At LitPick, we review books from a variety of genres, as well as enjoy promoting reading and writing worldwide among adults and students. We also like connecting authors and publishers with readers.
Monday, April 28, 2008
The Hollywood Sisters: Star Quality by Mary Wilcox
I enjoyed Star Quality. It was a good and entertaining read, while also having a great plot that didn't get too confusing. Mary Wilcox does an excellent job portraying how hard high school can be, and how everyone can be a nice person if you know how to get them to show it. I could easily relate to the characters in the book, because of how the author did a great job of describing each character. An excellent summer read, The Hollywood Sisters: Star Quality should definitely be on your summer reading list.
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Casa Grande, Arizona USA
Bloggrls: Book One by Cheryl Dellasega
I think this book was very interesting and shows the audience love can be tough. I also think this book shows the reader that talking online can be safe and you can communicate with friends in a positive way. I thought the ending was very entertaining because to tell on someone you love and get them into trouble with the law takes a lot of courage, but Sadie stayed strong and got through it all. I also liked how I had a picture of Sadie's gothic sister in my head because the author described her so well. I would recommend this book to people who like to read realistic fiction. I would recommend this book to them because they talk about real life problems teens have.
Rating:8
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: St Paul, Minnesota, Untied States of America
Sunday, April 27, 2008
One Hundred Young Americans by Michael Franzini
My initial reaction when I finished this book was: We have come a long way in our cultural development. I really liked how the author gathered an extremely unique group of young people and still managed to tie them all together. Though they may seem to have little in common, readers will be able to see how they all have been affected in a generation of mass communication. My one reservation I have with the book is its validity. Some of the stories from these youth often made me hesitate and think, Is this really how he/she is? It is very difficult to have a complete understanding of each person from the short text regarding each individual, but Franzini's photography definitely enhances the stories. I really hope the book presents these youth as they see themselves and as they wish to be seen. Despite this concern, readers will be able to connect with certain individuals from the reader's own experiences at a certain part in his/her life. This makes each reader's experience different and special in its own right. That said, I recommend this book for readers who will relate to these young people, not to draw conclusions and personal judgments.
Sexual and Drug references
Reviewer Age:18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Eden Prairie, Minnesota United States
Gospel of the Guns by Sean Chandler
I enjoyed reading the novel. There were a few internal conflicts between Jeremiah's instincts and conscience, but it was mainly a western outlaw novel. There was both action and romance. The idea of a gang of outlaws naming themselves after disciples is unique and entertaining without making fun of religion. The plot also had enough twists to keep the story interesting. The ending left room for a sequel, but concluded most of the plot. All in all, the story was fun and action-packed.
This book had lots of violence both explicit and implied. There were some religious references as well, but a non-Christian could still enjoy the story.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Royersford, PA United States
Mia the Melodramatic by Eileen Boggess
Mia the Melodramatic is the fantastic sequel to Mia the Meek. I enjoyed how this book was totally unique compared to the first novel in the Mia Fullerton Series. It was very interesting and it had me guessing what would happen next, right from the start. There was a lot of different events that took place throughout the story that kept the plot very enjoyable. I thought it was funny how she had to be playhouse pal and take care of the bratty children at her job and solve all the problems that occurred from their mischievous acts. I liked how they author made all of them characters have very unique personalities from one another and showed how they would interact with one another. I also enjoyed how the author wrote about the common pranks that each set of siblings tend to pull on one another; it kept the plot fresh. Mia the Melodramatic is a laugh-out-loud read that I recommend to young teens around middle school age.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA United States
The Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein
Fifty years later, eleven year old Zack Jennings moves into the house nearest the Crossroads. Even though his mother died a few years earlier, and he lives in fear that her ghost will come back to haunt him, Zack feels that things are starting to get better for him. He has a nice new step-mom, a new dog, and a new, hopefully happy, life.
