A Faraway Island by Annika Thor

In 1936, during Hitler's reign, two Jewish sisters who live a wealthy life in Vienna have no choice but to be shipped off to Sweden for their own protection from the war and the German Nazis. Twelve-year-old Stephie and seven-year -old Nellie Steiner are then placed in the homes of two women who live on an island just off the shore of Sweden. Nellie is put into the care of a lady with other children her age and she begins to get attached to her foster home on the island. On the other hand Stephie despises her foster mother, that she has been placed with, who makes her clean and never offers to buy anything new for Stephie. In the mean time Stephie manages to get bullied at school for being a foreigner while her little sister
is loved by all her classmates. As the months pass and winter turns to summer, Stephie starts to wonder if she and her sister will ever go home or even worse if they will ever see their parents again.

I really enjoyed a faraway island by Annika Thor. It had a good story and the characters had very realistic personalties. The story was very sad in a way because of the events that happened throughout the book, her frustration with her foster mother and her little sister. Overall I really liked it, and I would recommend it to 12 and up.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: , New Mexico USA

My Self: A Guide To Me bt Marlene Wallach

"My Self: A Guide To Me" by Marlene Wallach is a self-help reference book for girls. Topics include self-esteem, body image, negociation techniques, and other confidence-related issues. The book is broken down into four chapter with several sub-chapters included that are not long at all. Additionally, quizzes are inserted alongisde direct memos from the author. The book gives direction for preteen and teen girls and tells them how to act towards themselves and others.

With a notebook spiral binding, colorful printing, and glossy pages, this book is definitely girly. Since the author is president of Wilhelmina Kids & Teens Modeling Agency, the photos of girls in the book are sophisticated and of high quality. For the most part, the photos represent several nationalities. Yoga is also pushed a bit, but not so much as to make the reader want to put the book down. The book would have been better if it discussed fashion more, though.

Reviewer Age:18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Troy, NY USA

Snog: A Puppie's Guide to Love by Rachael Hale

Snog: A Puppy's Guide to Love is full of great pictures of adorable puppies. The puppies are napping, playing, wrestling and just being puppies in each picture. From Labradors to Pugs, Bloodhounds to Weimaraners all the puppies are very cute. Many of the pictures are paired with great quotes about love. Puppies sure could teach us a lot about love and friendship.

I am an absolute dog lover. The puppies in this book are extremely cute and no two are alike. The quotes go great with the pictures. I would recommend this book to anyone. Looking at these pictures will make you smile even on your worst days.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Finksburg, MD USA

Surviving the Angel of Death by Eva Mozes Kor

Eva Mozes Kor and her twin sister where 10 years old when they arrived at Auschwitz. They were separated from their two older sisters, mom and dad the minute they got to Auschwitz because they were twins. Dr. Josef Mengele allowed the many twins that he "saved" to have "privileges" like keeping their hair and clothes. They had to fight for survival and try and get through Mengele's torturous experiments performed only on twins. Together these two girls try to fight for survival in one of the worst death camps of all.

I really enjoyed this book. I have always liked reading about the Holocaust and to see it through 10 year olds eyes was very interesting. You can really tell how hard it was to survive and how you needed someone to rely on. This was my first time reading about someone who had been one of Dr. Josef Mengele's twins. It was really interesting to read what he did to them and to see just how hard they had to fight to survive.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Finksburg, MD USA

Jonas Brothers: Inside Their World by Brittany Kent

Are you a Jonas Brothers fan? If so, this is the book for you! You can learn about their life before they were stars, their songs, their first movie, and their television show. Also, take quizzes, see never-before-seen photos, get behind-the-scenes glimpses, and the scoop on their friends, family, and fans. After reading this, you will know every thing there is to know about the Kevin, Nick, and Joe!

I enjoyed reading this book. My favorite section was when they talked about their lives before fame. I also liked when they talked about friends, family, and fans. Another thing I enjoyed was looking at the pictures and taking the quizzes. I would recommend this book to anyone with Obsessive Jonas Disorder (OJD).

