Enchantment Place

Enchantment Place is a compilation of seventeen stories from different authors; however, the stories are all linked by their setting, a magical mall called Enchantment Place. This mall, and all of the stores in it, cater to a cliental vastly different from what you see at your average mall, mainly because it is made up of witches, vampires, ghosts, and of course some demons and weretigers, a creature similar to the commonly known werewolf. Each store in this mall sells unique items, from combustible clothing and accessories, to altars for any new coven, and familiars for the whole family. Familiars are pets much like your average cat or dog with a twist, they speak to you, enhance your powers, whatever they may be, and guide you through your problems. Enchantment Place even has a store very similar to one in the real world, although it stirs up a lot of anger with some of the mundane; Make-a-Mortal is comparable to Build a Bear. The best part about Make-a-Mortal is that it is owned by a werebear named Ted, who seems to hold a grudge against mortals for the mockery.

Enchantment Place was an interesting mix of short stories for anyone who is interested in fantasy. I loved the fact that there were many different authors involved in this compilation, because you can see the different writing styles from author to author. One reason I was happy with this book was the fact that it did not conflict with other stories in its description of mythical creatures. Also, I loved the fact that the setting of the book was a mall because I feel that when you go to a mall, you experience so many different things that any other setting, such as a park or grocery store, would be overshadowed. I definitely recommend Enchantment Place to all reading addicts looking for a quick fix between novels.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: East Islip, New York United States of America

The Camel Bookmobile by Marsha Hamilton

Fiona Sweeney wants to do something worth while with her life so she volunteers to travel to Africa and run a bookmobile. She favors one community in particular, Mididima. But many people in Mididima resent this "white woman" and the bookmobile in fear that their children will forget tradition. When some of the books borrowed from the bookmobile by a Mididima boy are not returned Fi is ordered to discontinue her visits to Mididima. She is determined to find the books and continue her work there.

The book was written in third person perspective and it switches between many character’s point of view. I was really hoping someone would fall in love and actually there is a lot of falling in and out of love. At times it is heart wrenching and at times it is heart warming. Something that really surprised me was that there really is a camel bookmobile in Kenya and in the back of the book is an address you can send donations. The book had some hard vocabulary words and the characters were hard for me to relate with at times. But over all I think it is a pretty good book that will open your eyes to how poverty-stricken and uneducated people are in Mididima.

For language

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

Harmony by C.F. Bentley

Sissy is just an ordinary girl, one who works in an ordinary factory. In fact, everything about her is ordinary. She has dark skin and dark hair. She is a normal worker, except for the six extra caste marks on her cheek. Each person on the planet Harmony has a caste mark that distinguishes him or her among society. And when the ruler, Laude Gregor finds out about this, he elevates Sissy to High Priestess in order to soothe the God Harmony's distress. But he does not foresee the trouble she may cause, as well as the change she may bring about.

Harmony was an excellent book, one that used many elements such as setting and development of characters to enhance the contents. First off, I think the author used and described the scenery well. It would feel as if I was the main character at parts, but at other parts the descriptions were only so-so. Different moments of this novel have different mood tones, such as uncertainty, fear, trust, and desperation to intensify the book further. I could very well tell that Sissy was from a totally different civilization than ours, and she was not happy with the way it was run. This would create tension, as well as a great deal of suspense that would last throughout the book. Some characters, however, seemed to be more and more suspicious and less trustworthy as the story progressed. This created an aura of skepticism towards the sketchy characters. I think it was completely appropriate to speak in third person, for there were many characters. To complete the first book, I think the author should write a sequel because there were very many loose ends left untied.
The author achieved a gripping novel, which I could absolutely not put down. It shows how a simple girl of the lowest social order could elevate herself to bring about a change on the planet Harmony. Also, amazingly enough, the only flaw I could find was that the beginning just thrust you right into the story with very little explanation. Furthermore, the plot was compelling with completely age appropriate vocabulary. Harmony had a distinct and original plot, which was superior to the other books I have read in the sci-fi/fantasy genre. I think Harmony was a great book, which had an interesting ending. I would definitely recommend Harmony to any person who just likes to read an all-around fantastic sci-fi/fantasy novel.

