked in Quag keep. The band of adventurers try to make their way to Quag Keep, while encountering more and more dangers, that help them find out the truth of why they are here. Will the adventurers save Earth or even find their way home???

I thought this was a great book. I love fantasy books so this suited me well, and would be great for fantasy readers and Dungeon and Dragon players. This book was confusing, however, because this was the sequel to the first book, so I reccomend reading the first one before reading this. This book really intrigued me because it had a lot of mystery and suprises that really kept me interested. I also thought it was cool because the main characters were regular people like you and me. The authors are very good writers, and they kept me wanting to read more.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Lutherville, Maryland United States of America

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Annabel Greene, a model, starred in one commercial as a girl who has everything. The irony is that she is, in fact, a loner. Annabel was once best friends with Sophie, the most popular girl in school. But something happened that caused them to separate. But Annabel doesn't like to think about that night. That's not the only problem she has to deal with. Her sister, Whitney, has an eating disorder and that fact is what started a fight between Kirsten, her oldest sister, and Whitney. Her mother tends to be unstable in dealing with problems. And Annabel wants to quit modeling but doesn't know how to tell her mother. When Annabel meets Owen, she gets a whole new outlook on life. Through music, he helps her deal with her problems and shows her how to confront them.

I thought this book was even better than previous Darah Dessen books. I could not put this book down until the very last sentence. I think that every girl can relate to this book in some way. She really was able to take serious issues and put them together to make a novel that wasn't too heavy, yet got it's point across. The hints of romance were nice to break up the seriousness of the novel. I highly recommend this novel and I will be looking forward to Sarah Dessen's next book!

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10
Reviewer Age: 19
Reviewer City, State and Country: Philadelphia, PA USA

Braced2Bite by Serena Robar

The book starts out with Colby, the main character, going through a normal day of life. Getting dressed, going to school, flirting with the cute jock, going to the football game, cheerleading, walking home because cute guy ditched, and then going to bed. Well, everything was normal until Colby started to go home, and bumps into a guy. Well the guy was a vampire and decided she should be one too. Now Colby's life is turned around. She has trouble getting up during the day, she can't eat regular food, she has to have a fang retainer because her canine teeth were pulled out, and she receives visits from the vampire inspecters and they tell her that she is going to have to argue for her life. Also everyone thinks she faked her attack, she doesn't have a date for homecoming, and the cute vampire she likes may want her dead. Colby's future seems bleak,but she is determined to live her undead life, even if that means killing her creater to do so.

"Braced2Bite" was an interesting vampire book. The author took a few modern ideas of the perception of vampires and added those ideas with her own, creating a new and original vampire community. The main character, Colby, situation was fun to read about. The attitude Colby had towards her life's sudden change was funny to read about. One moment Colby would hate being a member of the undead, and then the next moment she would find a reason that would make her love. From when Colby learned that she was a vampire to her finally finding out if she would live or die, the reader followed her on a journy full of adventure, friends, and the forever changing life of a teenage undead.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Tucson, Arizona U.S.

Mary Edwards Walker: Above and Beyond by Dale Walker

In this short biography of Mary Walker, Dale Walker gives glimpses into the history of medicine, the world of women’s fashions, prisons of the Civil War, and the beginning of the campaign for women’s vote. Mary Walker was born in 1832 in upstate New York to freethinking parents who insisted that the four girls work on the farm and wear clothing that allowed amble circulation of blood. Not only did she follow her father’s suggestions for attire, she also followed him into the medical profession and became one of the first female doctors in the Unites States. Her father was self-taught; Mary graduated from Syracuse Medical College in 1849 and began the difficult task of finding patients who would pay to see a woman doctor. What the Civil War began, she volunteered as a physician and fought hard to be paid as a physician, not a nurse. She worked to stop battlefield amputations and to incorporate sanitary practices. Known as much for her brash, unrelenting behavior as her trousers, she became fodder for Civil War tabloids. Captured as a spy, Mary spent four months in Confederate prison where she schemed for prison reforms including better food and medical care. She was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1865, had it rescinded 1917 when Congress decided that too many medals had been awarded without merit, and reinstated in 1977. Her life spanned the Civil War and beyond. She saw women’s roles changed from domestic work to physician. Just before she died in 1919, women were granted the right to vote.

Mary Walker is a terrific role model for today’s girls- feisty, responsible, hard-working and not at all concerned about the fashion police. Well worth reading.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 58
Reviewer City, State and Country: Timonium, MD US

How to be a Teen Fashionista by Chase Koopersmith

Have you ever woken up in the morning and found that you have nothing to wear? Well now, you can learn how to put together new outfits and make new clothes out of the same book! Make matches you would have never thought of and have fun doing it. It's all about clothes. Find the teen fashionista in yourself.

