Oblivion Road by Alex McAulay

One cold, snowy day in Colorado five high school friends are coming home from a fun-filled day at the ski resort. However, the trip home does not go as planned when they hit a deer and completely tumble down the side of the huge hill. Hours later Courtey wakes up and doesn't know why she is laying in snow. Jeremy comes to help her and explains what happened. Slowly, everything started coming back to her. The other three friends were still trapped in the car and they had to go back to get them. Although they are near death, when a strange figure starts crawling towards them they decide to help him out because otherwise he would die. They learn that he is an escaped convict who got stuck in the storm. More horrible things happen including someone watching them in the woods. When surviving gets even tougher, everyone starts fighting for their lives and fighting each other. Who will be able to make it back to civilization...alive

I really liked this book by Alex McAulay. It is a really great survival book that isn't just about survival. There are problems that deal with that, but there are even more that deal with friendship and other issues. I really liked the beginning of the book because it starts out explaining that a character is very injured but we don't know why! Things like this force you to read on to figure out what will happen next. It was a pretty quick read with a great variety of vocabulary involved. Another thing I liked a lot about Oblivion Road was that at the end of each chapter, it always left you hanging so you would need to read into the next chapter to figure out your questions. Overall, this was a really great book for people who like survival or friendship stories.

Every once in a while there is a little bit of swearing.

Reviewer Age:14

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

The Tree Shepherd's Daughter: The Faire Folk Trilo by Gillian Summers

When fifteen-year-old Keelie Heartwood’s mother dies, she is forced to leave her adored California home to live with her insane father at an unrealistic renaissance faire in Colorado. Once she and her escort Mrs. Talbot arrive they start their pursuit for Keelie’s dad in the enormous faire. While searching, Keelie strays and ends up in a majestic fragranced herb shop, but before she gets to explore it, she hears the already angry Mrs. Talbot yelling for her. Once outside she meets many strange people including: mud wrestlers, a snobby, stuck-up fairy princess, an outrageously handsome prince, and of course her father, Zeke. Keelie and her longtime best friend start working on a plan to get her out of this bizarre medieval world filled with freaks-of-nature and back into her beloved state of California. While in the process of plotting her great escape, strange and mysterious things start to occur, and after learning the hidden secret that she’s half elf she doesn’t think she will ever get to return to California. Instead she’ll be discovering the mysteries of the faire, fighting bad guys, and trying to win the heart of her knight in shining armor. So if she thinks she’ll get to sit back, relax, and enjoy the faire, she had better guess again.

I really enjoyed the plot that the author, Gillian Summers, chose for this fantastic fantasy called The Tree Shepherd’s Daughter: The Faire Folk Trilogy. This is one of my favorite books that I have ever read because it was a pretty “clean” book, it had a wonderful plot, and was an overall spectacular novel. I really like how the author decided to make this book into a series and it had a great ending that makes you want to know what will happen in the next story. I can’t wait until the next book comes out and I want to read it ASAP! This is a must-read for all of the book lovers like me out there. I recommend this fabulous novel to everyone but mainly to those who are intrigued by fantasy.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9

Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA USA

The Chess Set in the Mirror

The book starts out with a bored young boy sitting in a room. He seems to be in punishment, and has received instructions to not break the mirror in the room, which otherwise only sports a chess set and a chair. Bored, he appears to begin daydreaming, or hallucinating, or actually dreaming, and the white king piece begins talking to him. Events lead into events, and very soon, he's in the mirror, talking to the chess pieces, his mysteriously young grandmother, and a thief. It's only then that he learns that inside the mirror are all the reflections of a person when they first looked into it. Eventually, though, he's awakened, and let out of the room by his mother.

I wonder if the translation is word for word; occasionally, artistic merit can be lost if that's done. I really wasn't terribly fond of the book. It was, perhaps, too redundant, and the storyline seems a little too much like Into the Looking-glass to seem terribly original to me. However, it's written in a very nice way, considering the narrator, and it's clear that it's more of a memory than something that's actually happening. The redundancy does seem a lot like memory, and I appreciate this, although it wasn't my favourite book.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6

Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Mahomet, Illinois United States of America

The Lacemaker and the Princess by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

The Lacemaker and the Princess follows the story of Isabelle, a girl from a family of poor lacemakers who are trying to make ends meet. When she is spotted by the Queen at the palace and taken to be a playmate for the young princess, she is glad to be free for a while at least of her strict grandmother and poverty-stricken home. The princess (daughter of Marie Antoinette) is like the rest of the royalty, oblivious to all the needs and suffering of the French people. Whispers of rebellion and revolution swirl about spurring discontentment, even in Isabelle's own brother. Can the two girls remain friends even when their classes clash?

