Tasting the Sky by Ibtisam Barakat

After her entire life being told to forget, Ibtisam Barakat will remember and piece together her childhood in war-ravaged Israel. Her memories show the hardships of war and truly what it is like to be a refugee. As a child Ibtisam finds happiness and relief in her Arabic language, the way someone would when seeing family. When older she writes pen pals around the world, giving her tastes of different cultures, governments, and freedoms from language. As more of a six-day war, a goat, and a lost shoe, comes back to Ibtisam, she will have to put these shards of memory together, to fully remember her childhood.

The insightful memoir Tasting the Sky, by Ibtisam Barakat, gives us a glimpse of a misunderstood culture through the blood-shot eyes of a 3 year-old refugee. Right off the bat, I was pulled into a gritty world as Ibtisam barely squeaks out a word, with an almost soulless looking soldier frighteningly barking broken Arabic down her throat. She is defined through her childhood memories, and as the book progresses, you see the evolution of the character, and how she grew up into who Ibtisam is now. Although the beginning of the novel was fast paced, the middle slowed down and I found myself losing some interest, like being handed puzzle pieces that don’t fit together. What kept me reading was the beautiful detail, which felt like reading art, like on page 7, when it states “Lighting a cigarette from the dying ember of the one he has just finished and filling his chest with the flavor of fire, he makes frog cheeks and blows smoke rings that widen like binoculars as he glances at us through the smoky panel. He looks at us as though we are only suitcases in his custody.” Towards the end, the picture formed and all the pieces fit together. If Tasting the Sky was consistent with the pace throughout the entire book, it would be a great deal better, but with believable characters, an original story and simply beautiful detail, this memoir is a fantastic read.

Content:2
During a walk home from school Ibtisam was almost raped, but fought back and got away. This only takes place on about 2 pages though. Also, the mother was almost sexually assaulted by two soldiers forcing the family to move. It could have been more graffic or detailed so I gave Tasting the Sky a 2 as a content rating.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Mount laurel, New Jersey USA

The Big Book of Pop Culture by Hal Niedzviecki

This book is about the history and basics of pop culture. Also, it serves as a guide for aspiring artists who want to publish magazines and books, make movies, music or radio shows, or create a website or blog. This book focuses a lot on independent (indie) pop culture and its history as well. At the end of each segment, there are resources for further information on each subject of pop culture. Recommended books, do-it-yourself activities, and internet searches give the reader more knowledge to make that perfect work of art.

This book is a must-have for anyone who wishes to be involved in the media or have their work distributed in the community. The book lists numerous outside resources to perfect your "zine" or to make your movie a hit. The book also features interviews from independent pop culture icons so you can see first hand that you are traveling the same path they did early in their careers. You learn a lot about how the media industry operates, and it helps readers understand the motives and decision making behind the content we see everyday. Step-by-step approaches and case stories from the pop culture world provide readers with in-depth knowledge about making your impact and further understanding pop culture. This is a great book for future pop culture phenomenons.

Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Eden Prairie, Minnesota United States

True Talents by David Lubar

True Talents was a sequal to Hidden Talents. One year ago six 14-year-old boys with special talents met at Edgeveiw Alteritive school where they became close friends. Now "Trash" who can move things with his mind, has been kidnapped but doesn't remember how or why and is acting a little loopy. He is a lab rat and has to escape, that is one thing he konows for sure. Slowly but surely puzzle pieces of his past are comming together. Meanwile his friends and family believe he is dead. Trash's friends (Torchie, Cheater, Lucky, Flinch and Martin) are having there own difficulties with their talents, home life, the death of their friend and being apart from the people who can truely understand and help, each other.

I thought the book was good, a little daring at the beginning because Trash is babbling on nonsence like a talkative, imaginative ten-year-old. But if you make it threw the first few pages you realize he's been drugged and can't think straight, he is a prisoner and is being experimented on. Lubar has a very interesting way of writing you see things from many points of veiw. He creates the charecters with distinct personalities and problems in which other kids could easily relate. there is accually more to the plot then meets the eye, there are some delightful and unexpected surprises that will catch you off guard and a few twists and turns in the plot. But sometimes the book is hard to keep up with, he can't always get across what I think he's trying to say. Some of the word choice is slightly amatueur. For instance some of the things the kids say are things people don't really say. The book is a bit slow at parts as well. To be an excellent book it would need to be more developed but over all I thought it was a good book and enjoyed reading it.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Sandy, Oregon United States

The Time It Takes To Fall by Margaret Lazarus Dean

This is a book about Dolores Gray and the changes that take place in her life. The story starts out with her and her family happy and together, but then her father is fired from his job as a technician at NASA. The story than introduces Eric Biersdorfer, son of the Director of Launch Saftey, and when he becomes friends with Dolores a chance for her father to get his job at NASA opens up, and Dolores' mom seems willing to do anything to get that job back for her husband, maybe even have an affair with the Director of Launch Safety. When Dolores' dad finally gets his job back, Dolores is happy but can't help wondering if it was because of her mother and an affair she may or not be having. Things fall apart once again for Dolores, though, and her mom leaves her dad and her's father's job may be in jeopardy when a launch goes terribly wrong. But there are upsides for Dolores, she has been advanced to high school where she makes two good friends and starts dating a senior, but everything still seems bad for Dolores when her relationship with her father starts to fall apart, she develops interest in another boy, she starts skipping classes, and she is still plagued with the question of is her mom having an affair.

I liked this book overall, it telled a very interesting story of a girl and her life seemingly to fall apart. But overall I disliked the fact that things seemed to keep on going wrong; the story starts out with her father getting fire which seemed to have supposed to been the low of the story, but suprisingly it is not. The climax really seems to take place when Dolores' fathers job seems to be in jeopardy. I liked that Dolores Gray is portrayed as a teenager not quite sure of anything really (such as how to deal with making a friend), but I hate that she does stuff like abandon Eric and ditch classes which may just be the goody-two-shoes in me. The one thing I really liked about the book was Dolores' younger sister who even with all her stupid questions (in Dolores' opinion) seemed like the innocent person of the book, and I really liked that in her character. The book was overall enjoyable, and depicted an interesting family with problems.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Tucson, Arizona U.S.A.

Twelve by Lauren Myracle

Twelve, like its predecessor Eleven, follows a year in the life of a girl named Winnie. Twelve picks up right where Eleven leaves off and keeps right on going. Each month gets a chapter which either details most of the things that happened that month or highlights a special event. Suddenly, everything seems to be changing: her family, her friends, her life, her body. Winnie's sixth grade year is certainly a memorable one!

The book will definitely appeal to girls in late elementary and early middle school who are going through the same things Winnie is going through. Middle school is a tough time. Readers will wince with Winnie when she gets embarrassed and smile when she conquers her fears. If you liked Eleven, you'll definitely like Twelve.

Whistling in the Dark by Lesley Kagan

Whistling in the Dark by Lesley Kagen is a story based in Milwaukee during the summer of 1959. Two girls, the O'Malley sisters, Sally and Troo find themselves caught in a desperate situation. With their father dead, their mother in the hospital, step-father drunk and never home, and their older sister Nell galavanting off with her boyfriend, Troo and Sally have to survive on their own. Sally, the older of the two, is protective and caring of Troo. As strange and frightening events begin to occur on Vliet Street, Sally and Troo must depend on each other and the will of the community to survive. When young girls are molested and kidnapped, Troo and Sally are thrown into a mystery, and in that time they discover the mystery of their own lives.

I loved Whistling in the Dark. It was a fabulous book, a mystery that you cannot put down. Sally, the narrator, is a wonderful character, a young girl but mature and so kind for her age. The fantastic and fearless Troo is a joy to read about, her character is surprising and such fun. Living with the O'Malley sisters for the summer is an experience that no one will forget.

Content:
Although young for their age the girls use a multitude of swear words and inappropriate gestures. Also, the book is mainly based on the actions of a molester and murderer.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Concord, Massachusetts United States

Breaking Up by Aimee Friedman

Welcome to Georgia O'Keefe School for the Arts, where teenaged artists and fashionistas strut down the hallways.

BREAKING UP: A Fashion High Graphic Novel tells the story of four students: bold Mackenzie, dancer Erika, striking Isabel, and artistic Chloe, our narrator. The girls used to be as thick of thieves, especially Chloe and Mackenzie, but as junior year goes on, they drift apart. Will their friendship survive boys, school, and family issues?

