Fall 2007 Authors and Titles

Dancing on the Edge Han Nolan Harcourt © 1997

Miracle McCloy has been told countless times by her psychic grandmother of her “miraculous” birth. Her mother, eight months pregnant, was hit by an ambulance and died. They cut poor Miracle from her dead mother. Since then, Miracle has doubted her own uniqueness, indeed, her own existence. It isn't until her father seems to “melt” that life truly goes sour for her. Her grandmother gets caught up in her own life, and her grandfather—one of the only people who truly cares for Miracle—suffers a heart attack and loses his home in a tornado. When confronted by a girl at her school, Miracle finally reaches her breaking point, putting her in the mental ward where she discovers the truth about the past, her life, and those people around her.

Dancing on the Edge is a real heartbreaker. All Miracle wants is someone to love and care for her, but no one seems willing to give her that. And when she discovers dance, it's like her life is falling into place…until that, too, is ripped right away. It isn't until a near fatal accident where she tries to prove to herself that people can melt that she finally gets the help she so desperately needs. This is a story only Han Nolan could truly deliver.

For the extreme nature of the book, it's recommended for grades nine and up.

-Ashley Schmidt, Grade 12, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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Tattoo Jennifer Lynn Barnes Delacorte Press © 2007

Bailey Morgan didn't realize that when she and her three friends, Delia, Annabelle, and Zo, end up putting on strange temporary tattoos they would gain powers. Bailey can set fires, Annie can read minds, Zo can see the future, and Delia…well, Delia is turning trash into cashmere socks. What they also didn't realize is that an ancient evil had come to destroy them. A Sidhe—pronounced “she”— is caught up in this big soap opera drama and has come to the human's world to steal the lives of mortals and destroy them. It's up to the four friends with four temporary powers to take the fairy down.

Tattoo was fresh and exciting, combining ancient fairies and Greek myths together in a perfect blend. The four girls' lives are very different. Their bond of friendship is extremely strong, and using that, they run through three days of mystery-solving to defeat the evil, scorned fairy. This story is fresh and enjoyable. You'll love it the minute you start reading.

I recommend Tattoo for all high school kids waiting for a chance to take a stab at a humorous fairy tale where the heroines kick butt.

Similar novels include Jennifer Lynn Barnes' previous novel Golden, The Daughters of the Moon series by Lynne Ewing, and The Sisters of Isis, also by Lynne Ewing.

-Ashley Schmidt, Grade 12, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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The Rise of the Black Wolf (Book 2 of The Grey Griffins) Derek Benz & J.S. Lewis Orchard Books © 2007

When we left off with the Grey Griffins—Max, Natalia, Harley, and Ernie—Max was in possession of both a powerful book called the Codex Spiritus and the Jewel of Titania. The Griffins had just learned that the Knights Templar still existed, Max was related to King Arthur, and Morgan Le Fay had been stopped in her plan to free the Shadow King.

In The Rise of the Black Wolf, new world-ending adventures await the preteens as they set off for Scotland for Christmas with Max's father. Unfortunately, the Back Wolf Society—a powerful group of elite werewolves—has other ideas for the vacationers. See, the wolves are working with Morgan to gain the Spear of Ragnorak—the most powerful weapon and brother to Excalibur. Yet Max is the only one able to obtain all three missing pieces from the prophecy…because he is the boy of the prophecy. Bad girls do what bad girls have to, and Morgan takes Max's dad hostage, forcing Max to go on a grand adventure with his friends to reunite the Spear and save his dad.

Expect major twists, a hospitalization, deaths, comebacks, an appearance from Dracula himself…and even our favorite Spriggan in this second installment.

I have to say, for a series aimed for younger kids, these books are amazing. I find myself drawn in by the characters and the myths. And being an avid Vlad fan, I was giggly over his big scene—I'm such a sucker for him. If you haven't read the Grey Griffins, you're definitely missing out.

This book is set for younger minds, grades 5 th and up, but all ages with an enjoyment for myth and action will love this story. The previous book is The Revenge of the Shadow King.

-Ashley Schmidt, Grade 12, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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The Darkangel Meredith Ann Pierce Little, Brown © 1982

Back in reprint to take a bite of the new market, The Darkangel is a beautiful story of a simple slave girl bent on saving the darkangel from damnation and save his thirteen wraith-like brides.

Ariel is taken by the darkangel after she tries to get revenge on him for the abduction of her mistress and friend. Instead of being killed, she is taken to serve the vampire's thirteen wives, once beautiful women whose souls have been stolen. Ariel is at first resentful and angry, but through a gnome named Talb she begins to understand the ways of the wives and the vampire. She even begins to love the wraiths and admire the traits of the vampire that are worthwhile. But she knows she has to save the wives if she wants to save her friend before her soul is eaten by the vampire's mother, the lorelei.

Off Aeriel goes on a dangerous adventure to stop the darkangel. She escapes his castle and heads for the desert to find the immortal hoof of the Fire Horse. This hoof is a key part to stop the ascension of the darkangel. Can Ariel save the vampire's soul, or will she be killed in his pursuit to become a true vampire like his six brothers?

I found The Darkangel to be stimulating and innovative for its time. I'm anticipating the re-release of the rest of the trilogy soon. Ariel and the darkangel are beautiful characters that seem to have a deep connection together.

I recommend this book to 9 th grade and up for the violence demonstrated in the pages.

-Ashley Schmidt, Grade 12, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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The Hunter's Moon O. R. Melling Amulet Books © 2006

The Hunter's Moon is the first book in The Chronicles of Faerie series. It deals with cousins Gwen and Findabhair ( Fin-da-veer ), who are traveling through Ireland in search of their life-long fantasy: Faeries. But what starts out as an innocent vacation becomes startling real. The Faerie King wants both cousins as his brides, but only Findabhair accepts the invitation to join the Faeries. Now Gwen must go in search of her cousin and rescue her before she loses her mortality.

It's not as easy as it seems. Though helpful redheads along the way push Gwen on the right path, she stumbles easily, failing many tests. It isn't until she gets to Inch Island and meets Granny and Dara that things begin to fall into place for her. Findabhair's situation is much worse than it seems. The Hunter's Moon is approaching, and the Hunter requires a human sacrifice. Gwen realizes it's up to her and her six new friends to save the Human World and Faerieland. Will it be enough to stop the Hunter?

I've always found the stories of faeries and the Sidhe captivating, and that's why I was drawn to this book. It was an exciting adventure, one where the heroine was flawed and the good guys didn't win. Still, life and love worked out for them all in the end.

I'd recommend this book to 10 th grade and up for the violence and gory images later presented in the book.

-Ashley Schmidt, Grade 12, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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Duchessina Carolyn Meyer Harcourt © 2007

Duchessina is the account of the early years of the Italian duchess, Catherine de' Medici, a girl with an amazing and dangerous legacy accompanying her name. Being the richest girl in all of Europe, her life is completely dictated by her “uncle”, Pope Clement VII. But the people of Florence hate the name of Medici because of men like the pope and other cousins, and Catherine deals with many hardships and heartbreak in her young life.

