Spring 2007 Reviews

The book that I reviewed is called Fingers. The book follows the story of the main character Sam and his family—his commanding mother, his moronic step dad Luc, and his annoying stepbrother Humphrey who was once a piano prodigy. The book takes place in Europe. The plot is like this: Humphrey (or Humph) is all washed up. No one wants to see his shows anymore because he is no longer a cute little kid, so Bridget devises a plan to return Humph to greatness. Sam will write down music that is supposedly being channeled through Humphrey by a long dead composer. The plan works extremely well until Sam starts seeing things and begins to think that the dead composer has really come back.

Sam begins to see an old man at all of Humphrey’s shows. This old man says things about the certain new piece played, things that only Sam would know. Bridget and Luc write this off as attempts by Sam to get attention. Things take a crazier turn on a trip to Milan. When Sam gets on the train, he discovers a biography on the long dead composer. As Sam reads the book he discovers crazy things about the composer, Laszlo Magyar. He discovers that Magyar was the illegitimate son of a count and a peasant girl. Laszlo went on to become a great and crazy composer. Rumors flew around that he had sold his soul to the devil just to become a great pianist. Sam finds out that Laszlo died when he tripped in a street in Dusseldorf and fell into the path of a trolley. His head and hands were neatly cut off. It is rumored that his head is being kept at a convent in the Ural Mountains.

The family arrives at the next concert and they have the same success as before. It looks like Humphrey’s career is getting back on track. But once again the old man shows up at the end of the concert and mumbles something about the new music, something only Sam knows because he wrote the piece. The rest of the family believes that Sam is just getting jealous and brushes off Sam’s warnings.

Humphrey’s fame has now spread so far that he has been booked for a show in Vienna, so the family travels there and prepares for the show. But once he’s there, Humphrey begins to show signs of arrogance, greediness and selfishness. This angers Sam so much that before the concert he blurts out the truth to Humphrey: how Bridget had been using him, how he had been drugged, and how Sam had been writing all of the music. Humphrey reacts to all of this by running out of the room and into the night. Bridget and Luc become so angry that they lock Sam in the hotel room and go searching for Humphrey.As Sam sits alone in the room, he begins to see the error of his ways. He becomes frightened that Humphrey might get hurt wandering outside at night. Sam then calls the front desk and tells them that he is very sick and that he will throw up all over the carpet if he isn’t let out of his room. The manager, terrified that his carpet will be ruined, relents and tells Sam that someone is coming right away. When Sam is finally let out of the room, he finds that it is the old man who has rescued him from his fate. The old man then informs Sam that he knows where Humphrey is, so they go out into the night.

By this time it is well into the night, and the alley ways that the two go down are very dark. When they finally enter a decrepit old building that the old man declares is his house, he reveals to Sam that he is in fact Laszlo Magyar’s only son. This shock is nothing to what comes next. Sam finds Humphrey sleeping on a bed in an upstairs room. Then the man takes him to another room and shows him some really old manuscripts.

Sam begins to read the papers and discovers that they are all completely identical copies of the music he wrote for Humphrey. This then leads him to find out that the supposed spirit of Laszlo Magyar hadn’t possessed Humphrey, but it had possessed him.

In the end, Bridget and Luc find the house, but Sam and Humphrey run away with the old man to his father’s old estate. There Humphrey learns to actually play the piano the right way and Sam still writes music, even though it may take him the whole day. The book ends with Sam, Humphrey, and the old man living on the island in peace and quiet.

I actually liked this book for a few reasons. First of all it has an interesting plot which kept me glued to the story. The characters have depth to them, so it draws you into the plot. And there are many twists and turns in the story, so it does not get lame or boring. I would recommend this book for people in the grades between 9th grade and 11th grade.

-Abel Ayana, Grade 11, Liberty High School, Youngstown, OH

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Magic by the Book

Nina Bernstein

Frances Foster Books

I think this book was very interesting, even for me. It’s about 3 kids named Anne, Emily, and Will. They all love to read, except for Will who cannot read and prefers picture books. On the first day of summer, they all go to the library to check out a whole basket of books to read throughout their break. Later that day, Anne and Emily are looking through the books they checked out and discover a book that neither of them remembers checking out. They figure Will checked it out. They open the battered and worn book and start reading it. They discover it takes them to the place the book describes. The book is magic! They find themselves in a Robin Hood adventure; Anne and Emily loved reading Robin Hood stories. Later on, when Will gets a hold of the book and looks through the pictures, he finds himself in a world of large bugs. He goes through his own adventure alone. Next time there is an adventure they all swear to have all three of them go through it together. Will there be another adventure? Has the book run out of magic? Will they all get through their adventures safe? All these questions will be answered once you read the book! There are 3 main characters in this book. I’m sure you can find one you like. If not, this isn’t the book for you. I think that young magic lovers with larger vocabularies would like this book. (Younger people with small vocabularies may not be able to understand some words). I think readers in grades 6 and 7 would enjoy this book. I hope you enjoyed my review and found it helpful. Enjoy!

- Amy Arquilla, Grade 8, Volney Rogers Junior High, Youngstown, OH

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The Snow Spider

Jenny Nimmo

Orchard Books

The book I read is called The Snow Spider by Jenny Nimmo. The Snow Spider book is about a boy named Gwyn. A few years before this book takes place, Gywn's sister Bethan goes up to the mountain to recover a lost sheep for Gwyn. She never returns from that horrid night, and Gwyn's father blames Gwyn for Bethan's disappearance. On Gwyn's birthday, his Grandmother Nain gives him 5 strange gifts. Everyone says the old woman is crazy, though Gwyn never thinks so. A strange spider appears shortly after he gets these five gifts. She spins silvery webs that look like ice. In a certain web that Arianwen spins, Gwyn sees a girl. She looks like Bethan! He barely looks away from the web and it is gone. Is he going crazy? Gwyn goes to his Nain many times asking questions about why she has given him these strange things. She explains that she is sure he is the next magician in his family. She believes that Gwyn's ancestors were magicians too. Though the inheritance had skipped her and Gywn's father, she is sure Gwyn has the power. What will happen if he disobeys Nain? You will have to read to find out. I would recommend this book for people who find interest in trying new books and things. I think readers in grades 5 to 7 would enjoy this book. I didn't find too much interest is this book, because I tend to like dragon fantasies rather than magic filled books with spells and such (aside from Harry Potter).

- Amy Arquilla, 8th grade, Volney Junior High School, Youngstown, OH

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Just in Case

Meg Rosoff

Wendy Lamb Books

Just In Case is like the movie, Stranger Than Fiction (the one where Will Farrell has a narrator that tells him his death is imminent). Fate is stalking “Justin” (a psychotic product of pathetic parenting who is in desperate need of pills), so he tries to hide from fate by changing his identity as completely as possible. Because of fate, Justin gets an imaginary dog, befriends the weird, scientifically philosophical Peter, and falls in love – no, lust is more accurate - with the very eccentric Agnes. They all make a very interesting bunch. About halfway through, the novel turns dark and the author tries to freak you out with fate’s sinister plans to ruin Justin’s life (It didn’t really work on me, but that might be because I usually read old thrillers). The plot is not believable and actually quite dumb, but I enjoyed reading it anyway because the vocabulary and sarcasm are both gorgeous. It’s nicely descriptive and appropriately random, but I did have a hard time following what was going on and often had to reread passages (this may or may not be due to my lacking attention span). The humor is a bit deadpan and cynical which was I thought was nice. I recommend this for high school students.

- Cherise Benton, Grade 11, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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Saint Iggy

K. L. Going

Harcourt, Inc.

Iggy gets kicked out of school for no reason which is explained at any time in the book. Anyway, his principal tells him that he’s not really a bad kid, and that he should contribute to the world in some way, two things that no one has ever told Iggy, and he takes it to heart. So Iggy decides to “break the cycle”, but he has no money and you need money for a change - only his parents are constantly strung out on meth, crack, heroin etc. and his mom has been out “visiting” for the past few weeks, so Iggy’s parents are clearly in no position to help him. So Iggy turns to Mo, his ex-tutor who is also a very zenned-out weed head who got kicked out of pre-law school for drug possession. A very smart dude if I may say so myself [in a tone dripping with sarcasm].

The plot has the potential to be a good one, but the characters don’t fit their setting at all, and that screws it up a bit. I thought it was strange that Iggy and Mo were living in and near the projects and spoke Standard English without any contractions. It kind of sounds like the author’s first language is not English - most definitely not street English. I think it’s a case of Suburban-author-tries-to-write-about-the-struggle-of-urban-youth-of-yoday-but-obviously-has-no-idea-what-she’s-
talking-about-because-she-hasn’t-been-in-the-streets-a-day-in-her-life Syndrome. The author also tries too hard to write in a style that is modern (i.e. random stream of conscience coupled with deadpan humor), but that’s just not her style. Also, Iggy is supposed to be sixteen, but he reminds me of a ten year old. He’s supposed to be a crack baby who failed the ninth grade twice, but his childishness is still really annoying. Besides that, the ending isn’t really an ending; it feels like we’re missing a chapter or at least an epilogue. The language isn’t colorful or sarcastic enough to distract you from the poor storyline; Just In Case (by Meg Rosoff) is an example of a book which uses humor well to make up for lack of plot. All in all, Saint Iggy is matter out of place. Fat Kid Rules the World (also by Going) was better. I would recommend this book for middle school students.

- Cherise Benton, Grade 11, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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Time's Memory

Julius Lester

Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Time’s Memory is about Ekundayo, a displaced nyama (soul/spirit) from Guinea (West Africa) who finds himself a slave on a Virginia plantation right before the start of the Civil War. One of the gods of Ekundayo’s people is concerned that the nyamas of dead blacks are not being cared for properly. They believe that this is ruining the order of things and that this will cause some great catastrophe, so it’s up to Ekundayo to set everything straight.

The main characters are Ekundayo (the nyama sent from Guinea by the god Amma) who ends up in the body of Nat/Nathaniel. Nat is a house slave who is now working as a carpenter, but he’s Nathaniel when he’s with Ellen, the plantation owner’s daughter. Nat lives with his grandmother, Harriett, because his mother died when he was a baby. Even though Ekundayo, Nat, and Nathaniel are the same nyama living in Nat’s body, they are really three different people (which seems strange and religious now that I think about it, but the author presents it in a way that seems perfectly normal). Describing any more would give away the whole story.

The plot isn’t believable, but it’s a good read as long as you don’t try to explain it to somebody else later. (I did and sounded absolutely crazy). This is because it’s about displaced spirits joining together, a man who has himself confused with Jesus, and a slave owner dealing with inner turmoil because he was forced to sell the slave he’s in love with. However, since Lester is such an awesome storyteller, somehow all this activity falls into place, makes sense, and isn’t at all hard to follow. It’s a good idea for a book, because it looks at slavery from a different point of view. I recommend it for middle and high school students with open-minded parents.

- Cherise Benton, Grade 11, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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Bucking the Sarge

Christopher Paul Curtis

Wendy Lamb Books

Bucking the Sarge is all about the life and times of Luther T. Farrell, whose life and times are actually pretty interesting. He lives in Flint, Michigan, where his mother (the Sarge) is a landlady who owns about half the city. Sarge is into milking the system. A long time ago, she told Luther: “If it’s got nipples, I’m going to milk it.” This is partly why the life and times of Luther T. Farrell are so interesting. Luther’s best friend is Sparky, who is not too bright and anxious to sue somebody as a get rich quick scheme. Each thinks the other’s grass is greener because Sparky’s mom stays off his back but the Sarge has tons of money, so they have regular debates on who has it better and why. Sarge’s right-hand man is Darnell Dixon, who is in charge of maintenance and eviction. And then there is Shayla, the girl Luther’s been in love with since the first day of kindergarten. They have a very healthy love-hate relationship. The book has a nice bunch of characters, made even more interesting by the men in the group home Luther is in charge of.

The story isn’t completely believable. I can’t see anyone’s mother getting a fake driver’s license saying their child is 18 when he’s really 15 so he can drive the bus for the group home. Then she had him actually live at the group home with all the crazy people instead of at home, safe with mommy. However, it is completely within Sarge’s character to do such a thing, and it doesn’t seem odd until you stop reading and think about it.

I really liked the story. I thought it was refreshing because it was comical instead of depressing, and there wasn’t any cussing or sex. It was also because it was about the hood, and actually not a case of Suburban-author-trying-to-write-about-the-struggle-of-urban-youth-of-today-but-obviously-has-no-idea-what-
she’s-talking-about-because-she-hasn’t-been-in-streets-a-day-in-her-life-Syndrome. Curtis is actually from the hood in Flint, so he’s writing about what he knows, which is quite nice. I recommend Bucking the Sarge for both middle and high school students.

- Cherise Benton, Grade 11, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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Harmless

Dana Reinhardt

Wendy Lamb Books

Harmless is about what happens when three little girls try to be grown up, do things they don’t have any business doing (it’s pretty obvious what’s going on, but the author wants it to be a surprise so I won’t spoil it for her), then lie to keep themselves out of trouble. This, of course, is not such a genius idea. Emma is the most normal and sane of the bunch. She has an older brother and their parents are still happily married. Anna is a clueless, sheltered, and spoiled only child. Her parents are happily married too. Miranda is wiser than her years and, in Anna’s eyes, is the epitome of cool. She has a mother, stepfather and stepsister she can’t really stand. They all live in a suburb of New York City in a community of suburban middle class professors and computer programmers.