Mackenzie starts off the year with a bang, getting a lightning bolt tattoo on her back/shoulder. On a quest to be loved and popular, she seeks out the attention of the reigning couple of their grade level. Mackenzie finally becomes friends with the queen bee, Nicola - and begins secretly dating Nicola's boyfriend, Gabe.


Erika has been dating Kyle since they were sophomores. They share a passion for music, though different kinds: quiet Erika plays the piano while Kyle rocks out on his guitar with his band. Their friends think they look cute together and tease them about how sweet they are, not knowing that Kyle's pressuring Erika to do something she doesn't want to do.

Isabel has a gleam in her eyes and a need for her parents to ease up on her. Her parents are generous and loving in many ways, but they don't want her to date and they constantly keep tabs on her. Frustrated, Isabel throws herself into dance rehearsals. She starts seeing a soccer player named Brad even though it's against the rules.

At the heart of it all is Chloe. While developing her talent in art class, she also develops a crush on Adam, a boy that Mackenzie thinks is totally dorky. Dating him might mean pushing an already drifting Mackenzie further away. Chloe finally admits to herself that she does like Adam, and when she finds out he likes her too, they start to date. By not telling her friends about her first real boyfriend, though, Chloe's only hiding something huge from them and making Adam feel as though she's ashamed of him.

As the story proceeds and the girls grow too busy and too caught up in their personal lives to talk as much as they used to, it gets easier to lie to one another or avoid each other entirely. The tension builds, then explodes, and the once tight-knit group effectively breaks up. It is this disintegration to which the title truly refers, telling a story that many girls have gone through themselves with their best friends.

This graphic novel boasts detailed black-and-white illustrations by Christine Norrie and text by Aimee Friedman. The dialogue is easy to follow, as is Chloe's narration. Unlike the majority of comics and animated projects, which have characters stay in the same outfits ninety-nine percent of the time, Norrie blesses these characters with varied wardrobes. This is a plus. After all, the series called FASHION HIGH, and I don't think Mackenzie would be caught dead in an outfit she had already worn. It also gives each girl a style indicative of her personality. Mackenzie and Isabel are more trendy than Erika and Chloe, who tend to be conservative. Norrie gives each girl a distinct look, making it easy to tell who's who, while Friedman gives each her own voice.

The story does touch on some mature topics, making it appropriate for ages 14 and up, a little older than Scholastic's typical reader. In this particular case, the closer the reader is to the age of the four girls depicted, the more likely the reader is to relate to their experiences.

Certain situations with dating, couples, drinking, peer pressure

Reviewer Country: USA

Fringe Girl In Love by Valerie Frankel

Young Adora Bennet is starting off this school year fantastically. Her and her two Best friends Eli and Liza all have loving boyfriends as well. Needless to say that life is a breeze. They spoke too soon... Liza's older brother comes to visit which throw's Adora's love life DANGEROUSLY off course. Adora's lovely Noel Kepner soon is suddenly not enough and she finds herself gazing at starts ill of reach. Not to mention their wonderful new teacher Ms. Rossi. Scheming to enslave the entire population of boys, Ms. Rossi soon has her minions at work. What once was a quiet Christian school turns into a chaotic mess of destruction, deceit, and horny young boys. Queen Bee, Sondra Fortune, will not stand for such a threat to her boyfriend. Already drifting in their relationship, her boyfriend is drawn towards Ms. Rossi as is Eli, Liza, and Adora's Boyfriend! What is Ms. Rossi's plan with this enslavement and why are so many boys drawn to her? Adora is set on a queen bee mission...

I thought the book was quite a read! It depicted the life of a teenager all too well just as it dramatized the "queen bee" of the popular side of high school. Teacher's deffinately have this effect on boys, especially if the teacher is the instigator. The book had a great hook straight from the beggining and kept me reading. The ending was lacking on the hook and sort of lead more toward fairy tale endings. Not too apealing to some readers but was suffice for a great read! Sequal to Fringe Girl, Fringe Girl in Love deffinately read up to expectation and provided me with a FANTASTIC laugh. Every chapter kept you on your toes and i often caught myself smiling and laughing out loud. GREAT READ!

Content:
This book has a quite a bit of language and does have some sexual content in it. I would only suggest this to readers above the age of 13 and possibly 14. I am only 14 but it all depends on the maturity of the reader.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States of America

Lorenzo and the Turncoat by Lila and Rick Guzman

LORENZO AND THE TURNCOAT, by Lila and Rick Guzman, is about Lorenzo Bannister, a former member of the Continental Army, now a doctor. The book starts out as a British general, Robert Hawthorne, is throwing a party in honor of the British Army’s latest victory. In the middle of the party, a messenger bursts in, telling Hawthorne that his cousin has been hung for treason by Colonel Galvez, leader of the Spanish Army, in New Orleans. Hawthorne sets out for New Orleans on a mission to clear his family name. Meanwhile, Dr. Lorenzo finishes a pleasant lunch with his fiancée, Eugenie, and heads to work. When he arrives, he meets with a most curious patient, Charles Peel. Charles has been having strange migraines. After prescribing Charles some “medicine,” Lorenzo walks home as a hurricane is starting to brew. Unfortunately Lorenzo is approached by Colonel Galvez, who notifies him that Eugenie has been kidnapped! Will Hawthorne clear his family name? Will Lorenzo rescue Eugenie? Read LORENZO AND THE TURNCOAT to find out!

I thought LORENZO AND THE TURNCOAT was a great book even though it is not of the usual Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre that I usually enjoy. The book was filled with historical events, times, locations, and people, which was interesting. The only thing I did not care for in the book was the excessive detail in places. But all in all it was a really good book. I would recommend LORENZO AND THE TURNCOAT to anyone who enjoys reading about the Revolutionary War or who liked the book OCTAVIAN NOTHING: TRAITOR TO THE NATION, by M. T. Anderson.Content:2For vague sexual references: e.g., "I will not ravish you. . . . I have never bedded an unwilling woman" (p. 49) and "He had slept with so many women, he had lost count and had never caught a disease. And now he had caught one from a woman he had shared a bed with, but had not slept with" (p. 101).

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Saugerties, NY USA

Killing Miss Kitty and Other Sins by Marion Dane Bauer

Killing Miss Kitty and Other Sins by Marion Dane Bauer is a collection of five fictional short stories that are based on Marion Dane Bauer's childhood. Claire, the protagonist in each story, is a lovable character with an innocence and an interest in writing. Based in the 1950s the stories discuss issues of the time (and of more recent years as well); segreation, one's relationship with God, the truth, and learning about one's sexuality. The first story describes Claire's interaction with Dorinda, a black girl who stays in Claire's town for the summer. Claire befriends Dorinda and she begins to realize how wrong and hurtful segregation is. The second story portrays Claire as a new girl at her junior high and how friendless she is. Until she meets a Pauline, who introduces her to a bible study where Claire learns to befriend God and take Him into her heart. The third story implies that secrecy is an awful weapon. Clarie tells the tale of her mother killing her cat. The fourth story discusses sin as Claire feels guilty pranking several worried adults. The final story, the fifth story, tells of Claire's high school years and when Claire begins to realize she is not like the others.

I enjoyed Killing Miss Kitty and Other Sins by Marion Dane Bauer. I found myself interested in Claire's character and understanding her confusion. Growing up is not an easy task, Claire demonstrates this in each of her tales. The characters that surround Clarie are fiesty and life-like. Marion Dane Bauer wrote believable and captivating stories to portray the hardships of growing up.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Concord, MA United States

Keesha's House by Helen Frost

This book is mainly told in the views of seven teenagers. All six of them want to have a chance to get away from their, abusive fathers, foster parents, upset mothers, worried grandmothers, or just plain get away. So, they go to Keesha's house, a house set back off the street. Stephie is worried about revealing her secret and worried about letting down her boyfriend. Jason is trying to get the reality of what is happening around him and which way he should choose. Dontay is just plain misunderstood. Carmen knows she should stop drinking, but she can't, until she gets in big trouble. Harris is all alone once he gets kicked out of his house. He meets some pretty weird people on the way to Keesha's house. Katie didn't want her mom to get married in the first place. She never felt safe around her new "daddy." But she knows once at Keesha's house, she always has a choice on whether or not she can let people in through the door. And finally Keesha. Back at home things were horrible. Her dad was mean and her brother was in trouble. So she left, and landed at Joe's house. She now knows she isn't alone.