This book was an OK read. I was not able to connect to the characters very much. I felt that the princess would be an intriguing character if the author had let us see into her mind now and then the same way as Isabelle's. I had a hard time finding motivation to continue reading. However, fans of historical fiction or Marie Antoinette may find it interesting and fresh. It is a quick, easy read that young readers will probably enjoy for the glimpses it gives into the time period.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 5

Reviewer Age: 16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Moscow, ID USA

Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

This book is about two best friends, Naomi and Ely, who grew up together in the same apartment in New York City. Ely loves Naomi, but Naomi is in love with Ely. The friends have been through a lot together in their lives, mainly with family problems, but the problem that faces them now is much different. Naomi's boyfriend, Bruce The Second, wasn't on the No Kiss List, but Ely kissing him was inexcusable. This one action puts Naomi and Ely's relationship over the edge and may end "Naomi and Ely" forever. The chapters point of view switches between characters, which is done very well, you are able to get an idea of what each character is thinking in a simple way.

Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List was an interesting book. It was not my favorite, but it was written very well. It talks about the bonds of friendship and betrayal. It was funny and sad at the same time, and I feel that a lot of people can relate to this book.

Content: This book has a lot of sexual content therefore I do not recommend it for young readers.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7

Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: East Islip, New York United States

Manderley Prep by Carol Culver

We know and love Cinderella, the beloved fairy tale that has been made into multiple movies and mutiple versions. And here is a version of the cinderella story that all teens and young adults will love. Maderley Prep is the newest, twenty-first century story of a girl (Cindy Ellis) who dreams of being someone big and great, while having to live with her super evil stepfamily. Oh ya, and in this version of Cinderella, Prince Charming is a hot soccer-playing jazz pianist, And he likes Cindy! Will Cindy be able to survive her rude, snobby private school long enough to go see her Prince Charming at the Masquerade ball? And what about after the dance...

Manderley Prep is a refreshing new version of Cinderella that captivates everyone who picks up the book and won't let go until you finish it. It was a delight to read, and is a book to be enjoyed by many in the near future. Carol Culver relates to what high school is like today, and how hard it is to deal with those snobby brats that populate the school hallways. Plus I loved how insted of Cindy losing a glass slipper, she loses her cellphone! It's just another way to prove that Culver knew what she was doing when she wrote the book.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9

Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Casa Grande, Arizona Unites States of America

What If You Broke All The Rules by L. Ruckdeschel and S. James

The book I read was What If You Broke All The Rules by Liz Ruckdeschel and Sara James. This was a different type of book than usual. It's called "a choose your destiny novel". This basically means that you get to choose what the main character, Haley, does by turning to the specific page. There is still a plot, though. It starts out on Christmas Day. You get to choose which New Years' Eve party Haley goes to, what she does on her birthday, and where she goes over Spring Break. All the while, her parents are absent, too busy with work to pay attention to Haley and her younger brother, Mitchell. Utimately, you get to decide Haley's fate as she continues on during her Sophomore year.

Even though this book read differently than most books, it's still a good read. Some books of the same type aren't well written and can be boring. But this book actually had a plot. I was able to relate well to the main character because we are the same age. Even if you don't like this type of book, you should still read it because the protagonist, Haley, is very likable. Also, you can read this book many times, choosing different things for Haley to do.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8

Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Aston, Pennsylvania United States

The Band: Holding On by Debra Garfinkle

The band is barely holding it together. With there latest stunt over with, everyone is trying to pick up the pieces. Tracie is going to do whatever it takes to get her ex-boyfriend Carter back. But will she get hurt in the process? Mark is the luckiest guy alive. He and his girlfriend Lily are getting more serious but will one mistake cost him his girlfriend and the band? Sienna can barely hold it together. She is trying to help Tracie with Carter, but she falling for him herself. Will the band be able to hold it together or will it all unravel?

Opinion: This is the second Band book in the series, and having read the first one I know what’s going on. I liked it just as much as I liked the first book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about these characters and what they are going through. But the author also seems to put some suspense in there. It’s like a soap for the teens!

