The Big Burn Jeanette Ingold Harcourt   © 2002

     Jarett Logan is sixteen years old and has a job. At least he did until he got fired. Jarrett's dad got him his job looking for fires on the railroad construction site. After Jarrett got fired, he left his dad just as his older brother Samuel did.

     Jarrett went to look for a new job as a firefighter. He caught up with his brother who is now a Ranger. After he got a few pointers from Samuel, he met Elizabeth. Jarett and this beautiful girl joined the large quantity of firefighters trying to stop the vast inferno that threatened to burn up their town and surrounding towns. During Jarrett's first few nights fighting the fires in Idaho he met Elway. Elway and Jarrett became a team. They fought fires together and worked harder than everyone else on the squad.

     The Big Burn is a must read for all who enjoy historical fiction. Anyone with a taste for adrenaline will also enjoy this fantastic work of historical fiction by Jeanette Ingold. I loved this novel because it was written so well and it always left me wanting more when I put it down. If you read The Big Burn you will not be disappointed.

-Skylar Hartsock, Grade 9, Mercer High School

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Breathe My Name R.A. Nelson Penguin Group © 2007

     Frances Robinson was adopted over 10 years ago into a family that only had two sons. She was put up for adoption after her biological mom killed Frances' three sisters and tried to kill her. Luckily for Frances, while her mom was killing her, a man heard her cries and came to save her life.

     It's a normal day at Bethel High School for Frances. For the first time somebody is holding the door open for her as she goes into the school. It's a really cute new guy named John. Frances shows him the way to the office and then goes off to her Chemistry class. After five minutes, John comes in and gives her a speech on how he is available as a friend or boyfriend. Also, he says that he prefers to be called Nix because it is not as plain as John is. Since Frances is the only one in the class that doesn't have a lab partner, Nix is now her partner.

     After school, a lawyer comes to the Robinson house. His name is R.C. Carouthers, and he turns out to be Frances' birth mother's lawyer. He brings her a letter that is five pages long—after four blank pages there are three sentences on the bottom of the fifth page: "I need to see you. Please come right away. We have to finish".

     Frances and Nix are now dating each other. They go on a date and then Frances asks him to help her find her mother. Nix agrees to help her if it's what she really wants to do. To get away, Frances and Nix say they are going on a canoeing trip with Frances' friend Anne.

     Once they get away, they get a clue where Frances' Mom is and follow it. After more clues, they finally find her. What will happen? Will Frances' Mom kill Frances as she tried to do years ago? What will Frances say to her?

     Read Breathe My Name to find out more and to answer these questions. I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting and kept me wanting to read more and more. A great one if you like mysteries.

- Crissy Hartsock, Grade 10, Mercer High School

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Queen Ferris S.C. Butler Tom Doherty Associates © 2007

   As the second book of the Stoneways Trilogy (Reiffen's Choice was book one), Queen Ferris starts right where Reiffen's Choice ended. Reiffen, the true heir to the Kingdom of Banking and Wayland, and his mother Giserre are stuck in Ussene, the home of the evil Three Wizards. They are here by choice, at least Reiffen is. Reiffen decided in the last book that he would gain knowledge of magic from the Wizards in order to eventually defeat them. He knows very well that his friends will probably hate him and that he could possibly be giving up the life that he has known forever, but he doesn't care.

     Ferris and Avender, Reiffen's best friends from once upon a time, have learned to cope to life without Reiffen. Avender realizes that he loves Ferris. Ferris realizes she is in love with Reiffen, and most other guys decide they love Ferris-including Prince Brizen. Once all of Reiffen's friends from Valing learn of evil deeds that Reiffen has committed, they all leave him as a memory but not as a friend.

     I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!!  All the beloved characters from Reiffen's Choice are back in an amazing read by S.C. Butler. It was every bit as brilliant as the first one with its magic and superb plot twists. You have to read this book if you have the first one. Truly amazing.

-Bobbi Hartsock, Grade 11, Mercer High School

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Spanking Shakespeare Jake Winzer Random House © 2007

 Shakespeare Shapiro, graduate from Hemingway High faces many challenges his senior year. He makes several goals for himself and each seems harder to achieve then expected. The easiest part of Shakespeare 's senior year is his senior memoir. His friends help him through his difficult year even though they are no where near normal or sane.

This book is filled with very explicit details, making it a book for older persons, particularly senior or junior boys. I am not trying to be sexiest but most girls don't want to read what thoughts go through a boys head (at least I don't want to.)

This book shows you how perverted boys can be. I think this book was a waste of paper. After reading this book, I am starting to think anything can be published. I was very disappointed and disgusted by page five. I think it was a waste of time for someone to write this perverted book.

In an overall rating I give this book a .5. This is not a book that should be on a shelf at a public library and defensibly not one that should be done as a book report.

What would William Shakespeare think….That is the REAL question?

- Devon-Marie Hooper, Grade 9, Wellsville High School

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Tallulah Falls Christine Fletcher Bloomsbury Publishing © 2006

     Tallulah, a seventeen year old girl from Oregon also known as Debbie, runs away with her boyfriend to find her best friend Mauve in Florida. Before they make it to Florida, Tallulah's boyfriend deserts her in a small Tennessee town. Tallulah ends up getting herself in an unexpected situation after bringing a hurt dog on the side of the road to a veterinary clinic in the town where her boyfriend deserted her. The staff at the clinic feels bad for Tallulah, so they hire her temporarily, and the receptionist provides her with a place to stay. Doctor Poteet, the veterinarian, becomes somewhat of a father figure towards Tallulah throughout her stay. Tallulah does not like the situation at first, but later appreciates their kindness and finds it difficult to leave.

      I really enjoyed reading Tallulah Falls because it was so realistic. The story was dramatic and sad, but it keeps your attention at every turn in the book. The plot was unpredictable, which made the storyline more interesting. I would have never thought that Tallulah would end up working for a veterinary clinic. It was easy to understand Tallulah's difficult home life before she ran away. Tallulah compares her present situations to ones she faced with her family during her childhood.

       
The descriptions of the characters were brought out very well and it was easy to understand their roles in the story. For example, author Christine Fletcher describes Dr. Poteet's character with detail, “He looked about fifty, his cheekbones and mouth were too wide for his face or else his nose and eyes were too small, whichever it was, he was not a good-looking man.” The characters are bold and have strong characteristics. I liked the fact that they had empathetic and compassionate parts in the story but all of them had different personalities.

      The story was interesting from start to finish. From what Tallulah learns and finds out about herself during her stay in Tennessee, the story's ending was not a surprise. I think the audience of this book is geared towards teenage girls from around the ages 15 to 18. I also would recommend Tallulah Falls to anyone interested in veterinary work and animals because of how the author describes Tallulah's care for hurt and sick animals.