Keesha's House, in my opinion, was very touching. All these teenagers have problems that they are trying to deal with or are running away from them. And in the end they all find a place where they are welcome to do just that, or time to deal with it. Each character has their own feelings about the house, and somehow the are all inner-connected. It was also nice to read it in the poetic way. It was a little confusing, because Helen Frost used a lot of symbolism in her writing, but after reading it for a while& you get hooked

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Minooka, IL United States

Falling by Doug Wilhelm

Falling starts you off very strongly with Matt Shaw, the high school's best basketball player, walking down the street listening to music. The reader finds out very quickly that at Matt's house there are 'losers' that come for his brother Neal. Lately Neal has been rude to Matt and he keeps to himself a lot. Katie, a girl with four main best friends called the Trust, meets Matt on an online chatroom. They find out who they actually are and begin to hang out. When Matt tells Katie his secret, and Matt's neighbor tells one of her friends Matt's secret, the whole school finds out. Matt blames it on Katie, but it really isn't her fault at all. Will they end up happily together or just a mess?

Falling was a very well written book. It had very realistic characters and a good plot. However, I think the story could have had more tiny details. It gave enough information for the reader, but maybe if it had a little more it could be even better. The vocabulary was perfect for a young adult level. The book leaves you hanging in the end, but not so much that you don't understand it. I know that if there is a sequel I will want to read it.

Content:2
In this book there is some mild swearing at times. It also talks about drugs throughout it.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States

How to Steal A Dog by Barbara O'Connor

Georgina hates the smelly, dirty, cramped space of her car. Ever since her father left leaving two rolls of quarters and a mayonnaise jar stuffed with dollar bills, her, her brother, and mother have been living in their car. She keeps asking her mom when are they gonna be able to sleep in a bed. Her mother always says the same thing, soon. It bothered Georgina until she came up with the perfect plan. That's right, steal a dog. She thinks that there will be an award and she will finally be able to have her own bedroom. She keeps record of the process on how to steal a dog. And along the way she meets some interesting characters. And in the end she realizes& crime never pays&& for a house.

How to Steal a Dog was definately interesting. There were some quirky characters thrown into the jumble. I thought it was a good/bad idea to steal the dog. It was defiantly fun to read Georgina's guide on how to steal a dog. I don't think Georgina told her entire story though. She gave her thoughts about the dog, but never about her mom, or her father, or her best friend. Were they best friends, how did Georgina take it? We don't know what she thought about Carmella, or even what Carmella felt. Did she feel sad, mad, or disappointed?

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Minooka, IL United States

Split Screen: Bride of the Soul-sucking Brain Zombies by Brent Hartinger

Russel is trying to find a boyfriend, while trying to live through his parents persecutions about his being homosexual. They even make him go to a fricken priest, to try and make him heterosexual. Em is trying to understand why her girlfriend won’t come out of the closet. Also, why her girlfriend cares about what her friends think about being gay. And Gunnar is learning what it takes to give good advice. Through stories(gasp). Yes, life isn’t easy for this group of friends. None of them can realize why the people around them cant just be themselves and accept other for who they are to. While they are trying to figure this out though, they are working as extras on a new zombie flick that will reach the cinema’s soon(in the book, not real life). But when Russel’s boyfriend comes to town, temperaments flare and choices are made. The only question is, what are the consequences?

Opinion: I enjoyed reading this book. Brent Hartinger has a way of spinning a magical web that will catch you and not release until you finish the reading book. The way that his words can relate to you in person, is a rare gift you feel when reading. I also thought that it was awesome how there were two stories in the book. One version is viewed through Russel's eyes, and the other is viewed through Em's. It really makes you think how there are two different sides to each story. All in All, Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies RULE!

Content:3
homosexual comments and relationships

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Casa Grande, AZ United States of America

The Hollywood Sisters: On Location by Mary Wilcox

It's a mystery! It's a Hollywood tale! Its (drum role please)...The Hollywood sisters, Jessica and Eva! in this new novel by Mary Wilcox, Eva is moved from country to country, to film herself for the family sitcom Two sisters! Of course Jessica and her mom are right the with her, helping her prep her lines and solving a mystery. Well that's only Jessica, but anyway. Will Jessica solve the mystery before everyone on the set thinks that she herself is the culprit? Will Their Mom ever find the right parenting book?Will Eva ever learn to express her soul when saying the line: hahahahahahahaha?Find out in The Hollywood Sisters: On Location

And The Oscar Goes to... Hollywood sisters! I thought that this book was a classic Hollywood tale. Back-stabbing girls who steal other stars boyfriends; Someone sabotaging the set. Really classic story. But just because it was classic, that doesn't mean that there isn't a twist to make it original. I was with the book the whole way, never asking questions because I could fallow the story line easy. This book was enjoyable, and a story I felt I could relate to. I would recommend this book for anyone who wanted a good story about the fancy lives of the rich and famous. Not a guy book, nor a tomboys. This book is totally, Full-Fledged, Girly girly! but that's why I enjoyed it so much.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Casa Grande, AZ United States of America

Ace of Spades by David Matthews

Ace of Spades is an memoir of David Matthews’s search for racial identity in an America that is obsessed with skin color. David Matthews was born on November 8, 1967 to a black nationalist father and a white Jewish mother. His mother was mentally unstable. Matthews’s father had to rescue him from his mother. His mother then moved to Israel. David lived with his father and sometimes with his father’s abusive girlfriends near Washington, D.C. for many years. David and his father then moved in with David’s grandmother in Baltimore, Maryland. When David entered the fourth grade at his new school in Baltimore, he had to choose between being “black” or “white”. Only one student offered him the choice of being “mixed.” David chose “white” because he always imagined that his white mother had a life of luxury. David pretended he was Jewish; he got away with it because there were very few Jews in Baltimore. David became a white supremacist in response to the fact that in Baltimore black children targeted white children for fun. He and one of his friends even burned a cross in the style of the Ku Klux Klan. When David entered high school, he was caught trying to be Jewish by some Jewish students. When David was older, he became a black nationalist. David started lecturing his white friends about their prejudices of black people. David finally reached a peace between his “white” side and his “black” side in the atmosphere of equality in New York City. The memoir ends in the spring of 2002 when David Matthews’s father was dying and David decided to do some last minute research on his mother. David found out that his mother had suffered from severe schizophrenia. Both of her parents had severe schizophrenia, which did not help her. David discovered that she really loved David’s father and never gave up her married name of Matthews. After she left David’s father, she had a daughter with the mayor of Jerusalem that she put up for adoption. The daughter, Mari, was severely abused by her adopted family and her life was a wreck. David’s mother died in New York City on May 1, 1977 from choking. David realized that his mother had really loved him and that his parents had truly loved each other. David realized that he had had a good life and that things could have been a lot worse for him. At the end of the book, David Matthews saw a picture of his mother for the very first time.

Ace of Spaces by David Matthews reflects the nightmare that really exists, as opposed to the dream that Martin Luther King, Jr. had, for a color blind America. As David Matthews crudely illustrates in his book, America is anything but color blind. I could have done without the crude language and the brief sex scenes. Despite that, the end of Ace of Spades is very touching and it was worth reading the entire book for that one part. David Matthews writes with true honesty and a bit of anger about the state of race relations in the United States. As a white person, this book gave me insight on how it must be to be a “mixed” person, because they don’t belong to either white or black culture. Some people may find his writing style and life choices crude. I found it a must read for anyone who wants to find out about race relations in the United States.

Content:2

I suggest that adult guidance be recommended for the Ace of Spades by David Matthews. This book has sexual content, crude language, child abuse, and a disturbing scene about Matthews and his friend where they burned a cross in the style of the Ku Klux Klan.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Urbana, Illinois United States of America

The Misadventures of Benjamin Bartholomew Piff by Jason Lethcoa

Ever since his parents died in a tragic accident, poor Ben has been stuck at Pinch's Home for Wayward Boys, scrubbing pots and eating mush and other normal orphanage-type stuff. He even forgot his birthday, until a kind friend brings him a cake. When he sneaks a slice to eat, he stares thoughtfully at the candle a moment. Finally he closes his eyes, blows, and makes a wish. Little does he know that his wish could change the whole world.