Unfortunately for Zack, there is a tree by his house, with a white cross and twelve white roses next to it. This tree just happens to be haunted by the spirit of the man responsible for the fatal bus crash . When the tree is struck by lightning, he is released back into the world, where he can kill people again. And it just so happens young kids (like Zack) are his new targets.
If you're looking for a book that's slightly scary, but also has a light, humorous side, I'd recommend that you read The Crossroads. It had enough scary ghost stuff to make you feel like you're being watched, but also plenty of funny moments. It was just a little bit mysterious, so it keeps you thinking about what's going to happen next (what else would you expect from an author whose last name means gravestone in German!) It had an exciting plot, and plenty of unique characters. It wasn't like any other book I've ever read.
I do have to add that all the characters made the storyline a bit confusing. It was a little overwhelming for me to keep track of all those characters, but all their stories come together by the ending.
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Tarpon Springs, Florida United States
Death by Bikini by Linda Gerber
I thought that this was a really refreshing read. It has been a long time since I read a mystery, and this was the perfect book. It has the right amount of intrigue, suspense, humor and romance. The characters, especially Aphra, are believable and relatable. Aphra is a clever heroine who uses her wit and cunning to find out clues and ultimately save the day. My only qualm with this book is that it needs more plot points. The climax occurred fairly quickly for a mystery. However, there is a sequel, Death By Latte, which should satisfy readers' appetites after this delicious story.
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Aston, Pennsylvania United States
Shooting The Moon by Frances O'Roark Dowell
I thought that Shooting the Moon by Frances O'Roark Dowell was very well-written. As war is a rather sensitive subject these days, she did an excellent job making the mood of the book neither pro-war nor anti-war. She just told the truth. I also thought it was a smart choice for her to put the story in first person. It made the book easier to relate to, and you could understand better what the main character's feelings were. I would recommend this book to everyone in upper elementary and older. There are a couple spots of brief, mild profanity. However, it is a very valuable read.
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, PA USA
Friday, April 25, 2008
A Rose By Any Other Name by Maureen McCarthy
with her mom? She is all geared up and ready for the
drive, when her mother climbs into the car, obviously
wanting to go along. Rose doesn't want anything else but
to get away form her messed up life. Her mom, her weird,
overly emotional sisters, and her parent's divorce; so
when her mother asks to go along for the ride, Rose is
utterly confused. But after seeing her mother staring
intently at her, she just couldn't say no. So they embark
on a long, emotional, and very frustrating journey filled
with love, lies, secrets, hate, death, romance, and
recovery. This is gonna be one heck of a ride, so buckle
up and get ready for the most controversial time of your
life!
I enjoyed just about everything to do with the
book, Rose By Any Other Name. I loved how the author
wrote little pieces throughout the story beginning with,
Don'tcha just hate... They were very intriguing and full
of emotion. They stole my attention and just pulled me
right in. I didn't overly enjoy the book at first and it
was hard to understand the setup of the novel. However,
after reading for a while, I caught on and the story began
to unfold and spark my interest. I became involved with
the book and couldn't put it down. The main thing I, as a
Christian, didn't enjoy was the over-excessive cuss words
used throughout the entire novel. But the thought-
provoking and tragedy-filled plot made up for the vile
words. The author, Maureen McCarthy, did a great job at
writing this amazing story. She switched back and forth
from Rose being in the present to her (Rose) describing
all that had happened in the past year while actually
being at the location of what is happening. I highly
recommend, Rose By Any Other Name, to young adults who
want a totally different kind of read like no other.
There was alcohol use, excessive foul language, and
some sexual scenes.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City,
State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA United States
The Fold by An Na
aunt wins the lottery, she decides to give Joyce a
makeover. This is what Joyce has always wanted, until she
realizes that to get the beautiful Asian eyelid fold
would mean a painful surgery. Joyce has second thoughts
about whether or not one fold will change her looks enough
to get John Ford Kang (JFK) to notice her. Also whether,
thanks to the fold, she would ever be as gorgeous as her
older sister, Helen. Is she willing to risk possible
complications of the surgery just to impress people that
should already love her for who she really is?