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Enon, OH USA

Cat O'Nine Tails by Julia Golding

"Cat O'Nine Tails" starts off slowly with the story of a street urchin turned aristocrat who always rebels against authority. She thinks her life in high society is the epitome of all that is boring. Suddenly, adventure visits her in the most unpleasant of ways. One night while trying to rescue her dearest friend, Syd, from being kidnapped, Cat and her two protectors, Frank and Pedro, are abducted and taken to work on a ship headed for the Americas. She is forced to dress like a young sailer boy to hide her identity. Fortunately, Syd is on this ship. Cat spends most of her miserable days on the high seas trying to figure out how to escape with her companions. After a series of events that any normal young girl would not be able to bear, Cat uses her wits from living on the streets as an orphan to help her escape after they dock in the Americas. She comes across a tribe of Native Americans who are willing to protect her from the Englishmen attempting to re-imprison her. Eventually Cat finds her escape and her revenge.

This book may seem overly long at first glance, but the face pace of its plot makes it interesting. Cat and her collection of friends are totally engaging, and they never seem to tire of their adventures together. "Cat O'Nine Tails" is an endearing piece of work that I would recommend to any young adult reader.

The plot of this book moved along in a way that was so fluid I hardly even recognized how quickly I was turning the pages. Cat and her friends are people I would love to have accompany me on any adventure. Cat's wisdom and knowledge of how to get herself out of sticky situations is something rarely found in today's modern, comfortable society. It is refreshing to read of a fourteen year old girl who is embarking on adventures (whether forced or voluntarily) that many adults might not appreciate. This book will most definitely be added to my list of favorite novels.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Cary, NC USA

Sideshow by Deborah Noyes

A collection of tales consisting of matters odd and strange. Stories range from the origin of the bearded lady to three headed rats and circus freaks. Spooky, eerie, and imaginative, Slideshow explores what it means to be a "freak," how to accept yourself and how to find the joy in being different.

I believe it was a good try. It is difficult to write a book about the strange and the freakish without it sounding cliche. Still it lacked interest and, frankly, good writing. The majority of the tales seemed to have been written in haste with the end product being, shall we say, less than satisfying. A lot of the stories had an excellent beginning and a rough ending, or an intriguing ending but a lousy beginning. No story seemed to have a captivating beginning, middle, and end.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: fuquay Varina , north Carolina united States of America

Eli the Good by Silas House

Eli the Good is young boys journey to becoming a young adult. He must deal with the bad memories and dreams of his father, a war veteran, his crazy and rebellious sister, and his aunt who has come to vist, but has a big secret hidden away. These things help and give Eli his first glimpse at adulthood. The people he is the closest to don't seem to stay around to long, and he seeks love from his mother, who is wrapped up in his fathers past.

This book gives a very good look into the lives of many young people today. They see things and know things they shouldn't however it helps them in taking a step into becoming an adult. Family troubles such as diseases happen to many young people who don't know how to deal with them, but it will help in the long run. The detail that the author uses really makes you fall into the book. I could see the Fourth of July parade, and I could feel what Edie was feeling when Eli was mean to her that night. The book really carptures the emotion of what normal everyday families go through.Silas House shows the struggles of not only a young boy, but a teenage girl, a mother and father, and the struggle a young girl goes through when her family falls apart. When a book can speak to many people of all ages, I think it's worth a read.

Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Mantua, NJ US

The Book of Samuel by Erik Raschke

Erik Raschke’s The Book of Samuel is a story of the struggles and hardships for teens living in today’s world. The day after Samuel’s dad leaves on a religious quest to find himself, Samuel’s life takes a turn for the worse, from almost killing the biggest bully in the school to blowing up his friend’s garage. Samuel fights an internal battle of right and wrong, good and evil, embarking on a journey of self-understanding and finding trust in God.

Erik Raschke kept me entertained just long enough for me to finish his book. The Book of Samuel is a nice short story but I found myself nodding off at times during reading it. Although it was very realistic most of the time, there was no flow to the book. Most of the time the author would cut off a topic, making me wish that he would write more about it. I would recommend this book to anyone, boy or girl, that is looking for a quick read.