The story is believable (according to cop shows on TV, stuff like this really happens) and even has a moral - several morals, actually: stay away from seniors, be good like you know you’re supposed to, don’t lie. Boys wouldn’t like it, and I didn’t particularly care for it myself, but I think middle school/freshmen girls would enjoy it and possibly even take the hints presented.

- Cherise Benton, Grade 11, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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Simon Says

Elaine Marie Alphine

Harcourt

Charles Weston can’t see the forest for all the trees. He is (in my opinion) an irrational and paranoid artist who thinks he can/tries to look into a person or situation and either sketch who they really are or paint what they could be. According to the back of the book, his paintings are “shocking,” but to me they are the kind that shrinks analyze to figure out what’s tormenting the five year old under Post-Traumatic Stress. On top of that, everyone Charles shows his paintings to think he’s weird and stop being friends with him, or in his parents’ case, encourage him to find a different, more normal hobby.

Charles has been obsessing over the game of life - Simon Says - since he can remember. It’s like some conspiracy against him that says he has to be what everyone wants him to be instead of what he really is. To me, it is ridiculous how Charles’ worries about the game and “The Big Picture”. This may have influenced the way I read the book and explain why I found it rather irritating.

It takes place at Whitman, an art school in Texas where each student has a mentor and their own private studio. Charles transfers to Whitman so he can meet Graeme Brandt, a student at Whitman who wrote The Eye of the Storm, which is all about playing the game. The book touches Charles and he must meet this author who knows so much about playing the game and staying true to yourself at the same time.

The book is very tense and dramatic for no reason, but I thought some things about it were clever. For example, it’s nice the way Charles intertwines what he’s thinking with what’s really happening: “‘I am – everything’s going to be fine,’ I assure (lie to) him.” The descriptions are very detailed, possibly because the narrator is an artist –I can’t think of anyone but an artist who would describe someone knocking as “bolts of cadmium red banging on my door.”

I think middle school students would like Simon Says a lot more than I did.

- Cherise Benton, Grade 11, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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Bleed

Laurie Faria Stolarz

Hyperion Publishing

Just when you think an author has written the greatest of best-selling hits, they write another one that blows the minds of millions. This is true for Laurie Faria Stolarz, author of the popular young adult novel, Blue is for Nightmares, and her latest hit, Bleed. Laurie Faria Stolarz is a rising author whose books are known among young adult readers. She is currently working on a companion novel for Bleed, which will expand upon Derik LaPointe, one of the ten main characters.

Bleed combines many pressing issues that teens in our generation are faced with, ranging from relationships to cutting. The story is told from the thoughts of ten teenagers: Nicole, Maria, Kelly, Robby, Derik, Sadie, Marl, Ginger, Joy, and Sean. Throughout a time span of only one day, their lives are forever altered. Each of the teens discover new things about each other and ultimately uncover hidden desires and dreams within themselves.

The story is told through the eyes of the ten teens. Each of their accounts of the day is unique and deals with all too familiar topics that are affecting teens. Nicole is the first teen in the book. She is in love with her best friend’s boyfriend, Sean. Maria’s story is unique, as it deals with cutting, one of the hardest-hitting disorders among teens. She doesn’t consider someone a friend until they cut her. Sadie is a young teen whose mother is forcing an eating disorder upon her. Sadie’s mom goes far enough to pin a sign to her shirt asking people not to feed her.

Although these are just a few examples from the story, Bleed goes in-depth into disorders and issues that teens deal with everyday. Even though the story is told through the lives of fictional teens, the issues that they experience are real and are most likely happening as you read this article. Stolarz is down-to-earth with her readers and really makes them think about the possible consequences of their actions.

I believe that the book is extremely well-written and would recommend it to older teenagers who are not afraid to acknowledge that our generation is not perfect. Potential readers should be aware that some of the content in the book is harsh. However, it is time for our generation to face reality. I loved the book and will continue to follow author Laurie Faria Stolarz. Overall, I feel the book is very enlightening and deserves your quality time.

- Darla Conti, Grade 11, Struthers High School, Struthers, OH

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I am the Great Horse

Katherine Roberts

Scholastic, Inc.

This story is about Alexander the Great. However, instead of Alexander telling his story, it is told by Alexander’s horse, Bucephalas. It starts when Bucephalas first sees Alexander when he is a boy and finds Charm. It includes Alexander’s first battle, Charm telling her first dream to Alexander, the final battle Alexander fights, all the way until he dies. It tells of all the battles he was in. There are some legends in the story and a girl who has dreams of the future. There are also heroes in this story and gods and goddesses.

I thought the book was ok, but I did not like the ending. I am not a big fan of sad books or books about war, but, on the other hand, I did like this book, because it was also an action-adventure story and a horse story. It did not seem all believable. Some parts were, but the golden knot part is an example of a part that was not very believable. Most of the characters were likable, but, like all stories, some were not. Overall, it was interesting, but Alexander’s death at the end made me not like the book too much.

I would recommend this story to teens who like war books, sad plots, and action.

- Judy Maxwell, grade 11, Trumbull Career and Technical Center, Warren, OH

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Lush

Natasha Friend

Scholastic Press

Samantha Gwynn is an eight grader in middle school. She lives at home with her mom, dad and her four-year-old little brother Luke. Sam’s life is hard because she worries about her dad, who is an alcoholic. Sam worries about who she should bring over to the house and when and if she should tell her friends about her father. Sam has only told one person about her dad, her ex-best friend Charlie, until she writes a letter and leaves it in a book at the library that no one has checked out in years. She means for the letter to get to a high school girl but it ends up being some one totally different. Even though the person who writes back isn’t the girl Sam wrote it for, she still leaves letters for the person. They communicate this way for a while until Sam is invited to a high school party by a boy named Drew Maddox. At the party, Sam ends up drunk and Drew almost takes her virginity until Sam finally tells him she is only thirteen. Well, when that gets out to the people in school, no one believes her when she says nothing happened, and Sam gets called a bunch of mean names. This is when the mystery letter person thinks it’s time to meet, so Sam ditches school to meet the person. But when she finds out who it is….Sam freaks.

I liked this book. I think it was very interesting to read, and I was hooked. I didn’t put the book down until I was finished. I think that the main characters were okay but the boys Sam went to school with were mean and rude. I think that this book would be read by mainly like eighth or ninth grade girls.

- Lauren Moss, Grade 11, Woodrow Wilson High School, Youngstown, OH

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Prom Anonymous

Blake Nelson

Penguin Group

Introducing the three T’s: Chloe Thomas, Julia (Jace) Torres, and Laura Truman. Because they have to sit in alphabetical order all throughout elementary school, they become best friends. Laura is the popular, pretty one, Jace the athletic one, and Chloe the artistic one. Although they are best friends throughout elementary school, in high school they lose their best friendship. They are still friends, just not best friends. So when Laura convinces Jace and Chloe to go to the junior prom with her, everyone is surprised. Laura is going to prom with her boyfriend of fourteen months, Mike, but Jace and Chloe don’t have boyfriends to go with. This is where the conflict forms. Jace likes a transfer student from California named Paul, and Chloe has no interest in boys at all. That is until the prom comes about and makes Chloe think about what she is and what she wants. Laura feels bad that her old best friend doesn’t have a date, so her friend Abby helps fix Chloe up with a boy named Zach from another school. Chloe has to decide if she wants to change who she is or if she should be like everyone else, Jace has to face if she could ask Paul to the prom and to grow up without her mom helping her with times like the prom, and Laura has to deal with the thoughts of her boyfriend and if their relationship is what she wants.

The quality of this book was great. I really like how it jumps back and forth between all three girls so you always know what is going on. I also like how he has one girl who is all hyped to go to prom, one girl who has never been to a prom but would like to go, and one girl who hasn’t gone to a prom and doesn’t really get into the whole prom thing. I think that middle school and high school students would read this book, mostly middle school girls though.

- Lauren Moss, Grade 11, Woodrow Wilson High School, Youngstown, OH

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An Unlikely Friendship

Ann Rinaldi

Harcourt, Inc.

An Unlikely Friendship is about the friendship between two women in unlikely conditions, a white woman named Mary Todd Lincoln and a black slave named Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley.

The story begins at the time of the Civil War, the day Abraham Lincoln is assassinated at the Ford Theater. Mary Todd Lincoln can’t deal with her husband’s death without her black dress maker named Elizabeth. The story then flashes back to the childhoods that lead to the two become friends. It starts out with young Mary, who lives with her father, siblings, and the house slaves. Mary’s mother dies when giving birth to Mary’s little brother and, not soon after, her father courts another lady named Betsy. Betsy moves in, and that’s when things go bad for Mary. Mary has no one to protect her and no one to lean on except the house slave named Mammy Sally and her Grandma Parker. Betsy hates Mary for some reason, and that leads to fighting and arguing. Eventually, Betsy’s niece Liz comes to live with them and she becomes a friend to Mary, until things get so bad with Betsy that she decides to send Mary away for school. The only problem is that Mary has to stay the week at the school--basically Betsy kicked out Mary. Then the story follows Mary going to visit her older sister’s where she meets Abraham Lincoln. It then tells how Mary and Abraham live until Abraham is elected president.

The story then goes into the life of Elizabeth Hobbs, a little slave girl who happens to be half white. Elizabeth’s life is not as bad as some slaves lives are. Not that she was never punished, but since Elizabeth’s master is also her father, he sometimes protects her. While the other little slave children have to go out to work in the tobacco fields, Lizzy works in the house, eventually becoming house nurse to the mistress’s new baby. When Lizzy grows into a young lady and the mistress no longer trusts her in the house, she is sent away to live with the master’s oldest son and his new wife. It is here where she encounters what it is like to be a slave. She is broken in by her new master’s neighbor, meaning she was beat. She is then sold to another person who ends up sexually assaulting her. She tries to fight him but can’t, so she tells her master and he no longer sends her there. Elizabeth eventually buys her own freedom, gets married, and has a son. She is a great seamstress and opens her own little shop where she eventually sells a dress to Mary Lincoln and asks to be Mary’s personal dress marker. This is how An Unlikely Friendship is formed.

The quality of this book is very good. I never thought that I would have gotten into a history related book like this, but it is very interesting. I really couldn’t put it down; Ann Rinaldi really has a way with making history good to read. She is a really great author. I think that mostly high school juniors or seniors would read this book, but, really, any one could read it, even if they don’t really like history novels. If you like this book, another really great book to check out would be The Coffin Quilt, also by Ann Rinaldi.

- Lauren Moss, Grade 11, Woodrow Wilson High School, Youngstown, OH

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Life as I Knew It

Randi Hacker

Simon Pulse

This book is about a sixteen year-old girl named Angelina Rossini. She lives with her mother and her father. She is an average 21st century girl in a small town named Blodgett, Vermont. She has a best friend named Jax who she is in love with, but it just so happens that he just recently came out as gay. She usually doesn’t have problems with her class mates but there is one girl who for, no reason, hates her, so they fight sometimes. Angelina has no clue why Celeste hates her. This is Angelina’s life before her father has the stroke. After Angelina’s father has the stroke everything changes completely. Her father can no longer use the right side of his body, he can’t except to say "Ho ho ho ho." This kind of scares Angelina and she no longer looks at her father the same way. She ends up not wanting to kiss him or touch him.

After her father has been back home for some time, she finally sees that he is the same old dad he always was, and she even learns how to talk to him even though he can’t talk back. She even helps him use the bathroom once. Everything is the same everywhere else though: at school she still loves Jax and Celeste still hates her. Then she finds out one day why Celeste hates her: Celeste is in love with Angelina. Things stay this way until something bad happens…Angelina’s dad dies.

I think that this book is very good. The author goes into a lot of detail, and it is very well written. All the characters are likable. I think this book would be good for any one in high school or middle school. It was a very good book.

- Lauren Moss, Grade 11, Woodrow Wilson High School, Youngstown, OH

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Nightwood

Patricia Windsor

Delacorte Press

When three friends decide to skip out on their school trip and spend a week in the woods in their friend's cabin, they think it's a wonderful idea. But their wonderful idea soon becomes a terrifying nightmare: a cannibalistic murderer is loose in the woods, and he's preying on them. One boy is strung up in his lair, as his meal. Another boy is dead. Animals have been slaughtered. And now the girls are the target. Gena is kidnapped and taken to his lair, Casey is beaten within an inch of her life, and Maryann...finds purpose in her life. By the end of this terrifying ride, you won't believe what has happened to all those involved!

Nightwood wasn't one of the better novels I've read, and there were a lot of characters to cycle through and keep straight as the book went on, but it was enjoyable and shocking. I give the book two thumbs up for a total thrill and gore factor.

I recommend this book to 11th grade and up for foul language and gruesome scenes.