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8

Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Minooka, IL

A Nameless Witch by A. Lee Martinez

Being born undead, she didn’t exactly have too many options to what she could do with her life. Fortunately, a witch named Ghastly Edna rescued her from her cellar to come live with her and taught her how to hide her flawless beauty behind the disguise of an old crone. However, events turn against her and the witch is forced to move to Fort Stalwart with a demonic duck named Newt, a troll named Gwurm, and an enchanted broom. When a White Knight arrives with the warning of a horde of goblings that are approaching the Fort, the witch realizes that great and terrible events are coming about. The witch and the White Knight must combine forces on a quest to stop an insane sorcerer from destroying the present world and recreating his own while learning more about their true inner selves.

Funny, witty, and filled with black humor, “Nameless Witch” was an amusing book to read. Although some parts may have progressed a bit slow, it was definitely a “page-turner” for me. This book does very well with detailed use of imagery but in some cases, the vocabulary and descriptions may not be appropriate for younger readers. However, the book is still written very well and even though there are many books about quests to stop evil, A. Lee Martinez wrote an original version of this common theme. The ending was a bit disappointing to me because the book was set up to lead towards a different sort of ending, but it was refreshing to read a book that was not cliché. I think this is a great book to read for fun and amusement and is sure to put a smile on your face.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7

Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Tucson, Arizona United States

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Clay Jensen finds thirteen mysterious tapes on his doorstep. When he starts listening to them, he is suprised to hear Hannah Baker's voice, since she committed suicide recently. As he listens, he learns that the tapes reveal the thirteen reasons why Hannah committed suicide. The most shocking part is that he was one of the reasons, even though he was in love with her. Listening to these tapes could change how he views his classmates and how he remembers Hannah forever.

This book was written very well and was a very good book. The way the story was told partly through tapes added to the story. The story was very depressing and at some spots it almost seemed vindictive. However, the ending is sweet as well as sad. It made me want to cry but also smile. I would recommend it only if you are prepared for a deep, bittersweet novel.

Content: I would only recommend this book to mature readers who are willing to read about and deal with the thought of suicide. It was very thought-provoking and depressing at parts, so make sure that you are prepared to read it.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8

Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Royersford, Pa United States

Taken by Edward Bloor

Taken by Edward Bloor is a very gripping novel about the kidnapping of Charity Meyers. Charity is a young girl living in a wealthy neighborhood called The Highlands in 2035 when kidnapping is a dominant business around the country. Normally, the kidnappers give the parents twenty-four hours to pay the ransom, or else they kill the child and send home a body part. But for some reason, Charity's kidnapping does not follow the normal procedure, something has gone terribly wrong. Did her parents not pay the ransom? Or were they not following the rules set by the kidnappers? In her life changing experience Charity finds out who she is and what her place in the world is.

Taken is a very gripping and suspenseful book that keeps you hanging until the last sentence. The plot is very intriguing and holds on to you, making you want to just keep reading. The story is very well-written but I felt that some of it was kind of confusing. The ending, especially, was enigmatic and I had to read it over a few times before I understood what had really happened. Other than that the book is an amusing read that is entertaining and enjoyable.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6

Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Champaign, Illinois USA

101 Things You Need to Know...and Some Things You Don't by Richar and Tracey Turner

Have you ever wondered why we dream? Or maybe why cockroaches can live for weeks without its head? These are just 2 of the 101 things you need to know (and some you don’t) in this book. Every single entry in this book is true, and will mostly be liked by younger kids. This book is very interactive, and there is a “form” to fill in after each of the 101 things discussed in this book. If you complete a form, you can take a star sticker from the back of the book, and put it on that page! A very colorful book, each page asks a question, which is answered in a few brief paragraphs below. The questions touch many different subjects and ideas, and therefore, you are bound to come across interesting facts you have never heard about before. Amaze your friends! Quiz your parents! Most importantly, have fun!

