My Unfair Godmother by Janette Rallison

Tansy is just a regular teenage girl, her parents are divorced, and she feels her father doesn't pay any attention to her anymore. In a desperate attempt to get some attention she dates the bad boy in school, but getting caught vandalizing a building on a date wasn't the kind of attention she was looking for. Her pathetic meter has reached an all time low, so along comes Chrissy, a fair godmother that comes to rescue her by granting her three wishes. Those three wishes don't go as planned though, bringing Robin Hood to the twenty-first century was pretty bad, but being transported back to the Middle Ages to recreate the story of Rumplstiltskin was worse. Luckily, she has the help of her family and the cute police chief's son, Hudson to help.
My Unfair Godmother is funny, entertaining, and romantic. It is a unique story, which makes it unpredictable. The characters were very charming and original. The main character Tansy was relatable and likeable. The relationship with her and Hudson wasn't too over the top. I liked that she didn't make the two immediately fall in love, instead she made the relationship develop over time, and had them actually not like each other very much in the beginning. The fairy Chrissy made me want to read on in the book. Her quirky personality and funny banter with the leprechaun got me laughing. Overall I enjoyed reading this book because it was something fresh, new, and entertaining.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Enon, OH USA

Art Geeks and Prom Queens by Alyson Noel

Rio Jones is the new girl in California and has just left her whole life behind back in New York. To add onto all that, she has to find a way to fit into her fansy private school. Then she meets Jas and Mason. Two art geeks who welcome her in. But Kristi decides to do the same. Rich, a cheerleader, and everyone's worst nightmare. Rio accepts Kristi's offer and joins Kristi and her pack. But being popular comes with a few rules. Rio, at first, is having a great time being popular, but as she becomes closer to Kristi and her crowd, she learns living in the fab lane isn't as fun as it seems.
Art Geeks and Prom Queens got my heart racing with every page. The moment I read the first chapter I was hooked. I couldn' t stop reading until I was done, and then I still wanted more. Readers will not know what surprise is waiting on the next page. Questions will swirl inside your head. Will Rio accept to join Kristi and her friends? What does Kristi have in store for Rio? A brilliant book that captures the highs and lows of being a teenage girl. You won' t be able to stop.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Laurel, Maryland U.S.A

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Lola and the Boy Next Door is a novel about the way younger versions of a person influence the way that person lives their life. In Lola's case, she fell in love very early with a boy named Cricket. His sister's budding gymnastics career separated them and created some misconceptions about his and Lola's relationship, breaking Lola's heart in the process. He moves away right after that. This book is written three years down the line from those events, and we see the aftermath of Lola's broken heart. She is doing pretty well for herself though, a budding costume designer dating a 22 year old rocker she's quite eccentric. But when Cricket moves back, what will happen to her life?
This is the companion book to Anna and the French Kiss and (and this is saying something) it is as good or better than its companion. The refreshing language and interesting takes on controversial topics such as gay marriage and marijuana make it eye opening but not to edgy. The main character Lola does many, many things that are not necessarily smart or legal but she is always punished when she does these things and so therefore the book has morals, which is not something you usually see in a book dealing with topics such as these. The best thing about this book is the scenes where Lola is upset. Every bit of raw emotion she feels in these far between moments are felt in our own bodies and it is heart wrenching. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends.
Sexual and drug related content.
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Exeter , NH USA

War and Watermelon by Rich Wallace

War and Watermelon is the story of a 12 year old boy in 1969. He is going through such hardships as the Vietnam War and the threat of his older brother getting drafted. And then there' s the absolute terror of starting Middle School and having to deal with girls. But in the midst of all this, he and his brother go to the legendary Woodstock to see all the acts they have been listening to on the radio for so long. But what they take away from the concert is not the musical experience, but the love and hope they find there.
I thought that this book was a quick, easy read. I would probably recommend this book to someone younger than I.  I liked the topic because you don' t hear very much about Woodstock. I also thought that all the stuff about the best friend and trying to get girls was really funny. Overall, it wasn' t really my type of book, but I still enjoyed it.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Fairfax, VA USA

