Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Titanic's Last Secret

Join John Chatterton and Richie Kohler of Nova's Shadow Divers as they explore the depths of the ocean in search of one of the world's greatest mysteries: the Titanic. When John and Richie discover the resting place of Titanic, both decide to unravel the mystery of how the Titanic went down in the first place. The book tells the story as if you were watching a documentary of the Titanic. Towards the end of the novel, Chatterton and Kohler finally unravel the mystery of how and why the Titanic sank. Filled to the brim with scientific facts and mystery, this book will keep you reading until the end!


The beginning and middle were a little hard to get into because of all the facts that the author had to explain. Also, the beginning was used to explain why Chatterton and Kohler did the experiment. The greatest part of the book, in my opinion, was at the end when all the pieces of the mystery finally fit together. I also liked how the author compared the Titanic to Britannic, the sister ship of the Titanic. I would recommend this book to people who are interested in marine biology or ship building.


Reviewer Age:15

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

Monday, September 29, 2008

Say You're One of Them is a collection of short stories by Uwem Akpan. In the first story, "An Ex-mas Feast," a poverty-striken family living on the streets of Nairobi, Kenya struggle to overcome hunger. In "Fattening for Gabon," two siblings living in Benin with their uncle are suddenly blessed with a small fortune by their godparents. But things take a turn for the worse when they realize that they are thick in the middle of a plot to be sold into slavery. "What Language is That?" is about two friends who are torn apart by thier religious differences and must learn to cope in an Ethiopia where civil war is a rising threat. In the next story, "Luxurious Hearses," sixteen-year-old Jubril is a Muslim refugee who must flee from Northern Nigeria to the South because of a religious civil war which has begun to tear apart his country. To accomplish this he must attempt to conceal his identity as he embarks on a treacherous trip on a bus filled with Muslim hating Christians. The last story, "My Parents Bedroom," is about a family in Rwanda who risks everything they have to save the victims of a terrible civil war.

Say You're one of Them was one of the most difficult books I have ever read. The author did an incredible job of revealing the lives of children in Africa -- the unimaginable pain and suffering and how hope can prevail in even the very worst of situations. The way he used points of view was very unique and helped give a peek into each person's world. In "What Language is That?, he used second person. I had never read a story in that point of view before and it really made me feel like I was part of the story. I enjoyed the book, but each story had a sad ending and though they inspired me, I walked away feeling kind of depressed. It helped me to realize that even though life isn't perfect, I still have it a lot better than most people. I would reccomend this book only to mature teenagers and older because some of the parts are rather graphic.

Some strong language and mature subjects, such as rape. Also contained some gore.
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, Pennsylvania USA

Prom Queen Geeks, by Laura Preble

The Queen Geek Social Club strikes again in Preble's third installment. This time, the club is tackling prom season, after having aptly noticed that prom is only attended by those popular kids who can afford the outrageous ticket cost. So of course, the perfect solution is to hold their own prom, a low-cost Geek Prom. Unfortunately, their independent thinking poses a threat to the popular clique, especially as the Geek Prom begins to show signs of success and is expanding. This simple enough idea turns Green Pines High into territory for war and all the drama that goes with it.
While I was a huge fan of Laura Preble's first Queen Geeks novel, I must say that I found it challenging to get into this one. Though equal in length to the first two installments, the story becomes repetitive early on and loses the reader's attention. Also, the extreme expansion of the prom by Shelby and crew seems unrealistic, as if they plan on taking over the universe rather than holding a simple high school dance. This being said, Shelby's voice is as entertaining as ever, leading the reader to share in the life of a geek, even when it means feeling downright uncomfortable. While the end of Prom Queen Geeks resolves the prom tension, the girl fights, and the boy drama, Preble leaves the Queen Geeks open to yet another installment. Hopefully the next time we encounter Shelby, Becca, and friends, their story will have returned to reality, with each character remaining as quirky as ever.

Reviewer Age:19

Reviewer City, State and Country: Farmington, CT USA

The Secret Life of Josephine: Napoleon's Bird of Paradise by Carolly Erickson

In the book The Secret Life of Josephine, Rose Tascher, a 15 year old girl growing up on the French island of Martinique, spends all her days going to balls and hanging out lazily on the beach. Then, her aunt sends her family a letter one day saying she must travel to France to marry her cold, heartless cousin, Alexandre. He drives her crazy with his mistresses and controlling attitude toward her, so she seeks a separation. Living her life single once more brings joy to her. When a short military man by the name of Napoleon sweeps her off her feet she cannot help but think of moving up the social ladder. With her social climb comes a promotion for Napoleon. He becomes power hungry and tries taking control of the rest of the world. But what can Rose do? Save her world or help the man she loves?

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was very entertaining and fun to read. At points, I couldn't put it down because I just had to know what happened next. Also, the scenes were described to where I felt like I was in the rooms dancing with the characters. I think that many others will enjoy this book. I thought Carolly Erickson did a really good job with this book and I feel that it will be the next Harry Potter or Twilight.

Sexual Content and Foul language

Reviewer Age:13

Reviewer City, State and Country: Minooka, Ill United States

See How They Run by Susan E. Goodman & Elwood H. Smith

See How They Run is a nonfiction book about how today's United States government came to be. This book is especially interesting because of this year's presidential election. It explains the electoral and popular votes that came into play in the 2004 election. Al Gore got more popular votes but George Bush became president. Accompanied by hilarious pictures such as talking presidents on Mount Rushmore, and informative side bars like "What would Ben say?" you won't want to put this book down.

See How They Run was an incredible book! It was the perfect way to learn about confusing government processes. Susan E. Goodman's writing was the perfect mix of humor and information. Elwood H. Smith s hysterical pictures had me turning pages to see what the funny cartoon characters would say next! From lame ducks to dirty tricks, this book gets my vote!