Rating:10

Reviewer Age:12

Reviewer City, State and Country: Baltimore, Maryland USA

So You Want To Be A Film Or TV Director?

Supposedly everybody wants to be a director, but what
would they be getting themselves into? First, directors
have to use the film script to figure out the key points
to start filming. They figure out the genre, what it is
about, how to shoot it, which angles to shoot from,
lighting, and so on. Then, they need to start filming the
movie or television show. Sometimes the director needs to
talk to the actors about the characters they are
portraying. Still yet, the director needs to be there in
the editing process. Overall, the director does a little
bit of everything. Do you have what it takes to be a
director?

I have been interested in acting and filming
for a long time. I thought that this book would give me
information on what exactly a director's responsibilities
are. This book was definitely satisfying because it gave
me basic terms and "rules" that directors use all the
time. I liked how there were constantly examples from
shows or movies. Some parts were slow and boring, but they
can be skipped. The vocabulary is easy to understand, and
if a new term is introduced it is defined. I recommend
anyone interested in directing read this book for
information.

Reviewer Age:15

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

Sharks by Miranda Smith

This book is all about an interesting predator of the sea, the shark. You learn many facts about how they live their sleepless nights. In this book it talks about basically everything to do with sharks. It gives information about many different types of this sea wanderer. With all of this information and great pictures you will get lost in the mind of this creature.

I enjoyed this book because it had a lot of facts I did not know about sharks. It also has great pictures that go with the facts. I am not a person who likes non-fiction books like these, but this one kept me interested. I would recommend this book to whoever would like to find out more about sharks.

Reviewer Age: 15

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

Milagros by Meg Medina

Milagros has the perfect life . . . Well, it's almost perfect. Sure, her dad left her to become a pirate. It's true that Milagros has barely any friends. And, yes, she is disliked by most of her fellow islanders for her notorious mischief. All the same, Milagros loves life on the tiny Caribbean island of Las Brisas. She adores her loving teacher, Senorita Alma, and the magical manta rays that are her very own secret. But things change. A terrible event tears Milagros from her beloved island and sends her across the sea to a place she had never imagined: a place that is cold and gray and awful. Yet again, Milagros doesn't fit in; she is called girl from Away, and is feared by her superstitious neighbors. When there is nowhere to go, nobody to confide in, what is a girl to do? Follow Milagros on her mystical journey, and you, too, can discover the magic of hope, the meaning of love, and the promise of home.

Milagros, Girl from Away, keeps the reader hooked to the last page, for the most part. Its plot is full of unexpected twists, and at the same time interlaced with details that make the story more real. The book drags a bit, though. The exposition is too long; I kept waiting for the action to start. Overall, Milagros is a fine book that will hopefully capture other readers the same way (or even a bit more than) it captured me.

Content:1

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6

Reviewer Age:15

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

97 Things To Do Before You Finish High School by Steven Jenkins & Erika Stalder

The title of this book says it all. "97 Things to do Before You Finish High School" is about 97 different activities or ideas that every High School student should do before they graduate. This book gives you new activities to try that students may not have ever considered doing. These ideas should be on every teen's must do list, with the longterm goal of broadening your horizons."97 Things" was a very insightful book that gave me many new ideas to try before I finish school. I think that the ideas listed in this book are things every high school student should try, especially riding a horse, seeing a Broadway play, keeping a diary, and creating a scrapbook. Since I read the book I have tried only a few "things", but I plan to do all of them before I recieve my diploma. I think that any high school student looking for something fun to do should definitely read this book. There are so many things young adults can try; I found the challenge exciting and fun!
Reviewer Age:15Reviewer City, State and Country: Lemoore, CA US

Swine not?