This was a fun, cute book that I zipped right through. The characters were disappointingly flat, but the plot was inventive and the story over-all engaging. A light read that young children who enjoy "wishes-go-wrong" stories are sure to enjoy.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Moscow, ID USA

Booth's Daughter by Raymond Wemmlinger

Edwina Booth has just reached her 18th birthday and is beginning to experience the benefits of adulthood. For one, her father, the famous American Shakespearian actor Edwin Booth, is finally allowing her to see him in his title role in King Lear. For another, she's being invited to all sorts of social outings and parties for young people. The advantage of the latter is obvious - in Edwina's practical mind, she already has plans to find a husband (an artist, preferably) who she can marry and support. In fact, it seems her entire life is planned out precisely the way she wants it. But meanwhile her stepmother's illness worsens, her father has to keep up with his life as an actor, and there's always The Subject that threatens to interfere with the lives of the Booth family. You see, Edwina is the niece of John Wilkes Booth, the man who assassinated President Lincoln.

From a performer's point of view, I rather enjoyed reading a non-performer's view of an actor (Edwina's father) and his struggles and triumphs. The book itself is one that you have to be in just the right mood for, otherwise I suppose it might drag a bit. Edwina's voice seemed just a little flat. Yet I was quite drawn into Booth's Daughter; it was a refreshing and interesting historical tale of one girl's struggles into womanhood. A relaxing read to curl up with.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Moscow, ID USA

More Horowitz Horror by Anthony Horowitz

Horrowitz has done it again! In this new book, chiller tales that will send a shudder up your spine await the reader, as normal everyday people(*cough*) go through expierences that you would only immagine to be found in story books. From a man being baked alive, to a house intent on killing all woman who set foot in it. Of course you cant forget about the the lost boy, and the cannibals can you? More Horowitz Horror has it all! Perfect for people who love to be scared by things that could actually happen.

I enjoyed reading this book. However, some of the stories were a little bit dull( like the phone call from the dead), but overall, this book takes the cake as far as scary stories are concerned. I think this book would be perfect for most guys, and girls who love to be freaked out. I thought some of the storries the author could have done a better job on, like the one with the girl and her hearing aid, but other then that this book was as good as gold.What surprised me the most was that the book actually got me thinking, "Hey! What if this actually happened! It is possibile, of course." So in my opinion, two thumbs up for More Horowitz Horror

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Casa Grande, AZ United States of America

Billy Creekmore by Tracey Porter

Billy Creekmore has a pretty low life. He believes his mother died and his father ran away because of his birth. His nurse admitted him to an orphan boarding house, but he is forced to work on his “masters” land all day long. Fortunately he has a couple of very good friends. One day, actually, the day he was planning on running away, his long lost uncle came to the orphanage to take him home. Billy thought that all his problems were over. But, unbeknownst to him, they were just starting. With blood thirsty mine owners and lying, cheating circus managers, Billy has to learn what his true identity is, and if he wants to accept it or not.

Tracey Porter does a wonderful job bringing her readers into the past with believable characters and a fitting vocabulary. Even though this book was a very entertaining read, it had a lot of sad happenings and in the end I didn’t feel that her character had solved all his problems. As a writer, I was very interested to know that Tracey named all of her boy characters, besides Billy, after boys that had died working in coal mines. I would describe this book as a “revised version” of Oliver Twist.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: , Idaho USA

Horse Crazy: The Saddle Club by Bonnie Bryant

“OMGosh, the MTO (Mountain Trail Overnight) is coming up and I just HAVE to go!” Stevie and Carole have been planning to go on the MTO together for a very long time and now Stevie might not be able to go! Stevie’s mom said that if she didn’t raise her math grade then she wouldn’t pay the fifty dollars for Stevie to go. The only way to raise her grade is to do a dreaded math project, but Stevie comes up with a brilliant idea; instead of doing the math project she could earn the money she needs to go by doing chores for other people. When she tells Carole at the stable where they take horseback riding lessons, Carole doesn’t think that Stevie could possibly go through with it since she hardly knows the definition of “work”. A new girl named Lisa joins horseback riding but when a couple of pranks are pulled on her and she thinks Stevie did them, things turn from bad to worse as the girls try to get back at one another.

Horse Crazy, the first installment in The Saddle Club series written by Bonnie Bryant, is a pretty good book that could keep your attention for a while. The characters were enjoyable and I liked Stevie Lake the best because she had a lot of personality. I didn’t overly like Veronica though because she acted like a stuck-up snob whom I definitely wouldn’t want to be friends with. The Saddle Club series is a wonderful series for horse lovers to read. If you’re 9-12 years old and looking for a quick read, then Horse Crazy is for you!

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA United States

The Specialists: Model Spy by Shannon Greenland

Kelly James is a sixteen year old genius. Her technological advancement has brought her to the college level. As a foster child, she is constantly moved around, always in a different place. Until a man named TL offers her a home and a family that would be for good. After Kelly breaks into the government's main computer system, she realizes how life-changing this event has become. She is offered to change her identity and become a tennage spy. Kelly Spree, joined by several other teenage masterminds, becomes immersed in a world of top secret business and intense training. The eighteen year old David, who has been near her side during this experience, grows even closer to Kelly, or Gigi (her new nickname). Kelly's first assignment is to find David's dad. She must become a model and go undercover with David, TL, and others to help save one man's life. The Specialists: Model Spy by Shannon Greenland is a novel that follows the life of a teenage girl into her (although,constantly changing) skin.

I really enjoyed The Specialists: Model Spy. Kelly is a kluzty and likeable girl, she learns the importance of family and togetherness during her experience as a "specialist". The novel is filled with spunky, quirky characters that are introduced as Kelly's "team". An enjoyable ride, The Specialists: Model Spy is an action-packed, exciting adventure that has its readers frantically turning pages.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Concord, Massachusetts United States

Diary of a Whimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

The book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid was about a kid named Greg Heffley and his personal diary. How everthing he did went some how wrong. Everything that went wrong ended up to be exactually the opposite as he planned. While his best friend Rowley got the attetion for mostly doing nothing. Greg had a smaller brother who usually got all the attention, and never got in trouble from his parents. He got everthing for christmas, when Greg had got a sweater by mistake. Greg usually picked on his brother and on his best friend Rowley.

I thought the book was good, because it kept me reading on, and interested to what is going to happen next. The best part of the book was when Christmas time was around and Greg got a sweater that was for the giving tree guy, on mistake. There was never a part that didn't make sense or that I didn't like. I really liked the ending because it was interesting. I thought the author really made the book interesting. It kept on making me want to read more.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8

Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Sandy, Oregon United States

When Your Teen Is Struggling by Mark Gregston

Mark Gregston is the founder of Heartlight Ministries, a residential counseling facility for teens in crisis. He has more than 30 years helping teens in crisis and uses his experience to help parents going through a crisis or just wanting to prevent a crisis in their lives. Gregston's book is divided into chapters which strive to give hope to parents, to explain the causes of their teen's crisis and to provide solutions to the problems. Each chapter has personal examples of teens and parents to assist the parent in understanding the examples.

This is an outstanding book to assist a parent experiencing difficulties with their teen. The author states clearly that hope is action. Without action there is no hope. Reality is also emphasized in this book when it states that not all teens will be helped, but by putting our trust in God our relationship and outlook can change. We can change the way we communicate with family members and deal with crisis in our life. This book will help any Christian family facing turmoil in their teen's life.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9

Reviewer Age: 59
Reviewer City, State and Country: Spring, Texas USA

Girl of the Moment by Lizabeth Zindel

Lily Miles, entering her senior year of high school, had decided she needs an internship that will set her apart from the rest of the applicants to the school of her choice, Brown University. When her orignal summer plan fails, she begins to wonder why she isn't off at soccer camp like the rest of her friends. That is, until she gets an intership with the Hollywood starlet, Sabrina Snow. As Lily becomes more invested in her relationship with Sabrina her life begins to spin out of control. She notices that her primary support, her dad and her best friend, begin to fade out of the spotlight. Girl of the Moment is a great story that focuses on the importance of love and friendship. Maybe fame isn't everything its cracked up to be.

I really enjoyed Girl of the Moment. I found that the protagonist was incredibly likable. Lily is a good student as well as a good person. Her experiences with Sabrina teach her that people who care and support you are the people you should surround yourself with. This book was an excellent read, a complete page-turner. I fell in love with all of the characters, even the complicated and bratty Sabrina. I would definately recommend this book.

This book contains some teenage drinking and weight related issues. It is not a book to be severely worried about but there are some 'wild' attributes of the characters.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Concord, Massachusetts United States

Anything But Ordinary by Valerie Hobbs

When he is thirteen, Bernie Federman moves to Pittstown, New Jersey. Proudly different than anybody else, he doesn't know anyone in the eighth grade, and from the very first day of school sits in the back of the classroom. Then he meets Winifred Owens, also fiercely individualistic, and possibly the only person less popular at school than Bernie. They fall in love and begin planning their life together. Both very intelligent, they are at the top of their class and apply to all the same colleges, neither of them dreaming they'll end up somewhere different than the other. Then, shortly before graduation, tragedy strikes for Bernie, and all his dreams fall apart. He stops going to school, dropping to the bottom of the class, and starts working in a tire shop, abandoning his plans for college. Winifred is heartbroken, but presses on, going across the country to attend the University of California at Santa Barbara. Once there, she realizes just how much she doesn't fit in, and with the help of her new roommates, she gets a makeover and becomes 'Wini,' changing her major from nanoscience to communications and spending her time partying, gossiping, and drinking lattes. Meanwhile, Bernie realizes he may have lost her forever, so he travels crosscountry to catch up with her. However, once he finds her again and realizes that she's become 'ordinary,' it may be too late for them.

I really loved this book. It's different than a lot of the teen romances available today in that it deals with the dark horses, the underdogs, the "unpopular" kids. You really find yourself rooting for Bernie and Winifred to make it work, for Winifred to wake up and realize how silly she's being, and you want them to get back together in the end. From the moment I picked it up, I didn't stop reading ANYTHING BUT ORDINARY, and I would definitely recommend it. It's a great look at the first year of college and how much it can change a person (for better or for worse), and although the ending is slightly bittersweet, it still leaves the reader with a smile. I'll definitely keep my eyes open for other books by Valerie Hobbs.

Adult guidance recommended, as this book involves the lives of college students and deals with alcohol and sexual situations.

Reviewer Age:18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Little Rock, AR USA

Penny From Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm

Penny Falucci is just a "run of the mill" kid. Well&& except for her huge Italian family. Among her many uncles, mourning Grandmother, annoying cousin, and grumpy mother, Penny's life is a box full of crazy. Her father died when she was just a little baby. She never knew him. Though in a way, she was really close to him. Nobody tells her anything about him and she thinks her uncles just treat her like a princess is because they feel sorry for Penny. But when something extreme happens, she finds out a whole lot more info than what she wanted about her dad.

Penny from Heaven was an excellent book to read. It was a lot of fun to read about how she dealt with her crazy family. Her uncles all had their little quirks and it was fun. She had to balance her father's side of the family, all Italians and her mom's side of the family. Grim-faced bad cooks. It also had a bit of mystery in it. You try to think about what happened to her father. But it was really exciting to find out what in the end though.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: , IL

What Happeened by Peter Johnson

On a snowy night, when they were driving too fast, Kyle and his brother find themselves in a predicament that they never expected to be in. In addition to his already crazy and mixed up life, the narrator now must deal with the death of a stranger, a death he was a part of. The book portrays the unpredictable and meaningful experiences of a boy and his brother. Scarily simple and yet complex on many levels, this book was suspenseful without being a horror.

"There haven't been many happy endings in my life or Kyle's, or happy beginnings or middles either, just events needing to be pieced together like a jigsaw puzzle."

This poetic book is the twisted tangled story of mistakes made, and the weight of guilt on the shoulders of the ones who can do nothing. The tale was intriguing at times, but occasionally the change between the narrator's dreams and memories and real life confused me. The vocabulary was simple and easy, but the meanings of some messages were beyond me. The ending was plain but was a wonderful way to close such a mysterious book. Johnson has a way with words that could be compared with Robert Frost, with an exciting, modern twist.

The book had nothing too scandlous in it and was not gory.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Marblehead, MA USA

Ida B by Katherine Hannigan

Ida B is an elementary grade student. Her parents own an orchard that has many apple trees. Ever since she hated kindergarten, her parents have homeschooled her. In her free time, Ida B loves to have fun and talk to the trees and brook that she has named. When her mother develops cancer, her family must sell part of the orchard, and she has to go back to public school. Ida B is devastated because of both things and plans to not talk to anyone because she hates everyone now. She learns that a kid in her class is moving into the part of the orchard that her family sold, and she is devastated even more when she finds out that they will cut down trees to build a house. In the end, Ida B realizes that it is alright and that by being angry forever will not change anything.

Ida B was a page-turner for me to read. The length was perfect for this story. It was also very creatively written and unique. All of the life lessons about having fun, pain, and friendships taught me so much. When I read, I look for books with emotion in them or else it isn't too exciting. Ida B definitely showed emotion and left me crying at the end. The end of the story was well written and perfect for the whole story. I would recommend this story to anyone who wants to read about friendships.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, PA USA

The Pull of the Ocean by Jean-Claude Mourlevat

The Doutreleau family is comprised of mother, father, and seven sons: three sets of twins and Yann. Yann is an unusual child, to say the least. He's ten years old and only two feet tall, but without any deformities of a dwarf. He's mute, but easily communicates with people through facial expressions and gestures of the hand. The mother and father are crude, cruel people who terrify their children.

One night Yann awakes his brothers with a warning that they must leave, or else their parents might do them harm. So begins their journey west as they travel towards the only refuge they know of: the ocean.

The Pull of the Ocean is told from many different perspectives, from the seven boys to the many people they meet along their journey, making it rather difficult to feel connected to any one of the characters. Written in a simplistic style, it is a story of survival and hope. The entire book seemed undescribably strange, though. It left me wondering what the point of the tale was exactly. Perhaps something was lost in its translation to English since it felt so incomplete.

Brief swearing by the mother in one chapter.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Moscow, ID USA

Keeper of the Earth by Jenna Solitaire

This is the fourth book in the Daughter of Destiny series. It is written from the first-person point of view. The author, Jenna Solitaire, is also the main charactor that is trying to retrieve the Boards of Babylon with her good friend Simon Monk. The book begins with a magical battle between two wizards. The victor talks to Jenna, who is watching from the side. He says his name is Emrys, and that he can guide her to the fourth Board, the Board of Earth. The Board can grant control over the very earth they stand on, and it, combined with the other Boards, can give the power of elemental binding, the ability to create the mysterious fifth element. Jenna then wakes up in a hotel room in Rome, hearing the voices of the three Boards that she possess along with the voice of her ultimate grandmother, Shalizander. Shalizander was also one of the creators of the Boards. After Jenna and Simon have a revealing visit with Cardinal Cepheus in Vatican City, they go to Scotland with Armand, a member of the Knight's Templar, to look for the phoenix stone that will lead them to the Board of Earth. They find the stone and the spirit of the wizard Coughlin. From this point on, Jenna will have to make decisions and bear burdens that will shape the very world.

I found this book to be very interesting, even though it is the first book in the series I have read. It did a great job of explaining old concepts and previous details from the other books. Once you start reading this book, you will not want to stop, especially if you like fantasies that are set in our world. The author does a good job of keeping the reader entangle in the plot.Overall, I thought that this book is very good, even though some parts go a little slowly.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Pennsylvania U.S.A.

The Disunited States of America by Harry Turtledove

Justin Monroe and his mother travel to an alternate United States where the Constitution was never created. Each state has broken off and formed its own country. Becky Royer, a young girl from the country of California, journeys with her grandmother to her hometown, Elizabeth, Virginia, so her grandmother can say her final goodbyes. She meets Justin there just as war breaks out between Ohio and Virginia. Ohio releases a tailored virus, trapping the two in Virginia under quarantine. Becky can't return to California, and Justin can't return to the United States he calls home. As those around them begin getting sick and the war intensifies, they struggle to find a way to get to their respective homes, alive and well.

I thought that the book had a fascinating storyline, and that the action was well-developed. However, the language was poorly executed. As the characters conversed, their dialogue was forced and its sole purpose was to further the plot. It broke the believable world of the story. Also, the narration used too much slang, as though the author was trying to incorporate the characters' styles into every aspect of the book: the scenery, the descriptions, the action. Though the story is told from Justin's point of view, Justin himself is not telling the story, and again, it discredited the world Harry Turtledove was trying to create. The character development was unbelievable as well. Either they were 100% heroic, or they had annoying weaknesses that became their entire character. It was hard to relate to the characters, because they were too lucky and too perfect (or absolutely flawed) to allow the reader to sympathize much with their struggles. Though the idea of the book was exciting, I had to force myself to finish it because of all the obvious shortcomings.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 5
Reviewer Age: 16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Overland Park, Kansas United States

Secrets of My Hollywood Life on Location by Jen Calonita

Kaitlin Burke fell off Hollywood status when she pretended to be a normal high schooler and got caught. Now she is back in full force working on the next big movie with the next big director. She has the perfect boyfriend, a semi-normal family, and everything starts looking good for her. But when the "Cruella daVille" of Hollywood actresses plus Kaitlin's crazy ex-boyfriend costars in the movie, things start taking a turn for the worst. Follow Kaitlin and her high profile life through breakups and makeups in Secrets of My Hollywood Life on Location.

I loved the book!!! This is the kind of book I love to read. There are so many diverse characters from the yoga obsessed director to the calm and collected Austin, Kaitlin's boyfriend. I also liked throughout the book it has "Hollywood Secrets" such as "Many Stars don't stay for their own premieres." I loved the plot but the outcome was kind of predictable. Kaitlin's relationship was the boy meets girl, boy dumps girl, boy and girl get back together. It was too obvious in the beginning. However, the rest of the book was great and to girls who like girly books, this screams you.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Villa Hills, Kentucky United States

One Whole and Perfect Day by Judith Clarke

Lily is the only sensible on in her family. Soon she finds herself acting like a parent or grandmother would, saying odd phrases and smelling of dishwater and steamed vegetables. Should she fall in love? She seemed to figure that everyone who fell in love weren't at all sensible, surely that would help. Daniel Steadman, a grade eleven in Lily's school, was who she had her eye on. With her Crazy Family and her Pop's Upcoming party on the way, she only wished for just one whole and perfect day!

I thought this was a very beautiful book. At times I caught myself day-dreaming but that surely just means a lot was on my mind. This book was written wonderfully. The use of vocabulary just blows your mind away. I would surely choose to raise the age to young adult since some criteria may not be understandable to younger readers. The ending grabs you by the gut and certainly urges you to read the last 10 chapters as fast as you can. I didn't quite like the character, Lilly, since her attitude was all wrong towards things such as her mother bringing home old people from her nursing home job as a doctor. Her mother just put up with her nagging all the same. This book was also written from a different culture base as well [australia] so i can understand the differences. GREAT BOOK!

Young Adult would suit this book more appropriately since the vocabulary is quite confusing at points. At times I had to refer to a dictionary. Mature Readers may be an overstatement but I picked what was closest to the book. There is nothing in the book that is inapropriate so all readers are welcome, but it may be harder to understand.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, PA USA

Hollywood Hills by Aimee Friedman

Best friends Alexa St. Laurent and Holly Jacobson are off on a new adventure to Hollywood after Alexa manages to secure an invitation to the hottest event in California, Margaux Eklundstrom's wedding. It's a whole week of shopping, partying and fun in the sun. The girls get to stay in the guesthouse of Margaux's hot brother, Jonah, and Alexa hits it off immediately with Jonah. But as they hang out more, Alexa realizes that they may not be meant for each other. Holly immediately senses that there seems to be trouble in paradise. She is not getting along with her boyfriend, Tyler, which puts a damper on her mood. The girls try to put their boy problems aside and have fun relaxing on the beach and shopping. Holly realizes that she loves California and decides that she wants to go to college there, which means that she will be separated from Alexa for the first time. After a week in Hollywood, both Holly and Alexa learn a lot about themselves.

I liked this book. It was a great book to take my mind off of serious things. But this book was somewhat predictable and unrealistic, but that made the story more fun. Once I started this, I didn't want to put it down. I really want to go to Hollywood now after reading this! Alexa and Holly are fun characters to read about and I hope that the author will write more books about them.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 20
Reviewer City, State and Country: Philadelphia, PA USA

Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins

Debbie wished something exceptionally exciting would happen to her--a normal, average girl living in a boring, old city. Hector, the other main character, wants to learn how to play the guitar and impress a girl named Meadow. There are a few different characters that are the narrator in this story and each is very similar to the other. They sit in Lenny’s dad’s old pickup truck a lot and listen to a show called Criss Cross on the radio. Debbie has lost her necklace and it gets passed along to each character until it finally ends up being given back to her. Criss Cross mainly tells about the life of these teens through each one’s own perspective.

Criss Cross was a pretty good book but it didn’t really seem like there was a main focus to it. It mostly seemed like the author, Lynne Rae Perkins, just wrote this HUMONGOUS story to tell about some events that happened in these teens’ lives. I thought it was really neat how the author added extra things like haikus, poems, songs, and pretty detailed pictures to help you visualize what was occurring at that time. I think that the characters and their personalities weren’t really described well enough though. The characters were pretty much static (unchanging) and it was kind of hard to tell who the narrator was at times because they were so identical. I also think that there were definitely TOO MANY people involved in this novel. Criss Cross was written by Lynne Rae Perkins and is a Newberry honor book.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA United States

Forever in Blue by Ann Brashares

Lena, Tibby, Carmen, and Bee have just finished their first year of college, and are hoping for some time together. As in summers past, that doesn't work, and they rely on the pants to keep them together as their worlds are rapidly changing. Bee is upset to find that her boyfriend, Eric, is going to teach at a summer camp in Baja without her; as a way to get back, she signs up for an archaeological dig in Istanbul- finding more than just “ancient dirt.” Tibby is trying to find out if Brian is the one. After a rough summer start, she breaks things off with Brian in search of answers, while also staying for a summer class at NYU. Lena is still trying to forget about (forgetting about) Kostos, by having a summer fling with a boy in her summer art class. Carmen is the September having the hardest time dealing with change; the girls' first year of school separated was brutal to her. She, in turn, goes to theater camp for the summer to try and find out who she really is. Forever In Blue takes the girls on their own personal journeys; it questions how far they want to go in life, and for how long they want their friendship to last. As the last summer with the pants comes to a close, Tibby, Carmen, Bee, and Lena come together to realize that their friendship, with or without the pants, will be never ending.

Forever In Blue was a good ending to a wonderful series of books. It was very poetic; I experienced the lives of the Septembers as they experienced everything themselves. The book had a wonderful message: true friendship conquers all. The only things I would have recommended Ann Brashares not to put in the book were scenes in which Tibby had sex and in which Lena had sex. It didn't go into too much detail, but it was not necessary. This would have rated a 10 on the Flamingnet scale if not for those factors.

Content:Forever In Blue is best suited for mature readers, due to some sexual situations.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: , USA

Crispin - At the Edge of the World by Avi

When we last left Crispin, he was walking out of jail after saving his mentor and friend, Bear. As they are walking down the road, they stop at a hut to eat and drink,but after Bear gets in a fight with the owner of the house, he gets shot in the shoulder as they leave. They must run as they try to escape their newfound enemy. As Bear gets worse, they meet two suspected witches, Auge and Taaaa. When they are forced to run again, they must take Taaaa with them. They end up taking a boat to a new land... with new dangers.