The heartbreak doesn't end when she leaves Italy to meet her new husband. Catherine is to marry a prince of France, Henri—the future king. The relationship is cold and loveless, Henri being in love with a beautiful, older widow. It leads the duchessina into a long life of confusion and suffering, a path completely different than the one she was born into.

Duchessina is one of the books in the Young Royals series by Carolyn Meyer. This is the first Young Royals book I've read, but I know now I'll read the other novels included into the series about the lives of famous queens. I've always been interested in the stories of royalty, and I wasn't disappointed with this one. Catherine de' Medici had long been painted in a dark light, mostly because of the person she became in her later life. The story Meyer creates shows a young girl, alone and terrified in life. She humanizes the woman who later became Queen of France.

I recommend this book to ages 13 and up.

-Ashley Schmidt, Grade 12, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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The Last Days Scott Westerfeld Razor Bill © 2007

The Last Days is the anticipated sequel to Peeps, a vampire book that drives a stake through all other vampire books. Moz and Pearl meet unexpectedly one night while a mad woman is throwing all her possessions out of her apartment window. She throws out a vintage Fender Stratocaster, and the two teenagers do a mad dive to rescue the guitar. That's when they realize they've been looking for each other: both are musicians looking to make it famous in a band. Along come Zahler, Alana Ray, and Minerva, who is infected with a parasite. This parasite spreads from rats to cats, and then it's passed to people, turning them into vampires. The disease is spread easily through cats and through kissing.

There is something different about Minerva. She isn't an ordinary peep. She sings ancient tunes that come to life when the band plays them. These songs stir the ancient enemy of the vampire, worms that try to destroy humanity. It's the band's music that holds the key to saving the world, one giant worm at a time.

I love Scott Westerfeld. Every novel of his I have read, I've found daring and awesome, especially Peeps. The vampires are not normal vampires. These vamps spread too easily, develop anathema—the hate of all they once loved—and have an enemy who they must stop from destroying the world. The Last Days doesn't disappoint as a sequel. Of the five voices of the novel, two become peeps themselves. Plus, old favorites from Peeps come back to share their knowledge of the new world. This a worthy read.

For general ideas and written images, this book is recommended to the 16+ set.

-Ashley Schmidt, Grade 12, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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The Heartbreakers Pamela Wells Point © 2007

Sydney, Raven, Kelly, and Alexia are the best of friends. There's only one big difference between the three girls and Alexia: they have all been dumped by their boyfriends, and Alexia has always been single. So, what's a best friend to do when her friends' hearts are broken? Come up with a rule list—coping list, really. These are the twenty-sevens rules the girls must live by, rules which each girl—including Alexia—break one by one, multiple times. Throughout The Heartbreakers , Sydney tries to get back with her long-time boyfriend, Raven develops a new crush, Kelly finds herself, and Alexia finds a guy just perfect for her.

The Heartbreakers is a heartfelt chick-lit book that many girls can identify with. Each of us is a Sydney, who is still in love with their ex, or a Raven, who is confused by two guys at once. Some girls will identify with Kelly, who loses herself in a guy who just doesn't care, or Alexia, the single girl who is too shy around guys. The rules Alexia comes up with are silly, but I understand them. They help the girls get over their break-ups, even if they break all the rules.

This book is recommended for girls ages 14 and up.

-Ashley Schmidt, Grade 12, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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Eclipse Stephenie Meyer Little, Brown © 2007

Stephenie Meyer is back for thirds in her vampire/werewolf/human girl romance story involving a girl named Bella who is deeply in love with her too-perfect vampire boyfriend, Edward, and her hot and wild werewolf best friend, Jacob. At the end of New Moon , Bella had decided that she must become a vampire to stay with her beloved Edward, but as the vampires and werewolves have an eternity long feud, she doesn't know where that leaves her and Jacob, who wants to be more than friends. If she becomes a vampire, the werewolves will attack. If she doesn't, the Volutri, an elite group of vampires who act as “law keepers,” will kill her.

A string of murders is accumulating in Seattle, and the Cullens believe it the work of a vampire who is creating new vampires for an army. Worse yet, Bella learns from Jacob that Victoria, a deranged vampire out for Bella's blood, is back to kill her. Bella is already under enough strain with her rocky friendship, her pending decision, and Jacob's and Edward's hate of each other. But now it's time for the werewolves of La Push and the Cullens of Forks to push aside their hate. They must work together because war is coming, and the target is Bella herself!

And Bella learns what it means to be truly divided by the heart…

Eclipse proved to be just as beautiful, promising, and captivating as its predecessors. Bella can be a little annoying, obsessive, and reckless, but she is a dangerously real person, trying to push through her confusion, help in any way possible, and keep her love strong. Edward, who is regarded by many fans as the picture of vampires, remains the same eloquent and beautiful vamp many have come to love. I, on the other hand, find it hard to really like him because of his overwhelming perfection. My favorite character is Jacob Black, who strikes out as the perfect werewolf with his wild, imperfect ways. Meyer has brought together and given life to three amazing characters anyone can connect with.

Eclipse is recommended to the vampire and werewolf girls across the world who are anticipating the next move of the characters in Forks, Washington. Twilight and New Moon are the first two books in this series.

I also recommend Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith.

-Ashley Schmidt, Grade 12, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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Song of the Sparrow Lisa Ann Sandell Scholastic Press © 2007

Written in verse, Song of the Sparrow is a heroine's spin on the King Arthur legend. This story is told by Elaine of Shallot; she takes us through a war with a young Arthur, showing us the conflict as seen from her eyes. Elaine is the only girl at camp, and she is hopelessly in love with the knight Lancelot. When Gwynivere arrives to marry Arthur, it is clear she and Lancelot only have eyes for each other, and poor Elaine doesn't know what to do. Only Tristan remains her constant companion. When the men go to fight a final, harrowing battle, Elaine follows them, and Gwynivere follows her. As things get dangerous, the women begin to understand each other, and they ultimately bond together to save their country.

Sandell writes a brilliant story to be added to the Arthurian mythology, and she gives a unique heroic voice to the Lady of Shallot, who is typically seen as the girl who died over Lancelot's love for another. The lyricism is beautiful, keeping the story going and captivating the reader.

I recommend Song of the Sparrow to people like me who love the legends of Camelot and wanted more than a typical Elaine story.

-Ashley Schmidt, Grade 12, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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Marked: A House of Night Novel P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast St. Martin's Griffin © 2007

Zoey Redbird has just been marked as a vampire, meaning her old, human life has been cast aside and she must go to the House of Night to learn what it is to be a vampire. She also must learn if her body will take the Change. But Zoey is not like other fledglings. She is personally touched by the goddess Nyx—where others' fledgling marks are merely outlined, hers is fully filled in.

Zoey doesn't want to feel like an oddity in her new life, despite this destiny Nyx seems to have for her. She just wants to fit in, but the leader of the Dark Daughters, Aphrodite, has other plans for her. She's jealous of Zoey, of her mark, and how she's taken Erik Night from her. Aphrodite is a selfish bully, and Zoey knows that Nyx brought her to the House of Night to overthrow the rule of the fledgling and replace her as High Priestess in training.