- Kayla DeGeorge, Grade 12, Saints John and Paul High School, Ashtabula, OH

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Zoo Graham Marks Bloomsbury Publishing © 2005

Zoo is about a boy named Cam Stewart. He is an ordinary teenager. He plays sports at school and is known as a popular jock. One day his life is changed. After being kidnapped, Cam finds himself scared and with no idea where he is. He finds a way to escape from his kidnappers and heads towards home. He later finds out the police are also chasing him and has no idea why. Cam is on the run from the police and the kidnappers, who he is sure want to get him back. Cam has no idea what is going on but decides the best thing to do is to get home. Until he realizes home may not be the best place for him to go after all.

      Do you want to find out why Cam was kidnapped, if he will ever make it home, if he will survive, and why the police are after him? Then Zoo is the perfect book for you. I see it as an action packed, mysterious, and exciting story which I loved to read. I thought it was a great book. It kept my mind running at all times and always kept me thinking. There are at some points many things going on at once, and you don't really know what to think or know what is going to happen next. I can see many parts of this believable, but a few parts I just don't see happening. I recommend this book to anyone between the ages thirteen and eighteen.

- Jeremy Brown, Grade 11, Saints John and Paul Catholic High School, Ashtabula, OH

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Something  Rotten                                                                                         Alan Gratz The Penguin Group © 2007

            Alan Gratz's book Something Rotten tells the story of Denmark, Tennessee the town where the Eslnor paper factory is located. Denmark has never been the best smelling town due to the paper factory, but there is more than the paper factory stinking up the town. Hamilton's father has just been murdered, and there are many suspects, the main one was his uncle who recently married his mother. His uncle has always  dreamed of taking over the factory, but Hamilton's father stood in the way. Was killing his brother his great plan to get what he has always wanted? To help him crack the mystery, Hamilton invites his friend Horatio Wilkes to stay with him for the summer. Together they work all summer collecting clues and evidence, but do Hamilton and Horatio have what it takes to crack this case by then selves?

            Something Rotten is a great book; it is full of adventure and mystery. It will keep you guessing after every chapter, and you will not want to put it down. This is a great book for children of any age. If you are looking for a great mystery story or just a book to read for fun, I recommend Something Rotten.

-Jessica Hunyady, Grade ll, Saints John and Paul High School, Ashtabula, OH

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Taken Edward Bloor Random House © 2007

  Edward Bloor's book Taken is a futuristic story filled with twists that will keep you turning the pages. It is about a young girl, Charity Myers, who wakes up to find herself in an ambulance. She soon realizes that she has fallen victim to the growing kidnapping industry. According to the rules of kidnapping, “Once you've been taken, you usually have twenty-four hours left to live”. In order for Charity to make it home safely, she will need to remember all that she was taught about kidnappings and hope that her father does the same. But the more time that she spends with the kidnappers, the more she realizes that their plans may not be as simple as she was taught.

      This new society the novel portrays can be difficult to grasp at first. With this new society many changes have been made such as a distinct division among the rich and the poor communities. As Charity Myers says, “Mangrove was an interesting place to me. It was as different from the Highlands as it could possibly be. The town had a combination of dirt roads full of deep ruts and asphalt roads full of potholes.” Rich people like Charity and her family live in gated housing developments that are highly secured. This book makes pointed observations on the advantages the privileged in today's world take for granted and the struggles of those who do not have those advantages. For both its tense and unpredictable story and its social commentary, Taken is a great book that just makes you want more. The novel is definitely packed with many twists, and with so many, at least one is guaranteed to take to you completely by surprise!

- Josh Hornbeck, Grade 11, Saints John and Paul High School, Ashtabula, OH

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Looking For Alibrandi Melina Merchetta Orchad Books © 1992

Looking for Alibrandi is about a seventeen year-old girl named Josephine Alibrandi. Like every seventeen year-old girl, Josephine is trying to discover who she is and what she wants out of this world. But Josephine has a twist to her story. She has no idea who her father is, nor does she want to know him—or so she thinks. Josephine is Catholic and Italian, and her morals and the teachings of her family are a big part of this story. Not only does Josephine experience everything a seventeen year-old does, like love and true friendship. She also discovers a hidden family secret that will change who she thinks she is.

      I, as a teenager, loved this book. I felt it was a great book that captures how many girls my age feel. Josephine, like me, is Italian, and I can relate to how she feels about how she was raised, how society has changed, and how more things are accepted in this world today. I feel that this is a great book for any girl around the age of seventeen. They can relate themselves to this book, because everyone is trying to figure out what they want out of life.

- Octavia Benedict, Grade 11, Saints John and Paul High School, Ashtabula, OH

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Mendel's Daughter Martin Lemelman Free Press © 2006

Mendel's Daughter is a story about the Holocaust . It took place in the 1930-40's. It is also the story of Gusta and her childhood in Poland . Gusta's early life was filled with friends, foods, and Jewish traditions. But her childhood was cut short when she and her family began hearing talk of war and of Hitler and his soldiers invading countries. Gusta's family lived in the town of Germakivka. She had a mother, father, three sisters, and three brothers.

            All of Gusta's family was killed in the Holocaust except for her, her three brothers, and one sister who she later found. One of her brothers eventually married and moved to America. During the war, Gusta and her two brothers had to hide to survive. First, they hid in the barn, but they had to leave so the Christians wouldn't turn them in. They then moved into holes that they dug in the ground. They always had food to eat. Gusta moved back into her old house, but a Christian family had moved in. She stayed for a little while but was scared to stay any longer, so she left. She and her sister went to many camps hoping to make it to America. Her brothers were taken into the Russian Army.  In March of 1950, she arrived in America. She got married and gave birth to a baby boy.

            I think the story was very true. To me the characters were very unique, and interesting. I think this book is great, because it explains how life was for many during the Holocaust . This book in my opinion is good for high school students who like history.

- Maria Mayle, Grade 9, Wellsville High School, Wellsville, OH

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Hitch Jeanette Ingold Harcourt © 2006

Hitch is about a boy named Moss Trawnley who lives and works in Texas during the Great Depression. When Moss losses his job, he sets out to find his father who has left him and his family to fend for themselves. While Moss is looking for his father, he ends up in Montana . While in Montana Moss joins the CCC, the Civilian Conservation Corps.

      Will Moss find his father? Will Moss stay in the CCC? Will Moss return to Texas ? These are some of the questions that will be answered if you read this book. I would highly recommend reading this book if you are interested in historical fiction or if you just like to read about struggles during the Great Depression. This book makes it very easy for you to put yourself in Moss's shoes so you can see what it was like to live in the Great Depression .

      I did not really like this book, because I had a hard time focusing on it. The book's plot is very clear, but the story often strays away from the main plot. The book bounces from person to person, which sometimes makes it a little bit harder to follow. For example, in one part Moss is talking, then all of the sudden another character starts talking about something else. If you do not pay close attention, you can misinterpret it and think that Moss said it.