"Swine Not?" by Jimmy Buffet is a very good book. It is told from the point of view of a pig named Rumpy and a twelve year old boy named Barley. Both points of view are very different but are written very well. Through the two points of view, you really understand what is happening. This book is about a pig named Rumpy and her three owners, Ellie McBride, the mother and Barley and Maple, Ellie's twin children. Ellie decides that they should leave their small town in Tennessee and move to New York City. The McBrides pack up and take Rumpy with them for their move. In New York, Ellie becomes a pastry chef at a five star hotel named Flubein's Hotel. The McBrides get a room on the top of the hotel and live there with Rumpy. Rumpy is excited about being in New York because then she might be able to find her lost twin brother Lukie, whom she left in New York to head to Tennessee when they were very young. The twins find great opportunities in New York, but then, out of nowhere, the hotel puts up an exotic pet bane. What will happen to Rumpy? Will she ever find her brother? What sparked the pet bane to be put up? Find out in "Swine Not?"

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes animals and adventure. I really enjoyed this book because it was funny; I especially liked reading the story from the pig's point of view, something new to me. Rumpy's narratives made me want to read more of the book. I did not have any trouble picturing the plot as I read the book. This book was easy to read and I would recommend it to anyone who likes animals and likes to laugh.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Finksburg, MD USA

Poison Ink by Christopher Golden

Poison Ink by Christopher Golden is a thrilling example of a mixture of realistic fiction, fantasy, and mystery. Sammi, the protagonist, has always been a "floater"-- never really part of a group at her high school. Then she meets a bunch of girls who are also "floaters," and they all instantly form a strong bond. For Sammi it is a dream come true, as she finally has a whole group of friends. When they decide to get matching tattoos despite the fact that they are underage, and none can get parental permission, things get very strange. Their only hope is a sketchy tattoo place with blacked out windows and a very weird man who does not care how old they are. He comes up with a special design, which intrigues all of the girls except Sammi.. At the last minute Sammi backs out and refuses to get a tattoo. The next day at school, she finds that all of her "friends" have turned on her and do hateful things to her. Even worse, they seem to go beserk, and get involved in vandalism and drugs. Why do they hate Sammi? What was up with that creepy tattoo place? Are the tattoos growing? And scariest of all, who or what has control of her friends? To find out the answers to these questions and more, you must read Poison Ink by Christopher Golden.

The language used in Poison Ink draws the reader in, making you care about the characters, especially Sammi., who is described as a lonely, but loyal and sincere person. I really loved this book, and was draw into it and couldn't stop reading it until the very end. Parts of it were chilling, just scary enough to keep you involved, but not so frightening that you had to put it down. Overall it was a great book and an amazing read. I would recommend it to middle schoolers and above.

There is a little bit of blood and gore that younger middle schoolers might find disturbing.

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country: Hingham, MA USA

Acting Out by Avi, Sharon Creech, Patricia MacLachlan, et al

Acting Out is a collection of six plays by six award-winning children's authors. Along with the plays, each has its own production notes written by the author. These plays are easy to read, humorous, and have lots of fun and simple acting roles to play. The pieces have a wide range of topics, so everyone is bound to find at least one that they like. All of the stories have great plots, and very believable characters. Some of the authors are: Avi, Sharon Creech, and Richard Peck.

"Acting Out" is a great read for people of all ages. The dialogue flowed very smoothly. If you are considering reading this book, I recommend that you don't just pick up the book and read the plays one after another. Gather up a group of friends, choose one play, and act it out, as the title implies. If you find one that everyone likes, make a production of it, using the production notes at the end of each play. Teachers looking for a fun activity to do with students would appreciate this book.

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Renton, Washington United States

The Big Field by Mike Lupica

Hutch Hutchinson is more at home on a baseball diamond than at his own house. Standing between second and third base, at shortstop, is paradise for him. And when his team is invited to play in a tournament for the state championship, Hutch knows his season is getting longer. But he does not foresee the hardships ahead of him, such as an unforgiving teammate and an unsupporting father. These hardships may take the fighting spirit right out of him.

