Saturday, June 23, 2012

Embers by Laura Bickle

Anna Kalinczyk is not your average arson investigator. Ever since she was a child, paranormal Lantern Anya and her salamander familiar Sparky have been followed by spirits and other beings. She has the power in inhale ghosts like a giant vacuum, but refrains from doing so unless it is absolutely necessary to revive a human being. Being a Lantern has never really affected their lifestyles--until now. An arsonist is on the loose, dropping cryptic clues and devouring spirits, leaving the city of Detroit in flames. His motive? To awaken a fiery entity that will destroy the city and Anya. With the help of her team of Detroit ghosthunters, she embarks on a quest to stop this dangerous Lantern who uses his powers for evil from destroying all that Anya holds dear, including a man who sees her for what she truly is. To take on this task requires an immense amount of skill and power, but Anya Kalinczyk is up for the challenge to save all that she knows.
This book was painful to finish. If it were not for my obligation to Flamingnet, I would have chucked this book in the back of my closet after reading halfway through the novel, never to return to it. The major problem I had with this book is the terrible characterization. Anya's character is left undeveloped, and I really don't feel compelled to read more about her crime-fighting antics. The other characters have even less of a story behind them; the supporting characters are just names written on a page. The other big issue with this book is that it's actually marketed for adults. There are some romantic scenes that teens really wouldn't relate to at all; they're not like the paranormal romances teens read today. The action, or lack thereof, might be what adults like rather than what is popular in teen fiction. The final reason why this book didn't work for me is the farfetched plot. The story of magical people who eat spirits didn't really appeal to me, and it probably won't appeal to you unless you like plots that are really different from other books. I would recommend Embers to adult women who want to read about a crime-fighting woman and her endeavors with her lover and her fight against evil.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Torrington, CT United States

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Waiting by Carol Lynch Williams


Zach was London’s best friend and she was closer with him than she was with anyone. They were the ideal brother and sister duo. Zach was only sixteen when he died. Now, London must face her broken family and world on her own. Her mom hasn’t said a word to her since his death, and her friends have all distanced themselves from her. Trying to build herself back up, London struggles with the two boys in her life: her brother’s best friend and the new boy in town.

I really enjoyed this book. Everyone can relate to the idea of coping with loss, and that is a major theme
represented in this book. This book is stylistically different from other realistic-fiction novels; it does not
have chapters. The text is broken into pieces, the longest being four pages, and the shortest being a sentence. This
makes the book different from others because the pieces are just short thoughts or events from her point of view. It
makes you feel closer to London as a reader.

Rating: 8
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Leawood, Kansas United States

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

My Awesome/Awful Popularity Plan by Seth Rudetsky

My Awesome/Awful Popularity Plan was a very different approach to normal YA literature. The protagonist is a young (and gay) Broadway fan. He is dying to go out with the quarterback of the football team. Unpopular Justin soon gets tangled up into pretending to be going out with Becky, a good friend of his...so she can cover up going out with the quarterback of the football team. A book that will make you laugh out loud and cry, in hopes that Justin will finally get what he wants.

To be very honest with you, I wasn't very sure about this book at first. But Justin is such a lovable character that you end up rooting for him. The ending was very cliche, but it almost made the book even better. As you delve into this novel, I highly suggest getting comfortable; this is a read-in-one-sitting book.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Silver Spring, MD USA

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Fated (Soul Seekers Series) by Alyson Noel


Fate has brought together a pure soul and a dark soul in a girl who will change everything. Daire Santos, a daughter of a makeup artist, sees strange things and time stops around her. She feels like she is going insane with all the visions and ends up in Enchantment, New Mexico with her peculiar grandmother she has never met before. In Enchantment, she finds herself surrounded in magic and meets the beautiful boy of her dreams. She also encounters an enemy she is destined to destroy. Does Daire have what it takes to be a Seeker and save her people, or will she run away and leave those she loves perish?
Fated by Alyson Noel takes place in New Mexico with dirt roads and dusky, brown colors that are almost like a desert. I can picture the setting in my head with the mood of lonely and deserted feelings. Yet peace and happiness are there too. As for the main character, Daire Santos, she is a very strong girl with characteristics I wish I had. The author makes me believe Daire is a real person in high school. She argues a lot with people but it is appropriate. I liked the book and after a couple of chapters, I couldn t wait to keep reading. The writing was clear and had emotions that made me feel like I was there in that particular place and time. The end of the book was unsettling and it made me wonder: this is the end? This isn 't bad though since the book will continue as a series. When I finished Fated, I didn't feel the same as when I finished The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Towards the end of Fated, it seemed like everyone was in a hurry to end the scene to go to the next one, and I hoped the author would slow down to fill in all of the details. From the book, I learned to take care of nature and to help those who need it. It also made me think about what home and friends really mean to me in life. I would recommend the book to everyone because it makes people stop and pay attention, wonder what it 's like to find a home, and think about how people are all meant to live with purpose and destiny.