- Ashleigh Schmidt, Grade 11, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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Orphan of the Sun

Gil Harvey

Bloomsbury

Orphan of the Sun is a novel of enchantment and intrigue based in an ancient Egyptian tomb-builders’ city of Set-Maat. The story follows Meryt-Re, a thirteen-year-old orphaned girl living in her plasterer uncle's home. However, Meryt is no ordinary girl. She has been blessed by the gods, or cursed, as her uncle and neighbors fear. She is gifted with the sight of dreams. What they mean exactly, she's not quite sure, at least until a conspiracy unfolds among the tomb builders to rid themselves of their foreman. The gods are showing Meryt who is committing the true crimes, and how, but she needs to figure out on her own how to bring about this betrayal. With the help of the gods, her friends, and the Wise Woman Teti, maybe Meryt can save her beloved home, if she can only interpret the dreams the gods are sending her.

I enjoyed this stroy a lot, because I'm a big fan of the ancient Egyptian culture and mythology, so this was right up my alley. I loved Meryt because she wasn't ready to accept marriage or the gift the gods' have given her, but in the end, everything turns out just fine for Meryt and everyone she cares most for. The author was extensive in her research, and I respect how she kept true to the culture she was writing about.

I recommend this book to grades 7 and up and to those lovers of ancient Egypt.

- Ashleigh Schmidt, Grade 11, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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Wolfcry

Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Delacorte Press

Wolfcry is the fourth installment of the Kiesha'ra series, continuing the tale of Danica Shardae's and Zane Cobriana's search for peace among their two warring kingdoms. Wolfcry, which is set twenty-one years later, is a testament to both the love of their avian and serpent courts—and each other. Oliza Shardae Cobriana is the only heir to Wyvern's Court, a wyvern among bird and snake, and now she must choose a king. How can she choose without waking the bloodlust lurking inside her people and still find happiness for herself? It's no easy question for a ruler of combined courts. Then Oliza is kidnapped by mercenaries in the dead of night, poison is injected into her system, and her beautiful golden wings are clipped. When she escapes, she's rescued by a feral shape-shifting wolf name Betia, who might just give her another future. As the two females travel back to Wyvern's Court, they become closer and Oliza realizes a side of herself she didn't know she had. In the end, in order to save the future of Wyvern's Court, Oliza realizes she has to follow her heart and maybe do something a little unexpected by everyone.

Wolfcry had me on the edge of my seat. I picked it up and just couldn't stop reading it. I felt a new respect for Oliza that I didn’t have for her in the previous book, Falcondance, where she seemed like such a frivolous princess. She really grew up and decided what was best for her kingdom was best for her too. I can't wait until the next installment of the Kiesha'ra.

I recommend this book to ages fourteen and up and all Atwater-Rhodes fans.

The previous books in the Kiesha'ra series include Hawksong, Snakecharm, and Falcondance.

- Ashleigh Schmidt, Grade 11, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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The Forest in the Hallway

Gordon Smith

Clarion Books

When Beatriz comes home from school one day to find that her parents have completely disappeared, it leads her on the greatest--and craziest--adventure of young life. She is sent to live with her uncle, whose apartment building is the start of her journey. As Beatriz travels along the nineteenth floor, she wanders into a forest that leads to an alternate world. Here, Death--who is overworked and quite friendly with a dry sense of humor—gives the girl a quest: help him find the one disrupting the balance of this land and she just might find her parents in the process. So off Beatriz goes, becoming friends with a fairy godmother and her two children, a boy with no memory, and a girl she rescues from a couple of kidnappers. But enemies are afoot, including life-force vampires and the one Death is searching, Angela the Witch. What she doesn't realize, though, is what she's searching for is right under her nose.

The Forest in the Hallway is a great fantasy read about a girl who would do anything to get her parents back. Beatriz deals with a modern world mixed with magic and the evil creatures residing there in her perilous search. It was a cute story, literally all about family. Just wait until you piece together Beatriz's family tree!

I recommend this book to ages 13 and up for all fantasy readers.

- Ashleigh Schmidt, Grade: 11, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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21 Proms

David Levithan and Daniel Ehrenhaft, editors

Point

Everyone knows how important prom is to seniors in high school: the money, the time, the preparation, the dress, the date. Well, this is a book written by 21 different authors all about prom. Some of the stories are based on the author’s actual prom and others are made up of what the author would have liked their prom to be; also, some are purely just made up. This book is filled with stories all about the effort put into prom.

I think this was a very good book. The authors do a very good job going into details about how kids really get into prom. All the stories a well written and most are funny. I think that juniors and seniors in high school would most likely read this book just to see how others proms have been; also, freshman and sophomores in high school might read it just to get a feel for what prom really is. I think it would be an all-around good book for anybody in high school.

- Lauren Moss, Grade 11, Woodrow Wilson High School, Youngstown, OH

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Cathy's Book

Sean Stewart and Jordan Weisman

Running Press Kids

Cathy’s Book is a fictional novel in which the reader must solve the mystery of the sudden disappearance of a young adult named Cathy. With the recent passing of her father, the fact that she’s failing school, and the unfortunate circumstances of her boyfriend Victor breaking up with her, Cathy is faced with a lot of adversity from the beginning of the book.

When she decides to further investigate the reasons Victor broke up with her, she discovers some hard truth and strange facts about Chinese ancestry. Cathy’s best friend, Emma, is a very important character in the plot, as she knows a lot about Cathy and will help solve the mystery.

I gave the novel five out of five paws because I believe the story deserves the honor. The book was extremely well-written and couldn't have been any better, in my opinion. The fact that the book was an interactive mystery only enhances the originality and creativity of the storyline. I particularly enjoyed the book because it draws the reader into the mystery of Cathy and her interesting disappearance.

The story combines intellect and mystery in order to form this beautifully composed piece of literature. The hard evidence provided in the side pocket of the book made the book interesting, yet challenging. I loved how the author completed the novel with clues and facts, which added the spark needed to finish reading the story. Like most books, Cathy’s Book started out rather slow, but finished with a bang.

I feel anything else that could be added to the book would only prohibit the reader from unlocking the mystery. It had the perfect amount of data to make the story interesting, without being unbearable. In addition to the entertainment value, the novel taught me a lot about Chinese ancestry, which I didn’t even realize until the end.

Although the story is entirely fictional, I found myself caught up in the mystery of Cathy Vickers. I would recommend the book to high school students because of the challenge involved in reading and solving. Overall, I feel Cathy’s Book will have an impact on the literature world, if it has not already.

- Darla Conti, Grade 11, Struthers High School, Struthers, OH

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The Prophet of Yonwood

Jeanne DuPrau

Random House

This book, the third in The City of Ember series, is about a girl named Nickie who has three goals: the first is to stay at a house she inherited, the second is to fall in love, and the third is to make the world a better place. The story revolves around a prophet, the prophet’s religion, and her friend Grover. The way it ends creates a very twisted story and leaves you unsure of what happens next.

This book was pretty good, but it’s pretty slow in the beginning. Nothing happens that is really exciting until the end. I really like this book’s atmosphere—you expect doom all throughout the book. I think this book should have been the first of the series. If you haven’t read any of The City of Ember books read this one first.

- Robert Mainzer, Grade 8, Saint Andrews Sewanee, Sewanee, TN

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Black Powder

Staton Rabin

Simon & Schuster

I risk sounding like Lemony Snicket, but never, ever even open this book of just nameless smart-impersonating stupidity. This book has hippy bashing, scientists with bad jokes, and a plot that has no coherency. The story is about a kid named Langston whose friend is shot. When he then receives an invitation to go to his science teacher’s house, he catches a ride with a hippy in a milk truck, and the author uses an offensive rendition of the hippy’s personality to try to create humor. The science teacher’s reason to invite him over is because she has made a time machine. Langston goes back in time to stop his friend’s death.

This book is terrible, and the people have no personality or life. The book makes me sad just reading it. It does nothing imaginative. This book is also hard to understand. For example it splits Langston into three when he travels back in time and just randomly throws in that he’ll be stuck in the past if he stays for six days. This book should be either rewritten or thrown in the trash. Do not under any circumstances pay for this book.

Robert Mainzer, Grade 8, Saint Andrews Sewanee, Sewanee, TN

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Beyond the Dragon Portal

Melissa Glenn Haber

Dutton Children’s Books

Sadie Guthrie’s life turned for the worst on the fateful day she awoke to find Mrs. Fitz Edna, the baby sitter, weeping. Upon asking, she learned that her younger sister Phoebe had vanished. Her sister had gone to Dragonland, she concluded. Her sister always dreamt of it or at least said she did. She had been doing this since the age of three, but Sadie never believed her sister’s stories. Also, Mrs. Fitz Edna was not really a baby sitter; she wasn’t even a human. Mrs. Fitz Edna was a dragon. Sadie could tell by the blue smoke that was emerging from Mrs. Fitz Edna’s nose and mouth.

As the story unfolds, Sadie meets many more dragons, who claim her sister was taken by the Barbazion. Later, she meets the Lalawani who also claim to be fighting the Barbazion. Unfortunately, she finds herself alone in the attempt to rescue her sister. Will she have the strength, persistence, will, and persistence to succeed, or will she be stopped by the mysterious Barbazion?

This book is for children of all ages, although I recommend it for younger children. It wasn’t one the best books I’ve read, because it wasn’t very descriptive and didn’t have as much action as I would have liked. It also seemed to leave the reader “alone” for awhile until the author decided to explain some of the events. This book wasn’t very interesting and didn’t flow very well. Therefore, I would advise the reader to hang on for as long as it may take for some action to take place.

- Kyriakos Theophanous, Grade 7, Boardman Center Middle School, Boardman, OH

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Quadehar the Sorcerer (The Book of the Stars: Book 1)

Erik L’Homme

Scholastic, Inc.

Robin is an average twelve year old who can’t wait to turn thirteen. Like everyone else, he goes to school, hangs around with his friends, and faces school bullies. He lives on The Lost Isle. The Lost Isle was once part of the mainland, but it drifted off in a terrible storm, and it is now stuck between the Real World and the Uncertain World, a strange world where nothing is normal. The Isle’s only protection is two one-way doors that separate The Lost Isle from the Real World and the Uncertain World. Robin’s father left his family using one of these doors, leaving Robin clueless to his father’s identity. Robin is chosen to become Quadehar, the Sorcerer’s apprentice. While trying to cope with his father’s absence as well as his studies, he embarks on an epic journey into the Uncertain World to save a fellow classmate.

This great read is for kids of all ages. It is the first of a series of books called The Book of the Stars series. It is very easy to follow, and it is just as easy to comprehend. It also has dialogue and action that add to its invigorating effect. It doesn’t take long for the thrilling plot to envelope you. If you are looking for an excellent fantasy book, then this may be it!

- Kyriakos Theophanous, Grade 7, Boardman Center Middle School, Boardman, OH

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The Coming of Dragons (The Darkest Age: Book 1)

A.J. Lake

Bloomsbury

What begins as an abnormal storm at sea for eleven-year-old hideaway Prince Edmund and the ship captain's daughter, Elspeth, steadily grows much worse. What caused this storm was a vicious dragon named Torment, and Torment is after a locked chest aboard the ship. However, the beginning of Darkest Age isn't about Torment just yet. It is about Edmund, the Ripente with the greatest gifts—Ripentes are spies and traitors that can look through the eyes of others and see their thoughts--and Elspeth, who was chosen by the crystal sword locked inside of the chest. They are now on the run from an evil sorcerer--another skilled Ripente--while being accompanied by a mysterious minstrel. These two children first reject their gifts, but they end up accepting them and even relying on them when the time calls for it. The book ends on a big cliffhanger which I won't give away, but it'll leave you wondering: What now?

I can't wait to read the next book of the Darkest Age series, even if it is aimed for kids much younger than me. The book was well written, the characters were developed and full of mysteries and secrets. I liked that the book was set in ancient Britain and included elements of royalty, knights, magic, dragons, and evil gods with vengeful ideas. It was well worth reading.

I recommend The Coming of Dragons to all who enjoy magic and dragons.

- Ashleigh Schmidt, Grade 11, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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Ithaka

Adele Geras

Harcourt

Ithaka is a fast-paced, exciting tale of the ancient Greek island which was home to famous war hero, Odysseus. But this is not the story of Odysseus. This is the story of the not-so-faithful Penelope and the love-bound Telemachus. This is also the tale of old Argos, faithful hunting dog of Odysseus' youth.

The story is told through Klymene, a loyal servant who is much like a daughter to Penelope. She sees the destruction the long absence of her king brings as a manipulative girl comes in, tearing apart her twin brother and the prince she has loved her whole life. Then the suitors move in, demanding that the Queen of Ithaka marry them. Klymene hates them, but there is something that helps the girl in her life during these times: She can see the gods of Greece and their influences over life as the suitors' reigns of terror continue. They take away the people that she and the rest of the kingdom love, but they bring in love with them, too, in the most unexpected places. Join Klymene as she learns the secrets of Ithaka and the gods during a perilous time when all she can do is wait for her king to return home.