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Mara is a normal teenage girl with an unfortunate friendship. Her best friend, Rachel has a new friend who seems determined to undermine Mara and Rachel 's friendship. Things turn abnormal however, when Mara and Rachel are pressured into going into a dilapidated building that ends up collapsing and leaving everyone dead, except for Mara. Amongst the post-traumatic stress and new move, Mara' s world is turned upside down. But the secrets of the building collapse keep haunting her. Was it really just an untimely accident or was there more to that night than she can ever uncover?
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is a definite page- turner. It had me hooked from the start. While the references to hallucinations can be challenging to discern as fiction or reality, it adds to the book and makes the ending even more impactful. The interesting characterization as well as the character relationships really set this book apart. Finally, it' s an entertaining read while raising interesting moral questions, a trait difficult to find in most books. This was a fantastic read and a definite suspense thriller that I would recommend to any avid fiction reader.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Colleyville, Texas USA

Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore

Texas Gothic, a novel written in the supernatural genre, was a fun read. What I liked about this book was the setting, which was in Texas, where Amy spends the summer at her Aunt s ranch. Her Aunt decides to go on vacation, so Amy and her sister, Phin, have the responsibility to watch her ranch. There, Amy encounters her goats in a tree, a hot cowboy, and ghosts! Her aunt sells products that are secretly enchanted because Amy s whole family is full of witches!

Amy says, I was the designated grown up in a family that operated in different reality than the rest of the world. It' s funny because Amy considers herself one of the normal people of her family, even more so than her Aunt or Mother, who are supposed to be more mature than she is.

I really enjoyed reading about Amy' s character because of the dimensions she' s given by the author. She considers herself normal in a family of witches, she meets a cowboy cutie, Ben (who s basically like the boy next door), and her opinions of certain characters such as her sister Phin, are hysterical. The adventures Amy and Phin go on are of course entertaining because Phin is a sloppy genius and Amy is a wannabe normal teenager. This book is very original with a supernatural and romantic twist.

Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Locust Valley, NY United States

Awakening Dreams

Becoming the target of countless attacks in the cold

plains of Calgary isn't exactly on everyone's List of

Favourite Things To Do, but for fifteen year old Grace

Severin, this is becoming increasingly normal. In a world

where Greek gods live among mortals and love takes an

unexpected twist, Shawn L Bird's first book in her Grace

Awakening series is bound to have readers begging for the

next book. Packed with suspense, Awakening Dreams is about

tenth grade Grace, who was never really looking for

romance. But after a sudden fainting spell, all of a

sudden one of the school's biggest druggies wants to date

her, a twelfth grade music genius won't leave her alone,

and might her best friend secretly have a crush on her? On

top of this, the druggie keeps on mysteriously

disappearing, and worst of all, a war between the gods to

end all things creative is breaking out. Somehow Grace is

connected to all this. As her erratic life continues to

unravel, Grace finds herself dreaming dreams that link to

another universe. In a world where Greek gods live among

mortals and love takes an unexpected twist, Grace must

discover her true self and destiny before it's too late.


There's no doubt about it,  Awakening Dreams is a

definite page turner. As already mentioned, the book is

packed with unforgettable suspense. Who is trying to kill

Grace? Why is Ben so certain he's been in love with her

forever? What's with all those overheard conversations

that don't seem to make any sense? are just a few

questions that plague readers throughout the entire

reading experience. When I read the book, I felt like I

was Grace herself, and the dialogue only added to this

effect by latching onto your nose and reeling you into

intensely vivid conversations. The characters are all very

unique. They're very fun to read about and fall in love

with. However, one of the things that I didn't like about

the book was how at the end, readers are never aware of

why Grace is the heroine of the story. I am aware that the

author was trying to limit the reader's knowledge on the

whole Greek gods and the war concept (because readers

are only aware of what Grace knows), but it would have

been nice if the author had ended the book allowing

readers to understand why Grace is important to the story.