Reviewer Age: 11

Reviewer City, State and Country: Harleysville, PA USA

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Fashion 101

Have you ever wondered who invented the style of jeans you're wearing? Or who came up with the style of your favorite shirt? This book is a reference book and it gives you a complete look at clothing items in order from A to Z. There are over 200 different entries each containing the item, what to wear it with, what celebrities made it hot, and the designer of it. This book is meant for someone who wants to look up an accessory quickly and learn how to rock it! This book contains everything from shoes, pants, shorts, outerwear, underwear, dresses, and skirts to accessories. For someone looking to better their fashion knowledge this book is for them!
This book is one that I probably would not recommend unless you are someone who is totally into fashion. It had some interesting facts in it but it was nothing that I would want to go and purchase. It's not really something to sit down and read, but more something if you wanted to learn what to wear a black dress with and what accessories would match. This reference book had some nice pictures and a good easy layout to look up things, but I think it had too many side notes and paragraphs about the each item. Overall this book might be one to look in once or twice and that's about it.

Rating: 7
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania

Elephants and Golden Thrones by Trish Marx

Elephants and Golden Thrones is a series of fictional stories based on historic facts. It contains many stories about the emperors and empresses of China's Forbidden City. Each story has historical information at the end to help you understand its meaning. The stories have many details about their lifes. The photographs are amazing and colorful. Some of the stories are unbelievable.

The stories are amazing and educational. They are so incredible because they are based on real peoples' lives. My favorite story is about Empress Dowager Gixi in her private rooms. It is about an empress who ruled for forty years and then stepped down. It tells about her life after being empress. One of my favorite photographs is of The Temple of Heaven because the skies are blue and the temple is perfectly centered. It is good for kids and adults. You should definitely read this book.
Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Leopold, Missouri United States

Friday, September 26, 2008

My Letters to the World by Emily Dickinson

My Letters To The World is a collection of seven of Emily Dickinson's short poems. The themes range from death to hope. The tone is quite serene and a bit morbid at times. Overall, the collection is well written and gives the reader a glimpse of how magnificent poetry once was and has the potential to be.
Like most Emily Dickinson poems, this collection is not a book one can just glance and glide through. One may even have to read it twice to truly understand the meaning behind her words. There is a lot of reading between the lines involved, and many of the stanzas may appear to be a bit ambiguous. Dickinson uses many phrases and words of Old English. Therefore, the reader may need to keep a dictionary at hand or to do a little research. Word of advice, read the poems slowly to really understand the meanings. Emily Dickinson's poetry is definitely thought provoking.
I would recommend this collection to anyone who enjoys reading the classics. Such as: Shakespeare, Jane Austen, T.S Eliot, Ralph Ellison, Ralph Emerson, and so forth.
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Raleigh , NC United States

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke

In this spellbinding return of our beloved Inkheart friends, we start off not long after the previous story ended. Even though Meggie and Moe escaped the Adderhead's grip in the last book by binding a book of immortality for him, the Adderhead is after them again. The book is starting to deteriorate, as is the Adderhead; overcome by fear of the White Women. He will stop at nothing to keep living, even if it means kidnapping children in order to reel Moe back into his trap. Meggie and her family are now fully immersed in the Inkworld and any hope of leaving is quickly disappearing. Will the story be saved, or will this made up world become one of it's own?


Wow! This was a completely ingenious ending to a fabulous series. Funke creates such a real world and makes me wish that it were really real to travel into books. The characters were well developed and felt very real and I felt like they were more like well-known friends instead of characters. Funke's kept the plot refreshing and new, keeping me riveted to the story and not bored in the least. I do suggest reading the preceding books in the series, as the author doesn't give a lot of background information and just dives into the story. This is a great book for all ages and I think everyone should take the time to read it. Whether you read it aloud, or read it until you cant read anymore, this story will truly mesmerize you and keep you wanting more. This is by far my favorite book in the series and I dearly wish it wasn't the last!


Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country: Currituck, NC Currituck

The Man Who Turned Into Himself by David Ambrose

Rick Hamilton was a successful business man. During one of the most important business meetings of his career, his mind drifts off and has what seems to be a dreadful premonition of his son, Charlie, and his wife dying. Going AWOL, Rick races to the scene to find that the tables have turned. Rick opens his eyes at the scene to realize it was he who had gotten into the wreck and his life is hanging by a thread. Frantic and out of sorts, he screams for his son, Charlie, unaware that he is living in a parallel universe of his own life. Same body, same people, same thoughts, same memory, different past. With no one to believe his crazy stories of former events, not even his wife, Rick struggles to find a way out of this twisted "many worlds" parallel universe he has been thrown into.

I thought this book was a great illustration of the "many worlds" quantum physics theory. I found that parts of this book reminded me of my own writing and how descriptive and in depth it went to show every true detail of his life. Although, confusing at times, I liked this book a lot.

some sexual innuendos and deep topics.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: , PA USA

Blog Tour Interview with Author Ken Mochizuki

Ever since the 1993 publication of his multi-award-winning, best-selling picture book, Baseball Saved Us (over half a million sold to date), Ken Mochizuki has made over 100 presentations around the country at schools, libraries, community centers and educators’ conferences to ages K-Adult. Ken’s books include: Baseball Saved Us, Heroes, Passage to Freedom: the Sugihara Story, Beacon Hill Boys, and Be Water, My Friend: the Early Years of Bruce Lee. Among the awards his books have earned include the Washington State Governor’s Writers Award and the national Parents’ Choice Award, American Bookseller “Pick of the Lists,” American Library Association Notable Book, International Reading Association Teachers’ Choices, Smithsonian Notable Books for Children and the Jane Addams Children’s Book Awards Honor Book.