Ithaka is a new story spun off the tales from the Odyssey. It's not the same story as everyone has been told. Penelope is not the faithful wife--in fact, she has a quite elicit love affair. Telemachus falls prey to a girl enchantress—as do countless others—as they can only see her surface beauty. In fact, it seems that, despite the fact that she sees gods such as Hades, Artemis, Aphrodite, Pallas Athena, and Ares at every turn, Klymene seems to be the only one who can keep her head straight.

I recommend this novel to high school students and those interested in old Greek myths and legends come to life.

- Ashleigh Schmidt, Grade 11, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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The Fifth of March: A Story of the Boston Massacre

Ann Rinaldi

Harcourt

The Boston Massacre: it is a haunting piece of history that led us to the American Revolution. In Ann Rinaldi's startling tale, she brings 1770 to life through the eyes of a Boston girl named Rachel Marsh. Rachel Marsh is an indentured servant for John Adams.

It is a dangerous time for the citizens of Boston. Mobs everywhere are in an uproar over the Townsend Acts and the tax on their tea. So, what does the "good" king of England do? He sends his British soldiers to Boston to control the angry "Americans".

Rachel doesn't understand this new term given to them. American. What does that mean to her exactly? She isn't sure, but the events leading up to the fifth of March, 1770, show her the kind of person she is and where she is supposed ot belong. Is Rachel a true American, or is she still loyal to the Crown?

Backed up by a full history of characters including John and Abigail Adams, Sam Adams, Crispus Attucks, Henry Knox, and John Hancock, The Fifth of March is a beautiful story of harsh and terrifying events, and one girls' journey to self-discovery.

As she does in her previous book, Ann Rinaldi brings a piece of history to life with flare. Not only is Rachel a likeable character, but she's one of us: a girl looking for her place in the world and trying to help the people she loves. She risks everything for the friendship of Matthew Kilroy, a British soldier, while still remaining loyal to her "America". Rinaldi's writing brings to life people long dead and forgotten in history books.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in American history, a strong heroine, and violence.

- Ashleigh Schmidt, Grade 11, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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Lena

Jacqueline Woodson

Putnam

"We could tell somebody. Please don't go." Those are some of the last words Marie says to her friend Lena before Lena runs away at the end of I Hadn't Meant to Tell You This. This is where Newberry Honor winning author Jacqueline Woodson picks up the story in Lena. Lena and Dion, her younger sister, are on the run. Lena can't let them stay with their father any longer, not if he's touching Dion the way he touches her. So, disguised as young boys, the girls hit the road, trying to make it to Kentucky. Lena figures that if she can make it to Kentucky, to her mother's people, maybe she can find a home for her and her sister. But when an old woman named Miz Lily gives them a ride, Lena starts coming to a startling revelation: they had a home all along. It was back in Chauncey, the place they had run from. Maybe their home was not with their abusive father, but with Marie and the other kind people in Chauncey. Is Lena's search for a home finally at an end for her and Dion?

Lena is a story of one girl's journey to protect her sister and give them a home. Where I Hadn't Meant to Tell You This was in Marie's point of view, Lena is told from from Lena Brights' perspective. The love between the two sister is evident in the text and dialogue exchanges between them. It's a great story, which is to be expected of such a respected author.

If you enjoy realistic fiction and Jacqueline Woodson, Lena is a book you want to read.

-Ashleigh Schmidt, Grade 11, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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A Chalice of Wind (Balefire: Book 1)

Cate Tiernan

Razor Bill

Thais Allard and Clio Martin are nothing alike. Thais is an all-around "good girl" who doesn't drink or skip school. Clio is a wild child who drinks to her heart's content. It seems like the Connecticut safe-girl and the New Orleans party-girl have nothing in common... Except that they're actually identical twins who come from a long line of witches. What Thais and Clio discover about each other, however, is hardly comforting.

Apparently, twins are feared in their family, for if they come of age in their magic powers, they could join as one and become amazingly powerful. In a world where magic must be controlled, this is dangerous, and so are the twins. Frightening visions of the coven Balefire haunt the girls, and so do the dangers that threaten their lives now that they've found each other. They do each find a comfort: a suave, gorgeous Frenchman who is much more than he says. The coven of Balefire has returned, and they are ready to initiate Thais and Clio so they can be the Treize again. However, when the first set of twins enters the ritual, one ends up dying giving birth...

...And the other becomes corrupted by darkness.

I was enamored with A Chalice of Wind. The characters are so diverse and beautiful, seductive and innocent, it's hard not to like them in some way. There were some characters I didn't like, such as Luc-Andre and Daedalus, but the others I accepted for their uniqueness. Of the twins, I liked Thais more because she doesn't understand any of the world she's just fallen into, and she is somewhat innocent. The story itself is amazing and suspenseful, making the reader guess at what's going on and what will happen next. The author, Cate Tiernan, really delivers a powerfully story that is full of magic, just like in her previous series, Sweep.

If you love witches, treachery, curses, and hot guys, this is definitely the book for you. Add A Chalice of Wind to your book collection today.

Similar books include the Sweep series, also by Cate Tiernan, The Unseen Quartet by Richie Cusick, and The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima.

-Ashleigh Schmidt, Grade 11, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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Devilish

Maureen JohnsonRazor Bill

It all started with a red chocolate cupcake, projectile vomit, and a seemingly innocent sophomore. That's how Jane Jarvis began to lose her best friend Allison Concord to the woes of popularity. After Allison's embarrassing moment, she came back changed: new hairstyle, new clothes, new attitude. Jane was bewildered, not only by Allison, but by the things happening around her: giant hail storms, a cute freshman stalker, and being told that Allison sold her soul for popularity.

The freshman, Owen, tells Jane that the new sophomore Lanalee is making Allison believe that she sold her soul. So Jane does the only thing she can think of: she makes a bet with Lanalee. Jane is willing to trade her soul for Allison's, but if she can get a kiss from her ex-boyfriend by midnight on the night of Poodle Prom, she is free.

Suddenly, shock sets in. This is for real. Lanalee is a demon, Owen is a 116-year-old fourteen-year-old, and Allison and Jane are both in serious trouble. It's up to Jane now to find a way to get Lanalee to break her contract. But how do you defeat a demon you can't trick or kill? Devilish is a wicked treat full of humor, friendship, romance, and the battle for human souls. Jane is a hero for all--even brainless, gullible sisters. Maureen Johnson is a talented writer, producing a great book once again.

I recommend Devilish to anyone interested in the infamous battle between good and evil.

- Ashleigh Schmidt, Grade 11, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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Buried

Robin Merrow MacCreadyDutton

Buried is a deep psychological thriller about one girl dealing with her mother's alcoholism. Claudine is only seventeen, but she's been a mother to her mom almost all her life. Now her mother has disappeared again, and Claudine isn't sure where. In fact, she isn't sure of much. Claudine's obsessive compulsive disorder has kicked into overtime. She's told everyone that her mother is in rehab. She wakes up with memory lapses, dirt caked on her hands and under her fingernails. All the things and feelings she has buried because of her mother are now surfacing. And on the night of a terrible hurricane, the secrets of Claude's mother come unburied, and she has to face the reality of it all. I thought Buried was good, but fast-paced and a little confusing. Claudine is jumpy, confused, and even begins to believe her own lies about her mother. The story itself was a jolt and made me want to get to the end to find out what happened between her and her mom, but the character of Claudine had me worried.

If you love to read realistic fiction and can stomach the woes of parental alcoholism, you will want to read Buried.

- Ashleigh Schmidt, Grade 11, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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Endymion Spring

Matthew SkeltonRandom House

Endymion Spring is a well written but uninspired book. It is about two kids called Blake and Duck who find a blank book called .... Endymion Spring. He asks a professor at Oxford about it and he gets a long winded response about how the book almost destroyed the last person who found it. If you can use the book, you get the Last Book which knows everything.

The book is very well written but it has no excitement. It drags on and on all the way through, leaving you unsatisfied with the journey and the ending. You throw it aside thinking "Now that was a waste of time." Do not read this book. It will frustrate you.

- Robert Mainzer Grade 8, Saint Andrews Sewanee, Sewanee, TN

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The Book of One Hundred Truths

Julie SchumacherDelacorte Press

The Book of One Hundred Truths is about a girl named Theodora Grumman. She is 13 years old, and she is a liar. She is going on vacation at her Grandparents' house in New Jersey for the Summer, and when she leaves the airport, her mother gives her a special notebook to write 100 truths in it.

As soon as she gets to Jersey, Thea knows its going to be a ride, because there are many people in the house. On her adventures, she has to baby-sit her cousin Jocelyn, a sneaky,bossy,7-year-old girl. They go all over the town on her grandfathers old bike, Jocelyn riding in the front basket.Thea's aunt seems to have a secret, and Jocelyn is curious. When Jocelyn finds out about Thea's notebook, she wants to know all about it. Thea gives Jocelyn clues to get her off her back most of the time. Then, one day, a tragic accident happens and Jocelyn and Thea end up in the hospital. She ends up spilling the whole truth about why she became a liar, and she finds out Jocelyn read her notebook. She discovers many things about herself.I would recommend this book to all of my friends. I think it is perfect for middle school girls. Its a very different book and I've never read anything like it. It was very good, and I will read it again. The characters are very real, and the story has you feeling like you almost know the characters. It is very easy to understand and I really enjoyed reading it. It was the best book I've read this year!-Megan Kloos, Age 12, Mercer Middle School, Mercer, PA

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Reiffen's Choice (Stoneways Trilogy, Book One)S.C. ButlerTom Doherty Associates Books

S.C. Butler's first novel begins with a stranger coming into the city of Valing where the young nephew of the King in Malmoret, Reiffen, and his mother, Giseve, live. The stranger leads us to believe that he is just in Valing for merry-making; however, first impressions are often deceiving. The stranger kidnaps Reiffen for the purposes of handing him over to the powerful Three--wizards who instill fear in all those who've heard of them. So, the adventure really begins when Reiffen’s odd group of friends set out to rescue their royal friend.Although it is S.C. Butler’s first novel, Reiffen’s Choice is a believable, imaginative story wrapped around the power of friendship and the fight between good and evil. Butler adds a bit of magic so potent that it leaves his work pulsing with energy and imagination. The clever magic, woven into every sentence, holds on to you even as you reach the last word, so you turn the page expecting a whole new chapter! Teenagers with any hint of creativity will love this adventurous book that makes them travel through the lands of dwarves and humans alike. On a final note, Reiffen's Choice is a must-read, hot novel that Eragon and Eldest fans will love!! - Bobbi Hartsock, Grade 10, Mercer Area High School, Mercer, PA

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DeepSusanna VanceDelacorte Press

When Birdie Sidwell goes on a vacation with her family to the Caribbean, she gets kidnapped by a man named Nicholas. Meanwhile, Morgan Bera leaves her family after a tragic incident that leaves someone dead. Birdie in just an average teen that has an average life. But Morgan is a 17-year-old sailor who lives on her own, because her parents aren't taking the proper care of her. Morgan is a fighter, but she is kind and wants to help others. Birdie just wants to have some action in her life. She doesn’t like that nothing amazing has ever happened to her. Birdie is trying to write a good book so that she can get it published, and she believes that only people that have had something amazing happen to them can write good books. In the end, the girls meet and help each other survive.This book made me feel as if I was facing the characters’ troubles with them. In my opinion, it should be made into a movie. Deep is an amazing book, because Susanna Vance wrote it so that you could feel as if you were actually living the characters’ lives. She makes you want to help others.This book would be appealing to middle schoolers through 10th grade. This book is great and is well-written. I hope others enjoy it as much as I did.

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

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Miracle on 49th Street

Mike Lupica

The Penguin Group

Miracle on 49th Street is about a 12-year-old girl whose mother dies of cancer. Molly lives in London before her mom loses her battle with cancer. After she dies, Molly Parker has to go live with her mom's old college friend, Barbara, in Boston. Before her mom dies, Molly gets a lot of letters from her. One letter tells Molly about her father, who doesn’t know she exists. Molly's dad isn't any ordinary person. Molly's dad is Josh Cameron.

Josh Cameron is basketball royalty. He is MVP of the championship-winning Boston Celtics. During the annual Kids practice function that the Boston Celtics hold, Molly attends and meets her father face-to-face. She tells him afterward that he is her father. First, Josh thinks that Molly is trying to get money out of him, but then, after spending quality time with her, he realizes that she acts like her mom and has something that reminds him of himself.

Molly is a very likeable person. She has such an outgoing personality that everyone is drawn to her. She plays a major role in this story, and she makes the story interesting.

Miracle on 49th Street is a very realistic book. Everyday, kids are born without active fathers, and everyday, millions of hearts are broken. Molly's heart doesn't get broken completely. Her heart gets patched back up.

This book is good because it is about everything that is important in life: friendship, loyalty, and making your dreams come true. This book is for everyone. Every kid, adult and in-between should read Miracle on 49th Street.

- Skylar Hartsock, Grade 8, Mercer Area High School, Mercer, PA

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The Mislaid Magician, or Ten Years After

Patricia C Wrede and Caroline Steuermer

Hartcourt Inc.