- Donnie Woodward, Grade 11, Saints John and Paul High School, Ashtabula, OH

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Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn Sarah Miller St. Martin's Press © 2006

    Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn starts off with one girl, the narrator, who tells about and pretty much lives the life of Gideon Rayburn. From the beginning, she does not really understand why and who exactly Gideon is, but by the end she is glad she ended up knowing his every move and thought. Gideon is a pretty typical teenager. All he thinks about is sex, drugs and girls. He moves away to Midvale Academy, a boarding school, after the summer is over. Gideon has two roommates with completely different personalities. Cullen is the jock of the school. Everyone loves him, and he is not afraid of anything. Nicholas is the conservative one. He keeps to himself and is all about staying healthy. Gideon doesn't think he will get along with these boys, but he finds out he was wrong later on. Cullen and Nicholas end up making a bet that Gideon will not be able to lose his virginity to a certain girl in a specific amount of time. As the story goes on, Gideon ends up falling in love with a different girl, and at the same time, the “girl in Gideon's mind” falls in love with Gideon. But Gid really wants to win this bet. What will he do? Choose the girl he is in love with? Or win the bet first?
    This book was absolutely amazing. It was extremely believable, because it is very straight forward and almost exactly what a guy would think and how a guy would act in the type of situation this story portrays. I think the characters in this story are likable because it is easy to relate yourself to one or more of them, especially considering that they are typical teenagers. The characters are a great contrast, because they all have different personalities and problems. I think this book was easy to read, because it kept me interested and laughing most of the time.  I would recommend this book to 11th or 12th grade girls who enjoy mystery, romance, and a good laugh.

- Brittany DiMare, Grade 11, Sts. John and Paul High School, Ashtabula, OH

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Sure Fire Jack Higgins and Justin Richards Penguin Group © 2007

      This book starts off with two characters, a boy and a girl named Rich and Jade. They are brother and sister, and after their mom dies by being hit by a car, Rich and Jade are left with their father whom they have never met. They meet him at the funeral for their mother. The two are saddened to have to move with their father but it isn't their choice; they have to.

      Within the next day, they move in with their father at a small apartment called “the flat.” He tells the children, “I will be sending you to boarding school while I'm busy with my business.” Immediately Rich and Jade know something is wrong. Neither of them want to go to boarding school. They soon find out that their father has been kidnapped and taken to a country named Krejikistan where he is held captive because he was spying on a company and stole a liquid which was a key to the success of the company. He was caught on the company's CCTV system; however, they couldn't catch him in the act, so they had to kidnap him. Rich and Jade have nothing to do but help.

      This is probably one of the best books I have ever read. I really like this book because it is a thriller that is filled with action forcing you to do nothing but keep the novel tightly griped in your hands. It had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. There are many parts of the book that Rich and Jade seem to have superhuman powers, but it only makes it more enjoyable. I would highly recommend Sure Fire for any young adult reader looking for an action-packed thriller. It is easy to read and very enjoyable and features a great storyline that would appeal to any young adult.

- Jacob Flautt, Grade 11, Saints John and Paul High School, Ashtabula, Ohio

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The Shadow Speaker Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu Hyperion Books © 2007

    In 2070, after the great change unleashed magic on earth once again, everything that was normal on earth can no longer be counted on. The great change has an effect on many people and things on earth including Ejii. Ejii is a shadow speaker. She has eyes like a cat and can see miles further than a normal person. On top of that, she can speak to the shadows, which never lie. After an earthquake destroys the barriers between all the worlds, the shadows tell Ejii that she must travel with Jaa, a warrior queen headed from Ejii's town to a meeting in Ginen between representatives from all five worlds. Ejii must play her part in preventing a war; however, her mother refuses to let her go on the journey, threatening to disown her if she disobeys. Will Ejii disobey her Mother's command and trust in the shadows' advice instead? Join Ejii as she faces an Aejej, sand-dune cats, and herself. Can Ejii survive the journey?

            The Shadow Speaker is an excellent book. Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu created an entire world. There are metahumans with not-so-glorious abilities. There are talking animals, and humanized sandstorms. Every part of Ejii's world is so different yet it is still Earth, which makes you want to learn more. Not to mention its breathtaking events that leave you turning page after page. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a vividly creative adventure regardless of age or sex, though girls between the ages of twelve to seventeen might enjoy it most, because they can relate to Ejii the best. The only problem with the book is that some chapters are yet to be named and some sentences do not make any sense, which I assume is mostly because I read the uncorrected advanced proof of the book.

-Trevor Herpy, Grade 11, Sts. John and Paul High School

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Snakehead Anthony Horowitz Philomel Books © 2007

      The book Snakehead by Anthony Horowitz is the story of a fourteen year-old boy named Alex Rider. Alex is a secret agent who works for different agencies around the world to fight terrorist groups. One such terrorist group is known as Scorpia which previously murdered Alex's parents and left him to die. Alex is faced with a series of excruciating tasks as he travels across Europe, Eastern Asia, and Australia fighting for his life against the ruthless Snakehead gang.

      I think this book is one of the best that I have read in a long time. It is packed with nonstop action and there is never a dull moment. One minute everything will be going fine, and then suddenly a dramatic change of events will occur, sending the plot spiraling to new levels. There are many situations in which it appears that Alex has no chance of survival. Will he be able to overcome the impossible odds against him or will he be killed? From the minute you pick this book up, you won't be able to set it down until you run out of words.

      The characters in this book all seem to have something mysterious about them, like they are hiding something. You get the impression that they know something you don't and it inspires you to keep on reading. When Alex finds out that his father's closest friend, Ash, is still alive and he is given the opportunity to work with him, he is suddenly intrigued. However, when Alex starts talking about his parents and asks Ash about them, he becomes uneasy and says “I don't want to talk about them, Alex.” What is Ash trying to hide from Alex? Is there some dark mystery concealed in Ash's past that he doesn't want to reveal to Alex?

      The setting and storyline of the book are amazingly realistic and display many of the problems that we are facing in our world today such as drugs and illegal immigration. Anthony Horowitz has done a remarkable job to keep the information in the book as factual as possible without making it the least bit dull. He even traveled to some of the foreign locations described in the book in order to give those settings more color and realism. I strongly recommend this book to anyone in high school as well as any adult who enjoys reading spy novels or action packed thrillers. If the other six books in this series by Anthony Horowitz are as exciting as Snakehead I would strongly recommend reading them as well.

-Brandon McMurphy, Grade 11, Saints John and Paul Catholic School, Ashtabula, OH

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Quad Carrie Gordon Watson Penguin Group © 2007

The book that I read was Quad by C. G. Watson. It is a fast-paced book that starts you on Monday, April 6 at Muir High school where there is a shooter out in the Quad terrorizing the students. ‘'Ranger heard a series of slow pops. Five in a row” (pg 3) As people go running for cover it just happens that people from six different cliques come together: The Freaks, The Techies, The Jocks, The Preps, The Drama Queens, and The Choir Boys. Each one of these cliques could have had the shooter in their clique or caused someone to be the shooter. The book shows all the problems that teens have in high school. Could the shooter possible be a pot smoker who hates everyone, some nerd sick of all the teasing, a jock who snaps under the all the pressure, or possibly a jealous boyfriend or girlfriend?