Content:4
Rating: 4
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Tipp City, OH United States

Camilla by Madeleine L'Engle

Camilla is a wonderful book about a teenage girl who is discovering herself and the world around her. While experiencing her first crush, she learns to cope with fighting with her best friend, the ugliness of war, and how relations are so very delicate. Her tough decisions into adulthood first take place when she finds out her mother is not being very loyal to her father. The avalanche of choices falls from there.
This book was beautifully written and quite serious. The author had a very special and interesting view on God, adulthood, and life, in general. Even though this was a good book, it was quite slow. It took a lot for me to sit down and read it, partly because the book's events were more negitive than positive. It involves cheating, suicide attemps, and the like, so it is not really a childrens' book. In essence, it is a book about growing up.
The book had a suicide attempt, the mother cheated, and it had references to alcohol and abuse.
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Lake Bluff, IL United States of America

Blue Plate Special by Michelle D. Kwasney

Madeline, Desiree, and Ariel are three girls living in 3 different time periods, but dealing with the same problems. Madeline just wants to fit in and be like the popular cheerleader girls at her school, but being overweight doesn't allow that chance. Desiree strives to be the perfet girl for her perfect boyfriend, Jeremy, despite what her mother thinks of her. Ariel longs to be the best girlfriend she can be to her new boyfriend of only two months. Facing many challenges, the three girls strive to keep their teenage years alive.

This book was very well written. The whole time I was reading it, I felt as though I was right there with each of the girls. Everything was perfectly planned out to give a sense of suspense and to also tie the loose ends together in the end. I would most definitely recommend this book to other readers, especially teenage girls, struggling with self confidence. It really touched a special place in my heart and I can honestly say it is the best book I have read so far.

There is a great deal of foul language used in this book, but I think every teenager can handle it. It is also used in the correct circumstances, adding the right mood to the book. Without it, this book wouldn't be the same.

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

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey focuses on the gruesome and dark adventures of twelve year old Will Henry, the monstrumologist's apprentice. Monstrumology is the study of monsters and Will lives with the town's elusive doctor of the field. When the narrative opens, Will Henry is awakened in the middle of the night by a knock on the door that will change everything and put all that he holds dear at risk. A gravedigger arrives with the body of a young woman that has been brutally attacked by a member of an exotic species: the headless, human eaters, Anthropophagi. The discovery that the monsters are in America is a stunning revelation that even shocks the doctor. The search for the previously foreign species begins and suddenly, Will Henry is on a quest to seek out and study the monsters, and when they attack his town he becomes part of the hunting party.

The Monstrumologist is a well-written and well-thought out story. The plot, as fantastic and unbelievable as it seems initially, actually seems plausible and the author's unique style of writing draws you into the life of Will Henry immediately. Will is a believable character as well as one that readers will identify with even in his bizarre situation. Will's friendship with the doctor is also interesting and complex,as well as evolving throughout the story. The mood is an ominous one throughout the novel; you can sense that there are twists coming your way but somehow don't expect them when they finally reveal themselves. The novel is written as a journal and it maintains that feel all through. The characters are dynamic and interesting, especially those of Will Henry and the doctor. The aspect of the novel that is the most remarkable is the author's attention to detail. There are many squirm inducing scenes in this novel and it involves plenty of gruesome and horrific descriptions. The language is effective and the detail makes the reader feel very much a part of Will Henry's unsettling saga. This is not a book for the squeamish but if you enjoy a fun, horror-fantasy novel then this is most definitely a must read and a story you will not soon forget.

Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: San Diego, CA U.S.A

Catherine Locke has always been overweight. It's hard for her to stay away from those candy bars, Diet Cokes, and chips. But when she has to do a science project on hominins, early ancestors of humans, Cat sees herself as the perfect subject. She decides to change her lifestyle and eating habits to those of the hominins, and see if she can be healthy for once in her life. Only eating organic and nutritious foods and walking instead of driving, Cat sees the pounds practically melt away. But with her new body comes a new problem: boys.

I loved this book! I could stop reading Fat Cat. I loved the characters, especially Cat. She was really smart and I thought her science project was so unique. I liked seeing her become healthy and was happy that she finally became comfortable in her own body. I also really enjoyed reading about her foray into the world of boys. Robin Brande really knows how to get into the mind of a teenager and wrote Cat's thoughts and ideas wonderfully.