In this book about the complicated magical troubles of Cecilia and Kate, the cousins’ letters, along with their husbands’, take us through a challenging magical problem. Cecy, as Cecilia signs her letters, and her husband James are asked by Lord Wellington to investigate the disappearance of surveyor Herr Magus Schellen. They must leave their four kids with Kate and Thomas as they travel north for their mission.

With four additional kids to watch, Kate is rarely able to find herself a peaceful or dull moment. The older children are being taught to do little bits of magic by her husband, who's a wizard. She and Thomas must watch as the children learn to scare their parents-Cecy and James- on their mission. Then, in the midst of things, Kate and Thomas' son Edward goes missing. Suddenly, Kate and Thomas are pulled further into Cecy and James' mission.

Cecy and James have found themselves a dog who just happens to be their missing engineer/surveryor, Herr Magus Schellen. Apparently, there are magic lines beneath the Earth’s surface that can be controlled. Wherever these lines cross, a stone circle is built around the intersection point. If either a wizard or magician passes into the stone circle, they are immediately transformed into a dog. Kate finds this out as she passes through a intersection point on her own property.

This book is imaginative and humorous, and it will fascinate readers of all ages. The authors create a believable world through the hurriedly scrawled letters between Cecy, Kate and their husbands. Excitement, worry, and amusement have somehow wrangled themselves into the lives and letters of these adults. And, with that, The Mislaid Magician has won itself a place as one of my favorites.

-Bobbi Hartsock, Grade 10, Mercer High School, Mercer, PA

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Fish

L.S. Matthews

Yearling

From the time he was born, his parents called him Tiger, because he was a real fighter. When Tiger's country goes to war and the war comes to his town, he has to go across the border into the next country where he will be safe. However, the next coutnry orders all guards at the border to stop anyone from crossing into it. Tiger's family hires a guide to take them across the mountains.

Just before they start their journey, Tiger finds a fish in a mud puddle. He begs his parents to let him catch and keep it. His parents say he can take it with him if he can catch it without getting dirty. Tiger does just that.

Tiger faces many difficulties during his long journey. First, he has problems with his feet. They become swollen and bloody from walking such a long distance in his sandals. Next, his family runs out of food and water. Tiger's family faces many difficulties throughout the rest of their journey.

Fish is a somewhat believable book. It has believable parts but there are some parts that are unrealistic. The author dosen’t really give a lot on information on the characters. She doesn’t even give many names.

The book was okay, because it was cool to find out how Tiger’s family got across the border, But I wish the author shared more names to make the story more personal. I think that this story would appeal to sixth through eighth grade.

- Skylar Hartsock, Grade 8, Mercer High School, Mercer, PA

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Impulse

Ellen Hopkins

Margaret K. McElderry Books

Aspen Springs: a place most people wouldn’t go, unless they didn’t have a choice. This is where we first meet our characters Tony, Connor, and Vanessa. What do all three of these kids have in common? They all tried to kill themselves. Tony tried to overdose on various pills, Connor put a gun to his heart, and Vanessa was a cutter

Different problem lead each kid there: Tony mother’s boyfriend sexually assaulted him, and he was placed in a juvenile hall for six years, where more bad things happened to him. Conner was sleeping with his English teacher who he thought he was in love with, but then she told him it was wrong that she couldn’t do that any more. That’s when he grabbed a gun and put it to his chest. However, when he pulled the trigger, instead of going into his heart, the bullet hit some of his bone mass and reflected. Vanessa had manic depression and was borderline bipolar, and her mother was also bipolar. Vanessa cut because she couldn’t deal with her mood swings—neither could her boyfriend, so he broke up with her. Each teenager was found before they died, so they got shipped off to Aspen Springs.

At Aspen Springs the characters meet and become friends. They plan to help each other get back home. At first they want to go home, but when they see that they do need help, they don’t want to anymore. At Aspen Springs, you get rewarded with levels for everything you do. Once you get to reward level four you get to go on a challenge in the mountains. All three characters get to reward level four and are granted permission to go. Well for one of the campers aren’t ready to go home; nor are they ready to leave the mountain tops.

This book was very good. Ellen Hopkins is a terrific writer, and her stories keep you hooked until the very end, and then some. This book was great; the characters’ personalities are so different and so well developed that each character makes you think of somebody you know. I think that this book would be okay for anyone in high school to read, because a lot of teenagers think about suicide, since they feel like nothing they do is right. Another great book to read after this one would be Burned, also by Ellen Hopkins.

- Lauren Moss, Grade 11, Woodrow Wilson High School, Youngstown, OH

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Feud

Patricia Finney

Delacorte Press

Lady Grace Cavendish is serving Queen Elizabeth of England in the year 1570 when one of the other ladies on the court suddenly turns ill. As Lady Carmina gets more and more sick, Queen Elizabeth I sends Lady Grace to do some detective work to see what is wrong.

Lady Grace discovers that someone has poisoned Lady Carmina, and they may have even been aiming for the poison to go to the queen. Lady Grace's friends Ellie, a laundry maid, and Masou, a tumbler, help her out. They find that some poisonous paint is missing and they believe that paint is what is making Lady Carmina sick. Lady Carmina only will eat sweets, but she won't eat a lot of anything. Lady Horsley is in charge of making the sweets.

Lady Grace finds that there was once a feud between Lady Horsley's family and Lady Carmina's family. The feud was over the fact that Lady Horsleys son was killed in a jousting contest against Lady Carmina's dad. You’ll need to read the book to find out how Lady Grace puts all the clues together to solve the mystery.

This book is believable for the time period of Queen Elizabeth I. The writing makes you feel as if you are in England in the year 1570 along with Lady Grace. It is interesting, but I think is is more appropriate for kids in 5th through 7^th grade.

Even though I enjoyed it, it seemed a little more geared for younger readers. If you like Nancy Drew mysteries, you will like the Lady Grace mysteries. Many people would agree with me that Patricia Finney has a way of writing that puts you in the book with the characters. I liked that fact that she made the characters seem real and not something that she just made up. She studied what it would be like in the 1570's, and she made it into a great story.

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

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Tantalize

Cynthia Leitich Smith

Candlewick Press

Ever find yourself in a twisted and supernatural love triangle that results in murder, hidden agendas, and great Italian cuisine? Well, don't fear. Quincie P. Morris--true vampire lovers should recognize this name!--is here to share her experience with all of you fans out there.

Life for Quincie is as average as that of any other Texan girl who is best friends with a werewolf. Her friend Kieran--she's also in love with him—is an orphan, and he owns an Italian restaurant. Nothing could be different, except that her family restaurant is being turned into a hot spot for vampires...and her dinner chef has just been brutally murdered in the kitchen while she was in the back room.

The murder is the spark for drastic changes in her life. She learns that Kieran is going to leave her forever very soon to find a wolf pack. She also finds out that a new chef named Henry Johnson (aka Bradley Sanguini)--who poor Quinicie must turn into a vampire in a few short weeks--is trying to weasel his way into her life. And Quincie thinks that since Kieran is not making a move, she'll enjoy Brad's attention.

Living in a wine-hazed world, full of fear of Kieran because of other deaths around the area, Quincie turns to Bradley for comfort. Is Brad more of a master vampire than she first thought?

Unfortunately, he is, and he wants her as his bride. Can Quincie give up everything for love she has, or will she be tempted into the night?

Tantalize is one of the better vampire books I have read in a while. It doesn't have a typical "romantic" ending, but it's satisfying all around. Quincie is a strong character, as I'm sure the author intended, naming her after Bram Stoker's original vampire hunter. Trust me, you'll want to grab this book and gobble up all its tantalizing words.

I recommend Tantalize to those hopeless supernatural lovers like me out there, waiting for a clash between bat, wolf, and human.

Similar books to this include Twilight and New Moon, both by Stephanie Meyer.

- Ashleigh Schmidt, Grade 11, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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The Perfect Distance

Kim Ablon Whitney

Alfred A. Knopf

This story is about a Mexican-American girl who lives with her father on West Hills Farm where he works for a trainer named Rob. The girl’s name is Francie Martinez. When Francie asks her dad to ask Rob to train her to ride, he said yes. But during her last year of national equitation competitions, things start to go wrong. First it is tutoring issues, and then there are party issues. After that, there are boy problems, and then someone kills a horse. When Francie comes home from a competition, she finds out about the horse. Then she finds a clue and shows it to her dad. In the end, they find out who killed the horse. But can they do anything about it? To find out what happens, you have to read the book.

The quality of the book is very good. Everyone could learn from this book in some way or another. I think this book is very believable, because I have heard of these things happening to some people. Most of these characters are very likable and interesting, but some are very deceiving. This is a very good book because it keeps you interested to the very end. I think people who like horses, mysteries, and romance stories would like this book.

- Judy Maxwell, Grade 11, Trumbull Career and Technical Center, Warren, OH

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Dirty Magic

Carol Hughes

Random House

This book is about Joe, a boy who wishes his sister was dead. Then Joe, thinking his sister’s soul is missing, decides to go to a fantasy world to rescue it.

In the book Dirty Magic by Carol Hughes, Joe is just one of the four main characters. Joe faces many problems: he must rescue all the charges from the factories, and he must stop a war. He is also trying to find out if it is really his sister Hannah in the hospital bed. Joe’s character is very interesting and held my attention throughout the whole book. His character is very believable.

Katherine is what is known as a fetcher in her world. This means that she comes and fetches children and takes them to a guide. Katherine faces several problems. She must rescue her brother Tom, and she has to help Joe stop the war and rescue all the charges from the factories. Katherine’s character is not very believable, but she is very likeable.

Arik Ben, aka Spider Carry, is Joe’s guide who helps Joe stop the war and rescue all the charges. Spider Carry is believable only if you have faith. Like the other characters, he has problems too: he is blind, and he needs to rescue the third sister. Spider is a very interesting character.

The last main character in the book is Hannah. Hannah is Joe’s little sister, who he thinks he is trying to rescue. Her character is one hundred percent believable. If it were not for Hannah, the story would not exist, because the whole story revolves around her. Her interesting character makes the book appealing.

This book is very good, because it held my attention throughout the book. Dirty Magic is a good book for middle school students, because its vocabulary is suitable for middle school students.

- Candi Kelley, Grade 8, Boonsboro Middle School.

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Seeker

William Nicholson

Hartcourt, Inc.

On an island called Anacrea, the world began. Now it is home to the Nomana, the Noble Warriors, who have pledged their lives to the protection of The All and Only God. Three very different people have decided to become part of the Noble Warriors.

Seeker, looking for the truth, has always wished to join the Nom, as it is affectionately called. On his sixteenth birthday he is finally eligible to become one of the Nom. However, one thing stands in his way: his father, who wants Seeker to become a school teacher like himself.

Morning Star has also just turned sixteen. She and her father live in the hills and raise sheep as their livelihood. Knowing the desire to be a part of the Nom will never wane, Morning Star sets out on a journey her mother made long ago.

Then, there is the Wildman, who has never known his parents. Wildman believes the world should revolve around his wants and needs. He is accustomed to getting what he wants through violence. Only for selfish reasons does the Wildman wish to be counted as one of the Nom.

These three completely different people form an unlikely friendship when they all get rejected from the Nom. They devise a way to get invited into the Nom: save Anacrea and the Nom from the weapon that could end the very existence of the Holy Island. Together they search for this weapon inside the walls of Radiance, the city where the weapon is being built. Throughout the novel, Seeker, Morning Star, and the Wildman learn the meaning of true friendship and loyalty while facing many challenges.

This book was spectacular! Nicholson has created a world as real as the one we live in. The struggles the characters face match the ones that we face today. This book is excellently written for imaginations of all ages; however, teenagers will find Seeker most enjoyable. I loved this book and can't wait for the second and third of the series to come out!

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

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Picture Perfect

Elaine Marie Alphin

First Avenue Editions

Ian Slater is a photographer in Sawville. He works on the yearbook, school newspaper, and sometimes, the town newspaper. His best friend, Teddy Camden is also a photographer. They met through working on the yearbook. They both came to the yearbook wanting to be photographers, and ever since they met and found what they had in common, they have been best friends.

One day, Teddy doesn’t home from school. Teddy and Ian were supposed to meet at their hideout in the forest to take pictures, but Teddy never makes it. Everyone in the town thinks that Teddy met his father and run away from his mom, because she has a drinking problem. Ian's father is principal of the boys’ school, Sequoia Middle School, and he puts his heart into finding Teddy while at school. However, when at home, he acts like he doesn’t even care that his son’s best friend is missing.

Ian’s dad punishes him by putting him in the closet all night and making him admit to doing bad things even if Ian doesn’t think he was wrong. When Ian finally decides to have his own hunt for his best friend, he finds something that might tell him about his fathers past.

Read Picture Perfect if you want to find out more about Ian Slater and his father's past. This book is like something off of Law and Order or even the news, as it is that believable. Ian makes you feel sad and happy all at the same time. You share his emotions along with him. This book is great, because it is very believable, easy to read, and it has a great story line. I think anyone in junior high or high school would enjoy reading this book.