      The book does a great job of showing all the ups and downs that real teens go through during their high school years. Although the characters in the book are imaginary, the book does a great job in portraying them as realistic. As you read, you will start to think about different people in your life and the effects you have on them with the actions that you do. This book really does a great job in making you reflect on your life and others and makes you do a lot of critical thinking while you are reading the story. If I had to rate this book, I would give it a ten out of ten. Hopefully C. G. Watson will make more great books like this one. This was the first one that she has written, so as a starting book I think that she has done a great job, and I can't wait for her next book to come out.

- Stephen Robison, Grade 11, Saints John and Paul High School, Ashtabula, OH

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Secret Heart David Almond Dell Laurel- Leaf © 2001

Joseph Maloney is not your average kid. He is out of place in this world. Joe sees stuff that no one else sees. He hears things in the air that no one else does. There are little vibrations in the air that Joseph feels and no one else does. That is until the circus comes to his town and he makes his second friend. His only friend before that was Stanley Mole. Stanley use to be like Joe, without the seeing, hearing, and feeling that Joe had. Then Stanley meets Joff, an ex-military person, and Joff teaches Stanley to be a man. To kill, not act scared, and most importantly, to grow up....

     Joseph's mother works at the Booze Bin and is raising Joe alone. Joe's father worked at a fair and got his mother pregnant when she was still a teenager. All Joe's mother wants Joe to do is grow up and become a good man. So does Joff and Stanley, but with a twist. They want him to not be scared and to learn to kill. They invite Joe to come with them into the forest and become a man, but Joe's second friend talks to Joe and he doesn't go. Instead he takes a walk with Corinna, one of his other friends.

     Joe meets all of the circus people and he learns that he and Corinna met before and were best friends in another life. He finds his Secret Heart.

     David Almond is a great writer and he fills this novel with wonderful scenes with beauty. Although not exactly my kind of book, I'm sure plenty of people will enjoy it.

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

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Ratha's Creature Clare Bell The Penquin Group © 1983

This book begins with a young, wild cat named Ratha. She is being trained to protect the herds of the Named against the Clanless Ones. She is one of the few female cats to have received this honor. On the night the book begins, Ratha is invited to night duty with her trainer, Thakur. They expect the night to be boring, but they are wrong. Ratha is instructed to watch the herd of the Named and not to under any circumstances fight. She's told to climb a tree instead. Being young and foolish, Ratha fights when a Clanless One gets close enough to worry the herd. She succeeds in making the Clanless One go away, but not before he speaks. This puzzles her, because she has always been taught they can't speak.

     A storm arrives a few days later, and a bolt of lightning causes the Named to have to move. The fire spreads and cats are afraid of it. However, on her way back, Ratha leans how to tame the fire and it becomes her creature. When she presents the creature to the Named, she gets exiled from her clan. Throughout the rest of the book, Ratha must learn to live as an exile: learning to hunt and making new friends that will help her survive.

     The book actually turned out to be really good. Ratha had so many choices which she knew were the right ones to make, but not everyone agreed with her. She had to live with those consequences. Clare Bell made something as uninteresting as the life of a cat pretty interesting.

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

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Missing in Tokyo Graham Marks Bloomsbury USA © 2006

This is the story of an English high school student doing what he feels is right. Adam Grey is just your average student. He goes to school, lives with his parents, has a dog and an older sister, and he gets suspended for fighting. This suspension is not even really his fault. Adam's older sister Charlie goes missing in Tokyo . Charlie is traveling with her best friend, Alice. One day, Alice calls the Grey family and says that she saw Charlie leaving the bar where they work with some Japanese businessman a couple of days ago.

     Adam's parents call the police but there is not much that they can do from Britain. They take Adam's computer because that is the only thing that Charlie has been in contact with since she left Britain. Then there's the fight: it all starts with a newspaper article that is all fake; it barely has any information correct. “Brit Bar Girl Missing” was the title of the article. When Adam goes to school, a big bully, Steve Apperly, is talking about Adam's sister, and Adam isn't going to take any of it. When Steve gives Adam the finger, Adam explodes and pushes Steves finger back farther than it really should go. Because Adam has a week before he has to go back to school, he decides to go to Tokyo and search for his sister, because he feels the police aren't doing enough.

     Once Adam gets to Tokyo , all he has it Alice. He has to find Alice. He finds her and she runs away with him. After that, Adam knows that something is really going on and knows that he must talk to Alice to find out what it is, and quickly. Each day Charlie is missing is another day that is it less likely she will be found alive and safe.

     This book was definitely interesting. It was a different point of life because I'm not English or Japanese. But is was cool because it had different terms that I enjoyed. If you want a leisure book then this is it. It is easy reading and fit for anyone who is in junior or senior high.

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

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Peak Roland Smith Harcourt Inc. © 2007

This young adult novel starts off with a fourteen year-old boy named Peak who loves mountain climbing, despite the fact that he lives in the middle of New York City. Peak cannot resist his need to climb to express himself and to fill an empty space in his life. A few pages into the book, Peak gets caught climbing one of the skyscrapers in the middle of New York City.

In the next few days, a boy dies and people think it is Peak's fault because of his previous climbing incidents. Peak's biological father who hasn't talked to Peak for most of his life shows up and offers to save him by taking him out of the country. Peak's father is completely serious about taking him to China to climb Mount Everest. Peak's father tells him, “If we get up there before your fifteenth birthday, you'll be the youngest person in the world ever to stand above twenty-nine thousand feet.” Peak comes to think that maybe his dad only wants him to reach the top of Mount Everest to promote his business. 

Roland Smith provides an informational and surprising story. Smith seems to know a lot about mountain climbing because he provides a very thorough account of mountain climbing and the environment of the sport. Geography also plays a role in this book. As you read the book, you find Peak exploring many other countries. As the book moves on and Peak gets closer to the top of the mountain, the book gets more adventurous and thrilling. The reader does not even have to like mountain climbing to enjoy this book. Adventures, relationships, and maturity all come together around Peak, and Smith writes an ending that will knock your socks off.

~ Jake Phelps, 11th grade, Sts, John and Paul High School, Ashtabula, Ohio

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Megiddo's Shadow Arthur Slade Wendy Lamb Books © 2006

Could you at age sixteen leave and fight in a war? Edward Bathe is a sixteen year-old Canadian boy who did just that. Edward's mother has passed away, his father is bedridden, and his brother Hector who he looks up to has just died in World War I. Edward decides to enlist in the Canadian infantry against father's will. Edward will face many trials and tribulations in his journey to come.