Marked was a new spin on vampires, myth, and everything else in between. Think of it as Harry Potter for the vampire genre. It has intrigue, romance, magic, humor, action, and drama, and it hooked me the moment I started reading. Zoey is an amazing character, the quintessential “hero on a journey” who is equal parts funny and serious. Each of her new friends had real personalities that all differed from one another, and you'll be shaking your head at Aphrodite because you know someone just like her—minus the vampire bit.

This book contains some graphic scenery, language, and a few adult themes. It's best recommended for 10th grade+.

-Ashley Schmidt, Grade 12, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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WildWood Dancing Juliet Marillier Alfred A. Knoff © 2007

  Wildwood Dancing is about five sisters who, whenever there is a full moon, enter a magical kingdom called Wildwood. The older sister, Tatiana, is the most beautiful sister with her long black hair and slender build. Tatiana falls in love with Sorrow, one of the night people (or vampires, as we would call them). The second oldest, Jena, is one of the two most intelligent sisters in the family, and she has a pet frog named Gogu with human characteristics.

   Will Tatiana's relationship last? What or who is Gogu? Is Sorrow really one of the night people? These are some of the questions that will be answered if you read the book.

   If you enjoy intrigue or are interested in the unknown then Wildwood Dancing is most definitely the book for you to read. It makes you feel like you are a part of the story.

Wildwood Dancing is best for high school students, because the names of people and places may be a little difficult for some students to comprehend in the lower grades.

  -Candi Kelley, Grade 9, Boonsboro High School, Boonsboro, MD

Faerie Wars Herbie Brennan Tom Doherty Associates © 2003

     Pyrgus Malvae has gotten himself in trouble again, but this time he has to elude death. Because of this, Pyrgus's father, the Purple Emperor of the Faerie Realm, has planned to send Pyrgus on a trip. Crown Prince Pyrgus receives a vaccination so that he can travel through the portal to his hide-out destination. However, something goes horribly wrong and Pyrgus is not transported to where he's supposed to be; he ends up in the human realm where he has to rely on his new friends to get him back to his family and his home.

     Meanwhile, the evil faeries, Faeries of the Night, have created a plan with the demons to overthrow the Purple Emperor. All of this has been masterminded by the demon called Beleth; he wants to rule the Faerie Realm and will tell anyone what they want to hear in order to reach his goal. So, along with looking for his son, finding the traitor in the castle, and keeping his daughter out of trouble, the Purple Emperor must save his kingdom and his life.

     It's really hard for me to quickly recap this story without giving away crucial details and taking a lot of time. So, my advice to every fantasy fan is: read this book!! It is absolutely incredible. Herbie Brennan has created an excellent suspense novel that uniquely combines the fantasy and the real worlds. I absolutely love this book. It's a must read, so do it!!

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Sammy Keyes and the Dead Giveaway Wendelin Van Draanen Alfred A. Knopf © 2005

     When Sammy Keyes gets involved in another case, she doesn't want to solve it. She doesn't want to solve it, because she's the one who did it. Sammy's killed her homeroom teacher's pet lovebird, Tango. What makes it even better is that she hasn't confessed, and her enemy Heather is getting blamed for it. After all the things Heather has done to Sammy, this would just be minor payback.

      While Sammy tells lie after lie to set Heather up, old people are getting kicked out of their homes, because the city council wants to build a recreation center. There are people delivering threatening messages to the old people by mail, though windows, and any way they can get to them. The messages say to leave or suffer. A resident of the place where the recreation center will be says that her husband's ashes are buried in her back yard, but then what's that metal box in her closet?

     Everything in this book is believable. Anything could happen in real life that happens in Sammy Keyes and the Dead Giveaway. In my opinion, I don't think the book was a knockout read. I liked the way the author wrote it, but I wasn't too thrilled with the story itself. 

-Skylar Hartsock, Grade 9, Mercer Area High School, Mercer, PA

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In the Belly of the Bloodhound L.A. Meyer Harcourt © 2006

          In this tale about young Jacky Farber, she is running from the British Army because she "borrowed" a ship. Because Jacky is running, she goes back to her old shool, Lawson Peabody School for Young Girls, for safety.

     The mistress of the school grants the girls permission to go on a field trip on a boat. On the day of the field trip, the mistress and the chaperones all fall sick. But the students do not know this, and they get on a boat. Once the girls are on a little boat, Jacky realizes that they are being kidnapped. All the girls are sent to the Bloodhound, a slave trading ship.

      Jacky, being an excellent seaman, carries her sea bag every time she is getting on a boat. After the girls are lined up, Jacky throws her bag down into the hold, as she knows that is where they are going to be put. The girls have to trust in Jacky to get off of that treacherous boat. Can they do it? If anyone can, Jacky Faber can!

     Read In the Belly of the Bloodhound if you like pirates, enjoy fun adventurous tales, or if you want to read a good book. This book is great for middle school and high school students.

If you enjoyed this book, read the other tales of Jacky Farber: Bloody Jack, Curse of the Blue Tatoo, etc.

-Chrissy Hartsock, Grade 10, Mercer Area High School, Mercer, PA

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Under the Baseball Moon John H. Ritter Philomel Books © 2006

              Andy Ramos plays the trumpet, he skateboards, he's in the band, and he has a lot of friends. It wasn't always that way though. Andy Ramos used to be a geek, not because of what he did but because of who he was associated with.

     Glory Martinez is the daughter of Andy's mother's best friend, and people think she's weird. She used to wear princess gowns and different costumes to school, and she had a fit every time something didn't go her way—at least until the fifth grade when she and her mom moved from Ob, California. After Glory moved, Andy founded a band. Everyone liked the different sounds that came from his trumpet, but he was never as good as his grandfather. So, the summer his grandfather died was the summer Andy said was his break-out year. It was also the summer Glory moved back.

     When Andy found out that Glory was moving back, he started performing for her. She would bat softballs while he was playing her his music. The weird thing was that they both got better when each other was there--almost like magic.

     John H. Ritter has written this book with a brilliant blend of music, softball, and friends that will touch the heart and soul of any reader.

-Skylar Hartsock, Grade 9, Mercer Area High School, Mercer, PA

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Fire Bringer David Clement-Davies Penguin Putnam, Inc. © 1999

               This book starts off with a red deer stag being murdered and his fawn, Rannoch, being born. The fawn is unusual in that he has a white oak leaf mark upon his head. The leader of this herd of red deer is a frail stag named Drail, and he goes after the murdered stag's fawn. So, Rannoch starts his life of hiding the minute he is born. There is a prophecy among the deer that Herne, the god of the deer, will once more roam among them and that a deer with an oak leaf on his brow will lead the deer to freedom. This becomes true as the book progresses and Rannoch and his friends must flee their herd in search of the truth.

     To put it simply, this book is about talking animals, mainly deer. I never knew so much about deer until I read this. The author has put a creative spin on his book about a prophecy. With the thrilling plot changes, I was eager to finish the book. This would be a great read for middle school if they have the commitment to finish the 500 paged story. But, I promise that it never gets boring.