When and why did you begin writing?
In 1981, while working as a professional actor in Los Angeles, I also had time to read the “classic” American novels that I should have in high school and college. I thought about becoming a writer instead, so I started writing my own novel at that time which would eventually become “Beacon Hill Boys.” I originally wrote it as an adult novel, but then the opportunity came along to turn it into a YA novel which was published in 2002.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Probably when I first seriously said to myself that I am going to be one – not just thinking about it or talking about it, but actually doing it. So, if I was going to be a writer, I had to learn how to write. I returned to my hometown, Seattle, that same year (1981) and started writing for local newspapers. Being a journalist taught me a lot about writing, especially about being concise – saying the most with the least amount of words, which would help tremendously in the genre of “juvenile literature,” especially in writing picture books.


What inspired you to write your first book?
In 1981 when I still lived in Los Angeles, I heard of the murder of a friend who was also an instructor of mine at the University of Washington (it was later uncovered that he was assassinated by orders from the regime of the former dictator of the Philippines). That incident made me think of those days when I was attending the university during the early ‘70s, when I was involved with others in fighting for the “Asian American” identity instead of being called “Orientals.” It was also a unique time all over America, and I wanted to recall those times and pay tribute to it.


Who or what has influenced your writing?
Aside from being a journalist, the Asian American authors who came before me and are currently writing books, especially fiction, are major influences. Another major influence – although I didn’t know it at the time – were the TV series of the ‘60s. “Combat,” an early ‘60s series about GIs in France during World War II, the original “Star Trek,” “Mission: Impossible” and especially “The Twilight Zone” were often brilliantly written and were actually 30- 60-minute short stories. Looking back, that’s where I learned story structure, character development and the character arc, the beginning, middle and end.


What genre are you most comfortable writing?
My books so far have been in the picture book and YA categories, both fiction and non-fiction, so those are what I’m used to so far. I tend to gravitate toward historical fiction – “Beacon Hill Boys” has been put in that category. But, all writing isn’t easy and – contrary to what most people might think – picture books are the hardest because so few words are required to tell the story. I often use this analogy: writing picture books is like driving on city streets, where you travel slow and have to stop for the lights and signs. Novels are like hitting the freeway and opening it up.


Is there a message in Beacon Hill Boys that you want readers to grasp?
Young people who know their histories, their family histories, are more proud and self-confident when they know of the achievements of their own. The underlying theme of the novel is the protagonist and his friends’ search for something to be proud of. Also, I wanted readers to know that everything that might be taken for granted today was gained by those before them who fought, struggled and sacrificed.


Is the book based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
“Beacon Hill Boys” started out as a sort of disguised autobiography, or at least about that time in my life. And as fiction writing goes, and when you start working with an editor, there are plot changes and cuts, characters change, or multiple characters are morphed into one. So, even though some of the incidents portrayed in the book did actually happen in my life, the story is still a work of fiction.


Can you tell us two of your favorite books?
My favorite of all time is Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” and that novel is often considered to be YA now. I would have to say another would be “The Wizard of Oz.”


What book are you reading now?
A lot of the books I read are for research for my present writing project. However, a memorable book I read this year would be Sherman Alexie’s “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.”


What are you currently working on?
A YA novel set mostly in an incarceration camp for Japanese Americans during World War II.


Do you have any advice for young writers?
Read – that is the only way you will see how words are put together to become good writing and good books. And not only books, but read newspapers, news magazines – any form that tells a story. It is said that some of the best writers are sports columnists. Then you have to become a good observer. Everybody has the ability to look, but not everybody has the ability to see. Why do people do what they do? Then put those words together and write and write. It is a process in which you can be taught all the “how tos,” but it is also one in which you can only learn by doing.

Thanks again to Ken Mochizuki for appearing, courtesy of Provato Marketing, for other stops on the tour please check Provato Events.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Indie Girl by Arne Johnson and Karen Macklin

Start something new! This book helps you to accomplish goals and possibly even dreams as you read through the nine different possibilities to choose from. The options are: starting a band, publishing a zine, creating an art exhibit, forming a dance troupe, making a parade, filming a TV show, putting on a play, launching a fashion company, and holding a poetry show. This book gives inspiration to teenage girls who would love to accomplish something early in life. It gives you details and step-by-step guidance on getting started and what you'll need along the way. So, if you want to make use of those talents we all know you possess, this book is for you!

Indie Girl is a very inspirational book that makes me want to go out and achieve my goals. I really liked the setup of this guide because it was really easy to follow and understand what you are supposed to do. It listed all of the steps and the supplies that you'll need along the way. I liked how it gave you a list of nine different activities to choose from, and the topics were of interest as well. I recommend Indie Girl to teenage girls who are looking for an early start to a career or just for something fun to do in their spare time.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA USA

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Palace of Mirrors

Cecilia lives as a peasant in a small town. But, secretly, she knows that she is princess who is being hidden from the enemies of the kingdom for her safety. It's a normal day in hiding for Cecilia, who is out with her friend Harper. But she feels like her enemies are following her. She decides it is in her best interest to go to the palace, reclaim her throne, and take over her duty as princess from the decoy princess Desmia. Once Cecilia gets to the palace, things get strange. She is introduced to other girls just like her who claim that they are the true princess. Is Cecilia the real princess? Who are those other girls? Will she be captured by the enemies before she finds out the truth?

Palace of Mirrors is a quick, fun, one-day kind of read that doesn't require much thought. The story carries itself and moves at a pace that isn't so slow that you lose interest. Although it is predictable, author Margaret Peterson Haddix throws in a few curve balls to make it more surprising in the end. Overall, Haddix has created a story that seems to be generic on the outside: a story about a princess who is being hunted by evil. But after reading the book, I realize that it explored issues that people go through every day, from friendship and love to finding yourself and your destiny in the world.