This book has such great capacity to be good. The title is intriguing and interesting. However, I do not think that the book contains enough things that were promised. The book only contains a few tips on what you should wear and a lot of it is bulked out with pictures. Admittedly, the pictures are very interesting, but they do not teach us about what clothes we should wear. It is the start to a very interesting topic but I think that it needs more.

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

Fat Camp by Deborah Blumenthal

Camp.. One of the many things kids enjoy during the summer. But not for Cam. Her camp consists of nutrition classes and mini sized portions of food. Yes, a fat camp which her obsessed workout parents made her go to. She and her best friend, Evie, are separated and are forced to go to different camps. Now, she has to sleep in a room full of girls who only talk about food and how "fat" they are. She thinks it is all down hill from here but to her luck it's not. She meets a boy, Jesse, who she falls head over heals for. Now she has to juggle the love of her dreams, mailing her best friend, and dealing with the other girls at camp. Can she do it all and lose weight before the end of the summer?

At first, I was kind of bored of the book. In the beginning it only talks about her love of food and the 'hot' waiter. I thought it was going to be another book where girl goes to camp, makes friends, loses weight and looks amazing. Well, I was wrong. Yes, that does happen but it is more in-depth than I thought. After chapter 3 or 4, I really got into it. You see a girl dealing with social and emotional issues that many teenagers are facing today. At the camp, there are other girls who are also going through health issues such as bulimia and depression. Deborah Blumenthal did an amazing job of slowly breaking Cam out of her shell. The ending was somewhat of a surprise. I kind of knew what was coming but there was more that I would have ever guessed. Overall, I thought it was an astounding book.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Villa Hills , Kentucky USA

Time's Memory by Julius Lester

Josiah, a white captain of a slave ship, agrees to help Amina, a black slave on one of his ships, in order to calm a storm. Amina is pregnant with Ekundayo, the spirit, or nyama, of her dead father. Josiah sneaks Amina off of his ship and takes her to his home, where she gives birth to Ekundayo as a young man. But Ekundayo dies shortly after and his nyama is transported into the body of Nat, a slave on a Virginia plantation. Ekundayo now must learn to live with the struggles of slavery, the forbidden love he shares with Ellen, the white plantation owner's daughter, and the brutal uprising led by Nat's father. Ekundayo also must complete his mission; he must find peace for the nyama before they destroy the land. Only after Ellen dies does Ekundayo find a solution-to share the stories of Time's memory.

Time's Memory by Julius Lester was a wonderful book with an interesting plot. Lester mixes the traditional West African religion with the spirituals of the slaves. The beginning of the book is a bit confusing and abrupt but quickly picks up and becomes a page-turner. A theme throughout the book is the sadness and pain caused by slavery and death. But the epilogue adds a happy ending to the story. This book is great for anyone who likes to read historical fiction.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Erlanger, Kentucky United States

Open Ice by Pat Hughes

Nick Taglio has been on the ice his entire life. He loves hockey and is the best player on his team despite his three concussions he has had. His life seemed perfect until his fourth concussion. After the concussion, he can never play hockey again. How could Nick give up his entire life just because of a little concussion?

This book surprised me, in both good and bad ways. The situation that Nick is in is greatly emphasised through both his actions and words. Readers can understand the personalities and faults of every character in this book. Some of the dialoge of the characters were inappropriate and may not be suitable for young children. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a realistic-fiction book and to anyone who enjoys sports.

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

The Sea Singer by Craig Moodie

The Sea Singer by Craig Moodie is about a young Viking named Finn and his journeys as a stowaway on Sea Sword, Leif the Lucky’s mighty ship. When the story begins, Finn and his mother are on their farm. Finn’s two brothers and father have set out to go a-viking, in search of a distant, unexplored land. Finn is left behind to tend the farm. Unfortunately, years pass and Finn’s father and brothers have not returned--in fact, not one sign of them has been discovered. Twelve-year-old Finn is growing restless on the farm. He is tired of tending the flock and wants to go voyaging with his father, like his older brothers did. Day after day, he keeps watch for the return of his father and brothers. One day, Viking captain Leif the Lucky’s ship sails into the harbor and docks there. After replenishing the ship’s supplies and food, Leif’s crew is ready to set sail. Finn, desperate to find his father--and some adventure--stows away on the ship. When Leif finally discovers Finn, it is too late to turn back. And too late to turn from the mess they are sailing into!