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

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The Owlstone Crown

X.J. Kennedy

Front Street

In X.J. Kennedy's novel, The Owlstone Crown, Verity and Timothy have lost everything. They have lost their mom and dad, grandma and grandpa, and their house. The two siblings are put in an orphanage, but they soon find new guardians. Maw and Paw Grimble rescue them and put them to work digging parsnips. The Grimbles boil the parsnips into bad tasting medicine and sell it.

It's a hard life for Verity and Timothy to live, at least until they find out from a private detective, Lewis O . Ladybug, that their grandparents are still alive but are being held prisoners in "Other Earth". Verity and Timothy go to find them.

In "Other Earth" Verity and Timothy find themselves fighting a stone owl army and two people who say they are something they are not. They also make some new friends: a bear, a kid named Mustard, Mustard’s parents, and a pond. All of these characters play a major role in this novel.

X.J. Kennedy makes all the characters interesting, just like the book. The book is definitely fantasy, as the animals talk, and they are in a fantasy world. The author makes you feel as if you were a character in the book. A great read for middle school students.

- Skylar Hartsock, Grade 8, Mercer Area High School, Mercer, PA

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The Silver Ship and the Sea

Brenda Cooper

Tor Books

This futuristic novel is set in a world outside Earth. A world of people is at war within these new boundaries. The humans, who want to stay the way they are and not alter their life, are fighting those have chosen to alter their physical appearance. Six young children of the altered have been taken as prisoners of war for ten years. The children’s amazing abilities have helped the colonists to survive on the land of Fremont. The children will soon be of age to be considered legal adults. Now that the children are of age the colonists have become very afraid of them. The time has come for the children to decide whether or not they will return to find what is left of the altered or stay and be feared by the Fremont colonists.

This book is a great read for middle school aged students because it is not too long and it is easy to follow. The beginning of this book is slow and boring but once you hit the start of the action, it really grabs your attention. The ending was a little sad, and I actually wanted to cry.

- Karissa Zelman, Grade 9, Mercer Area High School, Mercer, PA

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The Weirdstone of Brisingamen

Alan Garner

Harcourt, Inc.

When Colin and Susan are sent to Alderley Village by their parents, they hear of a town legend. Legend has it that there is a wizard who was sold a pure white mare many generations ago. This mare completed the ranks of 140 brave knights and their pure white mares. However, the man that sold the mare took something that wasn't his for the taking: The Weirdstone of Brisingamen.

One day, after hearing this legend, Colin and Susan go to explore the woods around Redmanhey. They are staying in Redmanhey with friends of their parents while their parents are abroad. During their exploration of the woods, Colin and Susan are attacked by a group of svart-alfar-goblins.

The wizard of the legend, Cadellin Silverbrow, rescues the children and tells them the Alderley Legend in complete detail—he even tells them about the missing Weirdstone. The stone and its powers will be used to awaken the enchanted 140 knights and mares that lie beneath the hills of Alderley. After hearing this frightening news, Colin and Susan embark on a journey to save their lives, the lives of their friends, and life as they know it!

Although the book was a relatively easy book to read, I really enjoyed it. Alan Garner did a stupendous job filling this novel with wizardry, adventure, and fantastic magic creatures. Garner already has won a spot as a favorite author of mine. I love how he weaves his tales with great imagination and details. The Weirdstone of Brisingamen was a good book that all fantasy readers will love.

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

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Pale Phoenix

Kathryn Reiss

Harcourt Inc.

When Miranda Browne and her Mom are going to a flea market, they almost hit a girl with their car. The girl's name is Abby Chandler. Abby says she is fine, but Miranda's mom has a weird feeling and doesn't believe her. Like her mom, Miranda is also curious about this strange girl. At the flea market, Miranda questions the girl. Abby doesn't reply, so Miranda buys a small stone phoenix whistle from her best friend Dan.

All week long Miranda follows the strange pale girl, but she notices nothing alarming about her. When she comes home from school one day, she is shocked to see that Abby is at her home. Her parents are asking Abby what she was doing to their car at the market.

They find out that Abby is an orphan, and they take her into their home. Miranda isn’t too happy about this news. Abby plays the piano non-stop, and Miranda seems to be the only one that hears Abby crying all the time. Miranda tries to tell her friends and family, but only Dan will listen. He tries to ease her stress, but he can only help her until she gets home. Miranda even tries to tell her friend Susannah, but Susannah doesn’t seem interested. Susannah's grandma saw Abby one day and thinks she looked like a girl she knew 50 years ago. Read Pale Phoenix and find out the truth about this mysterious girl Abby.

Pale Phoenix is a great book, because it keeps you reading to find out the truth about Abby. It is great for middle school kids.

- Skylar Hartsock, Grade 8, Mercer Area High School, Mercer, PA

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Maude March on the Run

Audrey Couloumbis

Random House Publications

Maude March and her sister have settled into the town of Independence with their Uncle Arlen and Marion, who is a ranch helper. When Uncle Arlen gets an alarming telegram from his friend asking for help in the West, he decides he must go at once. After he leaves, Maude gets arrested for being "Mad Maude March," the famous outlaw.

Marion and Sallie, whom everyone mistakes for a boy, break Maude out of jail with help from the famous Black Hankie. They only do this because Black Hankie’s group came to set him loose while they were there.

The Marches and Marion decide to go help Uncle Arlen, because they get another telegram saying that it is too dangerous for him to come back. On the run, they go through a bunch of towns. In one town, Maude gets caught again, and Marion and Sallie get her out. While they are traveling, they encounter a couple of bandits who claim to be the infamous Maude March. They have trouble all along the way.

Read Maude March on the Run if you want to join Maude and Sallie on their wild and mischievous trek across the country. This book is based around the year 1849 and the California Gold Rush. It is a great book for those who like adventure, because it is easy to read and has a great story line.

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

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Larklight

Philip Reeve

Bloomsbury Children’s Books

In a futuristic past where all our wildest dreams come true lies Larklight. Larklight is the home of Art and Myrtle Mumby, their mother, who mysteriously vanished in a spacecraft, and their father. Larklight, unlike the average home on Earth, is a huge space station-like home that lies in the vicinity of the moon. Ever since the colonization of the inner planets in our solar system, there have been numerous visits to Larklight, although most were rather dull. However, when a Mr. Webster comes, Art and Myrtle find themselves in the center of a situation they can’t handle alone. While having adventures and avoiding the vicious attacks of space spiders, Myrtle and Art find friends in the oddest of places. Follow along on a planetary journey of friendship, loyalty, and surprise.

This is a unique read that really maintains the reader’s attention. Larklight is a book for all ages, although it is best suited for students in middle school. It has an interesting plot and interesting characters, who don’t often act as expected. This book is told from Art’s point of view, though it sometimes includes Myrtle’s accounts. The one-of-a-kind plot of Larklight will keep you captivated until the last page.

- Kyriakos Theophanous, Grade 7, Boardman Center Middle School, Boardman, OH

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Cracks

Mike Klaasen

Blue Works

While on an outing in the Ozarks of Arkansas to complete his community service hours with four other juvenile delinquents, disaster strikes for Bodie McCain. The huge fault line under the Mississippi River Valley is erupting with earthquakes. Soon, all the adult supervisors are crushed beneath a rock slide, and Bodie is left to survive in the wilderness with Spider, Tug, Adam, and Rusty. These boys are no picnic in the park. Tug is a pyromaniac with an itch for violence, Adam has what seems to be paranoid schizophrenia, Rusty is a heroin addict who speaks Shakespeare, and Spider is a pusher who needs cash. It seems that Bodie is the only sane one in this mad game of survival. As the days progress, things become worse. They have no vehicle and no food. Rusty gets torn apart and eaten by wild boars. Bodie kills a man in self-defense. Tug murders Adam, shooting him with a shotgun. In the end, Bodie, Tug, and Spider must fight for their lives to get away from them and make it home alive.

Cracks was violent—very violent. A story about five delinquents out in the wilderness finding weapons and causing harm is bound to be violent, though. It was interesting that among all the boys, Bodie was the only one sane enough to keep them alive out there.

This book is for mature audiences only. Because of the amount of violence, mature language, and gory details in it, it's not suitable for a younger audience.

-Ashleigh Schmidt, Grade 11, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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Runaway

Wendelin Van Draanen

Knopf

Holly hasn't had it easy. Her mother OD'd when she was young, one of her former foster parents molested her, and her current one isn't much better. So Holly has come up with a plan: run away. This little twelve-year-old girl is packing up, hitting the road, and taking her journal with her. Though Holly was at first resentful of this journal, which was given as a school assignment, she soon becomes reliant on it. She thinks in poetry most of the day. There is nothing to do but feel for this girl and admire her courage as she goes city to city facing bums, cops and church officials. In the end, it takes the love of another girl and two older women to bring Holly out of her feral state.

Runaway is a companion novel to the Sammy Keyes mysteries. It's written in journal form, detailing the intimate life of a homeless girl, or gypsy . I felt for the girl, and wished that nothing like that would ever happen to me.

I recommend Runaway to girls ages thirteen and up. This is a read worth taking home with you.

-Ashley Schmidt, Grade 11, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood

Ann Brashares

Delacorte Press

You've read about three incredible summers with the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. They've been to Greece, Mexico, New York and home again. They've experienced love, sex, heartbreak, and began to discover themselves. Now Lena, Tibby, Carmen, and Bee are back for one final summer.

Lena is in an art school in Providence, finally getting over Kostos through her relationship with another artist named Leo. At first just nude models for one another, their relationship becomes more until a familiar face pops back up in Lena's life: Kostos.

Tibby finally has it all: a great school where she can pursue her film studies and a boyfriend that loves her more than anything. But, when they make their love physical, it takes Tibby over the edge. She gets paranoid and begins to avoid Brian at all costs until they finally break up. But when he goes out with Lena's sister, what can Tibby do to get the love of her life back?

Carmen is spiraling down a path of self-hate. She thinks she's ugly and pathetic and avoids her best friends. The only thing keeping her together is an actress-wannabe who befriends her. Carmen soon discovers she has a knack for acting too, and when she really begins to shine, she soon learns who her true friends are and who she needs to get rid of.

Bee has gotten herself in trouble before, but never like this. Even though she's going out with Eric now, a certain professor on her turkey dig catches her eyes. He's older, smart, handsome…and married. When things get too out of control, Bee realizes how broken she and her family are and goes on a mission to fix them little by little.

In the end, the four friends realize it was the pants that kept them connected, and what they truly needed was each other. Now and forever.

I remember reading the first Sisterhood book and absolutely loving it. Now that I've read the final book in the series, it makes me sad, like I'm finally letting go of old friend. Brashares couldn't have ended the Traveling Pants any better than she did

I recommend the final installment of the Sisterhood to teenage girls everywhere who are looking for a good, dramatic read.

-Ashley Schmidt, Grade 11, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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Enthusiasm

Polly Shulman

Putnam

Julie Lefkowitz has a major problem: her best friend Ashleigh is what she calls an Enthusiast. Ashleigh takes a fad and makes it her entire life—for that particular moment, anyway. So, what is Ashleigh's new fad that Julie just has to get sucked into?

Why, it's Julie's own passion: Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice .

Ashleigh is running around, talking like a 19 th century girl, dressing like one, and spinning tales of true love in poor Julie's ears. It gets Julie interested, too. In fact, Ash gets so enthusiastic, both her and Julie crash a dance at an all boys' school to find their perfect matches.

But what Julie finds is a true mess. The guy she likes happens to be Ash's proposed Mr. Darcy, and the guy who likes Ash, Ash is trying to pawn off on Julie. Not to mention Julie has to deal with a boy on the literary magazine who has crazy affections for her, and her first kiss comes from the older, hotter brother of one of her friends. And with some secret admirer sending her chocolate, writing sonnets, and standing outside her bedroom window at night, what is she supposed to do?

It's enough to make Julie scream. Especially when her delicious admirer turns out to be the exact guy she wanted all along!

Enthusiasm is a cute story about a girl trying to get her footing in the world of boys while dealing with her friends and broken family. Love is the basis of the story, but love isn't what Julie finds—at least not at first. It seems that Ashleigh's ideas about Jane Austen may be right, but for both girls, getting theirs takes awhile. While Julie is fresh and wonderful, Ashleigh I found to be annoying and not willing to hear what Julie has to say; however, she is loyal to the core.

I recommend Enthusiasm to all those romantic girls looking for a true love story. You deserve it, and the book deserves being read.

-Ashley Schmidt, Grade 11, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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Lady Friday (Book 5 of The Keys to the Kingdom)

Garth Nix

Scholastic Press

The fifth book in The Keys to the Kingdom series has finally arrived. It's a new day for Arthur Penhaligon, rightful heir of the Architect, and he has the chance to meet a new trustee of the will. This means Lady Friday, who has devious plans, is right on Arthur's heels. She says she's abdicated her throne and left the fifth part of the will and the key for Arthur, the piper, or Saturday to claim. In truth, this is her plan to have them all fight each other off. So, while Arthur is off in search of the next part of his inheritance, he and his friends face off the Paper Pushers, the Winged Servants of the Night, and have another encounter with the Piper. Leaf, however, is having an adventure of her own. She's been captured by Lady Friday and taken to her retreat. There, Lady Friday uses mortals' memories to experience and casts their “shells” aside. Leaf needs all the help she can get. She needs Arthur.