      Arthur Slade vividly describes the war in Palestine, Edward's role in the Army, Edward's mental state, and the emotional conflicts that Edward endures throughout his tour in the war. Edward faces emotional strains of love, hate, and a range of other emotions that make surviving the war even harder. When a squad member and a dear friend shows enjoyment in massacring trapped Turks and Huns Edward is very disturbed, this feeling that Edward experiences and the images of the people trapped never leave his mind.

      Slade wrote a dazzling book that keeps the reader intrigued from cover to cover. Edward is emotionally a deep character that you can relate to from the beginning of the book. You feel as if you are going though the same struggles as Edward throughout the book and this is all due to Slade's brilliant writing. “I held him up against me and began to weep for the terrible thing I'd done. Like Hector in his last moments this boy was calling for his mother. ‘She's here, my friend. She's with you now. Can you hear her?'” Just with that quote from the book you can tell that Edward is a caring person, even to a German soldier.

      I would recommend this book to anyone seventh grade and up. Anyone who loves history and even those who do not love history will find something they like in Megiddo's Shadow. Everyone can relate to at least one character in this book. Arthur Slade wrote an inspiring book that I would recommend everyone to read.

- Nick Cimorelli, Grade 11, Sts. John and Paul High School, Ashtabula, OH

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Runaway Wendelin Van Draanen Alfred A. Knopf © 2006

The book Runaway is about a girl named Holly who was put into foster care at a young age because her mother died of a drug overdose. Holly loved her mother but was too young to understand that she had problems. Holly was only twelve years old when she was moved into the Bender's home after other families did not work out for her. The Benders were just as bad as the other families. Holly hated it, so she had to run away. “Tomorrow I'm out of here. Hefty sack or not I'm out of here.” (Van Draanen 18).

      Holly documented her adventure in a journal given to her by her teacher, Mrs. Leone. It was a struggle for Holly dealing with crazy homeless people and living from town to town. She was trying to avoid social security workers and gangs of homeless men that were looking for her. Did she get to achieve her ultimate goal to find the ocean and live there?

      My opinion on Runaway was, at first, that it was dumb and I did not see how anyone could read it. I think I did not like it because I could not relate to it and it's just not my type of book. But I could see how some people would like this book because it is well-written and describes the struggles of Holly realistically. I would recommend this book to preteen and teenage girls because they could understand the feelings of Holly more easily than a boy. I do think Van Draanen is a very good writer and I would be interested in reading other books written by her.

      -Eric Simon, Grade 11, Saints John and Paul High School, Ashtabula, OH

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Kat's Promise Bonnie Shimko Harcourt Inc. © 2006

Kat's world is turned upside down when she is told that she is to live with her Aunt Paulina and her maid whom she calls Nettie because her mother dies. Aunt Paulina is extremely strict and has a problem with alcohol. Kat believes Aunt Paulina caused her mothers death, so she resents her before she even moves there. While she's there she also makes four unlikely friends: Beamer, Isaac, Johnny, and Mr. Beck. Then there's David… When Kat starts to realize that there are undisclosed secrets to that house, she makes herself a promise…

      I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who likes to read. It is quite suitable for kids in grades 7 or 8 and up. The characters are all realistic and the good characters likeable. Aunt Paulina and her boyfriend, Max, are really the only unlikable characters, but nobody is really excpected to like her

      I liked the book because it was real and down to earth. It is great for people who aren't all that into science fiction. It has a believable plot. I would definitely recommend this book to a friend.

-Alana Lesnansky, Grade 8, Boardman Center Middle School

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Go Saddle the Sea Joan Aiken Harcourt, Inc. © 2007

   Felix Brooke is an orphan living with his mother's father in Spain . His grandfather and aunts don't like him, because they believe that his mother wasn't married to the English man who fathered Felix. Felix's only friend has recently died and he has no one left who loves him in Spain . However, before dying, his friend gives him some of his father's possessions. A letter is included among them, and the only words Felix can read are "The Rose and the Ring Dove". He runs away wishing to escape the loveless life that he has been subjected to these many years past. He vows to go to England and find his father's family who he hopes will love him, at least more than his mother's family. On his way to England , Felix faces many trials and makes new friends. His adventures teach him valuable life lessons and an appreciation of what he has in the world: friends and family.

     This story took awhile for me to get into. But, after the first couple of pages, the rest held a captivating adventure story with so much detail it was like I was there with Felix. The suspense of wanting to know if he ever found his father's family and what they were like kept me reading until the end. This book was superb. I'm not normally a big fan of action/adventure stories, but I really enjoyed it. AIken wove a little bit of everything - suspense, adventure, imagination into her marvelous story.

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

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Rat Life Tedd Arnold Dial Books © 2007

   Todd, a talented writer, lives in a motel owned by his mother and father. At just 14 years of age, Todd has a special talent. He can write. Not just write, but write very well. His short stories are funny and well put-together. Even his English teacher likes his writing. 

     More than anything, Todd wants a job—a real paying job. His father does not believe in allowance and Todd has to make twenty two of the twenty four beds at the motel. When the opportunity finally presents itself to Todd, he takes it.

     The job is offered by Rat, a Vietnam War Veteran. Todd finds there are a lot of mysterious things about Rat. When Todd investigates he finds himself between life and death... and a murder.

     Rat Life is Tedd Arnold 's debut novel for young adults. The one word that comes to my mind when I think of this work of fiction is wonderful. Tedd Arnold puts a murder mystery filled with twists and turns into the hands of a 14 year old with brilliant creative writing talents.

     I would recommend this novel to everyone who wants to read a great story.

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

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Life as We Knew It Susan Beth Pfeffer Harcourt Books © 2006

Miranda Evans is a junior in high school when a huge meteor hits the moon. Something goes wrong and the moon is placed out of orbit and really close to Earth. At first it just scares people, but people begin witnessing the full effects and all kinds of storms are affecting the world. Some places like Hawaii and the Bahamas do not even exist anymore.

     To make things worse, there are food shortages, no electricity, and many people are dying. Miranda, her two brothers Jonny and Matt, and their mother are all living the under one roof. Abruptly volcanoes start to erupt all over the place with new ones popping up all over the place. This is because the moon's gravitational pull is bringing all of the lava up from the core. The ash caused by the eruptions covers the world and puts a layer of it between the sun and the earth; this causes the world to go into an early winter in August.

     How is anyone going to survive without any heat and very little food in the middle of a world crisis, maybe even the end of the world? Read Life as We Knew it, and see how the world turns out, and if Miranda and her family will survive.

     I really liked this book and would recommend it to anyone from junior high to high school. You just do not want to put down this book. Susan Beth Pfeffer makes you feel as if you are a part of Miranda's family and are trying to get out of this horrible time alive. For people that like to read, this is an easy read and for people who think that reading is hard, this will truly change your mind.