I think
that The Fold was an okay book, but that the whole plot of
the story was kind of weird and didn't really make a lot
of sense. I don't see why anyone would have such an issue
about whether or not to get a fold on her eyelids. I also
didn't like how the author wrote about the older daughter
being a lesbian because as a Christian it made me
personally feel uncomfortable reading about it. I liked
how the author had a constant rivalry going between the
two sisters. I just didn't like how Joyce always thought
that everyone had a better life than her and how she was
always complaining about her sister and how muchbetter"
she was. Overall, The Fold was a decent book that I
recommend to teenage girls wanting a different kind of
summer read.
This book does have a character with an alternative
lifestyle.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and
Country: Upper Strasburg, PA United States
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Secret of the Sirens - The Companions Quartet, Book One
Julia Golding did an absolutely wonderful job incorporating environmental issues into a fantasy book! While it does not make my best book list, Secret of the Sirens is the most unique book I have ever read. The cooperation between mythological creatures and humans, and the actual environmental problems are outstanding. The beginning of the book was kind of slow, but afterwards it gets increasingly suspenseful. The dramatic scenes were definitely more than enough to keep anyone's attention. I also enjoyed how there was an equal portion of human and animal characters with significant roles. The vocabulary was perfect for a young adult age group. I recommend this book to anyone interested in fantasy.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States of America
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Trouble by Gary D. Schmidt
This sharp, real novel will take your breath away. From riveting action that will have you on the edge of your seat, to the comfortable friendships that develop along the way, Trouble is a terrific novel definitely worth reading. Even though I found the first few chapters a bit boring (and somewhat confusing), the story quickly picked up its pace and swept me away. I loved that I couldn’t tell what was coming. The surprises in the plot caught me completely off guard and, once I was into the book, I couldn’t put it down. This story will appeal to both boys and girls, and I recommend it to anybody who has ever had an encounter with Trouble. For an interesting look at perspective and knowing the whole story, pick up Trouble today!
Rating:8
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Tipp City, OH USA
The Secret Diary of Adrian Cat
Stuart and Linda Macfarlane achieved a great mantra in writing this fictional diary: life is full of surprises. Whether it is finding a friend in the most unusual place or discovering lessons through relationships, their character Adrian follows in humans' footsteps very closely. I disagreed with the punctuation of the writing style, but the full meaning and storyline were very enjoyable. Adrian's day-to-day diary entries made each chapter interesting and surprising. The comfortable narration frequently made me forget that it was a diary. The irony of the similarities between a cat's life and a human's life were amazing. These two authors did a wonderful job in working together on their story.
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Eagle Creek, Oregon U.S.A.
Rating: 7
Content: 1
Sunday, April 20, 2008
A Time To Tell by Maria Savva
It was challenging for me to review A Time To Tell because while it is captivating and very well-written, it also has a complicated plot that maded it hard to give a full summary of the book. But I loved reading it and hope I gave the story justice. It was just a joy to read, and I got in trouble a lot in class because I couldn't put it down. I think a lot of people will like this book, but if you have a short attention span maybe you should choose a different book, because it may leave you lost. But for those who are looking for a good, exciting book to read, this is the one for you.
Content: abusive relationships
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Casa Grande, Arizona USA
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Storm: The Infinity Code
This book is one of the best spy/kid genius books I have read. Young took the story above and beyond the norm. She described her characters very well and makes sure they all had their place in the story. The plot is thick and filled with humor, suspense, mystery, and intrigue. There is never a dull moment. The thought behind the inventions and the solutions in this book are amazing. I can't figure out how Young came up with everything in this book. This is definitely competition for Artemis Fowl and Alex Rider. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a new and exciting read.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Shippensburg, Pennsylvania USA
The Girl Who Could Fly
The Girl Who Could Fly is an excellent book. The vocabulary is age appropriate and easy to read. I found this book very moving, because of a certain song sung, quite literally, to the end. From reading this book, I learned that everyone has one unique talent at which they excel and should never sacrifice that skill to be normal or accepted. I would recommend this book to others because it was a very moving and an enjoyable read.