Reviewer Age: 14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Champaign, IL USA

Banana by Dan Koeppel

With every bite of this book, you will sink into the information. There are many different genres to this book. It is history, and a science adventure all to explain the fate and mystery of bananas. This author is crazy about bananas, so you can see all of the passion in his words. You will learn about your everyday fruit in an interesting way.

I thought that this book was very informational and great! I loved learning about all of these things about the bannana. It made me look at the fruit in a different way. Now I am shouting facts to all of my friends about bananas. This book made me go bananas.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, PA U.S

Interview with Author Maureen McQuerry

Maureen McQuerry is a writer and teacher living in Richland, Washington. She is the author of Nuclear Legacy, (IP award winner) and Student Inquiry, and her new YA fantasy novel, Traveler's Market, released in July with Idylls Press. It is the second in the Wolfproof Trilogy.



What inspired you to write Traveler’s Market?
It’s the sequel to Wolfproof and follows naturally from the first adventure when characters from Celtic myth get involved in the lies of three middle school students. Traveler’s Market explains why these mythic figures choose Timothy James Maxwell. It also begins the quest for the Stone of Destiny, an important piece of Timothy’s own destiny. The more I researched British and Celtic mythology, the more intrigued I became with the legends. The battle scene at the market is based on the legendary Battle of the Trees.

The character of Nom the rat catcher was inspired by a “skunk exterminator” who helped us get rid of a skunk family under our porch. During a trip to NY’s Central Park, I was intrigued by the gates and their inscriptions. The Hunter’s Gate became the portal to the market. So many details come together to inspire and build a story.

Why did you choose the fantasy genre?
Fantasy is the most popular genre for middle grade and YA audiences. One reason is that fantasy allows us, the reader, to be the hero that slays the dragon. It reminds us that we are all more than meets the eye. I think that’s a powerful message for all readers, but especially for middle grade students who are trying to fit in and decide who they are. G.K. Chesterton says: “Fairytales are more than true, not because they tell us there are dragons, but because they tell us the dragon can be defeated.” We know there are dragons in the world, but it also important to know that even the most unlikely person can be the one to defeat the dragon. The best fantasy is ennobling. That’s why we love the Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter. It’s the ancient battle of good against evil.

How does your experience as an educator influence your writing?
My students inhabit my stories. Not actual students, but bits and pieces of many of them. Because I worked with gifted kids for many years, the protagonists of the Wolfproof Trilogy, Timothy, Sarah and Jessica all fit into that category. Timothy especially finds himself an outsider in school. The things that fascinate him, words, puzzles, inventions don’t always resonate with his friends. In fact, when Timothy wants to think of just the right word, he pictures Scrabble tiles and adds up the points. I’ve had students tell me that the dialogue is very realistic. I guess it’s because I still have their voices ringing in my ears.

I also believe that middle grade students deserve beautiful writing. While plot and action are important, beautiful language, interesting vocabulary should be part of the books they read. It is difficult to find literary middle grade fiction. I wanted to write some.

Can you mention some of your favorite YA books?
Once and Future King—TH White—King Arthur, Merlin and the round table.
Peace Like a River---not marketed YA but with a compelling YA narrator—great storytelling!
Hobbit—Tolkein of course!
I Capture the Castle—Romance, growing up and figuring out who you are.
Dark is Rising series—Susan Cooper

What book are you reading now?
Summer! Such a great time to read and I read three books I want to mention.
The Invention of Everything Else by Samantha Hunt set in historical NY has a touch of magical realism, Alfred Tessla who invented the radio and a flying machine.
The Confessions of Max Tivoli—the story of Max, born looking like a old man who becomes physically younger as he ages, is poignant.
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle—Hamlet, dogs and a mute boy all rolled into one beautifully written, sad story.

Do you have any advice for young writers?
Yes! Write! Don’t put off writing because you don’t feel inspired. If people waited to be inspired books would not be written. Don’t put off writing because you don’t think you’re not old enough to publish. There are plenty of publishing opportunities for young writers. See the student writers tab on my website http://www.maureenmcquerry.com/ for some suggestions.

Write every day. Every time you write you get a little bit better.

Read! The best writers are readers. Read a wide variety of genres and styles. Stretch yourself. And read like a writer. Go back and see how a writer does something you admire. How do they make the character so real? How did they manage to scare you, make you laugh or cry.

Some of the best advice comes from a writer I admire, Jane Yolen. B.I.C. Butt in Chair!
Many people have great ideas, but the hard work is showing up every day and putting those ideas on paper when there are so many other things that call for our attention.


Thanks again to Maureen McQuerry for appearing, courtesy of Provato Marketing, for other stops on the blog tour please check Provato Events.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls

Rock 'n' Roll Camp For Girls is a very informative book about starting bands, writing songs, and so much more. It contains many inspiring stories of aspiring artists and already successful ones as well. Good advice on instruments, recording songs, and taking chances is scattered throughout the book. It really reaches out and speaks to any girl that loves music. Step by step, the book walks you through everything you need to do to really rock out and have fun.

This book was straight to the point and I really learned a lot about music and the music industry. I thought the author's themes of being true to yourself and chasing your dreams were very motivating for teens. Not every single chapter interested me but overall the book was a success. I would definitely recommend this to any aspiring musician, singer, or songwriter. Not every chapter will apply to everyone, but it is easy to pick out the parts that interest you. This book sent out a good message and holds a lot of good advice.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Richmond, Virginia USA

Friday, September 19, 2008

The Order of Odd Fish by James Kennedy

This novel is both fantasy and comedy. I consider this book a comedy because some portions of the story are so ridiculous they are actually funny. The main character is Jo Lauroche, who lives with her Aunt Lily in the California desert. Lily is not Jo's true aunt, but no one knows who Jo is actually related to and Lily has a large, mysterious gap in her memory. Therefore, Lily has raised Jo. Lily used to be a famous actress, and she still throws a big Christmas party every year for her old Hollywood friends. One year, violence suddenly erupts at the party, directed at Jo. Jo and Lily are protected by a Russian colonel and a giant, talking cockroach. Multiple villains, including the one responsible for the violence at the party, begin chasing Jo and Lily. While on the run, Jo, Lily, the cockroach, and the colonel wind up in Eldritch City. Lily then regains her memory and remembers Jo's dark origin. They join the Order of Odd-Fish, which is a group of knights that find useless information. There, Jo learns about her fate while exploring Eldritch City and making friends and enemies.