-Bobbi Hartsock, Grade 11, Mercer Area High School, Mercer, PA

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Crusader Edward Bloor Harcourt © 2007

         Roberta Ritter is a 15 year-old girl with no mother and a father who is always out with his girlfriend. Since her mother was murdered at the old family arcade, nothing has been the same for the Ritter family.

     As a teenager with no care for life, Roberta writes boring little columns for the West End Mall newspaper. She feels her job is a waste. When she writes one disturbing article on how the mall came to be, she gets a warning about true writing, and she can no longer write big articles.

     Roberta plunges into investigations of her own. The owner of the mall is trying to get it closed down so that he can have a golf course. Also, a series of racist comments and vandalism has been happening at the mall. After awhile, Roberta's investigation leads to her mother's murder, and when she finds out who did it, she is shocked. Follow Roberta on her adventure.

     This book was very good and I enjoyed reading it. It made me want to keep reading and not put it down. It is great for all high school students with an interest in mystery.  

-Chrissy Hartsock, Grade 10, Mercer Area High School, Mercer, PA

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The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Michael Scott Delacorte Press © 2007

 A set of fraternal twins, Sophie and Josh, are spending their summer with their aunt in San Francisco. They have pleasant summer jobs across the street from each other: Sophie works at a coffee shop, and Josh works with Nick and Perry Fleming at their book store. The book immediately dives into action when some suspicious looking men enter the book shop where Josh works. The twins' lives are forever changed as they watch Nick and Perry Fleming fight off an evil sorcerer and his Golems with magic. However, the evil sorcerer, Dr. John Dee, manages a semblance of success. He kidnaps Perry and steals a very important book. Nick then explains that he and Perry are really Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel, who were born in the fourteenth century. It is only through the Codex, the powerful book Dee stole, that the Flamels have immortal lives. Without the Codex, the Flamels will live one month, age and eventually die. John Dee has coveted the Flamels' book, and he finally has it after fifteen hundred years—all of it except the two most important pages. Throughout the rest of the book, Sophie and Josh are immersed in this new magical realm trying to save the world as they know it and the lives of the Flamels.

The characters in this story are well-developed, the details are vivid, and the plot is tangible. The adventure was so well thought-out that it kept me turning the pages. I finished this book the same day I got it; I couldn't put it down! The blend of cultural myths and legends makes the story accessible to everyone. Michael Scott has created a superb book; my only hope is that the second book is as brilliant. Anyone who wants to read a great fantasy book should definitely put this on their list to read!

-Bobbi Hartsock, Grade 11, Mercer Area High School, Mercer, PA

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Werewolf Rising R. L. La Fevers Dutton Children's Books © 2007

Werewolf Rising is the exiting story of a 12 year-old orphan boy who just happens to be a werewolf. Luc Grayson has lived with his Aunt Jane and Uncle Stephen since he was three years old and his parents died in a car crash. About a month before Luc's thirteenth birthday he starts to have weird dreams that he is a wolf. Then, two days before his birthday, he runs a mile in six minutes. This is surprising, because he has never even made it in under 11 minutes before.

Luc gets very sick that night and has a huge craving for a nice thick juicy steak, even though he's been a vegetarian since he was seven. Then, an uncle he doesn't know shows up and offers Luc to come with him in his village. Luc feels safe with his new uncle, so Luc chooses to go and live in the village. He goes and finds out that he is a werewolf, as was his father and everyone else in that village. On the night of his thirteenth birthday, the entire pack comes and helps Luc to change into his werewolf form.

After a couple of days of being a true werewolf, Luc finds out some very troubling news about his parents' deaths. Now he needs to find out what really happened to them. There is just one big question: did Uncle Stephen kill them?

Read Werewolf Rising if you want to find out what happens with Luc as he faces the reality of being a werewolf. Follow him on his amazing journey as he discovers the truth about his past.

This book was very interesting. It kept me reading and trying to find out everything about Luc's past and future. This is a good book for anyone who likes to read. Even if you don't like to read, read it anyway, because it has a great plot, and it's easy to read.

-Chrissy Hartsock, Grade 10, Mercer Area High School, Mercer, PA

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Tomorrow's Magic Pamela F. Service Random House © 2007

The author of Winter of Magic's Return and Tomorrow's Magic is back with a wonderful twist. Pamela F. Service has put two of her earliest and favorite books into one. This engrossing tale of two young kids, a two thousand-year-old wizard who looks like he's fourteen and his ancient foe Morgan Le Fay, puts a fantastic spin on the legend of Camelot that will appeal to all fantasy lovers.

Wellington Jones and his only friend Heather McKenna are attending the same school when an older classmate, Earl Bedwas, discovers he is Merlin, the ancient wizard from the days of King Arthur.

Pamela F. Service's way of writing is phenomenal. She mixes magic and mutants, past and present, and captures the attention of readers. She almost makes fantasy believable. Pamela's two fantastic novels will appeal to any fantasy lover out there, no matter what age.

-Skylar Hartsock, Grade 9, Mercer Area High School, Mercer, PA

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An Unexpected Apprentice Jody Lynn Nye Tom Doherty Associates Book © 2007

An Unexpected Apprentice is about a young smallfolk named Tildi Summerbee. Smallfolks are like human beings, except they are barely three feet tall. Tildi is the last living member of the Summerbee family. Her parents died two years ago when the Traik came and took them away to be eaten. Then, the Thraik came and took away all four of her brothers to be eaten also.

     After the tragic deaths of her brothers, Tildi disquises herself as her dead brother Teldo and begins an apprenticeship for the great wizard, Olen. When she uses some of her magic to make a fire, a fire demon comes out of the fire and attacks her. She then goes to a tavern to sleep for the night and a female bartender flirts with her. She has to go along and flirt with her or people might get suspicious and think that she is not really a man.

Tildi arrives at Silvertree, where Olen lives, passing her first test when the tree lets her in to see the great wizard. Olen immediately sees through Tidli's disguise. Tildi spends a few weeks with Olen when the Great Book, the book that controls everything, is stolen and Olen calls a meeting to discuss this with other important people.

     At the meeting they come up with the idea that a group of people needs to go after the thief and try to find the book before something terrible happens. Tildi is among the seven people that are chosen to go after the thief.

     Follow Tildi as she and the others face all of the danger that comes with trying to save the Great Book and life as they have known it. She and her companions have to go through many dangerous situations that test their trust as well as their skills.

     This book is a little challenging, so it is most suitable for 9th- 12th graders. It is definitely a book for fantasy lovers. Those who liked Lord of the Rings will also like this.