The Big Field is an interesting book, one that will appeal to baseball fans and the general public alike. Mike Lupica enhances the settings of this novel to make its scenes more spectacular. The Big Field carries a distinct tone of the betrayal that Hutch felt from of his father. I liked Hutch, as a 14-year-old boy who loves baseball more than anything else. He also gave you the sense that he just wanted to do the right thing, but could never do it. I like the author's writing style, but I wasn't sure it was appropriate to use the third person. The book followed Hutch and nobody else, so why not use the first person?Mike Lupica definitely showed what it was like for a boy to achieve his lifelong dream in considerable fashion. The vocabulary was age appropriate, and the author made you empathetic to Hutch. You could definitely tell when he was frustrated, and you understood his emotions. This novel is strong and passionate about Hutch's feelings, which guided the plot. As I said earlier, The Big Field was excellent as well as interesting. The ending was spectacular, one that was very heart-warming. I would definitely recommend this book, because it had an interesting and intense plot.

Reviewer Age:12

Reviewer City, State and Country: Baltimore, Maryland USA

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Writing Thank-you Notes

In the book "Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Writing Thank-you Notes", a girl named Moxy Maxwell has a thank-you note disaster. It all starts on the day after Christmas when Moxy has to write twelve thank-you notes before she goes to bed or she doesn't get to fly to Hollywood to see her dad. Everything gets worse when she decides to make a copy of her thank-you note on her step-dad's new copier. Will Moxy get her thank-you notes finished in time to visit her dad? Read this book and find out.

This book is fun-filled and funny. The situations Moxy gets into are amusing and make you want to read on. There are many characters and each one has a unique personality. Some of these include, Granny who is humorous and forgetful, Mark, Moxy's brother, who is a genius at making things work, and Pansy, Moxy's sister, who wants to be a turtle when she grows-up. You never know what is going to happen. A kid of any age will enjoy this book. It is a quick and easy read. The only low point was that the ending could have been a little more detailed.
Rating 9
Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Leopold, Missouri USA

Cindy Ella by Robin Palmer

Cindy Ella is a normal high school student until she writes a letter to the newspaper editor expressing her dislike of prom. This causes an outrage among her fellow students and even some teachers. Her two stepsisters and stepmother attempt to help remedy the situation, but they are too caught up in prom season. But with the help of her best friends and her crush, Cindy finds her social life isn't that bad and that at the end of the day, she could still find happiness.

This story is a fresh, modern take on the cinderella story. All girls can relate to Cindy at some point, from her embarassing encounters to her high school moments. This was a very entertaining read and it kept me laughing throughout. This was a fun book and perfect for the summer. Though it is geared more towards younger readers, I'd recommend this book to any girl who wants an entertaining read. I'm looking forward to seeing what this author has in store next.

Reviewer Age:21
Reviewer City, State and Country: Philadelphia, PA US

A Veil of Gold by Kim WIlkins

The worlds of Mir, the normal human world, and Skazki, the magical world, are causing trouble for Rosa, Daniel, and Em. Rosa and Daniel were lovers before, but they split. When Rosa finds a magical golden bear she requests help from Daniel to learn more about it. Soon, Daniel and his fellow worker, Em, get pulled and trapped inside of Skazki by the bear. They face all kinds of demons and trouble. Rosa realizes what has happened, and she sets out on a quest to get into Skazki as well and bring her friends back.
As I began reading The Veil of Gold I thought that it seemed more like an adult book. The style of writing would appeal to older teenagers or adults because of the events and the vocabulary. It takes place in Russia, and throughout the story you learn some Russian words, myths, and stories. The chapters change from one group of characters to another, and it is very beneficial in knowing everything that is going on. I loved the genres included in it; they were adventure, fantasy, and mystery. Sometimes the author left parts on the story to be assumed or figured out by the reader, and it was kind of hard to do sometimes. I recommend strong readers interested in magical stories or Russia read The Veil of Gold.
There are sexual scenes, swearing, and violence.
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States of America

Lang Lang

Lang Lang's story is one of struggle, sacrifice, conflict, and determination. He was born in Shenyang, China in 1982. He began playing the piano at the age of three, and by the time he was five, he had already won his first competition. His father was determined to get him into the best music school in the country - the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. Out of thousands of students who applied, only eight could get in. Lang Lang's family could only afford the school if he finished in the top three (who were given a scholarship). Every day, his father forced him to practice six to eight hours at the piano. His hard work paid off when 10-year-old Lang Lang finished first in the Conservatory competition. At age 15, Lang Lang came to the US to further advance his potential career. In 1999, he was launched into the world spotlight as a last-minute replacement for Andre Watts of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Today, he is a world-renowned pianist, and has played with some of the most famous symphony orchestras in the world.