The Sea Singer is a decent, enjoyable book. It starts a bit slowly but really sparks about midway through. It gives interesting details about Viking life, and many of the characters are real historical figures, such as Leif Ericsson and Bjarni Herjolfsson. The Vikings’ journeys to “Wineland” and their encounters with the “Skraelings” are based on the actual voyages of Ericsson and Herjolfsson to North America--many years before Christopher Columbus arrived there. I would recommend this book to most kids ages 9-12 who enjoy adventure stories, and especially those who enjoyed the book Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 11
Reviewer City, State and Country: , NY USA

Follow the Blue by Brigid Lowry

Follow The Blue by Brigid Lowry is a quaint tale of a suburban girl living in Perth, Australia. Bec has always been a levelheaded girl; she looks out for her two younger siblings, helps her world-famous mother in the kitchen, and maintains her school work. After her father, who has recently suffered a mental breakdown, returns home, her mother and father decided to take a long vacation to promote her mother’s new book. This is when Bec decides to live a little. With the aid of a new housekeeper and the love of her siblings Bec meets new friends, has a party, and dives into the crazy world of guys. Throughout the novel, Bec discovers that there is a whole world out there, waiting for her to explore it.

This novel was written in a friendly style, you feel as if Bec is telling her story to an old friend, you. It has a great plot foundation; however I did not feel that the author raised it to its potential glory. Bec is an easy character to identify with but her adventures weren’t as thrilling as one might hope. It was a quick read but in the end I didn’t feel like Bec had changed much. I felt that it ended too abruptly and that Bec hadn’t had a great adventure, instead it seemed like it was only the beginning of exciting things to come. Bec was still mulling over her feelings and opinions as it ended, however, Bec did receive some excellent advice from her housekeeper, Ms. D. Her messages of wisdom are easy to understand and can be used in all aspects of life. It is a nice story of an average girl, but it leaves one feeling a bit confused.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Erlanger, Kentucky America

Community Spirits by Jonathan Pearce

Community Spirits: Infestations on the Spectral Plane Summary: Not everyone would make the connection between believing in ghosts in being truly in love. Joseph Oliver Kuhn, second-year student in Criminal Justice at Chad County Community College and potential private investigator, does. From the first appearance of Stara, a vision in a gauzy green gown, until the final poof of smoke from the former Dr. Parker, his hometown Balona is populated with ghostly visitors. What do these visitors have to do with true love or journalism or the advance of digital cameras? As Joseph tries to make sense of the strange events, another wrinkle appears. Disappearing goats, poetry-reading chauffeurs, and korndog eating citizens play big parts in unraveling the mystery of true love and falling statues. Put aside logical thinking and get ready for a trip through a hometown wackier than Mayberry.

Looking for fun and goofiness? Is your brain fried after school? Pick up Community Spirits and watch your spirits soar. Enjoy the ride. This book is more fun than a barrel of swirling orbs. R

Beth Edelstein
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 58
Reviewer City, State and Country: Timonium, MD US

Ark Angel by Anthony Horowitz

In the sixth Alex Rider Adventure, Alex is recovering from his encounter with a sniper who had been sent to kill him. In the hospital, he meets Paul Drevin, son of multibillionaire Nikolei Drevin. While in the hospital, kidnappers come for Paul. The kidnappers are part of Force Three, a group of eco-terrorists who are angry that Nikolei Drevin caused the extinction of several species of birds during rocket launches for his latest project, Ark Angel, a space hotel. However, Alex defends Paul against Force Three and prevents them from kidnapping him. Rewarding Alex for protecting his son, Nikolei Drevin invites Alex to spend some time with Paul and him in their extraordinary homes, leading up to the launch of one of the most important pieces of the space hotel. Alex finds that Force Three, Ark Angel, and Nikolei Drevin are not what they seem to be and despite Alex’s refusal to once again become involved in the world of deception, and spying, he finds himself working to defeat “the biggest criminal in the world.”

I generally find that books in the Alex Rider series tend to get a touch too repetitive. However, in ARK ANGEL, although it did have some parallels to other books in the series, Anthony Horowitz successfully threw twists into the plot that set the book apart from its predecessors. I also congratulate Mr. Horowitz on the great amount of research he did on topics covered in the book. He even threw in some physics, explaining rotational inertia and some nice examples of Newton’s Laws! The setting for the end of the book was very unique and gave the book an exciting ending, but I wish that Anthony Horowitz did not put Alex Rider in so many life or death situations. I enjoy the creative ways Alex Rider slips away from his enemies, but it starts to get a little old when I find that for the third time in the book Alex has dodged a bullet that passes centimeters over his shoulder. ARK ANGEL as a whole has more positives than negatives and definitely is an enjoyable book that Alex Rider fans will love as a great addition to the series.

S C
Age: 15
Maryland, USA

Defining Dulcie by Paul Acampora

Dulcie's father, a janitor, just died. Her mother decides to move her and Dulcie cross country to California from Connecticut. As soon as Dulcie steps foot in CA, she knows that's not where she belongs. She steals her mother's truck and makes her way back to Newbury, to her grandfather and her home. Dulcie's grandfather, Frank, lets her come back and work for him, without pay, as punishment for worrying her mother when she left. Frank has already hired another helper, Roxanne. Soon, Roxanne and Dulcie become friends. When Dulcie and Frank discover the truth about Roxanne's relationship with her abusive mother, they have to figure out a way to help her.