Lady Friday was an excellent addition to the series, a well-written saga of a boy trying to save a world while wanting to remain human. It's a great story from a great mind.

I recommend this book to ages thirteen and up, Garth Nix lovers, and readers of The Keys to the Kingdom.

The previous books include Mister Monday, Grim Tuesday, Drowned Wednesday, and Sir Thursday.

-Ashley Schmidt, Grade 11, Youngstown Early College, Youngstown, OH

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A Pickpocket's Tale

Karen Schawabach

Random House Children's Books

Molly was ten years old and living in the dark streets of London, England. She lived a pickpocket's life, and she was pretty good at it. She knew all the rules of survival and had managed to keep out of trouble for ten years, until someone ratted on her. She didn't know who had ratted on her, but before she knew it, she was standing in front of a judge waiting to be given her sentence. Most pickpockets were sent out of London and given strict orders never to return, and she could live with that. Others were sentenced to death—she couldn't live with that. Then there were the rumors that all thieves would be sent to the new colonies in America as indentured servants. She stood in front of the judge trembling until finally the judge issued his sentence: Molly would be sent to America.

Molly was sent to a prison to await the ship that would take her across the ocean to her new life. A nice Jewish man named Mr. Mendez paid for Molly to be given a better cell in the prison, because she was a daughter of Israel. Because he helped her, she was given more food than the other prisoners, and she was much more comfortable. When the ship arrived and she was loaded on the ship with the rest, she realized she was stuck with her worst enemy, Hesper Crudge. Hesper was also a pickpocket, only she did whatever she had to in order to keep her identity a secret; she had sold out so many other pickpockets that everyone hated her, especially Molly. The journey on the ship was eventful, but Molly was not fond of it. She was appalled that anyone could easily send a person away from their home just because they stole something. She vowed that she would find a way back to England even if it killed her; she was not going to live in America as someone else's slave.

When they arrived at the dock, they were put up to be looked at, and eventually a gentleman named Mr. Bell purchased Molly. He was also a Jew, and on the way back to his house, he tried to explain the ways of the Jews. Molly did not understand. She vaguely knew that she was Jewish, but she had never learned much about what it meant to be Jewish. Settling in with the rest of the Bells was hard for Molly, considering she was not accustomed to their ways. Soon she began to understand, but she still wanted to go back to England, no matter how attached she became to the family. In England, she could remember her mother, who died when she was very young. She had never forgiven her mother for dying on her. Only, there were too many events happening for her to think about England as often as she liked. Hesper created a problem—a very large one—that she had to fix.

This by far is one of my favorite books. The characters in it seemed so real, and the language and the setting was described and used correctly—I was amazed. Personally, I would recommend this book for middle school students, probably in the grade range of six through eight. The language can be a bit confusing because it is mostly based on Old English, but the glossary in the back of the book helps.

-Ashley Aldan, Grade 8, Boardman Center Middle School, Boardman, OH

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BANG!

By Sharon G. Flake

Published by Hyperion Books for Children

Mann refused to go out onto his own porch: he still saw the blood. His brother was killed in a shooting on his porch, and Mann thought it was his fault. His little brother, Jason, had asked him to play with him on the porch, but Mann refused. A few minutes later his brother was killed by a lunatic with a gun. Mann's mother didn't take Jason's death too well either; she couldn't walk into his room, and she still made him birthday cakes for his birthday. Mann's father thought his mother was crazy. His mom and dad fought a lot, and Mann didn't like it.

The only way Mann found to escape his grief was to get high and paint with his best friend Kee-lee. Finally, Mann's father got tired of Mann being a baby about the front porch. He took Mann and Kee-lee on a camping trip that was supposed to help them become men. But things didn't go as planned. In the middle of a storm, Mann's dad abandoned them. They didn't know what else to do, so they attempted to go back home, but they were hundreds of miles away. They went to Kee-lee's aunt's work, and she gave them a place to stay and work as painters. They paint murals on the walls of people's homes.

One day, Kee-lee was shot by a customer for not agreeing with him. Everything came rushing back to Mann, and he ran. He remembered the blood and Jason. He couldn't stand it anymore. He lived on the streets for weeks. People didn't help him, and he got mad and lost his temper. Eventually, he went to the only place he ever considered home: the old horse stalls where his father had actually been a father to him and his brother and taught them to ride. It was deserted except for a few horses that had been left to starve. Mann tried nursing them back to health, but he couldn't do it alone. One night his father showed up, and Mann had nothing to say to him after he had abandoned him his whole life. He wanted nothing to do with his father, but his father wanted him back. Mann was stubborn, but let him stay to help with the horses. Eventually, Mann came to realize that he needed his dad more than he thought.

This book was amazing, though extremely graphic. Some of the parts I had trouble reading, because it contained details that I usually do not read in books. I was able to feel real pain for the characters, even though I had never experienced what they had. I would recommend this book for high school students grades nine through ten. I believe they would understand the book better than middle school students.

-Ashley Aldan, Grade 8, Boardman Center Middle School, Boardman, OH

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The Curse of the Raven Mocker

Marly Youmans

Firebird Press

The Curse of the Raven Mocker is about a girl named Adanta. Adanta's father leaves to find a mythic lake to cure his blood disease, and then Adanta's mother is taken away by a man she calls the Lean One. This book is about what Adanta goes through to get her parents back.

I loved this book. It makes me feel there's hope yet for those like me who dream of going on some fantasy adventure (although it will never happen—haha). It's brilliantly written, and it keeps you guessing. Now that I look back, there was some very subtle foreshadowing that you'd only see after finishing the book. I liked how the book talked about indicated age, which isn't about how many years old you are, but by experiences you've had. It gives a new perspective to the phrase “an old head on young shoulders”.? I also liked how Adantis wasn't just suddenly there; it slowly crept into the surroundings and really was there. There was no big flash of light, but once it was gone the character was somewhere else or in a swirling vortex of doom; the surrounds just shifted a little, and the character realized he or she had been there the whole time and just hadn't noticed it. It's a brilliant book that I would suggest to my peers and people around my age group—I might even recommend it to my mom or dad. It's right on target with the emotion and is simply a great book. If you can, pick it up, and I bet you won't realize just how much you liked it until you close the back cover. It's brilliant, I can't say it enough. Read it, please.

-Aurora Thornton, grade 8, Boardman Glenwood Middle School, Boardman, OH

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Little Fur: The Legend Begins

Isobelle Carmody

Random House

Little Fur: The Legend Begins is about a girl named Little Fur who is half-elf and half-troll. Little Fur lives in a tangle of plants in the middle of a city and takes care of the plants and animals there. She finds out that her tree friends, called the Old Ones, are in danger, and to save them she goes on a dangerous quest with her friends Crow, Ginger, and Sly.

Though it's not as mature as her other books, such as Obernewtyn, it is still an enjoyable read. It's more like a children's book, but it's very good. Even as I was thinking how it sounded like a children's book, I realized I couldn't put it down, so I figured it must be pretty good. I enjoyed reading it and would suggest it to my friends or my mom's friends who have little kids, but probably not many of my peers because of how it's written. It was enjoyable, though, and if you have the time, I would definitely say read this book. It has great little lessons and lovable characters that you don't forget, kind of like Barney or Blue's Clues. Even though those shows are for little kids, when you get older and see the show on TV, or in this case, the book on a shelf, you smile at the memories of carefree childhood. That's how you know when a book or show is good or not: if it makes you smile. This book will make you smile.

-Aurora Thornton, grade 8, Boardman Glenwood Middle School, Boardman, OH

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Little Fur: A Fox Called Sorrow

Isobelle Carmody

Random House

In Little Fur: A Fox Called Sorrow, Little Fur is back in a new adventure. All her old friends are there as Little Fur decides to join a quest to learn the Troll King's plans. She wants to help a fox named Sorrow who wants to die. She can't understand why, but she knows she's determined to keep him alive.

Like the first book, it's written for a younger audience, but it's still a good read. Isobelle Carmody is a great author. I only imagine how difficult it could be to write mature, young adult to adult series and then shift to writing something like this without slipping into the different style. The story is very descriptive. All the old characters are back, and no one's left out. They still act the same and it makes you smile. I didn't expect her to bring back one character, actually. In the first book, one of Little Fur's friends, Sly (a cat), teased a tied-up dog who vowed to kill her and Little Fur. Carmod brought the dog back and gave it a nice role where it turned good because Little Fur asked Sorrow and Ginger to stop hurting her, even though the dog was there to kill her. I thought this very interesting and a good move on Carmody's part. Anyone who may have read the first book will enjoy this book, and I would suggest it to my friends or my mom's friends with little kids. This is a good book, even though it is written for a younger audience. Pick it up if you can, but read the first book first!

-Aurora Thornton, grade 8, Boardman Glenwood Middle School, Boardman, OH

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Ingledove

Marly Youmans

Douglas & McIntyre Publishing Group

Ingledove shares its setting with Youman's earlier book, The Curse of the Raven Mocker. This story is about a girl named Ingledove and her brother Lang. They are orphaned when their mother dies, until their mother's boss takes them in. A woman named Danagasta looks after them, and it is Danagasta's idea that they visit their mother's grave. Then Lang's life is endangered, and he and Ingledove are forced into an adventure into Adantis. They must race to save Lang's life.

In all honesty, I wanted the old characters from the first book. I would have liked at least a reference to them. However, this was a great story too. It's written in an identical fashion to the first, and again has just the right emotion and it connects to the reader. It is very different from its predecessor. There's a new cast of characters, a new story line, but the same old Adantis. There was a reference to raven mockers, but that's about all the reference there is to the first book. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this book. I love Adantis more and more because of the second trip there. I liked what the Master of Witchmasters had seen and how he told Ingledove (no, I'm spoiling it—read the book!) I hope Youmans writes another Adantis story soon! Overall, it's a great book that you should have in your library (or maybe just your spare shelf). I do wish she would have left off without showing if the future the Witchmaster saw came true (*pout*).

-Aurora Thornton, grade 8, Boardman Glenwood Middle School, Boardman, OH

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Endymion Spring

Matthew Skelton

Random House

I am writing a review on Endymion Spring, because I have a contradictory view to the review I read. Endymion Spring is a story about a teen named Blake who finds a blank book in the Oxford Library. He and his sister, Duck, try to figure out the mystery of the book, but a mysterious figure is after them and enemies are all around. The book is magic, and others know about it. In the race to put the book back together, who will come out with the finished copy?

I really enjoyed this story. I also liked how the author referred to the past, where the book was made and how it came to be in Oxford. I liked how the pages were bound unevenly, like it was an old book from when they couldn't bind books evenly. I thought that was very creative. I understand it might not be up everyone's alley, but I thought it was good. Also, the author didn't ramble, just built up the suspense.

The main characters are ordinary kids. They can't just leave whenever they feel like it to investigate their latest theories…they have to wait until their mom allows them to leave or they can sneak by her without getting in trouble. That's why it isn't as fast paced as some stories (though sometimes some authors may forget their characters have parents…). From some writing experience, I know it's hard to have a story with teenage characters, because of parents. If a teenager finds some magic fantasy world, they're not going to tell their parents (at least not right away) and risk getting sent to the loony bin, or worse. I think sometimes readers forget that and wonder why the story is moving slowly.

I thought Endymion Spring was a great story. I connected to it because I have little siblings (Blake's lucky he only has one) and the reactions were believable and felt very real. There were no overreactions or underreactions—it was just how a teen acts when something happens. I would suggest this book to my peers and others around my age group: Pick it up if you can, and please, don't let one bad review stop you from reading a book you would've picked up otherwise. After all, the critics never like good movies, but it doesn't stop people from going to see them.

-Aurora Thornton, grade 8, Boardman Glenwood Middle School, Boardman, OH

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Flora Segunda

Ysabeau S. Wilce

Hartcourt

This book is about a girl named Flora. Her mother was a general in the army, and she requires her children to do so as well. However, Flora doesn't want to join the army; she wants to be a Ranger like her role model, Nini Mo. Flora faces many problems in this book but the biggest involves her magical butler, Valefor. Flora's mother banishes Valefor from the house because she says magic is for the lazy.

Flora is a 13 year old girl with a very bad attitude towards her duties. Her best friend Udo has 3 fathers, and he is the oldest of 7 children. I'm sure there will be a character to your liking in this book. I won't say any more about what happens in the book—you'll have to read it.

I think Flora Segunda was a good book. I liked it because of the magic and the story line was very interesting and well written. Although there were some very weird words and spellings in this book, I liked it a lot. I also liked it because the characters were well thought-out. I think people in grades 7-9 would like to read this. There are a few Spanish words in the book, but if you don't know Spanish, you will still be able to understand this book.

-Amy Arquilla, Grade 8, Volney Rogers Junior High, Youngstown, OH

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Nobody's Princess

Esther Friesner

Random House

Helen isn't a typical princess. While the other women work at the looms, Helen escapes to the battle ring, where she picks up her sword and secretly trains along with her brothers. However, she doesn't understand that her curiosity may lead her on a journey far from home. From her sister's marriage, a wild boar hunt, and a trip to the mysterious temple of Apollo, her journey is just beginning. Who said a royal princess couldn't be an adventurer, a huntress, or a warrior, or maybe even all three?