I loved this book! I could stop reading Fat Cat. I loved the characters, especially Cat. She was really smart and I thought her science project was so unique. I liked seeing her become healthy and was happy that she finally became comfortable in her own body. I also really enjoyed reading about her foray into the world of boys. Robin Brande really knows how to get into the mind of a teenager and wrote Cat's thoughts and ideas wonderfully. I would recommend Fat Cat to any fans of young adult literature.

Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Aston, Pennsylvania United States

The Trouble With Heroes by Denise Little

You've heard of heroes, kings, and Greek myths. Handsome, strong young men, the envy of guys, the want to-be boyfriend of girls, but have you ever wondered what its like to see them all the time, I mean when there's no halo around their head because they just did a great unselfish deed. Because your crazy if you think a cowboy smells good after he's been sitting outside, on his horse, all day, and Robin Hood, is it really too much to ask for you to change clothes every once in a while. I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like trying to juggle H. P. Lovecraft's fights around dinner, and dinner dates hardly ever happen when you're dating a superhero.

This was a really creative, well put together book. All 27 stories were unique, and different. Some stories were the light-hearted and laugh out loud type, while others were more serious, some were full of suspense, and a couple were just action. All of the different authors personality's stood out, which helped to create this funny spin on the tales and encounters the girls and women, behind the hero's face. One of the things that really bothered me, though, was that I didn't feel the book was good for the recommended age group, young adult, because of all the innuendo. Some of the content didn't make me feel comfortable nor did it meet up with my religious views. A lot of the story's left me thinking wow but others weren't so greatly written, it's like the author was trying to get somewhere but it didn't work. I didn't enjoy the book so much; but I think someone who knows a lot about the tales of the Greek myths or heroes would REALLY enjoy it.

Mature language and sexual content

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Springtown, Texas United States of America

The Other Side of Blue by Valerie O. Patterson

Cyan is a girl like any other, but she is grieveing over the loss of her father. Every summer for as long as she could remember, her family has traveled to Curacao for summer vacation. Cyan doesn't see the reason of going without dad; especially since it was the place he died. This summer, Cyan does not just need to grieve over her late father but figure out why he was out to sea by himself anyway. Cyan will not stop until she gets some closure, even if it means she has to be nice to a certain island native. This book is a mystery and an adventure until the very end.

Cyan is one of those characters that you just fall in love with. She's a girl who won't give in to the crap her mother spits out but also a sweet girl who's lost her dad. This book had a great story from beginning to end, but the flow was a little slow. The beginning was a little dry, but I was still interested and kept reading. I think the ending could of been a little stronger also, it kind of left me hanging. All in all this was a great book. I loved how Cyan finally saw that her mother wasn't the evil witch of the west but someone who was burned. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a little mystery along with some tragedy and grief.


Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Mantua, NJ USA

Age 14 by Geert Spillebeen

Patrick Condon in 12-years old in Ireland in 1913. Bored with his everyday life, he leaves home and runs away to join the army. He says he is seventeen years old, takes the name of his older brother, and is known from then on as John Condon. One year later, World War I breaks out and John is swept up in the excitement and adventure. He joins his friends at the front and has his mind set on becoming a hero. No one could have predicted the disastrous end of this young boy's quest to become a hero.

Age 14 by Geert Spillebeen, translated by Terese Edelstein is a historical novel about a young Irish boy in World War I. I was initially drawn to the book because of the time period. History is my passion and I thought this book would be a good read. However, it didn't attract me at all once I'd started. The story was fast-paced and very depressing. I believe it was a true story, but I was very unsure throughout. I wasn't satisfied with the ending because it left much to speculation. A young boy leaving his family to join the army and their terrible reaction isn't comforting either. I personally did not enjoy this book but it's up to the reader to decide for themself.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Braintree, Massachusetts United States

Flash Burnout by L. K. Madigan

Blake is an average sophomore boy who loves photography, making people laugh, and his girlfriend. His perfectly normal life doesn't remain calm when he snaps a picture of an unconscious woman in downtown New York. Blake presents his album to his best friend, Marissa, and soon his life is turned upside down. With one scream of That's my mom! and before anyone could realize it, she is running down the dangerous New York streets searching for her methamphetamine addicted mother. When Marissa doesn't call or show up at school during the next week, Blake begins to worry. Even worse, Blake's girlfriend, Shannon, becomes concerned that he may be favoring Marissa more than her. Will Blake's life crack into two? Will Marissa learn to let go of her mother? Will simple mistakes lead to tragedy?