When I first picked up this book, I thought it would be a sad story about death and moving on. It was sad, but the novel also had a feeling of hope and looking towards the future. Aside from death, Defining Dulcie also dealt with serious issues like abuse. This book was pretty good, especially for a debut novel. I'll be looking forward to reading more books by the author.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 19
Reviewer City, State and Country: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA

M or F? by L. Papademetriou and C. Tebbetts

M or F? by Lisa Papademetriou and Chris Tebbetts defies the format of most typical high school romance stories. Like many, it combines a story of friendship with a story of romance. Frannie falls for an attractive guy that her best friend Marcus actually approves of. His name is Jeffrey Osborne and he’s all too perfect: popular, smart, gorgeous, and sincere. Frannie even has the opportunity to speak to him online. Here’s the twist, though: Frannie gets too queasy to talk to him by herself. So instead, her gay best friend does the talking for her. Eventually, while things are getting hot, Marcus gets out of control and starts chatting with Jeffrey without Frannie knowing. This tests Frannie and Marcus’s friendship, and makes both of them struggle to learn which is stronger: friendship or love?

It was a pleasure to read M or F? and I recently recommended it to friends of mine who are members of our school’s GSA. Not being able relate to Frannie’s struggle of deciding whether Jeffrey is falling for her or for her “brain twin,” Marcus, shouldn’t stop you from reading the book. No one I know escapes fights with friends over what type of relationship is most important. Organized into chapters from both Frannie and Marcus’s perspectives, it is easy and enjoyable to hear both sides of the story for once. As your eyes latch onto the neon-colored cover, your natural paranoia and compassion will latch onto Frannie’s mind in this realistic high school setting.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Farmington, CT USA

The Land of Debris and the Home of Alfredo by Kenn Amdahl

A man walks through the deserted prairie of Oklahoma. He knows he is missing something, but he can’t quite figure out what it is. Suddenly, in a moment of breakthrough, he realizes he has no memories left. Who is he? Why is he in the middle of nowhere? He finds a gas station and tries to call the one number that he remembers and gets an answering machine to “The Land of Debris and Home of Alfredo”. Progressing through the most ludicrous of situations, the man finds himself in such places as New Mexico, Mexico City, Oregon, Las Vegas, Lousiana, and Kansas. The man is the accomplice to drug trades, casino scams, police cover-ups, and voodoo ceremonies by total default.

I found the book to be enthralling, but not super coherent. It was just plausible enough to keep a story and yet it somehow kept me reading it. It was laced with drug references and innuendo, but it still keeps its main objective in sight: to find out the identity of the protagonist. Its storytelling was superb, and I found it digging deep into me and finding the vagabond hidden in my personality. The book built up to a fantastic ending, but it left me with nothing. I really hated the ending, but the incredible body of the book almost totally made up for the overly demure ending.

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

Dreamhunter by Elizabeth Knox

The Place, a land that seems utterly different from the real world, but it is so close. Laura and her cousin, Rose, are both fifteen. At fifteen they are qualified to go into the Place but they must past the test first, the Try. But before they could enter, they dicover a dark secret hidden in the Place. As Laura and Rose try to figure out the secret, Laura's father disappears. Now Laura and Rose have to find Laura's father and the secret before time runs out...

I thought this book was fairly good. I loved the plot and how the setting connected with the story line. All the characters had their distinct features and personalities about themselves. However, I wish the story was told in someone's point of veiw, not third person. It was a little difficult to get a sense of their emotions. Overall, Elizabeth Knox kept the story in line and did not go off track. It was a good book!

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Villa Hills, Kentucky United States of America

Maggie's Dare by Norma Jean Lutz

When twelve-year-old Maggie Baldwin goes to her friend, Adelaide’s, house, for her weekly dance lessons that occur on Thursdays, she is in for a big surprise! While waiting for her dad after dance lessons Adelaide breaks the big news that Maggie is invited to travel with her to Salem in a fancy stagecoach. Adelaide is getting a slave girl for a Christmas present, but Maggie disagrees with the whole idea of owning slaves. After seeing that Adelaide treats the girl poorly, Maggie decides to help her and the less fortunate against Adelaide’s wishes. Will the girls be able to stay friends after having conflicts about almost everything or will they give up trying and go their separate ways?

Maggie’s Dare is one of the many books in the Sisters In Time Series, which are all about girls living in different time periods. I loved Maggie’s Dare so much that I couldn’t put it down; it was a real page-turner. This is a wonderful Christian-based book that can keep you up all night long trying to find out what will happen next. I really liked the character named Jacob because he brought life to the story and it made the story all the better. Maggie’s Dare is recommended for kids ages 8-12.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA US