Writing On The Wall by Christopher Cleary

The main characters in Christopher Cleary's novel, Writing on the Wall, are Donnie, a quiet, lonely boy who is still recovering from a family tragedy, and Megan, the pretty new girl, who has reinvented herself by means of a drastic physical makeover. Though they become friends, they keep vital secrets from each other. Their home lives are hectic and neither feels accepted by their families, so they rent a storage unit which becomes a refuge where they hang out. Gradually, the storage unit becomes the home for which both of them have been longing. As Megan's trust of Donnie grows, she reveals her own past as an unattractive girl, and their relationship progresses from being friends to being lovers. However when she accidentally discovers Donnie's secret and confronts him about it, it causes a crisis. Thanks to the strength of their bond, Donnie finally begins to open up to Megan after closing himself off from everyone for so long.

Throughout this novel both protagonists grow and develop, resulting in a wonderfully written realistic fiction novel. It is a great book, gripping until the very last page. It makes the reader very emotional, I cried at parts. The style of the writing makes it a very easy and enjoyable read. Overall I loved this book and would recommend it to middle schoolers and above.

There is mention of suicide and and some sex, so this book may be vetoed by parents until their children are old enough to handle these issues.

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country: Hingham, MA USA

Thrown A Curve by Sara Griffiths

She's got only one friend and a father who seems to hate her. Fourteen-year-old Taylor Dresden's life is neither normal nor easy. She is an average student, but her ball playing is anything but average. After giving up baseball for nearly six years, Taylor is forced to begin playing again or get turned over to the police for an act of vandalism committed on her school. No one seems to cheer for her at home or on the field, not even her baseball playing brothers. However, her self-confidence grows throughout the book as she begins to open up and solve the many complicated problems in her chaotic life, such as an ongoing relationship with her best friend and the real reason her mother left. Taylor struggles to fit in somewhere and attempt to let her true self shine through. This is a good solid book that any adolescent can easily relate to.

This book was a pretty average book about a struggling adolescent. Told in the first person narrative, I could really connect with the 14-year-old and empathize with her situation. The author's language was simple and to the point, although I would have liked a little more detail in some scenes. Most of the story was sad but it had some good moments and concluded well at the end. I don't think this book is quite good enough to recommend to someone but it was a mediocre book that all adolescents could relate to.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Richmond, Virginia USA

Rating: 7

Content Rating: 1

Hot Mess by Julie Kraust & Shallon Lester

Emma Freeman is 18 and spending her summer with her best friend in New York City. All Emma wants is to be independent and to meet the perfect guy. She goes to New York to spend the summer doing an internship for an amazing company, but she finds out that the company isn't as cool as she thought it would be and her boss is definitly below loser status. So Emma tells herself that she just has to endure the horrible job even if she isn't getting paid for the whole summer. This book is a girly book, but it holds its own in entertainment.

I enjoyed this book. It was a typical girly book with a predictable plot, and while reading it, I knew what was going to happen to Emma. There are better books in the girl category, but Hot Mess has good characters and, for a teenage girl, Emma comes off as being smart and having morals. I would only recommend this book to teenage girls, because, as explained before, it's a chick book.

Reviewer Age:19

Reviewer City, State and Country: Ward, Oregon USA

Neptune's Children by Bonnie Dobkin

When the world falls victim to a deadly virus what happens? In Bonnie Dobkin's novel Neptune's Children, when this virus strikes an amusement park only the children survive. Feeling lost and hopeless the children struggle with the loss of their parents, and wander aimlessly on the islands that make up the park, until one boy takes charge. The children accept the islands as their home, and appoint leaders to keep them organized. What happens to the outside world remains a mystery until Zoe, one of the survivors, spots a glow in the distance. As secrets are revealed, a war rages, and few will believe the truth.

Neptune's Children is a fast paced book, full of mysteries waiting to be discovered. The main characters Josh, Zoe, and Milo, all have a strong voice and a well developed personality. No two characters are alike, and all of them change over time. Josh and Zoe, the two main characters, are easy to relate to and understand. As Zoe becomes more suspicious, the reader does too, and when Josh feels betrayed by those he trusts, the reader can easily sympathize. The author's vocabulary and writing style works well for the intended age group, and manages to create appropriate moods throughout the book. The conclusion ties up most of the ends neatly, but leaves some questions for the reader to ponder. Neptune's Children is a great book for anyone who likes sci-fi and mystery books. I enjoyed reading this book very much, and will look forward to this author's future works.

Mild language, and mild violence, as well as some suggestive themes.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Colleyville, Texas United States

The Copper Indian by J.P. Morgan, D.Min.

Jim Utze grew up in New York listening to the radio show: The Lone Ranger, and to stories about his Native American ancestors. Always wanting to be just like his hero The Lone Ranger, Jim started a career in law enforcement. He started working for the NYPD in the 1950's. In this book you will learn what it's like living in the footsteps of Jim Utze. You will learn about his crazy arrests, and his life on and off the job. I recommend this book for anyone who loves mystery and crimes.

I thought The Copper Indian was an interesting book. It is not like any book I have read lately. It made me feel as if I were actually there in Manhattan, New York (where the book takes place). The Copper Indian had many strengths, but one that stood out the most was the sentence fluency. The sentences flew in an organized rhythm, making the book a page-turner. The only downside to this novel was I found myself day dreaming and wondering if the next page would be better. Most of the time the book got better and more exciting as it went on and it was hard to put down because I wanted to know what happens next. This book is one of the best books I have read lately. I highly recommend this book to everyone. I guarantee you will enjoy it.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Sandy, Oregon United States

Circle the Truth by Pat Schmatz

Circle the Truth is the story of Rith, a somewhat unique young boy, and his supernatural staircase. On certain occasions, Rith's staircase changes and leads him into a completely different living room than that of his typical home. In this new living room, he meets Bible Man, an old man who only speaks by quoting the Bible. The excerpts from scripture that Rith, actually named Orithian, hears parallel the triumphs and setbacks in his life, and they also help him find the truth about his biological father and Rith's unique name. This divine intervention also brings Rith closer to his faith. Whether Rith accepts it or not, Bible Man brings him face to face with what his religion is really all about.

I really connected with the theme of truth. In today's media it is extremely difficult to find where the truth lies. And I really liked in the end how the author takes the two worlds we are presented with and combines them. It reflects the idea that truth is almost something that we have to determine on an individual basis. That is, we must decide what is true and false. While this novel presents some strong universal questions about the role of religion in our society today, it may not make up for an average plot. The dialogue between characters seemed a bit off in the sense that the word choice didn't seem to fit the characters' personalities. I also had a feeling of emptiness as the story didn't seem to come together in the end; a feeling that it was incomplete. Nevertheless, Circle the Truth is a solid tale that provides substantial value to those in search of food for thought.

Reviewer Age:18

Reviewer City, State and Country: Eden Prairie, Minnesota United States

This Life, This Death by Michael P. Graham

This novel is set in the fictional South American country of Asturia. David Bridgeman is a former United States fighter pilot ace from World War II. He lives a peaceful life with his girlfriend and her daughter until his friend at the mail company he flies for gets shot down. This incident is the first evidence of the threat that is to arise, an overthrow of Asturia's new democracy by one of the former brutal rulers. David Bridgeman is chosen to train new fighter pilots in preparation for the attack and lead them when the time comes. However, he is distrusted for being from the United States. He must gain the other pilots' trust before he can teach them. The story focuses on the aspects of flying a fighter plane and the tactics involved.

I did not care for the book. It was too focused on the fighting scenes and different planes, at the expense of character development and relationships. The fight scenes were long, drawn out, and confusing to follow. Also, the story often jumped between different characters' viewpoints. This made it hard to really get to know and like any character. I personally had trouble keeping the different characters, sides of the war, and airplanes straight due to the confusing manner in which the chapters jumped from one area and perspective to another. It was a dull read because of the confusion, and I would only recommend it to someone interested in fighter planes and aerial warfare.

The story contained sex, violence, and death.

Reviewer Age:14

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

Blood Bank by Tanya Huff

Tanya Huff weaves an interesting world full of action, mystery, and a slight bit of adventure. Meet Vicki Nelson, Mike Celluci, and Henry Fitzroy. Vicki is a recently-turned vampire cop who has a streak of bad luck a mile long. Mike belongs to the same police force as Vicki. Henry is the illegitimate son of Henry the 8th and a writer of romances. Together, these three are a crime-fighting, evil-doer-catching unstoppable team. Follow the three as they solve crimes and eventually catch murderers.
Along with nine spine-numbing stories, Tanya also includes the screenplay of her television show based off of her novels. Near the end of the novel, Ms. Huff also includes a short passage about her writing of the screenplay and her feelings and thoughts during the writing process.

As this book is the sixth in a series, the characters and language during the beginning of the novel is slightly confusing. I like how Tanya includes a story from each of the three characters; it's refreshing to read about more than one person. The action scenes are a little short, but the level of mystery and the agonizing thought of danger make up for its loss. Her characters act and say things that make them come to life. Some parts in the book were a little slow, especially the beginning, but the book eventually picks up.

This book contains slight romance and action scenes that contain blood and gore.

Rating:6

Reviewer Age:15

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

The Best Dance Moves in the World... Ever! by Matt Pagett

The Best Dance Moves in the World... Ever, by Matt Pagett, is a pretty funny book. You learn 100 new and classic moves and how to bust them. The step by step instructions teach you everything from "Saturday Night Fever" to the "Bay Watch." With illustrations on every page, inspiration, and advice on music and props; you too can get down tonight!
Are you tired of people staring and getting embarrassed because of you dancing? Are you the type of guy who tries to bust a move, but instead busts a hip? Then this book is for you!

When I read this book I was shocked! I never knew that there was a dance called the Q-Tip, or the lawn mower! I was laughing and having a great time reading. Within a couple of days I was dancing like Elvis Presley and Napoleon Dynamite! I brought this book with me to a school dance and I was able to do the worm, the belly-roll and the ass-shaker! I think anyone from age 9 to 99 would have a great time dancing with their friends.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Renton, WA USA

Rating: 9

Content Rating: 1

Miranda is a math genius at Geek High who is so smart that she is known as the human calculator. In the first book in the series, Geek High, she finally has found her first almost-quasi-boyfriend, a guy named Dex who is an all-star lacrosse star at Orange Cove High. The second book, Geek Abroad, begins with the start of holiday break. Miranda visits her mother in London, hoping that Dex will try to stay in touch. When a few days go by and still no word from Dex, Miranda begins to wonder if Dex lost interest in her. While in London, Miranda meets Henry, the British guy who makes it clear that he is interested in her. As Miranda spends more time with Henry, and still receives no word from Dex, she begins to wonder if she should move on. When holiday break ends and Miranda returns back home, life gets even more complicated when faced with the awkward silences between her and Dex. Miranda has to decide what should she do with her love life.

After reading the first book, Geek High, I was hooked. When I learned that a sequel was in the making I couldn't wait for its release. Now that I have read the sequel, Geek Abroad, I realized that it lived up to my expectations. When Geek Abroad showed up in my mailbox, I read the whole book front to back in less than 24 hours. While Geek Abroad answered all of the questions that I had about Miranda and Dex's relationship after reading the first book, it still left me wondering what would happen next in their relationship. Though I read Geek High first, I feel that you don't need to read it to understand Geek Abroad.

Reviewer Age:12

Reviewer City, State and Country: Potomac, Maryland United States

The Great Race by Gary Blackwood

The Great Race is a distinct book about a miraculous journey, in 1908, from New York City to Paris by automobile. Not only is this a miraculous feat by itself, but also the automobile was very unreliable, as well as very mysterious to the general public. This would be a test of courage and mettle, one that isn't for the uncourageous. The media and the public just loved this event, and as the racers started off, the streets of New York City packed. Many police escorts were needed in order to keep the onlookers away, as even the passengers and drivers were harassed. These would be long months for the entrants, and only one team will emerge victorious.

Overall, I enjoyed The Great Race, despite its few flaws. First off, the author made the setting a mellow part of the book. I felt as if the author flat out "told" me the setting instead of showing it to me in a colorful way. Despite this however, I think the author succeeded in conveying the thought that weather was the single most important obstruction in the way of the drivers. The book gave a feeling that almost everything was going wrong for some drivers. The author succeeded in displaying the main characters with their own personalities. I think the characteristics possessed by the main characters of the novel seemed very real and human-like. The narrator's voice was more matter-of-fact, making the book both interesting and dull in different ways. The book had a fairly slow start, but picked up fairly fast as the story progressed.

The author effectively informed me of this historical event in an interesting, as well as innovative, way. The vocabulary was easily understood, not cryptic. A vital strength of the book was that when all was going well, disaster struck. This sparked my interest and kept me reading the book. However, before the race started, there seemed to be a monotonous drag. Regardless, this was a good book. It had a simple, but interesting, plot that carried through the entire book. This book taught me in depth about this intriguing race. I would definitely recommend this book to people who would like to know about historical events, in addition to people who like mild adventure.

Reviewer Age:11

Reviewer City, State and Country: Baltimore, Maryland USA

How To Build A House by Dana Reinhardt

Harper's life is wonderful. She has two stepsisters and a half brother, all of whom she loves, and her family is happy and whole. And then her father and stepmother decide to get a divorce, and, seeking to escape her life briefly, Harper joins a community service program to rebuild the house of a family in Tennessee who lost it to a tornado. Following this, the story switches between Harper's experiences in Tennessee and what happened at her home before she left. In Tennessee, she learns how anything must be built; it involves a precise order of events and a determined patience. Corresponding to each step in building the house is a segment that refers back to her home. The reader learns about Harper's tortured love life and the events leading up to her departure as Harper learns how to build a house.

How to Build a House uses a simple and elegant metaphor to portray a young woman's discovery of the mistakes that she made in her life, why she made them, and what she should have done. The beautifully written book has a voice that is truthful and pure. Readers will shake their heads at Harper's mistakes, rejoice in her accomplishments, and wait anxiously for each twist and turn of the book. This book depicts the tender side of a family suffering a divorce and how distorted a girl's view of the world can become due to past events. Harper's narrative style is refreshing and unique, and the author (Dana Reinhardt) shows her deep understanding of a teenage girl's mind. Girls will enjoy the story line and the accurate depiction of teenage life. Though there is no inappropriate content, some references may be inadvisable for readers under age 11 or 12. Overall, this book was wonderful and did not follow a predictable pattern for its genre, creating a new and pleasant experience for any reader.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Melrose, MA United States

Traitor by Gudrun Pausewang

Traitor by Gudrun Pausewang is a fantastic book about a young girl named Anna who betrays her country, Germany, by hiding a Russian soldier during World War II. The book is about the trouble she goes through to keep the soldier safe. Her younger brother, Felix, is her worst nightmare because he is a Nazi fanatic and would have no second thoughts on turning her in. The book is very tense and never lets go of the reader's attention. It is definitely a worthwhile read for anyone who takes the time.

In my opinion Traitor is an extremely well written book, that does a fantastic job of entertaining and holding onto the reader's attention. The writing was very effective in portraying the tension of the situation Anna is in. The author did a good job in making the reader feel as if they are in the book too. Overall, I thought the book was very interesting. The ending was surprising and sad but I thought it fit the book very well. I would definitely recommend this book to others because although it's depressing, it's a very good book.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Champaign, Illinois USA

There's a Spaceship in My Tree by Robert West

This book is about Beamer, who moves from California to middle-America and feels like an alien. His new house does not do anything to help him feel at home, because it is completely filled with odd, voice-activated contraptions. He meets up with two other strange kids named Scilla and Ghoulie, who become his new best friends. One day they are being chased by the school bully, Jared, when the three of them decide to hide in Beamers weird, rocket ship shaped, tree house. That’s when things begin to get really interesting. When Jared attempts to follow them he runs out screaming, and the tree house rockets them out on a Star Trek-like adventure.

Even though this book was a bit far fetched, it was quite good. The characters were so believable that I wanted to call up Scilla and talk to her. Another strength of this book was that its descriptions were so vivid that I could see the action happening next to me. This book is a quick read with a fast moving plot that I would recommend to people between 8 and 10. It would be a good book to read in the car when going someplace you don’t particularly want to go because it really draws you in and makes you forget what you are doing. The author made a large amount of references from Star Trek, so be up to date on trekkie trivia.

Reviewer Age:11

Reviewer City, State and Country: Exeter, New Hampshire USA

The Fan's Guide to The Spiderwick Chronicles by Lois H. Gresh

The Fan's Guide to the Spiderwick Chronicles by Lois H. Gresh is a guide to the popular fantasy series by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi. The first chapters of the book summarize all of the Spiderwick Chronicle novels. The book also gives a useful explanation of all the characters and creatures found in the novels. Gresh shares her opinion on the books and situations that happen in them. She goes into a brief, but detailed description of the three main characters: Jared, Simon, and Mallory Grace. Since the Spiderwick novels are about fairies, Gresh also shares some other fairy legends, which she ties into her explanations. For instance, she mentions a lot of Irish myths that were not even remotely mentioned in the Spiderwick novels, and I thought that these legends were interesting and provided a deeper layer of context. A particular feature that I enjoyed in the book was the "fast fact" questions at the end of each chapter. Each question deals with something in the chapter, and it was cool to read the questions (even though the answers are quite simple).

I enjoyed reading The Fan's Guide to the Spiderwick Chronicles by Lois H. Gresh, although at times it could be a bit dry. However, I think that fans of the Spiderwick Chronicles will enjoy this book very much. As I mentioned earlier, I enjoyed the "fast fact" questions especially, as well as the various mythical legends presented within the book. I think that readers who really enjoy the Spiderwick universe and want to immerse themselves more deeply in it will really like this book. Also, readers who are fans of fairy lore oth inside and outside of the Spiderwick novelsw ill find this book an interesting read.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Saugerties, New York USA

Flying Boats and Spies by Jamie Dodson

Nick Grant is a 16 year old boy struggling to keep his family out of debt during the time of the Great Depression. When Anne Lindberg offers him a months wages just to deliver a map case to Bill Grooch, he finds himself accepted as a Pan American employee! But he must keep his identity a secret - no one under 18 can be an employee! And then there is always the problem of a Japanese Ninja on his tail wanting to kill him!

I loved this book because I have a very high reading level. Some parts were a little too hard for me though, because it had a lot of boat terms - something I don't understand. But it had a very exiting story line and I will definetly be trying to locate more books by this author!


Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Gearhart, Oregon United States

Season of Ice by Diane Les Becquets

The novel, Season of Ice by Diane Les Becquets, is about the emotional struggles that the main character (Genesis) goes through after her father goes missing. Because her father's body is nowhere to be found Genesis and her family face many financial issues and cope with many other changes that affect them in greater ways. As a way of dealing with this stress Genesis decides to do her own search for her father. During this emotional and lonely season, Genesis manages to find comfort, kindness, and possibly the love of companionship from a complete stranger. Genesis soon finds that she is transforming into a whole new person.