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The Year My Sister Got Lucky Aimee Friedman Scholastic, Inc. © 2008

Katie and Michelle Wildler move from New York City to Fir Lake. They are use to the gilt and glamour of the city, not the hiking store at Fir Lake. So they are in a whole new world where the local hangout is the pizzeria, not the coffee shop. They are into dancing, and when there is not a very good ballet school they focus their attention to something else. They are known as the Dancing Wildler Sister. It is a challenge to get used to the new transformation.

I really enjoyed this book. It is a great book for any high school girl because it has everyday events, and the characters are just like the kids we go to school with. It has the girl you want to hate but you just can't. It has the boy that all girls want to date and every boy wants to be. Then there is the outcast that doesn't want to fit in. I loved this book, and it is the kind of book that you can read over and over again and never get tired of it. This is the kind of book that when you get to the end you hope there is a sequel.

-Devon Hooper, Grade 9, Wellsville High School, Wellsville, OH

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The Rising Star of Rusty Nail Lesley M. Blume Random House © 2007

The Rising star of Rusty Nail is about a girl, Franny, and her piano teacher, Olga. In the beginning of the story Franny has a horrible teacher, but her parents can't afford much more. Her dad was a good trumpet player, and her mother is well known for being a bad cook. One day, Franny and her friend Sandy find out a Russian is in town, and she is staying with a local neighbor, Charlie. Franny and Sandy decide to spy on the Russian, but they get caught. After finding out the Russian is the famous piano player Olga Franny decides to do whatever it takes to be that good.

This story is great for kids of all ages, especially those who enjoy music! I would recommend it to anyone. The book is easy to follow, and easy to comprehend. Before long, you will be amazed by the writings of Lesley M. M. Blume. If you are looking for a great book to read, this may be it!

-Sarah Filipovich, Grade 8, Boardman Center Middle School, Boardman, Ohio

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The Girlfriend Project Robin Friedman Walker & Company © 2007

The Girlfriend Project is a captivating book about a high school boy, Reed Walton, who is looking for a girlfriend. Reed and his two best friends, Ronnie and Lonnie, work together to get Reed a girlfriend. Ronnie very popular in school, and a lot of guys like her, including Reed. Lonnie is Ronnie's twin brother and is also very popular in school. Throughout the book there are laughs and tears, but in the end everything comes together.

The Girlfriend Project is a great story to read if you want to sit down and relax. The characters are believable, and are relatable. I think most people will appreciate what good friends Reed has. For the people who want to read a good romantic comedy type story, then you might want to pick up The Girlfriend Project by Robin Friedman.

-Sarah Filipovich, Grade 8, Boardman Center Middle School, Boardman, Ohio

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Tunnels Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams Chicken House © 2008

14 year-old Will Burrows likes to dig holes. These are not ordinary holes though. They are "digs" to Will and his father, Dr. Burrows. Rebecca, two years younger than her older brother Will, practically runs the Burrow's household. She does laundry, buys groceries and takes care of finances as well. Becca, gets no help from her mother. While Becca cooks, cleans and keeps the family from total chaos, Mrs. Burrows is watching television. While Dr. Burrows is digging or at his day job, and Will is digging, she is just glued to the t.v. Even though Will's family is not normal, he likes it. But, what if who he thought was his family was not? What is his whole life has been a lie?

     Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams make an awesome team. They are full of imagination and keep readers at the edge of their seats, holding onto the book with white knuckles, reading about the digs and what they will discover. They keep you wanting more and more. Gordon and Williams are writing a sequel called Deeps. Watch for it in 2009. Everyone should read this wonderful novel by these two wonderful authors.

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

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The Specialists: Model Spy Shannon Greenland Penguin Group © 2007

     16 year-old Kelly James has been in foster care for 10 years since her parents died in a plane crash. Just like any other 16 year old that has an IQ of 191, she is in her senior year at college. She has a major crush on her popular and cute RA, David. So when David asks her to hack into the governments system to help him find out if he truly is adopted, she does it without a second thought. But when Kelly does the simple task, she gets caught. She is taken to jail for hours and waits there wondering what is going to happen to her. When somebody does come and get her, she has decided not to say anything about David because she doesn't want to get him in trouble. Thomas Liba gives Kelly a chance to erase her crime and become part of a special group of teenagers that have special abilities like her computer skills.

     Kelly decides to go with Mr. Liba or TL and finds out that David is a part of this special group of people also. Kelly's name is changed to Kelly Spree or GiGi, as everyone calls her because she is a genius girl. After training with this group, the Specialists, TL decides that GiGi is ready for her first task. She is to pretend she is attending modeling school and then she is to find a microsnipet that has the whereabouts of David's father who was kidnapped 10 years ago.

     This book is a must-read. It is the first in a wonderful series called The Specialists. I would say that this is a girl book, but if there are guys who like to read mysteries, I'm sure they would enjoy it as well. I really liked the two sides of the story with the model and the spy. It is an easy read and enjoyable at the same time. I LOVED IT.

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

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The Spell Book of Listen Taylor Jaclyn Moriarty Arthur A. Levine Books © 2007

        Listen Taylor and her dad have just moved in with Marbie Zing. Marbie is eccentric, she's a Zing, and she has a Zing Family Secret. Every Friday, the Zings and Nathaniel, Listen's dad, retreat into the garden shed behind the Zing home. But Listen's got more important things to worry about. She's starting junior high. Listen starts junior high off with all her friends but soon they pull away, leaving Listen completely friendless. At home, Listen pretends she is completely fine. However, she finds refuge in a book she found entitled Spell Book. Inside the book, specific instructions on when and how the spells must be carried are given. Listen does a few for fun and when something horrible happens, she only keeps going because the book promises to mend her broken heart.

     I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!  It was written in true Jaclyn Moriarty fashion- a lot of truth with a little magic woven in. Her books teach so many lessons that when I read this book again in years to come, I'm sure I will learn another lesson every single time. Listen's journey throughout the book makes her a stronger person and she learns that everything happens for reason. This book is targeted for teenagers, but it can be read by anyone who's willing to enjoy a good book.

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

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How to Take the Ex Out of Ex-Boyfriend Janette Rallison Penguin Group USA © 2007

   How to Take the Ex Out of Ex-Boyfriend is about a high school junior named Giovanna. She dates a popular boy named Jesse from her school but finds it hard to fit in with his stuck-up friends. Giovanna's twin brother Dante, who is an outcast along with his sister, decides to run for school president. Dante does this to spite one of Jesse's best friends.

      Giovanna agrees to help Dante on his campaign and also asks her boyfriend to help. After Jesse agrees to help Dante out, he turns his back on her and helps his friend instead. Giovanna is upset that her boyfriend did that to her brother and ends up dumping him. As the story goes on, Giovanna fights to help her brother win the campaign, but at the same time is upset and wants Jesse back. Will Dante win the election, and will Jesse take Giovanna back?

      I really enjoyed How to Take the Ex Out of Ex-Boyfriend. The story was realistic. It is a type of story that could happen at any high school. The book keeps you interested from start to finish. The characters had great personalities and as a high school student, it was easy to relate to the characters.