The Life in the Angel Carving by J S Warren


Miranda was carved out of stone long, long ago. For some unknown reason, she has a living soul and a mind that can think. But for many, many years she is trapped inside of the stone carving of an angel. She can only look and think, movement is impossible. The world passes her by. In the middle of a terrible war, Miranda falls from her high perch on the church into a pond down below. Much to her surprise, Miranda falls through a gateway into another world.  And she becomes human.
The story is about Miranda's life on Arbarron, the strange world she came to, and her quest to save the world from an unknown evil.

I thought 'The Life in the Angel Carving' was a good plot idea. It had great potential and I was curious from the beginning. But it took too long to get going. The story was very slow and it seemed as if there was too much unnecessary information, or information that just wasn't brought to life. My attention wasn't caught until the last few pages of the book. I thought the characters were nice, but nothing special. Also, some of the characters weren't described as well as I would have liked. I thought the King was an older man but in truth he wasn't as old as he looked. I thought that was a bit confusing because he spoke of how old he was and yet he didn't appear old.
In the story, there is a massive gateway in space connecting the Artex Galaxy with the Milky Way Galaxy. Earth is in shambles and is falling apart with every horrible thing imaginable. Disease, war, famine, drought, death, greed - the list goes on and on and it was very depressing. It was too much like someone was giving me a lecture on how bad Earth could become if we don't do something. The author portrayed humans as if they were the most detestable creatures alive and it was all their fault. Personally, I don't enjoy being "yelled at” when I'm trying to read an enjoyable book. It was much too heavy and gloomy to drag into the book. If the description had been shorter and not so terribly uncomfortable and preach-y, that would have been fine. But I'm so tired of everyone shouting to save the world while we can, to recycle and save Mother Earth! I find it tedious and not enjoyable to read about.

 Some of the words and phrases the author uses would be too hard for younger children to understand. There were a few curse words here and there that might bother younger children.  Also, the pages and descriptions about a futuristic Earth gone to shambles could be disturbing.

Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Doylestown, PA USA

Faking It by Joseph K. Smith

The Revolutionary War was going on, and Deborah Sampson wanted to fight for her country. Disguised as a man, Deborah became a soldier. Although she experienced many setbacks and close calls, Deborah kept on trying. All through her life, she fought for what she believed in. Deborah gave many speeches and presentations. She inspires many people to be brave and go for their dreams. Deborah is now the official heroine of a state.
Although a wonderful topic, this biography seems to drag. It seems the story could have been more exciting; more of a page-turner. It is more of a narrative about her life than an engaging story. It has no dialog. The timeline was interesting because it showed what was going on in her life during famous historical events. The Introduction, Conclusion, and timeline turned out to be the best parts of the book. Faking It is much shorter than I thought, which could be good or bad depending on the age of the reader. All in all, it is sort of a dull book that I do not highly recommend.

Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Calhoun, GA USA

Monday, June 18, 2012

Singled Out by Sara Griffiths

Taylor Dresden is not so sure she made the right move. After lots of drama many years before over her playing baseball, she is about to play again. However, this time she is playing on scholarship at a boy's private school. For a while, Taylor thinks everything is going along okay, but when one of her fellow scholarship classmates gets blamed for something she didn't do, Taylor is not sure what to do. As she struggles to stay at the school and earn her time on the field, she also struggles with mixed emotions for the guy who is trying to get her thrown out of the school. What will Taylor do? Will she last the year, or will she be singled out?