Underlying themes of abandonment, family death, and insanity.
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Colleyville, TX USA
Misfit McCabe
I loved Misfit McCabe! The descriptions were amazing. I was glued to Misfit McCabe like a fly stuck to fly tape. I completely underestimated this book because I figured it would be boring. It turned out to be a very, very exciting book. Don’t underestimate the book's cover. Misfit McCabe is a difficult book to read, so I don't think it should be for 9-12 year olds, it should be labeled for young adults. This is a great book. Gardner-Griffie has outdone herself.
There are a few situations with underage drinking and smoking: also some frightening situations, and language.
Reviewer Age: 11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Osseo, Wisconsin United States
Rating: 9
Content: 3
Friday, April 18, 2008
Side by Side edited by Jan Greenberg
fantastical figures
spirited unicorns, delicate deer,
flying fleeing flocks, fierce falcons
Nature unbound
an overflowing vista
to hold close.
-Excerpt from The Vision, by Nimah
Ismail Nawwab
So begins one of the dreamy, meandering, thought-provoking poems in this excellent compilation of poems inspired by artwork. Side by Side contains poems from such different countries as Bhutan, Syria, Norway, and Guyana, and the collection shows a well-rounded glimpse of culture from around the world. Each poem is translated into English, but the authentic feel of the poems is kept by also including a copy of the poem written in its original language. The piece of art that each poem is based off is also included, riveting any reader's eyes to, if not the fantastic poems, the colorful and often startling artwork. The poetry offers a surprisingly frank look at life, art, and how the two can so easily become intertwined without meaning to be.
Jan Greenberg, as the editor, did a wonderful job of selecting poems for this collection. I loved flipping the book open to a random page and delving into the poem I found, savoring all the different styles of poetry I could find. From humorous to serious to sad, this book had them all. The book provides biographies of all the authors and translators, as well as a map to locate them all. I recommend this book to anyone who likes art, poetry, world cultures, or simply wants to try something new-it was my first book of poems, and I loved it. It offers a unique look at what art is and can be, and I liked simply gazing at the pages, seeing the poems and paintings as though they were one, which is what this book set out to do and accomplished splendidly.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Richmond, Virginia U.S.A.
The Compound by S.A. Bodeen
Besides the many twists and turns by the plot, I really enjoyed the development of Eli, our far-from-perfect protagonist. Readers are able to examine the real person behind Eli's long hair that often covers his face. Eli's twin brother, Eddy, was an interesting addition to Eli's character. I saw Eddy as an example of everything that Eli is not. Eddy is someone that Eli can become, but he is not capable without the opportunity. The end of the story marks Eli's escape from his own personal Compound as he attempts to save his family from his father's physical compound. I recommend The Compound not only for its suspense, but for the rich transformation of a most-unlikely hero.
Reviewer Age:18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Eden Prairie, Minnesota United States
Violet By Design by Melissa Walker
I thought this book was one of the best books I have ever read! I lead a very busy life and often I was tempted away from reading, but this book somehow made it so I just couldn't resist! The modeling industry is something I have always dreamt about and the real life references in this book made it oh so believable and surreal at the same time! So many parallels in this book were made between the life a model leads and the effect that it has on modern day children growing up; as well as the effect society and the way our expectations effect not only models. The element of surprise was FANTASTIC in this book. Not only did it present a problem but it presented five more! Where ever Violet traveled, she encountered something new and each and every time it resulted in either another problem, or an unexpected solution, each time stunning myself. I applaud Melissa Walker in her attempt and absolute success to write a MASTERPIECE!
Profanity was a large part of this book's dialogue in addition to eating disorders, sexual behavior, drinking, and other adult content.
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: , PA USA