I loved reading this story because there was always something interesting on every page; whether it was another conflict with his father or an upcoming competition. I could never find a good place for me to stop reading; therefore, I read the whole book in one sitting. I loved how he explained everything he felt at any given moment - I felt as though I was in Lang Lang's mind. His relationship with his father is an interesting one, but they always reconcile at the end. This book is very similar to another book I've read called "Mao's Last Dancer" by Li Cunxin. In both stories, a boy grows up in a poor family, and after many years of struggle and hard work, he makes it to the world stage. In my opinion, this book was not as emotional and moving as it could have been. There were many themes and motifs in the story that the author could have used to more advantage. For example, Lang Lang received a stuffed dog as a consolation price in an early competition (he finished 7th). Although he briefly mentioned it as his lucky symbol, I believe the message could have been a lot stronger had he mentioned it at the end of the book. Also, his father's standard pat on the back before every competition could have been used to a larger degree. Lang Lang spent a lot of time describing his childhood years, but not as much on his adult career (less than 20 pages). I would love to hear more about what he's doing as a professional pianist. But overall, I think Lang Lang did an excellent job sharing his story about the journey he took to become one of the best pianists in the world. This book is appropriate for readers of all ages and it will inspire all those who read it. I learned a very important lesson from this book, and it is that you can't succeed without hard work (in Lang Lang's case, hard work means six to eight hours of per day). If I were his father, I would be very, very proud.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Palo Alto, CA USA

Finder's Magic by C.M. Fleming

Hank McCord, and a soon-to-be black friend Calvin Yates, witnessed Hank's best friend's murder. After the murder, the two boys were forced to realize just how deep racial tensions ran in early twentieth century America. The murderers, Hank's bosses, would do anything to kill Hank and Calvin. The bosses feared that the murder victim had told Hank and Calvin about a secret operation the bosses were planning. Later, the two boys visited a woman known as the "Witch Lady", or the "Finder of all Things." Miz Mancala, the Witch Lady's real name, possessed the mental gift of finding misplaced objects, and she could partially predict the future. When Calvin and Hank were framed for the murder, the KKK showed up and threatened to search and burn down the entire black village until the boys were found. In C.M. Fleming's book, Finder's Magic, friendship is more powerful than skin color. Can the two preteens release the truth about who murdered Jeb, and determine how to stop the bosses' secret operation, or will their lives come to a screeching halt?

I enjoyed Finder's Magic although the beginning was a bit boring and didn't grab my immediate attention. But the more I read, the more I liked it. Several chapters were predictable but there were a few things that surprised me. Even without the setting, readers can easily tell that the characters are from the south, just because of their word choice. I really appreciated the moral: Look for the qualities of the heart; the inside and the personality, not just the outside skin color, eyes, and looks overall. Fleming makes readers realize how much that simple moral can change the future, thoughts, people, or entire country. I found that moving. Overall, the voice of the book was great because the characters seemed real. Some parts were funny then serious, Finder's Magic would make a great read-aloud.

Reviewer Age: 12

Reviewer City, State and Country: Osseo, Wisconsin United States

Seaborn by Chris Howard

In Seaborn, Chris Howard explores a new dimension of urban fantasy. Rather than keeping to the city as the genre would imply, Howard delves into an undersea world. Seaborn weaves together the tales of Kassandra, an exiled Seaborn royal desiring revenge while trying to free herself from her ancestry, Corina, a college student struggling to survive a Seaborn sorcerer’s possession, and Aleximor, the sorcerer working to possess Corina in order to enact revenge on Seaborn’s royalty. It is no surprise, then, that their worlds would collide, integrating pursuits of revenge, multiple fronts of war, and power struggles while splitting time on shore and under the water. Of the three narrators, Seaborn focuses on the heroines Lady Kassandra and Corina and their efforts to (re)gain control of their own lives.