Another thing I didn't really like was how the structure

was just a bit weak. For example, there was no climax.

Some might argue that the book did in fact have one, but

I'll let you decide when you read it. There is a little

profanity; but overall, the novel is very tame. I would

recommend Awakening Dreams to anyone twelve years of age

and up, who has a passion for romance novels with a blend

of fantasy.



Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and

Country: , Ontario Canada

Variant by Robison Wells

In Variant by Robinson Wells, Benson Fisher is a seventeen year old foster kid looking for a way out of the system. He believes he 's found that way when he s accepted to Maxfield Academy, a snooty rich school in New Mexico, but when he arrives he realizes he totally wrong. There are no adults. Not one. The whole school is run by students. As soon as he gets there Benson is told that he must join a gang. That is he must if he' s going last very long. He has three options: Society- follow all the rules, handle administrative tasks, keep your nose up in the air; Havoc- the schools version of a street gang, handles the kitchens and grounds keeping duties; Variant- everyone else, handles janitorial work. There s only one really important rule at Maxfield, don' t try to escape. The students aren' t allowed to leave, not that they could get out anyway, at least, no one ever has. When Benson discovers what' s really going on at Maxfield he is determined to leave, but how? There s one other thing. He can 't trust anyone.
I loved this book! Robinson Wells did a fantastic job of creating relatable characters. He gave you their stories and mostly allowed you to play out their decisions, whether it was which gang they joined or who they sided with in an argument. The story also carries with it a thin layer of suspense created by the complacency of the other students. You find yourself asking questions like, Why don' t they care? and How can only one of seventy-five see the problem here? The perfect structure the students created in the school is astounding. Everything s worked out so that there s no fighting. Each new student chooses a gang. Each gang has certain chores. The different gangs stay out of each other s way as much as possible, the best way for keeping peace. It' s both fascinating and a little terrifying. Not to mention the story ends on a wonderfully irritating cliff hanger that' ll leave you impatient for the sequel.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Cibolo, Texas United States of America

The Silence of Murder by Dandi DaleyMackall

A young girl named Hope Long is on a mission to prove her older brother, Jeremy, is innocent of murder. Hope still believes Jeremy didn't kill Coach John Johnson, even though many witnesses saw him flee the scene with a bloody murder weapon in hand.

Jeremy is a little odd. He hasn't spoken in many years and collects empty jars as a hobby. The town of Grain is starting to notice, Jeremy doesn't quite fit in. As the trials continue on Hope deals with her obnoxious mother, who forces her to call her by Rita instead of mom, who (along with the rest of the town) is certain Jeremy killed Coach. 

Hope must also endear her brother's defense lawyer, the Sheriff's curious son Chase Wells, and her long time friend T.J. Many twists and turns happen along the way of the trial with the shocking truth revealed at the closing argument.

At the beginning of The Silence of Murder. I was very close to tossing the book out the window. As the book progressed and I became more attached to the characters, I actually began to enjoy myself. This book wasn't one of my top 5 or anything, but I sure did love how I grew attached to the characters as the trial droned on and on. I felt in areas the writing style was too childish for a young adult book. I wanted a mystery book that gave me chills and scared the living daylights out of me, but to my disappointment, the chills didn't come.

The vocabulary choice was about a 5th grade level and so were the character names. When I read a book, the characters' names really have to pop for me. I believe the author achieved her purpose by writing a grand mystery with twists and turns, but she fell short in making me jump out of my skin as the story line progressed. Her writing wasn't dull per se, but it didn't really speak to me.

I would say the strengths of The Silence of Murder was I never expected the ending, but the book failed to reach my expectations of a suspenseful mystery. I don't believe this book will be the next huge Maze Runner or Hunger Games for my age level but a shoo-in for grades 4th-6th. I enjoyed the ending but I wasn't impressed with the beginning or body of the story. It began to drag on and I found myself paying more attention to my bed cover than the words on the pages. The ending shocked me and had a huge twist right before the end. I started to foreshadow the characters actions as I read along!!