Even though there are many amusing items I had no idea about before, I believe that the authors did not target the older audience. Throughout this book, the mood of the book seemed to be appropriate for kids from 10-12. It is a bit complicated for most people younger and too relaxed for those that are older. The forms make the book very interactive. Even though I did not complete the forms, it would take much longer to complete it than to read the short paragraph descriptions right beside it. Therefore, in my opinion, the balance in this book is questioned. Furthermore, the facts are presented in random page numbers even though they are categorized, which makes the flow of this book more complicated to grasp. All and all, this book is colorful, interactive, and fun. It gets the general ideas across, which you can use to amuse and quiz your friends and families.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7

Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Urbana, IL USA

The Education of T.C. Mits by Lillian R. Lieber

T.C Mits stands for The Celebrated Man In The Street, so this book applies to people with minimal knowlage of math. This book is writen in freeverse poetry and is written in two parts. The first part talks about the old way of math: algebra,geometry, calculus, and trig, so if you haven't studied these branches of math yet, you might not get the book. The second part talks about integrating math into the real world. The second portion of the book explains how math can fit into politics and other subjects of that nature.

I was confused most of the entire way. I do not believe that the boook was writen for young adults because, unless you have taken Calculus before, you are lost on page one. One positive thing about the book was the fact that there was a math problem at almost every chapter, so it kept you interested and wanting to find out the answers. Unfortunatly for the readers, the book was written a long time ago, so there might be some issues currently with the computation of the math. This book does go into detail about math and how math applies to politics, so I would not recomend this book for anyone who dislikes math OR has never taken any kind of math besides Algebra 2.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 3

Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Pottstown, PA United States

Betwixt by Tara Bray Smith

There are three seventeen-year-olds that are not so normal. A mystery has always been with them while sleeping and when awake. Paintings with butterflies always seem to be alive under Ondine Mason's gaze. Another problem is her violet colored eyes. Morgan D'Amici is a beautiful girl who wakes up in her trailerpark home with blood and dirt under her fingernails. Runaway Nix Saint-Michael sees halos of light around people that are about to die. The brighter the ring, the closer it is to their death. Lastly, they seem to never get sick. When they go to a summer party, they learn all about their origins and their linked destinies.

Betwixt was a great book for young adults. It showed a little bit of fantasy that was enough to make me happy. I really only had one trouble while reading this book. That was that in the beginning when Tara Smith was introducing all of the characters, there were too many brought in at once so I quicky forgot who was who and what they were all about. If you read slowly and twice over those parts then you can understand a little bit better. Something I loved was how there were three main characters who were extemely unique and had their own personalities. Overall, the book was a wonderful debut novel for her.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7

Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States of America

Big Slick by Eric Luper

Big Slick begins with Andrew Lang stealing money from his dad’s dry cleaning company. After he loses that money in a Texas Hold’em game, Andrew steals more in the hopes of winning it back in another poker game. Andrew digs himself in deeper when he finds some “crack” and tries to sell it on the street. This causes Andrew even more trouble and he ends up selling it back to the drug dealer. With his new stash of cash, Andrew takes off to another casino to try to make enough to payback his dad. Andrew wins at the tables and returns home only to find out he’s too late. His Dad already discovered the missing money and punishes Andrew.

Big Slick started slow with details of each poker hand he played. The book gets going then has a few unexpected twists and turns. The book has some questionable content. There are drugs, drinking, gambling, and bad choices. Besides the bad content, the author provides an interesting storyline.

Content: Between drugs and questonable choies this book is for mature readers.

Rating (0 - 10 scale):

Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Hamilton, OH USA

Drama Club: The Big Production by Peter Lerangis

Drama Club is getting ready for another big production Grease! Everyone is frantic, auditions are going crazy, things are going wrong with the props, and Brianna, Drama Club co president is feeling the pressure. What with auditions swamped, actors going crazy, will Brianna finally burst, and will the show go on despite all this madness?

Drama Club was definitely interesting. I kind of missed out due to it being a series and not reading the previous books but I caught on quick. I enjoyed the drama Drama Club had to go through, ironically enough. I caught myself being caught up in the emotions of everyone. I had lots of fun reading about friendship, hardship, and drama.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8

Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Minooka, IL

Foundling by D. M. Cornish

This book is about an intelligent boy who is (unfornunately)named Rosamund. Teased by his fellow orphans at Madam Opera's Estimable Marine Society for Foundling Boys and Girls Rosamund is an outcast who dreams of leaving the Society for good. He gets his chance when a mysterious man named Mister Sebastipole offers him a job as a lamplighter (a person who goes out and lights the lamp that connect the highways). But Rosamund's world is fraught with danger and before long he finds himself in situations he could have never imagined with people that possess powers most of us can only dream of.