Singled Out by Sara Griffiths is fantastic book that teaches one to never give up, and to fight for what one believes in. It is also the second installment in a series about Taylor Dresden and her dream to play baseball. This story is very realistic in the fact that its main character is a girl who is told she can't do something because she is not a guy. Many girls today are told they cannot do things because they do not have the abilities guys do. This story is a very motivational one, and I suggest it to both guys and girls who believe anything is possible if you try hard enough.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Fresno, California USA

Spirit's Princess (Princesses of Myth) by Esther Friesner

As the daughter of her clan s chief, Himiko and her family knew she was destined for greatness. However, the greatness that finds her is not one that her clan will readily accept. To prove her family wrong, Himiko goes out behind her family's back to try and live her dream.  As she struggles to find her inner self, everything else in her life starts to crumble around her. Can Himiko make everything all right again? Will her will to live her dream ruin her chances of surviving?

Esther Friesner has done an amazing job on her latest book, Spirit 's Princess. Spirit 's Princess is the fifth book in the Princesses of Myth series, and Himiko is the third princess to be written about in the series. Out of all the books so far, Spirit' s Princess is my favorite because of Himiko' s spirit. She is lively and at times wild, but she has a kind and wise soul. Himiko is a character you' d want to be best friends with, and the book is well written that one thinks it is entirely true. I recommend this book to everyone, and especially to those girls who take a chance to make their dreams come true.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Fresno, California USA

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Gilt by Katherine Longshore

Kitty Tylney has always been best friends with Catherine Howard, living in the Duchess of Norfolk's manor with other young girls. Kitty and Cat have dreamed of the opulent court of King Henry VIII, but never expected to go. But when Cat is selected to attend to Queen Anne of Cleves, she leaves Kitty behind and begins her ascent. When Cat catches the eye of the king and soon after marries him, she invites Kitty to join her at court. Kitty is excited for the balls, pretty gowns, and expensive jewels, but she isn't expecting the gossip, secrets and power-seeking enemies. Can she protect Cat from those who wish to bring her down?

The Tudors and King Henry VIII is one of my favorite subjects, so I was very excited to read Gilt. I already had some knowledge about Catherine Howard, but it was interesting to read the story from the point-of-view of her best friend, Kitty. From what I can tell, most of the novel is pretty accurate, which is good for history buffs like me. Some parts of the book were a little boring because Kitty isn't at court as long as Catherine, but once she becomes a lady-in-waiting, the plot picks up. I knew what happened to Catherine, but I was looking forward to see how everything would end for Kitty. Fans of history and the Tudors will definitely enjoy Gilt.

Reviewer Age:20
Reviewer City, State and Country: Aston, PA United States

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Bloodman by Robert Pobi

FBI Special Agent Jake Cole has the remarkable ability to recreate crime scenes in his mind.  Every detail and every clue is stored in his brain to help him solve the most difficult cases.  However, this skill comes with a price-a delicate and compartmentalized psyche developed in an attempt to forget his broken past.  Jake is forced to revisit this haunted past when he returns home to care for his father, one of the most influential American painters of his era, after an accident caused by his affliction with Alzheimer's puts him in the hospital.  Upon his arrival, Jake is called to investigate a grisly double murder that catapults him into a whirlwind of mystery, violence, and shattered memories.  Jake will have to confront the very things he spent 25 years to avoid in order to find the Bloodman, a cold-blooded killer that won't leave Jake alone.

Bloodman is not an easy read, nor is it an incredibly fast read.  However, Bloodman is certainly a rewarding and enjoyable read.  To fully grasp the essence of the book, one must explore in a manner similar to a painter constructing a masterpiece, a central theme in the book.  In a similar fashion, the pace of the book varies.  The excitement and drama of the beginning and final acts are offset with a slower-paced middle.  This allows for plenty of tension while also providing an opportunity for characters and back-story to develop.  The ending is satisfying and unexpected, although it may be considered during the course of the story.  However, the thrilling plot may not be the landmark of Bloodman.  Instead, it is the character study of Jake Cole that steals the show.  His journey is exhilarating but also difficult to swallow as he ponders what must be done to protect his friends and loved ones from the past and perhaps more importantly, himself.  Robert Pobi has written and outstanding thriller that I recommend to mature readers.    