-Chrissy Hartsock, Grade 10, Mercer Area High School, Mercer, PA

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The Ring of the Slave Prince Bjarne Reuter Dutton Childrens' Books © 2000

This exciting adventure starts off with a boy, Tom O'Connor, longing for a better life. He wants a life full of gold and adventure, a life at sea. Currently, he lives with an innkeeper named Señor Lopez who is kind enough to provide food and shelter for Tom, his mother, and his sister, but only if they fulfill his every wish. Everyday, Tom and his family must clean the inn, wait on customers, and perform tasks like delousing Señor Lopez's hair or washing his feet. Tom loves the sea, so every night he goes out to sea in his little boat. One night he falls asleep and drifts out further than he normally does. On his way back home he rescues Ramon and Bibido who have been shipwrecked and havent had water for several days. However, he only does this out of want for money because Bibido is a black prince from the islands of Bissago.  The ring on Bibido's finger proves he is indeed the prince: Tom believes that if he takes Bibido (whose real name is Nyo Boto) Back to this island, he will be rewarded. One night after Ramon stays at the inn a few weeks, Ramon suddenly leaves, taking Bibido with him. TOm sets out in search of Ramon and Bibido, only to find adventure, the best kind of friendship, and the pursuit of death.

     Amazing!  That's all I can say. Normally, I'm not a fan of adventure books, but Tom's story is not just an ordinary adventure. The book captured me from the very beginning and will be loved by everyone. What the book lacks in verisimilitude, is made up for in Tom's character and his funny and dangerous journey around the world searching for a slave, and eventually finding the greatest friend he will ever have.

-Bobbi Hartsock, Grade 11, Mercer Area High School, Mercer, PA

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Life, Love and the Pursuit of Free Throws Janette Rallison Walker Publishing Company Inc. © 2004

Life, Love and the Pursuit of Free Throws is about two teenage girls who go through typical school dilemmas. Josie and Cami have been best friends their whole lives, but this year they are going through some rough patches in their friendship. As if competing against each other for a top basketball position wasn't enough to raise tensions in their friendship, the most popular boy in the school might end up raising tensions so high it could ruin their long friendship. The book is basically about the two girls realizing how important their friendship really is.

         I thought this book was a fun read. It wasn't the most interesting book I've ever read, but it was enough to keep my attention. I would recommend it for middle school students.

   -Angela Morris, Grade 8, Boardman Center Middle School, Boardman OH

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French Kiss Aimee Friedman Scholastic © 2006

This story is about two different girls Holly and Alexa who go on spring break in two different countries, each for different reasons. Holly goes to Wimbledon with her school team, and Alexa goes to Paris to be with her boyfriend Diego. But both of them have with the same problem: they both have boyfriends they love as much as a teenage girl loves her boyfriend, but when they are in these different cities, they find that the native boys are just to hard to resist.  

Holly meets up with Alexas cousin Pierre and finds that, although she loves her boyfriend, it is hard to resist Pierre's charm. Alexa, even though she is traveling with her boyfriend, is tempted by a French man.  

French Kiss is a story about two girls that are swept away in the idea of love and spring break, and as the book says, they find out that everything sounds sexier in French!

   - Stacie Rodriguez, Grade 12, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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Someone To Love Me Anne Schraff Townsend Press © 2001

This story is a classic story about a girl who isn't used to being called pretty or smart. Cindy just wants to be wanted by someone, and this lands her in a lot of trouble. She wants to be noticed, and that's exactly what Bobby Wallace gives her.

Cindy's mother isn't affectionate toward Cindy. She isn't a bad mother, but she is selfish, and she tends to side with her boyfriend. Cindy often skips school. Her friend Jamie wants to help her, but because Cindy feels her mom doesn't care about her, she doesn't believe anyone else would either. Then, Cindy goes to school one day, and she gets an opportunity to draw cartoons for the school newspaper.

Soon after, Cindy starts dating Bobby Wallace, and at first he is just the knight in shining armor that Cindy was wishing for. She thinks he is the nicest person she has ever met. She even dismisses his violent past, but then something makes him snap, and Cindy learns what everybody was trying to warn her about.

   - Stacie Rodriguez, Grade 12, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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Angel's Choice Lauren Baratz-Logsted Simon Pulse © 2006

When Angel is invited to a party, she doesn't feel comfortable, but she goes anyways because her best friend goes. She gets drunk and leaves the party with Tim Omara, a guy that is known for leaving with drunk girls.

Angel doesnt even remember the night, but Tim apparently does, because he tells everyone in school. A little while later, Angel finds out she is pregnant, and when she does she finds out who her true friends are.

Angel's Choice is about a girl who finds her strength by having a kid when she is still dealing with high school childishness and trying to figure out what she wants out of life.

I would recommend this story to about any girl who has fit in or hasn't fit in. It's a story for any girl who wants some insight on how it feels to be on the outside looking in.

   - Stacie Rodriguez, Grade 12, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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The Bone Collector's Son Paul Yee Marshall Cavendish Corporation © 2004

Bing, a young Chinese boy living in Canada with his dad, is extremely superstitious, and with good reason.

Bing's father, Ba, earns a living by digging up the bones of Chinese men and women and sending them back to their home country for a final resting spot. The story starts with Bing and his father heading to a grave. It's the first time Bing has been to a grave. Bing's first instinct is to recite the Lord's Prayer. Together, Bing and his father dig up the bones of a man named Shum and find out that his skull is missing. The missing skull has to be found before the bones can be sent back to China . On the ride home with the bones, the streetcar moves. When Bing and his father try a second streetcar, the same thing happens.

Bing is scared by this experience, so when an opportunity to work with something other than bones comes up, Bing takes it. He'd rather be a houseboy in a supposedly haunted house than dig up bones that are definitely haunted. As it turns out, the house is haunted. Bing must find a way to help the ghost of Mr. Bentley Sr. while finding Shum's skull and saving his father at the same time.

     This book was a quick and easy read. I loved it. The characters had real problems and real fears that they had to overcome in the course of the book. Paul Yee did an amazing job developing the book. Old Chinese legends are wound into the story and explain young Bing's superstitious nature. The lessons that Bing learns about overcoming his fears and helping others who he may not want to help are priceless.

   - Bobbi Hartsock, Grade 11, Mercer Area High School, Mercer, PA

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The Whole Sky Full of Stars Rene Saldana Jr. Wendy Lamb Books © 2007

  In Rene Saldana Jr.'s newest novel, two best friends, Barry and Alby, have trouble with friendship and betrayal. Alby has a problem with gambling his and other people's money. Barry is great at boxing, but he is too nice of a guy to get into a fight. When Alby gets in big trouble with a card shark, he hatches a crazy, outrageous, and risky plan to make some dough for his best buddy and, of course, himself.

     Alby enters Barry into a prizefight with himself as manager. They make a deal: 60% of the prize money will go to Barry and 40% will go to Alby. Barry has to beat five challengers and one former pro boxer to win the money. While Barry is boxing, Alby gambles illegally to make some money to get himself out of debt. He also wants to make a little extra for himself.

     Will Alby's gambling cost him his best friend? Or was it something he had coming? Find out! Read The Whole Sky Full of Stars. Rene Saldana is a great author. This fast moving, realistic story will pull you right into the ring with Barry and Alby. It is about what really matters in life: friendship, family and honesty. This book is for anyone who cares about life's true values.

   - Skylar Hartsock, Grade 9, Mercer Area High School, Mercer, PA

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Sleeper Code Tom Sniegoski Penguin Books © 2006

    In this exciting drama, you will meet Tom Lovett—or is it Tyler Garrett? Tom Lovett is your average teenage boy; actually, he is better than average. He has a sleeping disorder called Quentin's Narcolepsy. Dr. Bernard Quentin discovered this sleep disorder when his son Michael had it. Michael had a severe case that lasted so long it eventually took his life. After Michael's death, Dr. Quentin devoted himself to helping other children with Quentin's Narcolepsy cope and keep their disorder under control.

     Tom meets Dr. Quentin for the first time in a dream. In this dream, he kills Dr. Quentin. When Tom wakes up, his dad tells him it was a daydream, and it is the middle of the afternoon. The next night, Tom falls into a deep sleep and he dreams of the doctor again. This time, the doctor explains to him that he really is dead and Tom killed him, or his other half did. Dr. Quentin explains that Tom is part of an experiment that takes a person and makes them into two people, a normal person and an assassin. Tom is the normal person and Tyler is the assassin. They both share the same body.

     When Tom wakes up, he is in a hotel room in West Virginia with a gun and a knife. He is trying to kill a man. Tom is freaked out and runs, and two guys pick him up and taser him to sleep. Tom wakes up on the plane fully aware of his other half, the assassin. Tyler helps Tom get away from the two guys. After Tom calls his mom and she picks him up, they go home. Then Tom finds out these people he calls Mom and Dad are not even his parents but his handlers. They raised him as their son but really they just watch over him for money.

   - Chrissy Hartsock, Grade 10, Mercer Area High School, Mercer, PA

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The Mailbox Audrey Shafer Delacorte Press © 2006

      Gabe is a shy and timid boy who needs lots of love and attention.   When Gabe was small, his mother died of “unfortunate circumstances.” After his mother's death, Gabe was placed in various foster homes until social services finally found a family member, Gabe's uncle Vernon, to take him in.

In his uncle, Gabe finally finds the attention he craves. Gabe lives with his uncle Vernon at his house at the end of Lapan Lane and Gabe's middle school. Uncle Vernon is stern and very set in his country ways. He is a loving father figure toward Gabe.

       Gabe comes home from school one day to discover his uncle's dead body. The body disappears when Gabe starts finding mysterious letters in his mailbox. Read The Mailbox if you want answers to all these questions : How did Gabe's mother die? Who is the mysterious letter writer and putting them in “the mailbox”? Did uncle Vernon die of natural causes? Where is his body?

       This book is a great read for middle school students, because the vocabulary is not very difficult. Also, Gabe is 12 years old and in the sixth grade, so many middle school students can relate to his character.

       Bet you can't wait to read The Mailbox!

- Candi Kelley, Grade 9, Boonsboro High School, Boonsboro, MD

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A Curse Dark as Gold Elizabeth C. Bunce Scholastic, Inc. © 2007

   A Curse Dark as Gold begins on a tragic note with the death of Charlotte Miller's father. Charlotte must take over a mill that has been in her family for generations. She and her younger sister Rosie try to take care of themselves and the families that help run the mill, but this becomes difficult when a banker from Harrowsgate comes to collect some money that was loaned out to Charlotte's father. Charlotte has nothing to give Randall Woodstone, but she convinces him to let her try to get the money together. Then "Jack Spinner" shows up. The first time Jack shows up, he offers to help her, because he has helped other generations of Millers. Jack Spinner demonstrates how he can turn ordinary straw into gold thread. This helps Charlotte out of her temporary crisis. But the Miller curse that has caused bad luck for many generations still runs steady. Charlotte just can't escape her bad luck. She runs into other problems when her fabric is ruined. This is when she realizes the Miller curse must be broken.

     This fantastic book continues as Charlotte tries to solve the mystery of the Miller Curse. In her debut novel, Elizabeth Bunce intertwines the ancient legend of Rumpelstiltskin with some new twists and turns that make for an amazing page-turning book. Throughout the story, Charlotte learns that life is full of problems. She learns to face these problems independently using only what she has. She finds love in the midst of her problems and becomes truly happy when her battle is won. As a fantasy lover, I highly recommend this book to all types of fantasy readers. Enjoy!!

-Bobbi Hartsock, Grade 11, Mercer Area High School, Mercer, PA

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Betwixt Tara Bray Smith Little Brown and Company © 2007

     In Tara Bray Smith's Betwixt, violet-eyed Ondine Mason is just a normal teenager. So are Morgan D'Amici and Nix Saint-Michael. Or are they? Paintings of butterflies come alive underneath Ondine's violet gaze. Beautiful, elegant-skinned Morgan wakes up with blood underneath her nails. And what's with the strange halos that Nex sees around people? Why do people always die when he sees the halos?

    Ondine was born into a nice home with a nice normal family. So why is she not normal? Odine figures out at a young age she can't cry, can't bleed, can't be normal like everyone else, but why?

     Morgan was born into a small house with a hard working single mother and a younger brother. She longs to be the most perfect beautiful girl. Why can't she cry, bleed or be a normal girl? Why does she hate her life and family except her brother?

     Nix was born into an Indian family and started seeing halos around people at a young age. When Nix starts to see a halo around his mom's new trashy boyfriend, he tries to make things better, but he can't. One day he comes home to find that his Mom has shot her boyfriend. This is when Nix runs away. He can't stand watching people he loves so much die.

     Things take a spin when Ondine's parents leave and she throws the party of the year. At the party, she, Nix, and Morgan are invited to another party, The Ring of Fire , by a weird kid who has a blue X tattoed on his wrist.

    Betwixt is Tara Smith's debut novel for young adults. She is currently working on a sequel to this riveting, complex, and compelling story. Without the weird two worlds, the Halo's, and the blood.   

-Skylar Hartsock, Grade 9, Mercer Area High School, Mercer, PA

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Sleeper Agenda Part II of The Sleeper Conspiracy Tom Sniegoski Penguin Group © 2007

       In this astonishing sequel to Sleeper Code, Tom Sniegoski shows readers who Tyler Garrett and Tom Lovett truly are. It all starts after Tom agrees to let Christian Tremain test him to see if Tyler and Tom are truly one person. Two of the most important tests Tyler takes are a fighting test where Tyler comes out to help Tom beat up the agent who was challenging him and a sleeping test. In the sleeping test, Tom goes to a mansion to try to find out what is truly going on, and he gets hurt. Him getting hurt puts him into a coma which proves that Tom can die in this other sleep land.

     The group that Christian Tremain works for captures Tom's mom, and she says a funny rhyme that puts Tyler in control. Then Tyler goes to leave, and he realizes that he has some of Tom's feelings and actions. For example, he feels that it is wrong to kill when it isn't necessary, and he takes Tom's girlfriend, Madison, with him because he got some of Tom's feelings for her.

     Tyler then goes to a storage building that holds all kinds of diseases. He finds the one that he wants, one that can kill many people quickly without leaving a trace, and he and Madison start to leave. But Madison realizes what is in the container and freaks out. She does everything that she can so that Tyler can't get the disease out of the building, but she fails and Tyler realizes that she knows that he isnt Tom. He slaps her so that she knows that he means business.