      The ending was a surprise to me. I thought it was really good because of its positive ending. It seemed like everything came together at the end and everyone started getting along. I would recommend this book to female and male students from junior high to high school. Any student who is interested in student council and government would also be interested in this book.

 - Kayla DeGeorge, Grade 12, Sts. John and Paul High School, Ashtabula, OH  

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The Ruby Key Holly Lisle Orchard Books © 2008

  In a small village two heroes will soon be discovered. Genna and Dan are still young children, and their jobs are to do their chores and be respectful. Until they take it upon themselves to sneak into the forest (which is strictly forbidden) and get some sap from the old trees to cure their mother who has fallen mysteriously ill after their dad vanished into the night.

      In the forest, Genna and Dan come face to face with a nightling slave. This nightling slave is under control by the King of the nightlings, Letrin. Letrin is made up of pure evil. He rules with both evil and fear. He killed his own son.

     When the nightling slave takes them to see Letrin, they are told of betrayal in their village. One of the villagers struck a deal with Letrin so that he could become immortal. Genna and Dan find out that because of this deal their father vanished and their mother became ill. Both of them are outraged. Genna trys to strike a deal with Letrin so they can fix all this trouble. Letrin agrees, but only if they can bring him Doyati, his nephew, who has been hiding for the last hundred years. Even though they have the best tracker and a nightling helping them, can Genna and Dan find someone who doesnt want to be found?

     Holly Lisle has written many books for adults, but this is her first novel for young adult readers. Lisle, the master of suspense and fantasy, lives up to the name. She has written a great book for all ages and she is not done yet. The Ruby Key is the first of the Moon and Sun books. I can not wait until she finishes the next one. If you read this book, you will not be disappointed, until you finish it and want the next one.

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

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The Lion Hunter Elizabeth E. Wein Viking © 2007

The first book of The Mark of Solomon series starts off with the main character, Telemakos, going to visit his emperor's lions. His mother is giving birth to his baby sister and he can no longer stand around just doing nothing. Telemakos plays with the lions. He's not afraid of them because he has been friends with them since they were little. However, after awhile of playing with his furry friends, Telemakos is called away by his father to come see the new baby. Not thinking, in his excitement, Telemakos turns away from the lions and begins to run toward his father. This is a mistake because now the lions don't see their playmate runnning away from them; they see their prey running away. Telemakos is attacked and keeps himself from being killed by protecting his neck. His arm, though, is in bad shape. After a month of infections and surgeries to save his arm, Telemakos finally asks his father, a surgeon, to remove his arm and save him the suffering. Recovering from his surgery, Telemakos becomes extremely attached to his baby sister, who he names Athena.

      Telemakos used to be a spy for the emperor. Now his house is receiving death threats, and he is forced to leave. Athena goes with him because the two can't seem to live without each other. They go to Himyar where they have connections with the king, Abreha. It is here that Telemakos learns many things and not all of them are to his liking. The book ends with a major twist that can only be solved by reading the next book.

     I liked this book. It wasn't anything fantastic like others I have read, but is was an interesting read. Telemakos had so many challenges to face that I wanted to keep reading to discover how he fared in them. If you are looking for an adventure book with a lot of mystery wound in it, then you might want to try this one.

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

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The Falconer's Knot Mary Hoffman Bloomsbury © 2007

     This is a story of a couple of murders and some false accusations that all come down to one man, Silvano da Montacuto. The year is 1316 in Italy . There is romance in the air for 16 year-old Silvano, but the girl that he is in love with is married to a wealthy merchant. The husband of his love winds up murdered with Silvano's own dagger. Silvan is sent to a monastery to be a friar until Silvano's father finds out who the murderer truly is.

     A little bit before Silvano is sent to the monastery, a young girl with no dowry is sent to a convent by her guardian, her brother. Chiara does not have any calling to be a nun for the rest of her life; she loves clothes and jewelry, but she does not have a choice.

     Silvano and Chiara become friends through their work, making paint for the cathedrals that are being painted. Then the first murder at the monastery happens, and then the second and third. Can Silvano and Chiara stop this evil murderer? Maybe it's Silvano and he is just pretending to help and find the murderer. Read this book and find out if there are any more innocent lives that will be taken before the murderer is stopped.

     The old saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover" is true. By looking at the cover of this book, with the huge noose, bloody dagger and poison, I though that this book was going to be GREAT. But, truthfully, I found it quite boring and was wishing for the end to come. This is something that you would have to read for English class and then have group discussion on to really grasp the story line. 

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Harlem Summer Walter Dean Myers Scholastic Press © 2006

  Harlem Summer is un upbeat book that depicts what life is really like for young children who get mixed up with the wrong crowd. Mark is a young boy who dreams of being a saxophone player in a jazz band with his friends. He also maintains a job working for the local newspaper, The Crisis. The Crisis is searching for the “New Negroes” in town. Mark looks up to a guy named Fats, who has several musical records out and is the most well-known celebrity in town. Fats asks him to help him with a shipment, and Mark gets involved in some serious trouble with the local gangster, Dutch Schultz. In the end, Mark realizes that he wants to just be himself and play his saxophone.
 This is a story of a young boy whose family struggles to make ends meet. Because of the hard times his family is going through, he gets mixed up with the wrong type of people just to make a few dollars. He does set things right in the end, and that teaches young people that no matter how far you dig yourself in a hole you get you can always turn it around and fill the hole back up again. In other words, it is never too late to change your destiny. I think this book is best suited for children in the sixth grade and up. This book combines humor and trouble in a good mannered way. It also shows how tough it is to be successful in the real world. In conclusion, this book is a spectacular read and depicts how the world is really like today.

- JoLynn Giancola, Grade 8, Boardman Center Middle School, Boardman, OH

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The After Life Daniel Ehrenhaft Razor Bill © 2007

The Shepherd family a nice loving family who always gets along and never hides any secrets from each other. The has to be a dream because the Shepherd family is one screwed up family. Will does drugs drinks and doesn't even know how to drive and he is only 19. Then there is Liz who is a teenager stuck in an adult body. She isn't quite sure who she is but at least she can drive. Liz's twin brother Kyle how is a business man all the way around. He finds clever ways to get peoples money and has to deal with Liz and Will.

Their dad is dead and Liz and Kyle finally get to meet their old half brother Will. They then have to drive from Florida to New York because their dad was one sick and twisted tease. They uncover truths and try to hide some too. As soon as they began to understand each other or start to get along something happens and everything falls to pieces.

This is one amazing road trip that I would have liked to witness (at times). They race against the clock to get Will's money. They come together and fall apart. It is one unique events takes place after another. It is amazing the Daniel got all of these events to fit in to one book. I really enjoyed this amazing, unique, different book. I have never read anything like this and I don't think I ever will (unless I re-read this book.) I would suggest this book for juniors and seniors. It has some mature adult situation but that doesn't take away from the book I think that it builds the characters.