For language, graphic violence, sexual content, and drug references.

Reviewer Age:22
Reviewer City, State and Country: Eden Prairie, Minnesota United States

Cross My Heart by Sasha Gould



Laura della Scalla has finally adjusted to the monotinous routine of daily life in the convent where her father banished her when news comes that she must come back to her home in Venice. Instead of being able to relish the new freedoms of her old life, Laura reels with the shock of her sister's death and the revulsion of having to marry her sister's hideous old fiancee. Just when she thinks there is no hope left, Laura is approached by a member of the secret sociey of women in Venice, the Segretta. These women have the power to change Laura's fate, but they require one dangerous entry fee - a secret. Laura must balance her new responsibilities of her newfound life, as well as deal with her increasing attraction towards a mysterious painter and the powerful yet dangerous members of the Segretta. Laura struggles to accept her sister's passing as it seems more and more apparent that her death was no accident, reminding her of the danger of meddling with the wrong people in Venice, as well as the power even one secret can have.
Sasha Gould's Cross My Heart was the perfect mixture of romance, mystery, and historical fiction. Laura's character appeals to any audience because of her sweet and naive nature as well as her undaunted courage and bravery. I especially loved the theme of appearance vs. reality prevalent throughout the book as Laura struggles to understand who her friends and enemies really are. I was constantly engaged and the ending proved to be an unexpected surprise as the conditions of Laura's sister's death are revealed. I loved this book, and I would recommend it to any historical fiction enthusiasts, as well as anyone looking for a good book. I am looking forward to any more books by this author!

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

Wild Horses (Sadie's Montana) by Linda Byler




This book is about a girl named Sadie.  She was being driven to her job as a housekeeper, when Sadie and her driver saw a hurt wild mustang in the middle of the road.  Some men were also on their way to work.  They stopped and said they would take the mustang with them to drop off at the vet.  Sadie s boss surprises her by getting the horse back for Sadie.  Sadie had to choose her husband out of her two favorite men.  At the same time, her mom is struggling with mental problems that her father refuses to accept.  Sadie has tough choices to make.  Will they be the right choices?  Or will they not?

I think this book is a really great book.  The literature was very impressive.  It had strong words and good writing.  I liked the way she had to deal with so many struggles, but she kept her head.  I would recommend it for anyone.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Leesburg, Virginia USA

The Enchantress (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel No. 6) by Michael Scott

The last day of battle, and Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel are in San Francisco with Niten, a warrior from Japan, and Prometheus, an Elder without a Shadowrealm.  These four valiants must save the city from the Dark Elders Bastet and Quetzalcoatl and the horde of monsters stored on Alcatraz. With several unlikely allies and insane courage, the Flamels might just die knowing they've won.  Meanwhile, on the Isle of Danu Talis, ten thousand years ago, Sophie, Josh, Scathach, Palamedes, Joan of Arc, Saint-Germain, William Shakespeare, Virginia Dare, and Dr. John Dee must fight to keep Isis and Osiris from gaining the throne by trickery, rescue Aten, and complete the prophecy that started this whole business.  The gold and silver twins have been found. The two that are one have become the one that is all.  Now one must save the world and one must destroy it.

It is the last book of the series.  It is a good ending.  Not necessarily happy, but good.  The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel is one of my favorite series, so of course I chose this book.  I believe that every character ended this book as something different than they started.  Some objects changed also.  Even the four swords of power, Joyeuse for Earth, Excalibur for Ice, Durendal for Air, and Clarent for Fire, changed their form and were united.  I really liked the idea of a fifth major power, an element, I suppose, a perfect mixture and balance of the other four - Aether. I doubt that any other person has taken traditional mythology and made it into something so different, so accurate, so realistic.  Michael Scott has outdone himself in this marvelous book, the dramatic conclusion to his original mythology series.

About the genre of this book: fantasy is the closest you had, but it's really a mythology book.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Lake City, IA USA

Saturday, June 09, 2012

See You at Harry's

In this book Fern faces several conflicts. She finds out shocking things and experiences a tragedy. She also gets embarrassed and aggravated.  Although not everything is a conflict, everything is alright when everyone s happy.. This book may not start out the way you expect, but in the end everything is better.