I believe the author could have been more dramatic with the murder and really tried to scare the teenagers reading her book. I didn't learn anything new from her book. I would not recommend it to anyone my age because I felt it was too young for my age and an easy read. I could have easily finished the book in two days if I hadn't had stuff to do every evening after school.

Content: 1
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Tipp City, OH United States

The Lost Crown by Sarah Miller

The Lost Crown shows the effects of the Bolshevik Revolution on the Romanov family.  Sarah Miller starts out the book in the months preceding the revolution.  She highlights the family's humanity through their jokes and their taking care of soldiers returning from the front lines.  Their lives change as their father abdicates and the Provisional Government takes control.  This change brings in the meat of the book, where the royal family is confined under house arrest.  As the revolution progresses, the Provisional Government moves them from house to house and into more unfamiliar terrain.  Each chapter is written from the viewpoint of one of the daughters: Anastasia, Maria, Tatiana or Olga. Miller works to show the inner turmoil within the family and the bravery each member has.  She gives personality and depth to a recognized, but solely symbolic family.

I strongly recommend this book to any reader who is interested in historical fiction.  Though at times slow-paced and dense, it follows the demise and treatment of the Romanov family during the Bolshevik Revolution.  Miller has done her research; she accurately captures the Russian language and culture.  Without either basic knowledge of Russian customs or Soviet history, this book could be slightly tedious.  I was initially confused because of the changes of narrator and because none of the supporting characters are defined.  For anyone who is interested in expanding their knowledge of a revolutionary Russia, this is a book to consider; it is rich with culture and displays the royal family not as figureheads but as real people.

Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Richmond, Virginia United States of America

The Buried Covenant by Shawn Keenan

Jayke is not your average 17 year old. He has some strange abilities.  The only thing he can t seem to do is talk to girls. The minute he tries even making normal conversation, his hands get clammy and he starts to sweat and he can t seem to utter a single word.
When he finds out he s been in a coma for the last 7 years, he wants to find out about his life before the coma. Unfortunately, he can t remember a thing.  However, something finally registers in his brain. School. When he asks his foster parents if he can attend Saint Augustine High, they are reluctant to let him go. Eventually they give in, but this is the worst possible decision they could make. Why? Because at school, there is someone who wants to break a covenant. Which puts Jayke s life in danger.
This is truly one of the funniest books I ve ever read. Some of the situations Jayke gets into are ordinary, but the way he deals with them is anything but! His humor and insight made me laugh more times that I care to admit, and he seemed very relatable.
It s been awhile since I ve read a story with such life-like characters that I actually cared about, and Shawn P. Keenan did a marvelous job making them seem realistic.  Overall, Shawn P. Keenan did a marvelous job with this book. The only complaint I have is that the beginning was a bit slow for my taste. Other than that, this is a must-read for any teenager who wishes to just sit down with a book and have a good laugh.

Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Yucaipa , California USA

Fury by Elizabeth Miles

Emily Winters is really happy when the boy she has liked forever shows some interest in her. The only problem is he is her best friend's boyfriend. Chase did something really stupid a long time ago. Now his life is turning upside-down. A mysterious and beautiful girl takes an interest in him. He thinks life is looking up until awful things start happening. Three girls punish those who do wrong. Chase and Emily must be punished.