     Does Tyler wipe out the population? Will Tom ever get out of Tyler's control? Follow this great story and find out all of the answers to the so many unanswered questions that the first book left in your mind.

     I really liked this book. It was great because it was suspenseful and never had a dull moment. If you enjoy action, you will enjoy the Sleeper Conspiracy books. This book is mainly geared towards high school kids. While reading this book, you will never be bored for a single moment.

-Chrissy Hartsock, Grade 10, Mercer Area High School, Mercer, PA

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Faeries of Dreamdark: BlackBringer Laini Taylor Penguin Group © 2007

In Faeries of Dreamdark: BlackBringer, Laini Taylor demonstrates how one small faerie can recreate “her world.”

      Magpie Windwich is the main character and the main faerie of the story. She is a devil hunter which means she recaptures devils that have been set free from their bottles by humans.

      Also in Magpie's world are a group of crows which like to act in plays; they are named Feather, Pup, Swig, Pigeon, Manic, and Mingus. Magpie likes to fly with this group of crows. The crows were rescued by Magpie's mother.

     Magpie's world is full of Djinn, things which we know as a god or goddess. Bellatrix and Magruwen are two of the Djinn that capture a particular devil. They and all the other Djinn are legendary heroes to all the creatures of Magpie's world.

      Lady Vespers claims to be Bellatrix's ancestress but is very evil. All she does is cause Magpie trouble and try to kill her and her band of crows.

      Ms. Laini Taylor has created numerous other creatures in this book.

      This book is great for high school students, because the creature's names and some place names might be difficult to comprehend for students in lower grades.

      -Candi Kelley 9th grade, Boonsboro High School, Boonsboro

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Changeling Delia Sherman Penguin Group © 2007

I think Changeling is a very good book. It's about a girl, Neef, who is switched with a fairy at a very young age. Now she lives in a place called New York Between, realm of the fairytale creatures invisible to New York Outside. When Neef breaks a spell put on her, she finds herself running for her life from the Wild Hunt who was promised to eat her. She is then sent on a quest to retrieve very powerful items and to win back a protective charm. That's all I'll say about the events in the book. You'll need to read it yourself to find out the ending. Remember, fairy tales don't always end happy.

I found this book very interesting. It included a lot of folklore and fairy tales. I think Grades 7-10 may be interested in this book. The characters were believable and talked more like we do in modern times. It had many nice qualities that fantasy lovers look for. Another reason I liked Changeling is because it was well thought-out and well written. It's a great book to read if you like magic and folklore.

-Amy Arquilla, Grade 8, Chaney High School, Youngstown, OH

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The Dream-Maker's Magic Sharon Shinn Penguin Group © 2007

The Dream-Maker's Magic is about a girl whose mother claims she was boy when she was born. The mid-wife says Kellen is a girl, but because her mother is sick and delusional, Kellen has been treated as a boy her entire life. Kellen meets a boy at school named Griffin who becomes her best friend. Through many events Kellen and Griffin are still friends. To find out what obstacles these two characters must overcome you will have to read to find out.

This was probably one of my favorite books I've read for a number of reasons. It's a nice story when you get into it. It really wasn't hard to read it even though it is the third in a trilogy. I hadn't read the first two, and I had no trouble. The author really wrote it so you could pick it up and read it without reading the other two. The characters are very likable. Some people who like adventure rather than a calm story may not be interested in this book. Overall, I really liked the storyline and how calm it was. I think students in grades 8-10 would be interested in this book. I encourage that if you read this book, you may read the other two stories as well--I know I will. The other two titles are The Safe-Keeper's Secret and The Truth-Teller's Tale.

-Amy Arquilla, Grade 8, Chaney High School, Youngstown, OH

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The Great God Pan Donna Jo Napoli Wendy Lamb Books © 2003

 Pan is a strange and curious half-goat and half-god. Son of Hermes and Dryope, he likes to play with nature and entertain himself with the funny maenads and the satyrs. He also loves to play his reed flute and create little melodies for nature and the creatures all around him. One day, he stumbles across the daughter of King Agamemnon and Queen Clytemnestra. Her name is Iphigenia and he is captivated by her. After a long and terrible struggle, he begins to understand what true love and sacrifice mean, and most importantly, he begins to understand himself.

      I really enjoyed this book. It has great details, a very good plot and a superb ending. I think this book is for middle school students ages ten to thirteen. I think it is very creative and original, and it gives a good depiction of the Greek god Pan. Also, I think it gives a nice amount of mythology in a more modern telling. All in all, I think Donna Jo Napoli did a fine job with the story.

- Kyriakos Theophanous, Grade 8, Boardman Center Middle School, Boardman, OH

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Starfall: Phaeton and the Chariot of the Sun Michael Cadnum Orchard Books © 2004

      In Starfall: Phaeton and the Chariot of the Sun, Phaeton goes on a journey to Apollo's temple with the hope of finding his father. His mother, Clymene is married to Merops and their family lives in a wealthy farming estate. It is rumored that in her early years her father allowed her to wander into the forest where she found a lover. This was Phoebus Apollo, the Greek god of the sun. He drove a golden chariot across the sky and the sun. Clymene had a child and named him Phaeton. Merops adopted Phaeton and there was a grand wedding. Phaeton grew up like everyone else, and when he nearly died of a bee sting, Clymene decided her son ought to be spared such threats. After being publicly embarrassed in front of the one he loves, Phaeton sets off on a journey to prove to himself and everyone else who his father truly is.

      I really enjoyed this retelling of an ancient Greek myth and though it was very detailed. Also, I liked the emotions and the character's personalities. I think this book is a fifth and sixth grade level because its vocabulary isn't very difficult, and it is a little too easy for seventh and eighth graders. I didn't like the way the author stretched the short myth and made such a large book out of it. For what it is, however, the author did a nice job of keeping the story going and making in entertaining. Over all, I really enjoyed this book and hope others feel the same way.

- Kyriakos Theophanous, Grade 8, Boardman Center Middle School, Boardman, OH

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Watching Alice: Breaking the Surface Daniel Parker and Lee Miller The Penguin Group © 2004

           Before the book even starts, Tom Sinclair writes a note to the readers. In this note, he states that the following book is his journal, which hasn't been edited. He explains that his purpose for having his journal published is so that people can know every detail of his life. He hopes his journal will help him find his girlfriend who means a lot to him. Alice Brown is missing and Tom is trying to do everything he can to find her, because he refuses to believe she is dead.

     The book starts before Tom even meets Alice. He has just moved to Manhattan from Vermont . His past actions have forced his family to move. In this new life, Tom has decided to befriend no one and stay out of the way. However, Alice Brown ruins that. She somehow manages to get into his life, and Tom finds he is comfortable around her. As their friendship progresses, Tom knows there is something under Alice's always smiling face that is troubling her. But she won't tell him. Tom decides to tell her his past in hopes of her reciprocating and getting her troubles off her chest. She doesn't, but Tom's glad that she doesn't run away. At the end of the book, Alice sets up a date with Tom for the next day and never shows up. Tom receives on more thing from Alice: her journal.