Chris Howard’s first instalment of this epic fantasy takes fantasy readers in a new direction. His passages are densely packed with detail and each chapter reads smoothly. His characters appeal to all readers, whether they are familiar with the genre or not. In particular, despite her inhuman characteristics, Kassandra is every bit as real as Corina, the Californian student whose main preoccupation until her possession was her latest break-up. My main complaint with this novel was the amount of names. With so many, Howard should have more gradually introduced each character, to make understanding the complex history an easier task for the reader. I would strongly suggest that fantasy lovers who are tired of vampire novels check this book out. One warning, though: the novel is quite graphic, so I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone with a weak stomach.

The novel is very graphic and the detailed violence would not be appropriate for younger readers.

Rating:7

Reviewer Age:19

Reviewer City, State and Country: Farmington, CT USA

Click by Annabel Monaghan & Elisabeth Wolfe

"Click!" was written as a guide to inform today's generation of girls all about making "it" happen. "It" can be any goal that you may have. The focal point of the book "Click!" is all about setting and achieving goals. Authors Monaghan and Wolfe believe that if you release good and positive energy, then good and positive things will happen. They write about focusing on your goals and sending out optimistic "e-vites" and getting excellent R.S.V.P.s back.

The authors of the book "Click!" definitely achieved their purpose. The vocabulary makes this book useful for girls of all ages. The writing was simple but to the point. The book is broken into several sections, and those sections are broken in to more sections which makes this guide an extra book that is easy to read. Monaghan and Wolfe keep your attention by making you actively read. There are quizzes to take and "e-vites" to fill out. They make sure that you can take this book and make it relate to your life and your goals.
I learned that through setting and focusing on goals, you can really make what you want happen. I would recommend this book to girls of all ages to learn about what an optimistic and positive attitude can do for you.

Reviewer Age:18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Phoenixville, PA USA

Boy Toy

Josh Mendel is one smart baseball player who is at a loss of how his life turned for the worse. There are some that make his life easier like Rachel, who forgives him and wants to be apart of his life. Yet the bad outnumber the good, like the stress to find a college that is right for him and like Eve's getting out of jail. Eve was his former teacher who took advantage of him five years ago and no one has forgotten it. Could life get much worse or will confronting what Eve did help him through the past?

I thought this book was unique in its own little way. I didn't know much about baseball at the time, but with this book I began to learn more about the sport. I also learned how a human being can make it through the past to see what was best for them. I would recommend this book to those who like baseball and want to read about a troubled teen finding his place in life.

The book has child molestation and sexual content.

Reviewer Age:15

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

Turn Up The Heat

It is spring in Boston, and Simmer, the new restaurant on
the affluent Newbury Street, has been open for five
months. Chloe Carter and her boyfriend, Josh Driscoll,
have dinner at Simmer with their friends. Everything goes
smoothly until the next morning, when Chloe discovers the
body of the waitress who served them the night before,
Leandra, in the back of a truck. Even though it is finals
week, Chloe finds time to uncover new clues to the murder.
Just when she thinks she knows who killed Leandra,
something completely unexpected happens: Chloe is
kidnapped by the murderer. Is she about to suffer the same
fate? Read to find out!

Having read the previous two
books in the Gourmet Girl series, "Steamed" and "Simmer
Down", I was not disappointed when I read "Turn Up the
Heat". The basic storyline is similar to the previous two
books, where Chloe discovers a murder victim and tries to
find the murderer amidst her busy life. There is always
something interesting going on with the book, whether it's
Leandra's stealing or Adrianna's baby "crisis". I enjoyed
how the author managed to combine food and mystery into a
delightful mix. I love reading fiction books that can
potentially happen in real life, and this book is just
that. I also enjoyed this book because it was full of
twists and turns. In my opinion, reading books that are
very predictable is dull and unexciting. However, the
ending in Turn up the Heat was very surprising and
completely unexpected. By the time I finished the book, I
felt very satisfied on how the story turned out. Yet, at
the same time, I was left wanting more. Along the way, I
also learned more about the food and restaurant industry.
The writing style is very casual and easy to understand.
It is a good book to read during free time. But be
careful, because you might not want to put it down!

This
book contains some strong language and sexual
implications.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and
Country: Palo Alto, CA USA