Avi delivers once again! I think this is a solid book with a good storyline and an awesome moral. I did have some trouble staying with the book, but I think thats just me. I can almost guarantee that this will be a good read for any age. It isn't a very long book though, so it should only take about 5 days. Anyone who likes realistic fiction, or Avi, will like this book. It has already won a lot of rewards, and is one of the best books I've read in a while.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, Pennsylvania USA

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

It is the middle of the Vietnam War with young Holling Hoodhood living on Long Island in New York. Everybody in Holling's new seventh grade class either goes to temple or church on Wednesday afternoons leaving him with his new teacher, Mrs. Baker, Wednesday afternoons. Having to survive an afternoon once a week for the school year doesn’t seem that hard, except that Holling feels that Mrs. Baker “hates his guts” and his family won’t help him at all. So every Wednesday afternoon all of his friends leave and Holling is stuck sitting with his teacher reading Shakespeare. Holling’s father an architect with his own company thinks about only two things the future of Hoodhood and Associates and Walter Cronkite’s evening report. Now Holling has to survive seventh grade, not just against Shakespeare, but rats, the class bully, Doug Swieteck’s brother, cream puffs, track, feathery tights, and many other things, while fate keeps giving twists and turns everywhere.

The Wednesday Wars is an amazing book that tells the story of an average kid leading an exciting life. The book is very good and has bits of history entwined in it like the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy. The book shows a lot of unexpected things happening that all seem perfectly logical making this book a good read that keeps you entertained and waiting for the next twist. It is definitely a page turner, even when my mom said lights out; I took out a flashlight and continued reading. I enjoyed how the entire book was written form the point of view of a seventh grader showing every event form their point of view.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Eastchester, NY USA

Pompeii: The Living City by Alex Butterworth

Pompeii is a well- researched historical non-fiction that examines life in the Roman city of Pompeii. The book begins with the arrival to power of Nero, a vibrant new Emperor. The twenty-five years preceding the eruption of Vesuvius are detailed in many aspects, including economic, social, and political problems as well as greatness. The eruption of Vesuvius, and the subsequent burial to the city under volcanic ash and mud, is considered to be one of the most catastrophic events faced by the great ROman Empire. As the authors explain, it is nearly impossible to positively date artifacts so far back in antiquity and since the initial discovery and excavation of Pompeii began in the eighteenth century, much of that work has to be deciphered as well. This book tells a story based on the understanding of the authors and many scholars to allow readers to discover Pompeii for themselves without sorting through the tremendous amount of artifacts made available through the discovery of Pompeii.

I really liked the authors' style in introducing individual chapters, and different time periods with short stories showing emotion and daily activities. This book, I believe, is intended for individuals interested in the social sciences. It is not necessarily a quick read to pass the time in the afternoon, although the authors do an excellent job of putting their tremendous research into an understandable story. Readers will definitely learn a great deal, but patience is the key when dealing with historical non-fiction. I like how the book has a specific aim and provides a lot of detail in presenting the twenty-five years preceding the eruption Vesuvius. I also appreciate the fact that the authors do not assume great amounts of previous knowledge regarding the subject. Overall, not everyone will enjoy this but it is a great book.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Kansas City, MO USA

Pompeii: The Living City by Alex Butterworth

Pompeii is a well- researched historical non-fiction that examines life in the Roman city of Pompeii. The book begins with the arrival to power of Nero, a vibrant new Emperor. The twenty-five years preceding the eruption of Vesuvius are detailed in many aspects, including economic, social, and political problems as well as greatness. The eruption of Vesuvius, and the subsequent burial to the city under volcanic ash and mud, is considered to be one of the most catastrophic events faced by the great ROman Empire. As the authors explain, it is nearly impossible to positively date artifacts so far back in antiquity and since the initial discovery and excavation of Pompeii began in the eighteenth century, much of that work has to be deciphered as well. This book tells a story based on the understanding of the authors and many scholars to allow readers to discover Pompeii for themselves without sorting through the tremendous amount of artifacts made available through the discovery of Pompeii.

I really liked the authors' style in introducing individual chapters, and different time periods with short stories showing emotion and daily activities. This book, I believe, is intended for individuals interested in the social sciences. It is not necessarily a quick read to pass the time in the afternoon, although the authors do an excellent job of putting their tremendous research into an understandable story. Readers will definitely learn a great deal, but patience is the key when dealing with historical non-fiction. I like how the book has a specific aim and provides a lot of detail in presenting the twenty-five years preceding the eruption Vesuvius. I also appreciate the fact that the authors do not assume great amounts of previous knowledge regarding the subject. Overall, not everyone will enjoy this but it is a great book.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Kansas City, MO USA

Halcyon Blithe: Dragonfrigate Wizard by James M. Ward

Dragonfrigate Wizard Halcyon Blithe, by James M. Ward, starts as Halcyon Blithe, an Arcanian midshipwizard, heads off to attack a fleet of Maleen ships. They single out one ship in particular, a small ketch. As they attack the ketch, it fires red-hot mortar shells back at them! Halcyon; Ashe Fallow, a friend and countryman of Halcyon’s; Denna Darkwater, a half-troll marine; and a few other marines take a rowboat and launch off their dragon ship, the Sanguine, as soon as the ketch has been wounded. Halcyon and his war party quickly take over the ketch, the Salamander. Halcyon goes belowdecks and discovers the captain of the ketch. Halcyon disarms the captain by managing to heft a table at him. After defeating the captain, Halcyon and his crew sail smoothly. Smoothly, until one day a ship has been spotted a couple of miles off. As the ship draws nearer, it is identified as a demon ship--a ship made of metal, with no sails, that is piloted by demons. The crew panics and thinks that they are going to die. Halcyon, having demon heritage himself, remembers some powerful demon spells. Beginning to cast the spells, Halcyon starts to grow bigger in size. Halcyon’s spells are powerful, and he begins to grow savage; all the while, the demon ship is drawing nearer to the small Salamander. Will Halcyon and the rest of the crew defeat the demon ship, or will Halcyon forget his loyalty and kill all of his fellow crew? Read Dragonfrigate Wizard Halcyon Blithe to find out!

I liked Dragonfrigate Wizard Halcyon Blithe because I like books about sea adventures and mystical characters. However, I think that the author gives Halcyon a bit too much luck and skill. I thought to myself as I was reading certain parts of the book, “He should have just died.” Although this unrealistic good fortune took place a lot, the book was very enjoyable. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the previous book, Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe, or likes naval combat and fantasy stories.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Saugerties, NY USA

Why I Let My Hair Grow Out by Maryrose Wood

Relationships can be tricky at best and are especially complicated for high school student Morgan whose boyfriend Raphael breaks up with her just before summer vacation. She responded as any heart-broken teenager would; she cut off twenty-four inches of her strawberry blonde hair and leaving nothing but stubble. Her parents decided a change of scenery was in order and sent her on a bicycle trip through Ireland, the land of leprechanus and magic stories. They had not counted on time travel as part of the adventure, but it was. Morgan learned, among other things, that hair grows back and a broken heart does not have to stay that way.

Imagine bicycling around Ireland with newly married starlets, a grieving widow and a family with two middle schoolers. Not much opportunity for friendships, or so Morgan thought. Her definitions of friend and boy friend change as she peddles up and down the hills and across time. Across time? Yes, she can and does. For readers who like just a bit of fantasy with their reality, this is a perfect book to read while you are waiting for your hair to grow out. Even if you have no hair issues, you are sure to find this book well worth your reading time. I highly recommend it.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer City, State and Country: Timonium, Maryland US

L8r g8r by Lauren Myracle

L8r, g8r by Lauren Myracle is a fictional compilation of instant messaging between three friends. Maddie (mad maddie), Angela (SnowAngel), and Zoe (zoegirl) depict the drama of their senior year by typing frantic, excited, or depressed messages to each other. Jana, a girl that has been the bane of the trio's existence, is along for the ride, playing cruel tricks on each one of them. It is a novel of budding romance, but it especially demonstrates the strong power of friendship that binds the girls together as their support, love, and compassion are expressed.

I have read both of the previous novels in this series, TTYL and TTFN. I enjoyed each of them immensely and was incredibly excited for the chance to read the third segment of Myracle's work. Although the novel drags at some points, the AIM "language" and pace allow the book to go quickly and the hilarious antics of the girls have you laughing from the start. This novel is both sharp and entertaining; the characters are fascinating and keep you wanting to read more. Maddie, a wild child, acts as the mature grownup in this book; she consoles her friends and gives them helpful advice. Angela experiences the most difficult events. She undergoes troubles with her boyfriend and Jana; this begins to affect her usually carefree spirit. Zoe, the more conservative “good girl”, finds that having a boyfriend can turn your world upside down (or right-side up) and she learns just how important love is. As the girls go to the end of their senior year, they realize that the time for fun is also a time for goodbyes. L8r, g8r appropriately declares the book about farewells but also about new beginnings. This book is a great, quick and easy read.