I enjoyed this book; it was very captivating. Once I started reading, I couldn 't stop. I think this would be a good book for kids 10 and up. My favorite part was when Fern s sister was pull over in the ice cream truck. There is nothing in my opinion that could make this book better.The author must have met her goal of this book. There was no part of this book that was boring.

Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Wray, Georgia United States

Friday, June 08, 2012

The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman



The world's greatest minds have tried to crack the Voynich manuscript, but none have succeeded. That is, until Nora Kane, her friend Chris, and his odd roommate have at it. That is, until Nora's affinity for Latin and her strange connection with Elizabeth Weston, a 400 years dead poet who seemed to have cracked the code back in the 1500's, will make her the closest to finding out its secrets. But then those who wish for the secrets of the Lumen Dei to be kept in the dark are after them, sending her across the ocean, into a city that is still stuck in the past. There is no one Nora can trust, not the stricken Adraine, girlfriend of Chris; nor quiet Max, that odd roommate she had fallen so hard for; and especially not the mysterious distant cousin, Eli.
Beautiful, is the perfect word to describe this book. The language is woven in a complex pattern full of vivid words and deep meaning. It has a completely different feel than any other book I've ever read before, in a very good way. It's realistic, which with all of the Twilight wannabe's out there is an amazing feat. It sucks you in until you've read the last word, and even after that, it keeps you thinking and wondering over each mystery it presents you with. Of all the mystery novels I've read, The Book of Blood and Shadow has been the most surprising and suspenseful. With a little bit of romance, religion, history, and mythology, it has everything. It was not a book I would normally read, but it makes me want to read them, if they're as good as this one.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Colorado Springs, Colorado The United States of America

Thursday, June 07, 2012

Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker

Unbreak My Heart is the story of Clementine, a high school sophomore who sets out with her family to sail along the east coast for the summer. The extended family time isn't as horrible as it normally would be, mostly because Clementine has managed to lose her best friend, Amanda, after flirting with Amanda's boyfriend. Clementine uses the trip to reconnect with her parents and her little sister, as well as to sort out her own feelings about what happened between her and Amanda. As a little bonus to this soul-searching vacation, she meets a friendly boy named James, who is sailing the same route as Clementine's family.

Unbreak My Heart was an interesting story that added a sailing background to the typical teenage drama. The creative setting allowed for a different take on the genre, and limited the repetitiveness I have come to expect from teen girl books. The plot was a little bit slow, focusing a lot of attention on Clementine's thoughts and the mysterious mistake she made that cost her Amanda's friendship. The small amount of action the book had was in the sub-plots, and greatly underplayed. Clementine's character was not developed enough, and I never really felt connected to her. She did not have enough flaws to make her relatable; besides the one mistake that the plot revolves around, Clemintine seemed like a pretty, smart, social girl with everything going for her. All in all, Unbreak My Heart is a quick read perfect for a teen girl relaxing on the beach and looking for something to read. I would recommend it to fans of Sarah Dessen, and those looking for a quick look into the mind of a heartbroken teenage girl.

Reviewer Age:16
 Reviewer City, State and Country: Harleysville, Pennsylvania USA

Monday, June 04, 2012

Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols

Leah Jones has always lived near airports and been fascinated by planes. When she is finally able to afford flying lessons, she goes to the owner of Hall Aviation, a small banner advertising business, to teach her. But when Mr. Hall dies suddenly, Leah fears her flying days are over. Luckily for her, Mr. Hall's two sons decide to restart his flying business, and they want to hire Leah. The only problem is that Mr. Hall's one son, impulsive Grayson, decides to blackmail Leah into dating his brother, and Leah finds herself stuck between the two of them.

I have never read a book by Jennifer Echols, and after reading Such a Rush, I think she is a terrific author. Such a Rush was a lot different than any other book I've read, especially since it involved flying planes. Everything about the planes was well-researched, and reading about Leah up in the air made me want to learn how to fly a plane, too. All the characters were interesting, and throughout the whole book I wanted to know their motivations. The mystery with Grayson and why he's blackmailing Leah was particularly engaging. Speaking of the protagonist, Leah grew up poor with an absent mother, but she was able to overcome her upbringing by the end of the book. Overall, I thought that Such a Rush was a fun read about a very interesting topic.