This book was excellent. Containing strange places and fantastic creatures this book is worth reading. The characters are a perfect blend of the extraordinary and human. It is exciting and fast paced with lot of interesting plot twists. It was exceptional and the illastrations are amazing. I would reccomend it of fans of fantasy.

Content: There is mild violence.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9

Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, PA

Real Princesses by Valerie Wilding

“What is a princess? It’s a favorite dream of many girls to be a beautiful princess, to live in a fairy-tale palace, to wear diamond tiaras, and to dress in fabulous clothes.”

Not quite. Princesses have lots of rules, requirements and expectations burdened on them. They are constantly being watched and judged by the public and they usually don’t get exactly what they want. Most people think princesses are girls who don’t have a care in the world, but that’s not true, they have their problems and things to deal with just like you and I. But, there are also fun aspects of being a “princess”. They usually have opportunities to pursue their interests, sometimes even professionally because they usually have unlimited resources. Some examples in the book include modeling, acting, professional horseback riding, bee keeping, and even the military.

This bright pink and purple non-fiction princess guide was a blast to read! I learned lots about the lifestyles of princesses all around the world. It’s amazing how different African princesses are compared to British princesses. Please don’t let the terms “princess” or “pink” scare you away, once you read this book you’ll realize that they have to deal with a lot and aren’t just frilly pink cover girls. Well, maybe one or two are…

Content:0Rating (0 - 10 scale): 5

Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: , North Carolina USA

Choices by Deborah Lynn Jacobs

Kathleen has lost her older brother Nick in a car accident. He was on his way to pick her up from a party that her best friend convinced her to go to. The guilty person in the accident is named Mark, and he walks away with no injuries. At Nick’s funeral, Kathleen meets a mysterious boy named Luke. As Kathleen tries to cope with the loss of her brother, Luke tries to comfort her and also warns her of a so called “shift of universes.” Nick knows of these shifts because he is a fellow shifter, and has been for years. As Kathleen “shifts” through four different universes, usually changing during the night, she is trying to find her real self, and her brother. Through all this, she runs into many obstacles that change her life drastically. Kathleen also has many questions, with answers that no one can give her; she has to find them on her own. Perhaps the biggest questions are: Who is Luke? Whatever happened to Mark? And will the “shifts” help Kathleen find Nick?


I loved Kathleen. She is a perfect example of someone who has fallen on her behind only to get back up again. I tried to put myself in her position of losing one of my siblings, and could not even imagine it. This book helps me appreciate each one of my siblings so much more. Kathleen is a very strong character and I admire her so much. And then there is Luke. I really like Luke, too. He started off a friendship with a lie, but only to protect the other person. He knew how to take control of his problems, and always tried his best to fix them. I did not like Kathleen’s friend Jen—she was rude, very judgmental, and did not give Kathleen’s other friends a chance—however, she was an essential part in understanding Kathleen’s “shifts.” All in all, the book is very good. The author’s choice of writing style may make it difficult for some to keep track of all the characters, but for advanced readers, it is definitely well worth reading.

Stdent reviewer state: Ohio

The Hand That Bears the Sword by George Bryan Polivka

Packer and Panna Throme are interrupted in the middle of their "honey month" by the king's urgent order that Packer must set sail on the Trophy Chase. Three lone ships that are left of the navy fleet go out to sea in an attempt to delay the attack on Nearing Vast from the kingdom of Drammun. Meanwhile, Panna is left behind in the hands of the lustful Prince Mather, who plots to steal her love. As Packer helps to fight the ferocious Drammun Armada, his faith is tested to the limit. He is forced to make the difficult decision to glorify himself or the one who gave him that glory in the first place. Back in Nearing Vast, Panna learns to lay everything down and trust God to show her a way to escape from the evil prince. Through it all, Packer and Panna's examples show others that true power comes from humbling yourself and trusting God to the end.

The Hand That Bears the Sword is the second book in the Trophy Chase Trilogy. It is filled from the first page to the last with action, adventure, and a beautiful portrait of God's perfect love. Some parts are a little bit gory, but other than that it is probobly a most valuable read for teens 12 and up. The plot was laid out very well, using third person, but switching points of view almost every chapter. I enjoyed that because you were able to get to know each character personally. I would highly recommend this book to all fantasy lovers.

Content: faith-based

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9

Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, PA United States