Content:There are several situations in which the girls discuss sex and protection(Zoe begins to have sex with her boyfriend) and several swears are used throughout the novel. This book should probably be considered for a mature reader.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Concord, Massachusetts United States

God Can Work It Out by Stephanie Perry Moore

Can Faith Thomas’s life get any worse? Faith’s family members are constantly fighting, she has a sparse supply of friends, her teammates on the cheerleading squad are total jerks who think they’re “all that”, and her mom wants her to hang out with the new girl across the street. From friends to family to cheerleading, something is always going wrong and Faith doesn’t see how if there really were a God, why he would let such things happen to her. After a state of depression, God finally gets through to her, she accepts him into her heart and things start to turn around until… her dad leaves. Her life once again is back to being a wreck and all Faith knows is that it is going to take a miracle to turn her messed-up life around.

It is very neat how God Can Work It Out is a book that is designed like a magazine. It is a very good choice for those who get bored easily by the layout of regular stories and enjoy reading magazines. It has many different things included in it, such as blogs, a quiz, character profiles, a few short reads called Salvation’s Path, and much, much more. It is divided into twelve chapters by what month the events are taking place. I very much enjoyed God Can Work It Out by the wonderful author, Stephanie Perry Moore, and I can’t wait for the next installment. This is the first book in the Faith Thomas Series, and I think girls who are interested in cheerleading will most definitely enjoy reading this awesome story.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA United States

Kichi in Jungle Jeopardy by Lila Guzman

Kichi in Jungle Jeopardy, by Lila Guzmán, takes place in Chilaam, an ancient temple, where Kichi, a rare blue Chihuahua, is pampered by Fortune Teller and everyone else in the Mayan City. Kichi is so happy in Chilaam, he does not know what he is in for! One day, Ah Tok, Fortune Teller’s brother, comes back from a raid with a slave named Uxmal. Kichi is delighted to see that Uxmal can speak Dog. After so many years of trying to get Fortune Teller to understand his language, he almost gave up on having anyone to talk to! Kichi takes a liking to Uxmal, and they meet every day. Until . . . an army attacks Chilaam and kidnaps Uxmal. Kichi sets out into the jungle, a scary place for such a small dog. Kichi has adventure after adventure, eventually learning a big surprise about Uxmal that turns out to be very important for Kichi and the future of his friends.

This story was great. It was exciting around the edges and mild in the middle. My favorite part was when Uxmal was captured and Kichi is sent on his journey into the jungle. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes talking animals who behave like people, and slight wars (without too much violence). The theme of this book, in a sense, was friendship, and sticking by a friend in a difficult situation. Also, I learned some of what it is like to have a really good friend. I really enjoyed this book!

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Saugerties, NY USA

Summer of Love by Emily Franklin

Summer of Love, by Emily Franklin, is part of a series about a girl named Love Bukowski, this time focusing on the summer before her senior year. As the book begins she looks forward to a great summer with her best friend and to using the summer to discover the mysteries of her past, like the whereabouts of her previously absent mother. She soon finds some of the fun she was seeking but with it comes new confusion about her past. As she tries to live in the moment, she is thrown into even more confusing situations and faced with new obstacles, like choosing a good college and making important decisions about her future goals. The book ends with a new set of revelations, and therefore a new set of questions for Love to answer in the next book.

This book was sprinkled with a plethora of musical references from the Talking Heads to the Beatles and everyone in between. It was an easy read; information from previous books in the series wasn’t necessary to understand what was happening. Love seemed like a real character, however, the circumstances of her life were a bit too unrealistic. The book floated along but without any real substance to hold onto, relying instead on clichéd situations. Some parts screamed potential but then were left with the surfaces unscratched. Franklin’s characters are easily related to but the plot was so quick and implausible that they could not be empathized. The plot was nothing too exciting or new but it wasn’t horrible because it was expected. Overall, it was an easy and semi-enjoyable read, but lacked potential depth that it could have held.

The Invisible by Mats Wahl

A high school boy, Hilmer Eriksson, becomes invisible on a Monday morning, and is the main character in a murder mystery. Once he realizes it, he becomes dependent on the detective investigating his disappearance; Detective Fors. Hilmer stays invisible through Monday morning to Tuesday afternoon, following Fors in hopes of becoming visible again. But, as the detective uncovers more clues, Hilmer suffers invisibly, where no one can help him. In the visible world, Detective Fors finds information on Hilmer's troublesome classmates. In the end, he discovers just who caused Hilmer to be where he is now.

This is one of the best mysteries I have ever read! It is quite literally a book that you cannot put down! If you are a mystery lover, whether you care if it is a murder mystery or not, this book will have you hooked and wanting more! It includes wonderful dry humor, engaging interrogations, and, several flashbacks between the past and present. The author clearly wound these three key attributes around an original plot, to create a fantastic book.

Content:Has some extreme violence and vague sexual content, but I do not think it should be restricted to a mature reader.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Eagle Creek, OR USA

Penelope Bailey Takes the Stage by Susanna Reich

Penelope Bailey is an 11 year old girl who is absolutely obsessed with acting. She lives, thinks, and talks acting. If you haven’t guessed already her dream is to be a famous actress on stage. Penelope and her best friend, Cassie are planning on practicing scenes from Romeo and Juliet over the summer to perform at their school in the fall. But, Penelope’s mom decides to go and help her dad on a scientific experiment and sends Penelope to live with her aunt and three cousins. Penelope is horrified. She can stand her bratty cousins, but not her aunt. Her aunt thinks that anything and anyone to do with the theater is vulgar and shouldn’t be on the earth. Penelope doesn’t think she will survive. Then she befriends a girl at her new school, a professional actor next door, and a flamboyant dancer/actress who has a totally different life style then Penelope has ever seen or heard of before. With their help and encouragement Penelope learns to follow her dreams and to never ever give them up.

Named by Scripps Howard News Service as One of the Best Kid’s Books of 2006, this book is definitely one of my favorites. I am an aspiring actress and this book was perfect for me. It gave me encouragement, self confidence, and even some useful tips on acting. I believe any performer, actress, dancer, or singer will eat this book up just as much as I did. I applaud Susanna Reich.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Moscow, Idaho United States of America

Such A Pretty Face

"Such a Pretty Face" is a collection of stories about beauty. The first story is about a beautiful, seemingly perfect girl wanting to just be ugly and fit in with everyone else. The second about a girl living in another country where everyone she sees seems beautiful, making her feel like an outsider. The third a story of a boy stuck in the hospital with a broken back and falling in love with a nurse he can't evem see. The fourth is a story of a girl who has a a hair on her chin that keeps growing longer and thicker, and on the day of prom too. The fifth is a story of boy going to a circus freak show, and finding a beauty he did not expect. The sixth story is about a girl trying to find her own look, a look that does not parallel her mother's looks. The seventh of a very hairy boy nicknamed "ape," who just wants to get a date with his dream girl. The eigth is of a a beautiful girl whose mom wants her to be a model, but who doesn't want to draw attention to herslef. The nineth is about a depressed boy whose best friend is trying to make him feel better by making up a bingo game with him. The tenth is about a girl named Beauty, but is considered anything but a beauty. The elventh is about a depressed, suicidal girl who is getting therapy from a short comedian. And the twelfth is about moments in a girl's life when her perceptiona of beauty does not include her.

First of all, I am sorry about my summary, it's just that it is hard to convey the plots of every story in this book in a couple of sentences. I liked this book because although every story in this book is very short, all the stories are long enough to send the reader a message about beauty, not always outward beauty but sometimes inner beauty and perceived beauty. I especially liked how every story offered something different, told something different about beauty, which made it so the book was not a repitition of the same idea. The book was good because every writer wrote kind of heart warming characters that you could somehow relate to because of their perception of beauty. Some of the stories in the book left you hanging, though, but it wasn't a necessarily bad thing not to know what happened to each charater, and those stories left the future of the charater's and their ideals up to the reader to decide, which I think made those stories better. This book was also good because it made you think about beauty and how you define it, which before I read this book I never actually considered anything outside of the magezine definition of beauty. I thought this was a great book that you should at least read once.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Tucson, Arizona U.S.A.