- Devon Hooper, Grade 9, Wellsville High School, Wellsville, OH

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Ludie's Life Cynthia Rylant Harcourt, Inc. © 2006

Ludie's Life is a colorfully worded book written in a poetic style. Ludie is born in Alabama and lives a good life until her mother dies and her father remarries. Her step-mother is mean and wicked and only gives Ludie scraps to eat off of the dinner table. Ludie has to steal her supper every night. At sixteen she gets married, moves to live with her husband, Rupe, in West Virginia , and has six children in their small, loving home. Ludie raises her children well and they become extremely successful in life. Rupe works in the coal mines near home. Ludie knows who she is and is happy with herself but never can fully accept anyone who is more educated, anyone who is too “uppity” about themselves, or anyone more successful in life than her. That is Ludie's only problem. She is this way because of her step-mother. In the end, Ludie becomes even more successful than some of these people because of how much love she has for herself, everyone, and everything around her.
 This is a story of many Ludies, not just one. Each individual chapter is Ludie, but it's a different Ludie. For example, in one chapter she is an old woman and is telling her granddaughter about how she didn't want her when she was a baby. Then, she is on a family picnic in the park and her toddler accidentally bumps a gun and it fires straight into Ludie's father's back. She is the person who has to run all the way into town to get help. In other words, Ludie represents every woman in the world in this book. She has characteristics that every woman has, but all of everyone's characteristics were combined to make one Ludie. This book is best suited for children in the sixth to the ninth grade. This book shows how even if you start off stealing food off your own kitchen table, in the end you can amount to a loving, nurturing person, just like Ludie. Just never give up hope. In conclusion, this book was a fascinating and enjoyable read that shows how much you can amount to if you just believe.

-JoLynn Giancola, Grade 8, Boardman Center Middle School, Boardman, OH

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Harley Like A Person Cat Bauer Knopf © 2007

Harley Columba is convinced that she is adopted. Her parents assure her that she isn't. She goes on a secret mission to find out the truth. She is very determined to prove everyone wrong. To show them that she isn't crazy, that she is adopted and she can't be related to a monster like Roger. She has many road blocks that she must overcome, but she is one tough cookie. She knows what she has to do, and most of the time she does the right thing. But then she gets to a point where she does the exact opposite. She only does it to get under people's skin to make them notice her.

I loved this book. It was really good. I just couldn't put it down. Her story is so amazing. Harley is the type of character that you wish was your best friend at certain times in the story. Then there are times when you don't know what she was thinking but then something happens and you feel so bad you wish you could rescue her. This book is good for kids in high school. They can see that some people who look like their life is normal and they don't have family problems have secrets just like everyone else. I can't wait to read the next book.

- Devon Hooper, Grade 9, Wellsville High School, Wellsville, OH

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A Little Friendly Advice Siobhan Vivian Push © 2008

Ruby, a normal teenage girl with a lot of trouble, has the chance to make everything right with her estranged father. She depends on her friends to get her through the hardship she is having. But she realizes that some of her friends aren't the most dependable. Some just want to focus on their problems and some just want to keep the truth hidden from her. She goes to her mom to try and find out why her dad left and to get a few of her questions answered but her mom is like a safe and she has forgotten the combination. She gets nothing out of her mom and is still left with unanswered questions. Ruby is having a pretty hard month.

This was a good book. It shows how messed up some families can be and that every family has its own secrets. The suspense of what Ruby is going to do about her problems is unbelievable. One book that I have read that is similar to this one is Harley Like a Person. Both books have family issues. The friendship between the girls is great. It shows that sometimes your friends just want to protect you from things they think will hurt you. I think this one of the best books I have ever read. I would suggest this to one who is into family dramas. I think it was a great book.

- Devon Hooper, Grade 9, Wellsville High School, Wellsville, OH

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Eulalia! Brian Jacques Philomel Books © 2007

This book starts off with a sea raider and his crew murdering a badger family and taking the young one, Gorath, hostage. Gorath is knocked unconsious by a vicious blow to the head dealt by the captain Vizka. Gorath vows revenge for his grandparents' death and refuses Vizka's wishes for him to join the crew.

     Vizka has heard of Redwall, a seemingly magical place where he believes he can be king. Once on the land and headed to Redwall, he captures a young thief, Orkwil, who is exiled from his home for a season. Orkwil, being an expert thief, frees himself and Gorath from their chains and he and Forath set out for Redwall.

     The aged badger, Lord Asheye of Salamandastron, has dreams of a young badger who must be found so Salamandastron has a lord after he dies. He sends Maudie to find the badger. Eventually, she does find the badger. But, before Gorath leaves, he must kill those who killed what once was the only thing dear to him. A battle rages between good and evil as revenge is sought after and power is wanted.

     This book was really good. It reminded me of the Lord of the Rings series with its battles between good and evil and the emphasis on the power of friends. With each new plot twist, I kept wanting more until finally the war was over and victory achieved!

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

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Clay David Almond Delacorte Press © 2005

  The day Stephan Rose arrived in David's town is a day he will never forget.

     At thirteen years of age, David and his best friend Geordie are altar boys at their Catholic Church . These two most superb friends are disobedient, battling with local hooligans and causing a great deal of additional trouble. They steal sacred wine from the church, cigarettes from their fathers, and call people horrible names. All this is supposed to stop when Father O'Mahoney asks them to befriend the new boy in town, Stephan Rose.

     David and Geordie try to become better people,and they try to fulfill Father O'Mahoney's request. They fail terribly. David confesses his sins to Father O'Mahoney and feels better, but he ends that same day calling someone "Fishface" and smoking stolen cigarettes.

     These great friends talk with Stephan and find the real story. They find out why he got kicked out of the school where he was supposed to learn how to become a priest. But only David digs down deep and uncovers the real truth. David gains information that he and Stephan are special. He learns that he and Stephan have gift that no one else has. He and Stephan have the "Gift of Life".

     Stephan wants to use this power for evil. On the other hand, David wants to solve his problems with the local thugs. When they finally create a life size figure out of clay, David is near insane. Because of their work, someone ends up dead.

     David Almond had written some good books, but in my opinion, Clay is his best. He separates this wonderful narrative into three sections and fills the pages with wonderful detail and reality. This is a novel that will soon be at the top of everyone's book list.

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

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The Empress's Tomb Kirsten Miller Bloomsbury Children © 2007

     It's present day in New York City , with animals being set loose to run the streets, giant squirrels being painted on the buildings, and the Fu-Tsang gang trying to kill Kiki. Oonas' father is the leader of this gang.

     Let me introduce you to the Irregulars, a group of young girls saving the world and their own hides: There's the fearless leader, Kiki Strike; the mechanic, Luz Lopez; the schemer, Oona Wong; the chemist, DeeDee Morlock; the master of Disguises, Betty Bent; and the average Ananka Fishbein. Kiki has royal blood and her relatives are all trying to kill her