Reviewer Age:20
 Reviewer City, State and Country: Aston, Pennsylvania United States

Sunday, June 03, 2012

The End: 50 Apocalyptic Visions from Pop Culture that You Should Know About by Laura Barcella

What do 17 horror movies, 12 bone-chilling books, 4 creepy songs, 4 strange plays, 1 terrorizing radio broadcast, 5 sci-fi TV shows, 3 scary comic book series, and 4 frightening pieces of art have in common?

The end of the world.

In this book, Laura Barcella breaks down 50 of the world's most recognizable visions of the end times. For each vision there is a short summary, famous quotes, unforgettable moments, the impact the vision had on people, and a black and white photo. There is also a Reality Factor, which explains whether or not the vision could really happen or ever come true.

This is a stunningly well-put-together book. Laura Barcella adds her own funny captions to the pictures, and has an upbeat sort of vibe, which makes this book very amusing and easy to read. The only problem is that for some of the plays, movies, books, and comic book series the ending is clearly stated. The upside is that not every single one is spoiled. There are only a couple that are truly given away.

Laura Barcella has taken an impossible challenge and made it her own in a funny and laughable way. I will forever enjoy this book, as it is a welcome edition to anyone's library.

While this is an amazing book, there are quite a few pictures of bloody and gory scenes. There are multiple movies and books where people are killed in very vile ways. The aspects of the world ending are clearly present on every page of this book, so young or squeamish reader might want to steer clear.

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

Vodnik by Bruce Moore


Tomas is a sixteen-year-old born in Slovakia, but due to a near-drowning accident when he was five, he and his parents moved to America-where he was raised. Ever since his accident, Tomas has been deathly afraid of water, and because of the mysterious burn scars he wields, he is constantly the recipient of everyone's jokes. A fire burns down their house, and their insurance is inadequate, so the family has no choice but to move back to Trenin, Slovakia. Befriending his cousin, Katka, Tomas learns that it was no accident that he almost drowned and that a vodnik, a mythological creature in Slovak lore, is trying to steal his soul. Together with Katka, Tomas must find a way to kill the vodnik, and along the way, he has to deal with daily racism against his people the Roma (Gypsies), three bullies who absolutely hate him, bizarre visions sent by a water spirit, and a dark-humored woman in black commonly known as the Zubat£.
This book was a compelling novel full of suspense, humor of various kinds, and, something I truly enjoy, culture awareness; throughout the book, you learn numerous facts about the Slovakian culture, language, and folklore, along with the eye-opening racism the Roma face every day. At the beginning of each chapter, there is a small segment from a tome mentioned in the book called Death in the Modern Day; each caption has a darkly humorous tone to it, along with interesting information about different things throughout the story. One such caption describes vampires in a never-before-thought-of way: instead of being elegant, beautiful, and aristocratic, in this book, they are "a lazy, slovenly lot, prone to long bouts of diarrhea and cursed with some of the worst body odor on this plane of existence."
Overall, this is a wonderful book that I highly recommend for anyone who loves everything previously mentioned. Tomas is very relatable to those who have major issues making friends-so instead spend their time watching movies or TV, or those who are harassed due to race or differences, or if haunted by any creature from Slovakian lore.

Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Oskaloosa, Iowa USA

BlackGold by Albert Marrin


Black Gold, it controls the world. Also known as crude oil, it shapes our society by being involved with everything we use and do on a daily basis. "Black Gold" explains this process of control. From the very beginning of time when it was created to the present day with our rising gas prices, "Black Gold" covers it all. "Black Gold" makes connections that you'd never even think of. If you're interested in history, any type of social studies, and even math, then you'll definitively enjoy this book. 
I thought this was a well written book. It was just a bit too "textbook-y" for me, I was looking forward to more of the effects that drilling and the oil industry has the personal lives of people all over the world. As I said, it was very informative and I learned a lot, I just wish there was some more personality to it. Overall, I might recommend this book to a friend if the circumstances were appropriate, though probably not just for pleasure reading.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Hopkins, Michigan United States