I liked this book. It was ridiculous but that made it funny. At some points it was too weird to be funny. The plot was very simple. The emphasis of the story was on the outrageous setting and characters. To read this book, it is probably best to like satire and comedy.

Reviewer Age:14

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

The Eyes of a King by Catherine Banner

Leo North is a gifted child. Though it is not apparent, his magical gifts must be suppressed under the laws of the kingdom. Leo lives in Malonia, a land ruled by the worst of kings who puts all his people under worry and strain. Leo's life has no prospects and appears bleak until he find a plain blank book in the snow. From the first time writing appears in the book, Leo is thrown into the minds of others and his life begins to change. Through the black book he is shown the life of Aldebranan, an exile who has similar yet stronger powers than Leo. This opens Leo's eyes to the hidden world just out of his reach. He must balance experiencing these secrets with striving for a normal life in the broken down kingdom he lives in. Leo's life becomes even more stressful when his brother falls critical ill and Leo is taken to fight the war. When everything goes wrong and you can't live another day, anything seems possible.

This was a very complicated book. It took me a while to get enthused about it as it is rather slow to start. However, once it became riveting and exciting, it was very hard to put down. The Eyes of a King was a creative and intriguing read which provoked a lot of thought. Leo is faced with decisions and situations which would be terrifying in reality. Watching them unfold in his life
was extremely confronting. I felt that I really related to this book and it both made me cry tears for the characters and be truly happy when things went their way. I found a few errors in the text, more than in most books and I often found myself lost with unnecessary complications with
how the story was written. The Eyes of a King was written by a girl of only fourteen years old and was her first novel. Knowing this, it was an exceptional debut and I will expect great things to come from this young author.


General mature content
Rating: 8

Reviewer Age: 14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Melbourne, Victoria. Australia

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

The Magician

When Nicholas Flamel, Sophie, Josh, and Scatty flee from Ojai, California, and the unpleasant John Dee, they end up in Paris. (They get there by passing through a leygate that was opened by The Witch of Endor.) They have lost the very important book of Abraham the Mage to John Dee and the Dark Elders, except for two key pages. Unfortunately, a certain disturbing character called Niccolo Machiavelli teams up with John Dee to hunt them down in order to obtain the above mentioned remaining two pages of the book of Abraham. The book is important because it has extremely dangerous secrets -- it could destroy or heal the world. All that is necessary to obtain that dangerous secret are the two missing pages. There is also the minor detail that without it (the book), Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel waste away, aging a year each and every day. Perenelle happens to be on Alcatraz Island, guarded by a sphinx, and alone besides said sphinx except for a few ghosts. Her escape of the island is quite remarkable. Luckily, the group of Nicholas Flamel, the Twins, and Scatty has help. In Paris, they find assistance in Joan of Arc and the Comte de Saint-Germain, an alchemist, magician, and rock-star. This is truly a story full of adventure, surprises, and big explosions.

If you are searching for a book full of action, suspense, adventure, and supposedly long-dead famous people, then this is the book for you. The book was full of interesting people and places, as well as special powers, such as the fact that Sophie learned the second element-- fire Magic. It was a pretty good read, but it was not excellent. The book was well written, and the language used was interesting, but some of it just was not compatible with the rest of the story. For instance, the characters’ feelings sometimes did not seem real, mainly Josh’s and Sophie’s. Josh keeps feeling hurt that he was not awakened while terrifying monsters are after him. Sophie is pretty oblivious to Josh’s feelings throughout the entire story. It seems to me like Josh has his priorities backwards. The book was not a hard read, but it was not an enormously easy one, either. There were some pretty interesting scenes, such as when Saint-Germain lit up the Eiffel Tower with his fire magic. This series will not be the next Harry Potter, but it is still a worthwhile read. I would recommend this book, but it would be wise to read The Alchemyst (the first book in the series) before this one.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Charleston, SC USA

Monday, September 15, 2008

Untamed by P.C Cast & Kristin Cast

Zoey started off on the wrong path. Her friends won't talk to her, some mysterious ghost-like thing is out to get her, and the one friend who does talk to her has visions of Zoey dying. Zoey has been marked; she is a vampyre. She's living in the House of Night school. Zoey is trying to pull everything together again like it used to be, but it's hard when she starts disagreeing with everyone about having war with humans, and when she starts seeing her old friend Stevie Rae again. Zoey just needs to calm down and try to deal with everything at once.

Untamed is okay. It didn't capture my attention right away. Since it is in a series, I had no idea what had happened or was happening at the time. It was difficult to follow along with but I often found myself drifting off while reading this book. Some of this book kept me entertained or was exciting, but overall I didn't really enjoy reading this book. I would not recommend this to anyone who hasn't read the first three books because the beginning is hard to understand.

Reviewer Age:12

Reviewer City, State and Country: Midlothian, VA USA

Cybele's Secret by Juliet Marillier

Paula, though a young girl of seventeen, is a scholar. She is very intelligent and loves to learn. So when her father needs someone to accompany him to Istanbul for his trading business, she is the perfect person. Being her father's secretary may be unorthodox, especially in the Muslim culture of Istanbul, but when Paula discovers that her father is trying to bid for a valuable religious artifact, she becomes even more excited. What she doesn't know is that The Other Kingdom, a magical realm that Paula and her sisters used to visit, has a quest for her, involving the artifact called Cybele's Gift. Paula must face riddles and puzzles, pirates and sea chases, true love and betrayal in order to complete the challenge set before her.