In Nobody's Princess, Esther Friesner incorporates key ingredients to make you want to read on, even after you flip the final pages. We know Helen of Troy was a major part of the Trojan War, and that she lived the rest of her life in her home in Greece. What, however, do we know about when she was a child? Esther Friesner spins a tale full of twists and turns that will leave you wondering what hit you. This book is a middle school level book, containing few high-level words. If you like a rebel type of character, then this is the book for you. This book will be followed by a sequel, for those of you who can't wait to see what happens next.

- Kyriakos Theophanous, Grade 7, Boardman Center Middle School, Boardman, OH

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Marie, Dancing

Carolyn Meyer

Harcourt

Marie, Dancing is about a young impoverished girl in the early 1900's. Her mother is an alcoholic and believes that her three daughters' only chance for survival is to become ballet dancers. Marie, the main character, is the middle child. She sacrifices a lot for her family. She has to become the caretaker to her younger sister due to her mother's alcoholism and her older sister's selfishness. Marie's older sister, Antoinette, is constantly trying to convince Marie to become a Lorrette (a woman who becomes a rich man's mistress in order to live well), but Marie has higher standards than this. An artist requests Marie to model for him so he can make a statuette. The statuette becomes famous but the world still knows little of Marie. I really liked this book, because it is based on a true story. In real life, little is known of Marie, but the statuette is famous and the original is still on display at the Louvre in Paris. I think older high school kids would enjoy this book because it deals with adult issues in a very tasteful manner. It may be harder for younger students to understand. If you like ballet and classical settings than this book is for you!

- Andie Taylor, Grade 12, Trumbull Career and Technical Center, Warren, OH

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Feathers

Jacqueline Woodson

G. P. Putnams

Feathers is about an 11 year-old girl named Frannie. Frannie lives with her family in a poor all-black neighborhood in the 1970's. Everything is fine until a white boy shows up. He resembles Jesus, so the kids start calling him Jesus Boy. Jesus Boy is different. He looks at the world much like adults do. He gets picked on a lot and makes everybody start thinking about their differences. While dealing with her deaf older brother and now this white boy who every one thinks should be on the other side of the highway, Frannie learns a lot about life. She realizes that things are not always as they seem. I really liked this book. It's a good book to get kids thinking. I think that middle school students in 7th or 8th grade would enjoy this book. It's a good story about growing up, and at that age, the students are mature enough to deal with these issues. If you like books that make you think, than you are sure to enjoy Feathers.

- Andie Taylor, Grade 12, Trumbull Career and Technical Center, Warren, OH

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The Moon of Gomrath

Alan Garner

Harcourt Inc.

Alan Garner has given fans a compelling second tale of Alderley in which siblings Colin and Susan must once again battle magical creatures in hopes of triumphing over evil!

Their adventures begin when they take a walk through the woods. Cadellin SIlverbrow, who they met on their last adventure, has been ignoring them and they want to find why. On their way, they meet an Elf and a Dwarf. Atlendor, the Elf, and Uthecar, the Dwarf, will later become great allies. However, Susan gets herself into trouble and the children need the help of Cadellin and the others. Susan has been taken over by the Beollachan, an evil creature that takes over a body in order to take the soul of its host.

Colin must save his sister by finding a plant called the Mothan. He finds this plant when the moon is full, and he saves his sister. The real trouble begins though when Susan wants to visit the very place where Colin found the plant that saved her. Once at "The Beacon" Susan and Colin feel compelled to light a fire. Unknowingly, when they light the fire on this evening, The Moon of Gomiath, they awake a band of evil horsemen. The Moon of Gomiath is the one night of the year when The Old Magic is most powerful. On this night Colin is kidnapped by an evil Dwarf in hopes of luring Susan and her magical bracelet to the Mouigan, the evil shape-shifter who wants evil to reign.

By following Susan and Colin on their adventures battling the evil forces threatening to take over their world, you get sucked into another realm. Here, you experience every battle as if it was for your own life. Garner writes fantastically for middle school aged kids, but anyone can enjoy his powerfully enchanted stories!

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

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Atherton The House of Power

Patrick Carman

Little, Brown and Company

The Bestselling Author of The Land of Elyon is back! In Patrick Carman's new novel, Atherton The House of Power, Edgar, an orphan, is one of many on Table Top. Table Top is the middle of Three lands. The land above it is the Highlands. The Highlands control the water supply for the Table Top, and, in return, Table Top gives them figs from the fig trees. If the people aren't happy with the figs, they give less water. The Lower land is the Flatlands. Little is known about this place because no one dares go down there.

There are a lot of rules in Edgar's land, and one is “Don't climb the cliffs that go to the highlands!” As a gifted climber, the lonely boy defies this rule and scales the perilous cliffs that separate the three worlds. Edgar is on a mission. He is climbing the cliffs night after night to find a treasure that has been lost in his memory. He believes it is hidden in the rock walls above his head. Once he finds it he is disappointed, as it reveals a terrible secret. Soon Edgar finds that his home is not what is once was. The three worlds are colliding, and power is being shifted. Will things ever be the same again?

Patrick Carman does a great job describing this fantasy world. He creates new species and an entirely new world. But, he's not done there as there is a second book which has not yet been released. Middle School students will love this book if they have any imagination. But really, they don't need one since Carman makes everything so realistic.

-Skylar Hartsock, Grade 8, Mercer Area High School, Mercer, PA

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The Christopher Killer

Alane Ferguson

Penguin Group

Seventeen-year-old Cameryn Mahoney wants to be a coroner like her father. To help her out, her father hires her to be his assistant. When Cameryn sees her first dead body, she runs out of the building and regurgitates, and the new Deputy Sheriff, Justin Crowley, sees her and comes over to talk to her. Her father tells Cameryn that Sheriff Crowley is no good and she should stay away from him. The next day, Cameryn's father calls her while she is getting ready for school and asks for her help, because there has been a murder. He picks her up and they head to the mountains to take pictures for evidence. While there, they realize the murdered victim is one of Cameryns friends, Rachel Geller.

Cameryn is obviously very disturbed by this, especially because she and Rachel had just spent time together the night before. Earlier, a Psychic named Dr. Jewel had predicted a murder but no one had listened. Cameryn vows to catch the killer for Rachel as soon as she finds a small coin of Saint Christopher hidden in Rachel's bra. This may be a clue as "The Christopher Killer" killed 3 other women not long ago.

Join Cameryn on this book of life or death. One wrong move and somebody might accidently die. I really enjoyed this book because it was suspenseful and kept me on the edge of my seat. It's a great book for high school readers.

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

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Samurai Shortstop

Alan Gratz

Dial Books

Sixteen-year-old Toyo Shimada lives in Japan. He loves the Western game of baseball, but after he gets accepted to one of the finest boarding schools in Japan, he finds out that he can't play. He sees that his new school's team is great, except for their shortstop player, and shortstop is the position that Toyo likes the most. Toyo goes to all the tryouts, but he is told he cannot play because he isn't yet a man. “You have to go through a storm to become a man,” they say. Toyo already thinks of himself as a man. From the time of his uncle's death, which was supposedly heroic, he thought himself a man.

Toyo is mad at his father, because he's afraid that he may follow in his brother's footsteps. This begins to change when his father starts to give him Samurai training that helps his baseball game and his relationship with his father.

Alan Gratz does a wonderful job researching for this novel. He tells the story of a boy who is caught in between old and new Japan expertly. Samurai Shortstop is both intense and realistic. It's a good novel for middle school students who like the game of baseball.

-Skylar Hartsock, Grade 8, Mercer Area High School, Mercer, PA

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The Owl Service

Alan Garner

Harcourt, Inc.

On vacation, step-siblings Roger and Allison become acquainted with Gwyn, the son of their household helper. One night, while Allison is lying in bed, she hears scratching in the attic above her room. She thinks the sound is coming from rats in the attic. When Gwyn comes up to see if she needs anything, the scratching continues. Gwyn knocks on the ceiling and the "rats" count the number of times Gwyn knocks and answer back. Gwyn goes to investigate the attic and all he finds is a bunch of old plates and droppings. As Allison investigates the plate Gwyn brings down, she begins tracing the flowers from the plate into the shape of an owl. Amazingly, once she does this, the flowers on the plates disappear and later the owls she has traced also vanish.

Allison, Roger, and Gwyn are now caught up in events that keep getting stranger as their holiday wears on. All three are now trapped in an old town legend that never ends "happily ever after".

This imaginative story draws fantasy readers straight to the heart of the story. Alan Garner has again created a remarkable story with real, vivid characters. And, although the story is completely fictional, there is believability to the characters and the story, which makes it all the more suspenseful. Whatever happens in the end will leave Allison, Roger and Gwyn's lives changed forever!

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

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The Princetta

Anne-Laure Bondoux

Bloomsbury

The Princetta is about a 15-year-old teenage girl who happens to be the Princetta of Galnicia. Galnicia is a country inside of the Known Lands. They say that if you go outside of the Known Lands, you may never come back.

It is Malva's duty to her country to marry the prince from one of Galnicia's enemy countries, which means she will have to marry someone she hasn't even met. She isn't happy about this, so she and her maid, Philomena, run away from Galnicia. They run into many troubles along the way. Not long after they begin their travels, they are in a shipwreck, and Philomena and the Princetta get lost in the Unknownland. They meet many different people along the way. Some people help them while others only want them dead.

The Princetta and her maid are separated during their journey. Malva is captured and taken prisoner, and Philomena thinks she is dead. After being held captive, Malva is rescued. After that she faces many more challenges. They are supposed to go back to Galancia, but someone does not want them there.

Do they get back? Can they get out of the Unknown World alive? Read The Princetta if you want to find out. This book is great for fantasy readers—they won't want to put it down. I enjoyed this book. It is geared toward middle or high school students.

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

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The Heights, the Depths , and Everything in Between

Sally Nemeth

Alfred A. Knopf

The Heights, the Depths , and Everything in Between is a awesome book with a great story line. The two main characters are Lucy Small and Jake Little. Their names are interesting, especially because Lucy is very tall and Jake is a dwarf.

The new school year is starting soon and Lucy and Jake are about to enter high school. All of Lucy and Jake's years they have been made fun of. They were always the "freaks". As the year starts Lucy makes some new friends and Jake starts to drift away with his new friend Gary. Gary is an all around bad kid: he doesn't do well in school and he has a bad family life. He is nice to Lucy and Jake though.

One day Jake and Gary get in BIG trouble for vandalizing. Then Jake really starts changing, and he and Lucy stop hanging out and talking. A lot is going on in Jake's life at the moment. Then, one day, Jake runs away to see a girl who is a dwarf like him. Gary and Lucy take a car and go to find him. They get caught by the cops, and Gary gets in a lot of trouble. How will Lucy, Gary, and Jake be able to get out of trouble and solve their problems? You'll have to read the book!

I think that this was a really good book, and I would like to read it again. This book is good for middle school students and even 6th grade boys or girls. I will recommend it to my friends!

-Megan Kloos, age 13, Mercer Area High School, Mercer, PA

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Cupid

Julius Lester

Harcourt

When you think of one of the greatest love stories, do you automatically think of something like Romeo and Juliet? Well, go back further to the time of the gods, when mortal and immortal came together in what could be chaos. This is the romantic tale of Psyche, the most beautiful mortal girl whose looks surpassed those of Venus, and Cupid, the mischievous god of love. Theirs is a famous tale of forbidden love. Cupid was supposed to get rid of Psyche because his mother was jealous, but instead he takes the beautiful princess away to marry. There's a catch: she can never look at her husband lest he leave her forever. But poor Psyche feels she has to know what the man she loves looks like, especially after her sisters convince her that he is truly a monster. Psyche looks at Cupid, Cupid leaves, Venus becomes angrier, and Psyche has to undergo challenges to prove her love for her husband is real and that she would do anything to be worthy of him.

Julius Lester puts a new and often funny spin on the old love story. I have always been interested in the myth of Cupid and Psyche, so reading this book was fun and exciting. I loved the narrator of the story and how the story was broken down. I also liked how other familiar myths were involved to spin the tale. It was an engaging and original story.

I recommend Cupid to romantics and myth-lovers everywhere, 9th grade and up. This book is great and deserving of an audience.

- Ashleigh Schmidt, Grade 11, Youngstown Early College

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A Horse to Remember

Juliana Hutchings

Perfect Paperback

This story is about a girl named Hilary Thompson and the horse that lives next door to her. Hilary's parents move her and her brother to Tennessee. When they get there, Hilary's mom gets her a job at the neighbor's house cleaning stalls for the owner. At night Hilary goes to visit the mustang. Eventually she is caught by the owner of the horse. Then she takes the mustang to a race.

This story is very believable. Almost all of the characters are likable and interesting. It is a very good book. It kept me intrigued until the end. People who like animals, love stories and action/adventure stories would love this book.

- Judy Maxwell, Grade 11, Trumbell Career and Technical Center, Warren, OH

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