I give this book 1 star. The first word that pops in my head when I think of this book is drama. The really well-written and interesting parts didn't make sense with the rest of the story. The idea was a great idea that just wasn't done as well as it could have been. I also rate it R for mildly inappropriate content and extreme amounts of bad language. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
The book had inappropriate contents and awful language.
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Cibolo, Texas United States

Beautiful Days by Anna Godbersen

Beautiful Days, the second installment in the Bright Young Things series by Anna Godbersen, follows the lives of Letty, Cordelia, and Astrid, three best friends living in the peak of the Roaring Twenties. Cordelia is still mourning the death of her father, the infamous bootlegger Darius Grey, and is stuck between missing Thom Hale, the man she thought she trusted, and hating him for causing her father s death. Letty Larkspur, Cordelia s friend from Ohio, must navigate through the world of performing arts in order to find her niche as a singer and still remain true to herself. Astrid, engaged to Cordelia s half brother, Charlie, is torn between her love for Charlie and her unhappiness with his bootlegging. The girls must distinguish between infatuation and true love, all the while staying away from the constant danger that surrounds the Grey family.
Anna Godbersten s novel, Beautiful Days, is a delightful continuation of the Bright Young Things series. The book proved to be as engaging, if not more so, than the first novel, and added many twists and turns in the three girls stories that is sure to keep readers interested. I enjoyed the perfect balance between the historical aspects of the Roaring Twenties, and the fictional descriptions of the girls and their stories. Each of the girls have their own adventure, and the method of changing the focus of each girl for every chapter helps to keep the reader focused and intent on the ever-changing storyline. I would recommend this book to any girl who loves historical fiction and enjoys following the lives of girls their own age.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Bayside, WI USA

Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey

Violet is a troubled girl who follows her fraudulent medium mother around London city selling phony s￩ances. When Violet and her mother are invited to a country house for a series of seances, Violet finds that she can actually see and talk to ghosts and is pulled into a murder mystery of the sister of one of the guests. When Violet s mother gets discovered, Violet must step up and replace her. On top of all that, Violet has fallen for her long time companion, Colin. Can Violet hold seances, solve a murder, help a ghost find peace and take control of her love for Colin?
Haunting Violet is a story that has you on the edge of your seat. It s a story with romance, mystery and the super-natural. I liked the book a lot, it s the kind of book that keeps you up all night reading. There was a bit of violence but nothing terribly gruesome. I frankly think there was a little bit too much going on at some parts, it was a bit confusing, but otherwise the characters were very authentic for the time period that the story was set in, and I really like the plot. I think all readers will enjoy Haunting Violet.

Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: UKIAH, CA United States

Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris

When Kate and her crush, Aaron, find clue after clue that some type of drug is affecting the football team, they work together to uncover the truth. Coming to the conclusion that the football coach is giving most of his team steroids, Kate tries to come up with a cure. In the mean time, students are disappearing, loosing limbs, and becoming flesh-eating zombies. Unfortunately, no one knows how to stop it, until Kate realizes she has been bitten but there is no side effects. Her seizure medicine prevented her from turning into a zombie. Kate creates what she thinks is the cure and Aaron helps her devise a plan to inject it into the effected students. Will they be able to save the effected population or is it too late?
I though this book was very interesting. It kept me wanting to keep reading on to see what happens; I hardly set the book down. Carrie Harris used a lot of detail and desciptive writing styles that keep you entertained. Also, the characters seemed very real to life and I felt I could relate myself to them. I would recommend this book to any teen that likes an action novel with suspense and a little bit of romance.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Fairborn, Ohio 45324

Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George

Princess Celie loves her castle because it makes additions to itself, usually on Tuesdays.  When her parents go to her eldest brother's graduation from the college of wizards, all that returns is news of an ambush by a pack of bandits in a pass on the way home. Celie's father, mother, and brother are believed dead.  A couple of princes from nearby kingdoms come to Castle Glower in hopes of gaining the throne.  When the schemes of one prince become life-threatening, Celie and her sister Delilah hide in a new castle tower with magic spyglasses and secret passageways.  By watching the secret council chamber, they learn just how serious this prince is about destroying them.  Can Celie, Delilah, and their brother Rolf save the castle from his evil plotting?