Cybele's Secret was an interesting book. At first, I didn't like it. In the beginning it was slow-going, because the writing was thick and flowery, which made it a chore to read. But as I continued and the plot presented itself, I started to get into the novel. I really liked the protagonist Paula, because she didn't let the barriers of her time stop her from pursuing her one true love: learning. The book could have been a lot shorter, but the ending tied up all the loose ends nicely. It even had a bit of romance, which made the book a lot better. All in all, a good read. Also, make sure you read its companion novel, Wildwood Dancing, which was actually written first.

Reviewer Age: 16

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

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Falling Man by Don Delillo

Falling Man by Don DeLillo is a horrific, yet brilliant novel about the moments, days, and years after the terrorist attacks of September 11. Readers dive into the lives of a group of New Yorkers: Keith, who worked in the north tower and survived the attack, his wife, Lianne, unable to free herself from such haunting memories, and their son, Justin, who searches the skies for Bill Lawton, the man who said he will attack again. Readers also branch out into the lives of others in close proximity to the family, and we see how September 11 permeated through all of us. DeLillo provides a powerful and unmitigated vision of a most-terrifying day in history through the scope of ordinary people; a scope shared by all who remember that day and how it chilled us to the core.

DeLillo is magnificent in his use of vivid imagery to recount the events of that fateful day. His reference to organic shrapnel, pieces of suicide bombers lodged into victims, is far more than eerie. His ability to allow readers such a strong imagination of the scene paves the way to one of the strongest themes of the novel: the intertwining of reality and imagination. Such an attack on the World Trade Center seemed like something we could only visualize in a movie. However, the raw reality of the events crosses over into something that was once considered unbelievable. DeLillo takes this idea and brings it into the lives of Keith and his family. Their exchange of dialogue suggests that after 9/11, anything is possible. Though the title may not seem to fit initially, it is the only title that works for this novel. The iconic photo of The Falling Man was one of the few things that seemed to be forgotten from that day. The media shied away from publishing it, and the public was content to turn a blind eye. However, the hundreds who jumped from the burning towers may be the best image to accurately characterize that day because it brings the imaginative to life. DeLillo recognizes the power of The Falling Man, and he has produced a lasting image that no one will forget.

Frightening images and sexual references. Recommended for advanced readers only.

Reviewer Age:18

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

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Breaking Down by Stephenie Meyer

The fourth and final of Stephanie Meyer's amazingly intriguing and beautiful vampire romance novel, Breaking Dawn, is one that really delivers. Meyer's gave all and more than what was expected in this highly anticipated end to a wonderful story. The book is cleverly divided into three parts. The first and last part from Bella's point of view, and the second part from Jacob Black's. In the first section, Edward and Bella finally tie the knot and have their one night of attempting pleasure. By the end of the first part of the book, an unexpected bomb shell is dropped that could mean happiness, pain or both, for the blissful newlywed couple.

For the first time in the saga the point of view is changed in the second part of Breaking Dawn to that of adored werewolf and best friend of Bella's, Jacob Black. In this part we get a good look into the minds of all the wolves and this is a crucial tool when the next big event occurs. In Jacob's part Meyer skillfully includes a split in the headstrong pack. And once again at the end of Jacob's part another bomb shell is dropped. This one could mean the end of a friendship or the start of a relationship.

In the final part, we are back in Bella's point of view. All the loose ends are tied up and the predicted confrontation with the elusive Volturi occurs, to a scale that is unimaginable. I must emphasize that so much more goes on in Breaking Dawn but I will let you find all that out for yourself.

I love Breaking Dawn to pieces!! Stephanie writes in such a way that makes it feel like you are truly in Bella's place, living the unreal things that she is. Being an avid fan of the Twilight Saga I had been counting down until the release date of this book and upon reading it I was gladly not disappointed. Meyer wields her magic until the very end, making a 780 page book mystifying, page turning, and fascinating until the very last word. Girls are left drooling at Edward and his brothers and relating or feeling slightly awestruck towards Bella and her sisters' in law. Out of all the books in the Saga, the original Twilight is my favourite but Breaking Dawn certainly gives its position a run for its money. I would definitely recommend Breaking Dawn and the whole Saga to any teenage girls.
Sexual References
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Melbourne , Victoria Australia

Friday, September 12, 2008

Kasumi by Surt Lim

Kasumi is a self-taught magician. She loves to do magic tricks for everyone. On her way to transfer into an elite high school for celebrities and people with high connections, she goes into a forest with her father. In the forest she follows a firefly to a tree in the very middle of the forest. While climbing the tree, she accidentally falls, and should have been killed, but the firefly saves her. She passes out, and wakes up in her new home. When she gets to the school, she meets the super cool student body president, Ryuuki. She tries to talk to him, and angers his fan club. They give her a challenge: impress Ryuuki with her magic, or forever leave their high school. The magic show goes horribly wrong, in the process, Kasumi discovers she can turn invisible when she holds her breath, and the "firefly" might have something to do with it.

This manga is an awesome read. The words and illustrations work together perfectly to give off an amazing effect. The storyline is rich and full of detail. It kept me interested until the end. The illustrations are very detailed and precise. The characters are very defined and have their own separate personalities; none of them do anything out of character. I really enjoyed reading this manga and cannot wait to read the next one in the Kasumi series.

Reviewer Age:15

Reviewer City, State and Country: Shippensburg, PA USA

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Pirates & Smugglers

Pirates are often viewed as drunk, wearing a long coat, an eye patch, and a cutlass. There is much more history behind them than that. Pirates have been in existence since around 2500 B.C. and are still around today. They have earned several names such as Vikings, barbarians, privateers, conquistadores, and buccaneers. No matter what they are called, they all share a common trait. They commit violent acts for profit. In the past, their living conditions were not very good. There were often food shortages on their ships and pirates would be tortured if caught by the authorities. Overall, the violent image that movies show of pirates is not much of a lie at all.