     This book is very realistic. It captured my attention before I even started reading Tom's journal. You can tell through his writings and the things he tells Alice that he really loves her. He's had his journal published because he's convinced that the more people who read his journal, the better chance he has of finding Alice. Read this book, go to watchingalice.com , and help Tom find Alice.

-Bobbi Hartsock, Grade 11, Mercer Area High School

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Bunker 10 J.A. Anderson Harcourt © 2007

             J.A. Anderson certainly starts things off with a bang. His first novel for teen readers can be described in one word: amazing. Bunker 10 is a scary situation that starts out of nowhere.

     Sherman is a virtual combat simulation tester. He has three new companions and a new simulation to test. But, is the test a simulation, or is it the past?

     Simon, Jimmy, Barn, Leslie, May-Rose and Gruikshank are all classified as geniuses, but can they escape an escape-proof complex that they are trapped in? They need to escape before the whole military base explodes, and, to make things more difficult for them, the complex is filled with homicidal maniacs and a deadly infection. Only two of them make it out alive. Find out how.

     All of these kids want to invent a time machine. All but two think it's impossible, but it is not. The second youngest has a theory similar to Einstein's, and he may have it correct.

     J.A. Anderson has expertly combined science-fiction, thriller, and fiction all into one wonderful story. Anyone who likes dangerous situations with heroes and villains will love this book as much as I have. Find out if you are smart enough to figure out the mystery. Read this and you won't be disappointed.   

-Skylar Hartsock, Grade 9, Mercer Area High School

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BFF: Just as Long as We're Together/Here's to You, Rachel Robinson Judy Blume Delacorte Press © 2007

                 In this book, Judy Blume puts two of her favorite books together as one to make BFF. These books are about 3 girls in junior high school who are best friends. They sometimes feel that you can't have two best friends, and sometimes that seems to be true. Other times, they feel that you can indeed have two best friends. Two best friends means one more person that you can talk to, one more person who can come to your sleepovers, and one more person who is just your best friend.

     Just as Long as We're Together is about two best friends who are entering the 7th grade, Stephanie and Rachel. A couple of days before school starts, Stephanie meets a new girl named Alison, the adoptive daughter of TV actress Gena Farrell, and they become best friends. But Rachel doesn't really believe that you can have two best friends, and she thinks that Stephanie doesn't like her anymore. To make things worse, Stephanie and Alison have some classes together, but Stephanie and Rachel don't have a single class together. Around Thanksgiving , Stephanie finds out that her dad and mom are separating. She keeps it to herself, because she figures that her parents are going to get back together. But Stephanie's mom tells Rachel's mom, and Rachel tells Stephanie that she knows about her parents. This starts a huge argument, and Stephanie and Rachel don't talk anymore. Alison finds out her mom is pregnant and thinks that, because she can finally have kids, she doesn't need her anymore. Between the three best friends, everything is a total mess. After awhile, everything starts to pull back together, but can they become the best friends that they once were?

     Here's to You, Rachel Robinson is about Rachel's brother getting kicked out of his boarding school and coming back to live with Rachel and her family. When Charles gets home, all he does is make everyone's life miserable. Rachel stays sane, because all three of the best friends are back together again. When Alison meets Charles, she is smitten. Then, Charles starts dating the girls' 9th grade friend Dana, and everything gets worse. Charles is acting nicer, but Rachel is not. She is doing everything she can to make his life miserable. Can Stephanie and Alison help Rachel out of this mess?

     Both of these books were really good. They combine true life and facts about friendships. This is a book you want to share with your friends. It's great for junior high students who enjoy reading true life stories.

-Chrissy Hartsock, Grade 10, Mercer Area High School

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Sheep Valerie Hobbs FSG © 2006

                     Sheep is a comical book which shows the world from the eyes of a border collie with a passionate love for herding sheep. Born and raised surrounded by sheep, his life goal is to be as good a sheepherder as his dad. When the ranch burns down, however, he is sent off with the thought of returning home one day to fulfill his dream. Along the way, he meets a man called Goatman who calls him Shep and lets him tag along. Shep keeps Goatman company and Goatman feeds him. This isn't the way Shep wants to go on, however and after tragedy strikes, he moves on. This book follows him on his many journeys as Shep learns the facts of life and continues to seek his dream. In the end, however, he realizes what he truly is meant to do and assumes his true position.

      This tale of love, tragedy, and sheep shows how one dog can make a difference. It teaches that dogs suffer and must find their way in life as much as we do. It also states that we must allow those dearest to us to move on for their own good. I think this book is best suited for those twelve and over. It is very comical and very emotional. Finally, is very descriptive and gives good personalities to those throughout the book. In conclusion, this book is a fantastic read and gives a new look at the world.

- Kyriakos Theophanous, Grade 8, Boardman Center Middle School, Boardman, OH

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Iris Messenger Sarah Deming Harcourt © 2007

                          When the Greek Gods left Mount Olympus, they ended up in Middleville, Pennsylvania. Also, Iris Greenwold receives a mysterious package which contains a book about mythology, Greek mythology. Coincidence? As she reads the book and follows the mysterious notes scrawled in the margins, she starts to understand how the present has caused the gods to be forgotten. She meets Poseidon frying fish and Apollo playing in a jazz band, and she learns that she feels at home with them. Suddenly, she finds herself on a journey to learn each god's story about their life, and she starts to learn about her own.

            Sarah Deming does a fantastic job of bringing the myths of the ancient Greece into the modern age, and she throws in many original tales in as well. She gives fascinating and believable personalities to each god and goddess. The relationships seem rather comical at times and more serious at others. This adds to the drama and illusions the author is creating. This is a lower level book for middle school students. I really enjoyed it, and think it has a perfect ending. All in all, I think this book is well-written and very enjoyable.

- Kyriakos Theophanous, Grade 8, Boardman Center Middle School, Boardman, OH

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Does My Head look Big in This? Randa Abdel-Fattah Orchard Books © 2007

           Does My Head Look Big in This? That is only one of the many confusing thoughts that run through Amal's head throughout her junior year of high school. She has made a life-changing decision, the decision to finally become a full-time wearer of the hijab. A Muslim Australian that attends a preparatory school, Amal finds a difficult time gaining acceptance from some of her peers. Not only do the popular girls ridicule her for it, but she is forced to confront Adam, the guy she likes, with this decision. At first it seems that the only people willing to accept her choice are her very own friends. One thing is for sure: high school has just gotten a lot harder for her.

            I loved this book. It's extremely believable, because situations like these happen in everyday life. It addresses the universal idea of striving for acceptance, and at the same time, trying to be independent. The characters are a great contrast, because all of Amal's friends have different personalities, nationalities, and problems. I would recommend this book to any high school girl, probably in 10 th or 11 th grade, although anybody could enjoy and appreciate the themes expressed in this story.  

-Shoshannah Diehl, grade 9, Eaglecrest High School

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