Season of Ice started out a bit rocky. Due to the excessive amount of detail the novel was quite difficult to get into. The tone of the story is very mellow, which added a sense of realism to the story. The first couple of chapters had me a bit antsy and, at first, seemed to drag on; but as the story continued I began to understand Genesis and was able to relate to her situation emotionally. Diane Les Becquets did a great job of capturing the emotions and innocence of each character and the idealistic thoughts of most young adults, making it easier to realize how age and time affected the behavior of each character. She managed to maintain the realism all throughout the story while using a subtle and somewhat original plot. The novel was very well written and organized. The story glided along with the turn of each page, making it hard not to enjoy the book. The ending was perfect and fairly peaceful, I found it to be extremely satisfying. The greatest hidden message I have received from this book is that life is only as appealing as you make it, so don't dwell on the bad times and enjoy the good ones; live each day with a smile and look forward to the next. I would recommend this book to any young adult who wants to read a simple and enjoyable story, someone who doesn't know how to cope with the loss of a parent, or someone dealing with a lot of emotional stress, because I feel this book could be a bit of an eye opener.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Raleigh, North Carolina United States

Rating: 8Content Rating: 1

Catwalk by Deborah Gregory

In the fashion industry, only the most talented models
make it to the big time. The main characters of this book
go to Fashion International, the school where it doesnt
matter where you come from but it's what you wear that
counts. The Catwalk competition is the only way to get
the true prize or a job working with fashion. This novel
shows the rewards while drama weaves its way through to
see who will truly last to come home with the
prize.

Catwalk used language that truly exemplified the
general feeling of attitude that is shown throughout the
chapters. The characters also carried this attitude
through the way they talked and acted. This book used
terms that were a bit confusing at times such as blang
which is bling squared. This book was a bit of a slow
read for me because it didn't catch my attention.
Cattiness set aside, I would recommend this for a younger
age group and to people who are interested in the fashion
world.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and
Country: Richmond, Virginia United States of America

A Horse of Her Own by Annie Wedekind

There is nothing in the world that fourteen year old Jane loves more than horses. Especially Beau, the horse she rides over at the local barn, Sunny Acres. While she loves Beau to death she still wishes that she had a horse to call her own. Even though Beau is not her own, Jane is excited to learn that she will get to ride him at riding camp this summer. Whats even more exciting is that she gets to spend six weeks with her best friend Robin. The down side is she will have to endure that group of rich girls whose favorite thing is to tease her. Just after camp begins though Jane receives devastating news. Beau has been sold. Janes heart breaks as she realizes her trusted companion is gone and so are her chances of participating in the end of summer show. All hope is not lost though. When Janes trainer offers her the chance to help train a new horse Lancelot, who is a little rough around the edges but has great potential. Jane is a little leery, but eventually she realizes that she cant say no. With the help of the new stable boy Ben, Robin, and her trainer Susan, Jane embarks on a journey of hope and self-discovery that will change the way she sees everything.

A Horse of Her Own was a great book. I really enjoyed the compassion embedded in the pages and felt so connected with Jane. While I am not a horse-savvy person I felt that it was very easy to follow the story. I loved how Jane was able to discover herself in such an original tale. The other characters were also well developed. While Jane is definitely the center of the story I liked how the author put the spotlight on some of the other characters too. It gave a refreshing variety to the story and made me enjoy the book that much more. For fans of horse stories this is definitely a book for you, but even those who arent still pick up the book -it is definitely worth your while. It is a beautifully written novel about truly discovering yourself and learning to get back up when youre pushed down.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Currituck, NC U.S.A

How To Be Bad by E. Lockhart

After getting her mothers test results back, Jesse needs
to get away from reality. What better way to forget about
it all then a road trip with her crazy, fun loving best
friend Vicks! It's a perfect plan until of course the new
girl invites herself along. With few belongings, and all
the reasons in the world to leave the real world for a
weekend, these three unlikely girls make their way to
Miami Florida. Together, with the help of Jesses moms
beaten up car, some mangos, and a credit card, these polar
opposite girls find love, friendship, and themselves.

E. Lockhart, Sarah Mlynowski, and Lauren Myracle did an
amazing job together on this book. Since each chapter was
from Mel, Vicks, or Jesse's point of view, you really got
the in-depth perception of the road trip. I loved all the
witty remarks between people, and the love is in the air
feel. I thought this book was funny, realistic, and
sweet. If you're looking for a good book, and a good
laugh, you should defiantly read this book!
Inappropriate language, and sexual content.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Seaside, OR US.