To many fantasy and adventure readers, pirates are a subject of interest. I have learned many things about them on my own, and I hoped that this book would teach me more. While I learned new information and specific details from it, I was slightly disappointed. There was too much text to read. It was confusing because it was all over the page in small sections. On the other hand, each page had brilliant pictures that the reader could look at for a long time. I recommend this book to anyone studying pirates or to anyone deeply interested in them.

There are images unsuitable for younger children.
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States of America

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Writing Thank-you Notes

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

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


Reviewer Age:11

Reviewer City, State and Country: Leopold, Missouri USA

Ballet Stories by Harriet Castor

The Pirouette is a collection of fiction short stories based on ballet life. Harriet Castor has chosen the stories for the book. The book has sixteen short stories meant for teens. The focus is the different problems and achievements made by young girls in the ballet world. Harriet Castor wrote one story called Grace, based on how a young girl who did not have the dream of ballet but her mom did.

Each of the stories focused on one young lady in the ballet world. One story may be about school and ballet or about repeated frustrations during work outs. Most stories were set in English schools and homes. It was hard to see them due to not knowing England's countryside or the differences in school systems that came up frequently. The book would be wonderful for hopeful future ballerinas. The everyday teen may have a hardtime sticking with the book due to its focus solely on ballet.

Reviewer Age:20

Reviewer City, State and Country: Marble Hill, Missouri Bolliger

T4 by Ann Clare LeZotte

Subject: T4 Date: 09-09-2008
Author: flamingnet12

This novel was about a young girl named, Paula. Paula is deaf, but is has created a type of sign laungage that she and her family and friends can understand. Paula life was in the time of Hitler, so because Paula was deaf she was in danger from a plan called T4. This plan was to murder all the people with problems. So Paula must flee from her town and family who understand her so well to stay alive.

I found that I couldn't put this book down. It was so amazing. Although it was really true and it really got to you, it really gave you a sense of what life was like back then. This book is really rich in detail and is a great story. I would say that anybody who is in to learning about WWII should read this book.

Rating 7
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Leopold, MO USA

Monday, September 08, 2008

Fairy Tale 2 by Hiro Mashima

Lucy is a beautiful celestial wizard who has formed a team with fire wizard Natsu and a strange cat with wings. They are part of a mage guild, Fairy Tail, and have just received a task. Together, they have to steal a book from the notorious Duke Everlue. However, Everlue has hired special guards to kill anyone who comes near. If they survive then they will start their second mission to battle the increasing Dark Guild. Can Lucy and Natsu make it past their first mission to help with the second?

Reading manga is a different experience for all readers. This one in particular is fantasy; it is complete with magic and monsters. I loved how intricate the drawings were, and how the words to the story matched perfectly. The plot was never boring, and I found myself unable to put the book down. Also, the characters were all well put together and had very realistic personalities. I recommend the first volume of Fairy Tale to any manga or fantasy lover.
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States of America

Sunday, September 07, 2008

The Worst-Case Scenario Handbook by David Borgenicht & Justin Heimberg

Most people wouldn't know what to do if a rhino were charging at them. The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook teaches you lots of ways to survive in different cases. This book discusses how to survive at sea, in the mountains, and in the desert. It also includes how to survive in the jungle, in the arctic, and on a safari. If you complete this survival handbook, you'll know how to fend off a shark, avoid a bear attack, or stop a runaway camel. Readers may also learn how to remove a leech, build a snow cave, and even how to track animals.

Being informed about how to stay alive is a good benefit to everyone. That is why this book was a great read. I highly doubt that I will ever need to know any of these survival techniques, but if I do, then I will be very happy I read them. Since this is a junior edition, the writing was geared towards 9-12 year olds. Some of the jokes that were made were kind of childish. Overall, the vocabulary and images were easy to understand and made it easy to follow along. I recommend this book to younger readers who want to go traveling or have a spare hour to read.

Reviewer Age:15

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

Rating: 7

Content Rating: 1

Dream GIrl By Lauren Mechling

Claire Voyante has a very unique life. Her parents are French; her little brother takes midnight walks; she has a couture grandmother, and her best friend is a condiment heiress. But the most extraordinary thing about Claire is her ability to have special black-and-white dreams that lead her on dangerous and exciting adventures. How can Claire manage high school, new friends, jealous rivals, a crazy family and these bizarre dreams? It's not until she comes across a magical cameo necklace that the mysterious truth starts to unfold.


Lauren Mechling's novel, Dream Girl, is a great mystery novel. Claire Voyante is a wonderful detective with her quirks and wit. She makes the plots interesting and exciting. The twists and turns of the novel are always surprising and enjoyable. Mechling develops each character with good supporting details, and I feet well acquainted with the characters. I like how the novel deals with issues of friendship and trust in a very entertaining mystery novel. Mechling introduces the "dream" as a clever mechanism to explain Claire's fantastic mystery-solving abilities. This makes me want to explore Claire's dream world again in a future novel!