Tuesdays at the Castle was absolutely stunning.  It was a beautiful tale of sorrow, pain, betrayal, and humor.  I have read a great deal of other books by Jessica Day George, but this one was by far the best.  I think it would be fun to live in an ever-changing castle.  This story is completely original.  It's nothing like any other book I've ever read(and I've read a LOT of books).  This book is sure to delight Jessica Day George fans, and encourage readers new to this author to read her other books.  In other words, it's the perfect book for fairy-tale lovers.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Lake City, IA USA

The Unknown Spy by Eoin McNamm

When Danny starts to wonder if his parents are his real ones or not, a strange attack happens. He then leaves the Upper World after a remarkable discovery, and goes to the Lower World, where he is reunited with Wilson's Academy, a school for spies. He is sent out on a dangerous journey with death and sacrifice. Will he survive?
This book was AMAZING! It is now one of my favorite books! It kept me interested, and I just had to keep on reading! It showed me different points of view and explained everything thoroughly. I want to read this book over and over again! There where some slight violent scenes which may be too much for younger kids, but besides that it was absolutely awesome! If I were you, I' d buy this book straight away!

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Yucaipa, CA USA

Dreams of Significant Girls

Dreams of Significant Girls by Christina Garcia is about

three girls who are nothing alike. Their names are
Vivien, Ingrid, and Shirin. They meet one summer at a
camp in Switzerland. At first, they do not get along very
well. They end up being roommates for two more summers,
which causes them to become best friends. They back each
other up when they are going through issues or first
loves. They form a bond that lasts for years after their
last year in Switzerland. The girls' differences pulled
them closer together as friends.

I thought that this
book really made me feel as if I were a part of the
characters. I thought it was well-written. I also liked
how the point of view changes from Ingrid's point of view
to Vivien's point of view to Shirin's point of view. It
made it a bit different and interesting. The plot of the
book was good though some parts were a bit inappropriate
for younger readers. I would recommend this book to older
teenagers.

strong language; inappropriate scenes for
younger readers
Reviewer Age:14 Uxbridge, MA USA

Journal of a Schoolyard Bully by Farley Katz

Niko Kaylor is feared by all-at least, he is feared by all in his middle school! He takes lunch money from innocent nerds and gives anyone willing to face his wrath the ultimate wedgie. When he gets caught, though, and he has to keep a journal of what he does in order to stop his bullying, he actually makes his feelings into a guide for wanna-be bullies. Finally, after weeks and months of being an angel, Niko makes a plan to take down the middle school once and for all, giving everyone, including the teachers and adult staff, a good lesson in bullying.

I thought this book was all right. When I was browsing for a new book, the description said that if you liked the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series that you would like this. Well, being a Wimpy fan, I got the book. I would read it again, but it wasn't my most favorite book in the world. It was somewhat hard for me to believe in Niko Kaylor, the main character, as a real person. He does things that most bullies wouldn't even think of! He dunks kids in the toilet, he launches smell planes, and more! I think that the reason that I can't believe that he is real is because this is a fiction book. oh, well! All in all, it was a fairly good book, and if you like cartoon novels, I would recommend it.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Hopkins, Michigan USA

Fracture by Megan Miranda

Delaney Maxwell's survival is a miracle. She fell into an icy lake and was underwater for eleven minutes. Most people die from lack of oxygen after five, but Delaney was rescued and remained in a coma for six days. When she awoke, she had little to no brain damage, which is extremely rare. However, even though the doctors can't see it, Delaney knows there's something wrong with her. She starts to feel an inexplicable pull towards certain people. People who are dying...

I really enjoyed Fracture. The concept is extremely original, which is what drew me to the book. There are also a lot of themes in Fracture that resounded with me: survivor's guilt, parenting extremes, death, love, and even hope. As I was reading, I connected with Delaney and could feel all of her emotions, which shows how effectively the author was able to convey them to the readers. But, like I mentioned before, there were a lot of themes and plot points which made the book seem a little rushed. I wish it was longer so there was more time to develop some of the aforementioned themes. Even with this minor fault, I still really enjoyed Fracture and can't wait to see what else this author writes.

Reviewer Age:19
Reviewer City, State and Country: Aston, Pennsylvania United States