I loved Flash Burnout by L.K. Madigan; I couldn't put it down the moment I read the first page. Throughout the book there are photography terms, so if you aren't familiar with cameras, it might be difficult to understand some parts. The situations are very up-to-date and realistic for today's youth. Flash Burnout is very witty but tragic. I recommend this book to any teenager who wants a surreal and intense comedy.

Has sexual conflicts and drug use.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Osseo, Wisconsin United States

Solace of the Road by Siobjan Dowd

Holly Hogan hasn't had the best life. She was taken from her home when she was very young and has been in and out of foster homes. None of those homes worked out, though, and Holly is done with them. When she is moved in with foster parents again, she starts to remember the good things about her mother. That's the problem, she only remembers the good things. She puts on her foster mom's blonde wig and hits the road, no longer Holly, but Solace. She wants to find her mom. She wants to get those good memories back and she wants to keep them. And besides, Solace is different than Holly was. She is smart and attractive. As she travels the road, she meets kind people and some not-so-kind people. It's a struggle and she has no money. Now that she is on the road as Solace, she remembers the bad things about her mother. Will Solace become Holly again? Or, will she find her mom?

Solace of the Road was a very good novel. It tells an amazing story of a girl, who just wants things to be the way they used to. Everyone feels that way at times so this story was very realistic. Siobhan Dowd did a very good job describing the setting and the character's actions. It was a very interesting, yet exciting novel, leaving me wondering what would happen next. I would definitely recommend this book to all readers who enjoy any young-adult novels.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Fairborn, Ohio USA

The Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade

The book, The Hunchback Assignments is a mystery book about a young hunchback boy that has a mutilated body. The boy, Modo, has a power that allows him to change his face at will. He is raised by a secret orginization called the Permanant Association whose purpose is promote the welfare of London, mainly by fighting the Clockwork Guild, an evil orginization. When a demented scientist of this evil guild decides to put into action a plan that threatens the whole city, Modo and a friend of his must go on an adventure to save London. What they find, though, no one expected. Can the unlikely group find out the mystery to the disease that is overtaking London?

I thought this book had an interesting plot and idea, but the writing style was wrong for the book. The book was confusing at many times, and it lacked descriptive words. I found it a little hard to comprehend what the author meant to say, and it is very easy to get lost in the book. I enjoyed the adventures, and I also liked the main character, Modo. If the author had employed a different writing technique, I believe it could have been much better. As it is, however, I would not recommend this book to any for casual reading.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Towson, MD United States

Bitter Night by Diana Pharaoh Francis

Max used to be a normal person. She went to college, she had a brother and sister, she had a life. That all changed when witch named Giselle turns her into a Shadowblade, a warrior with extreme strength and speed. Max fights for whatever Giselle wants her to and there to be Giselle's personal body guard. Now, her skills will be put to the test. When the Guardians are planning to destroy the human world, they want the witches' help. Giselle wishes to refuse but does not know if how to protect her coven when she denies the request. Max thinks she knows a way but it involves making an alliance with an enemy witch's Shadowblade and fighting with, instead of against, Giselle. Max must decide which need is greater, the need to be free or protect the place she has come to think of as home.

Bitter Night by Diana Pharaoh Francis was and amazing book. After I began reading the book I was not able to put it down. There is a really good plot line and the book is filled with adventure along with a touch of romance. The author doesn't put too much detail into things that don't really matter which keeps the book from getting boring. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventure and likes to read books that aren't in the normal witches and vampires genre.

There is some adult references and some language that younger adults should watch out for, but the book is pretty appropriate for young adults.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Brownsburg, Indiana United States of America