Reviewer Age:17

Reviewer City, State and Country: Phoenix, MD United States

Saturday, September 06, 2008

The Devil's Breath by David Gilman

When an assassin tries to kill Max Gordon while he's out on a run, Max knows his life will never be the same. Finding out his dad is missing only proves his point. A wild goose chase to find his father leads him to Namibia, where he meets a bushman named !Koga, and quickly befriends him. !Koga and Max together try to find his dad, who they discover may have uncovered evidence that proves Shaka Chang is behind a mass ecological disaster and will kill millions unless the evidence is found. Will !Koga and Max be able to save Max's dad, along with the millions Shaka Chang is out to kill? The Devils Breath by David Gilman is the only way for you to find out!
I was pleasantly surprised by The Devil's Breath. I am not a big fan of action/adventure, so I didn't think I would enjoy the book. Boy was I wrong! I was unable to put the book down! It kept me on my toes and had me guessing, all while feeling a connection with the main character Max Gordon. The twists and turns made it unpredictable, and I was shocked in almost every chapter. Anyone who wants an exciting, well-written, and all-around great book needs to grab a copy of The Devil's Breath, by David Gilman.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Casa Grande, Arizona USA

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Beacon Hill Boys - Interview with Ken Mochizuki

When and why did you begin writing?
In 1981, while working as a professional actor in Los Angeles, I also had time to read the “classic” American novels that I should have in high school and college. I thought about becoming a writer instead, so I started writing my own novel at that time which would eventually become “Beacon Hill Boys.” I originally wrote it as an adult novel, but then the opportunity came along to turn it into a YA novel which was published in 2002.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Probably when I first seriously said to myself that I am going to be one – not just thinking about it or talking about it, but actually doing it. So, if I was going to be a writer, I had to learn how to write. I returned to my hometown, Seattle, that same year (1981) and started writing for local newspapers. Being a journalist taught me a lot about writing, especially about being concise – saying the most with the least amount of words, which would help tremendously in the genre of “juvenile literature,” especially in writing picture books.

What inspired you to write your first book?
In 1981 when I still lived in Los Angeles, I heard of the murder of a friend who was also an instructor of mine at the University of Washington (it was later uncovered that he was assassinated by orders from the regime of the former dictator of the Philippines). That incident made me think of those days when I was attending the university during the early ‘70s, when I was involved with others in fighting for the “Asian American” identity instead of being called “Orientals.” It was also a unique time all over America, and I wanted to recall those times and pay tribute to it.

Who or what has influenced your writing?
Aside from being a journalist, the Asian American authors who came before me and are
currently writing books, especially fiction, are major influences. Another major influence – although I didn’t know it at the time – were the TV series of the ‘60s. “Combat,” an early ‘60s series about GIs in France during World War II, the original “Star Trek,” “Mission: Impossible” and especially “The Twilight Zone” were often brilliantly written and were actually 30- 60- minute short stories. Looking back, that’s where I learned story structure, character development and the character arc, the beginning, middle and end.

What genre are you most comfortable writing?
My books so far have been in the picture book and YA categories, both fiction and non-fiction, so those are what I’m used to so far. I tend to gravitate toward historical fiction – “Beacon Hill Boys” has been put in that category. But, all writing isn’t easy and – contrary to what most people might think – picture books are the hardest because so few words are required to tell the story. I often use this analogy: writing picture books is like driving on city streets, where you
travel slow and have to stop for the lights and signs. Novels are like hitting the freeway and opening it up.

Is there a message in Beacon Hill Boys that you want readers to grasp?
Young people who know their histories, their family histories, are more proud and self-confident when they know of the achievements of their own. The underlying theme of the novel is the protagonist and his friends’ search for something to be proud of. Also, I wanted readers to know that everything that might be taken for granted today was gained by those before them who fought, struggled and sacrificed.
Is the book based on someone you know, or events in your own life? “Beacon Hill Boys” started out as a sort of disguised autobiography, or at least about that time in my life. And as fiction writing goes, and when you start working with an editor, there are plot changes and cuts, characters change, or multiple characters are morphed into one. So, even though some of the incidents portrayed in the book did actually happen in my life, the story is still a work of fiction.

Can you tell us two of your favorite books?
My favorite of all time is Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” and that novel is often considered to be YA now. I would have to say another would be “The Wizard of Oz.”

What book are you reading now?
A lot of the books I read are for research for my present writing project. However, a memorable book I read this year would be Sherman Alexie’s “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.”

What are you currently working on?
A YA novel set mostly in an incarceration camp for Japanese Americans during World War II.

Do you have any advice for young writers?
Read – that is the only way you will see how words are put together to become good writing and good books. And not only books, but read newspapers, news magazines – any form that tells a story. It is said that some of the best writers are sports columnists. Then you have to become a good observer. Everybody has the ability to look, but not everybody has the ability to see. Why do people do what they do? Then put those words together and write and write. It is a process in which you can be taught all the “how tos,” but it is also one in which you can only learn by
doing.


Thanks again to Ken Mochizuki for appearing, courtesy of Provato Marketing, for other stops on the tour please check www.provatoevents.com.

Bobbie Faye's (kinda, sorta, not exactly) Family Jewels

"Bobbie Faye's (kinda, sorta, not exactly) Family Jewels" by Toni McGee Causey is an unusual book. The mystery book is set in Cajun country in Louisiana and includes many of Bobbie Faye's crazy relatives. Evidently, Bobbie Faye, a crime solver, had a dangerous escapade in her first book, which included some of the characters in this book. In this funny mystery, Bobbie Faye is asked by her cousin, Francesca, to help find some diamonds that Francesca's Mom took from her Dad. After this request is made, Bobbie Faye is kidnapped by three different groups, all of whom have an interest in the diamonds. Then there is a very handsome FBI agent, assigned to watch over Bobbie Faye and a very handsome detective ex-boyfriend who are also involved in the escapades. Both are vying for Bobbie Faye's affection. Bobbie Faye gets herself into one predicament after another and many crazy characters come out either to help or gawk at her. A celebrity in her town, Bobbie Faye will lead you on a funny, action filled ride.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read something that is funny and light to read. I did find the book confusing in the beginning and wonder if it would have been easier to understand if I had read the first book. Bobbie Faye is a resilient character, not afraid to dive into any problem. But if it is realism you are looking for, this is not the book for you. It is a lighthearted read, with funny situations. Not a book to be taken seriously.

Reviewer Age:16

Reviewer City, State and Country: Finksburg, MD USA