Zoe Strickland 's Reviews

The Mark

by Jen Nadol

Reviewed by: Zoe Strickland, 8th Grade

Cassandra Renfield is your average girl. Except for the fact that she knows when people are going to die. She doesn't know where or how, but she knows it will happen the day she sees The Mark. Through this book, Cassie tries to find more about her power, while still being secretive. Through her journey, one question always remains "If you know today is someone’s last, should you tell them?"

This book was amazingly addicting. Jen Nadol did a wonderful job writing this. It is a book that I will be sure to never forget. Nadol takes you into a marvelous emotional roller-coaster that is never-ending. At times, I found myself screaming at this book.

When I read it, it felt like I was in the story. I highly recommend this book. My personal copy has been passed around all of my friends and they have all loved it too.

The Naughty List

by Suzanne Young

Reviewed by: Zoe Strickland, 8th Grade

The Naughty List is about Tessa Crimson. Tessa is the leader of SOS (Society of Smitten Kittens), "a cheer squad–turned–spy society dedicated to bringing dastardly boyfriends to justice, one cheater at a time." SOS generally seems like it would be a good organization, except for the fact that every boy that has been suspected is 100% guilty. When Tessa's boyfriend shows up on the list, she is compelled to spy on him.

Suzanne Young did an amazing job writing this. It pulled me in, and wouldn't let me out of its grasp until I turned the last page. The swearing substitutions were hilarious and adorable. This was one of those books that has gossip and cheerleaders. Normally I would shy away from those sorts of books, but this time was different. It was thoughtful, addicting, well-written, while still having that girly edge that made the book fun to read. Suzanne Young is an amazing debut author. The Naughty List is a must read!

Shay Ledger's Reviews

Anna Maria’s Gift

by Janice Shefelman

Reviewed by: Shay Ledger, 1st Grade

This book is about a girl named Anna Maria. Her father dies and somebody took her to Venice. She still had her violin that her father made before he died. She goes to live in an orphanage called the Pieta where she can learn music. Then she meets her violin teacher. She learns music.

It is a cool book. It was fun to read because I liked Anna Maria’s curly hair. She had a nice violin. I felt like it was sad when her father died, but it was happy when we finished the book!

Cameron Hill's Reviews

Princess For Hire

by Lindsey Leavitt

Reviewed by: Cameron Hill, 6th Grade

Desi Bascomb’s life is okay at best, torturous at worst. So when she finds out (from an agent that floats out of her bathtub in a bubble) that she has magic potential, she grasps the opportunity to add some intrigue to her life…In the form of substituting for princesses!

Everything kicks off from when Desi is visited by an uptight agent who tells her that she has magic potential. This means that she can use a special substance called Royal Rouge. Meredith, the agent, orders her to make a snap decision on whether or not she would like to substitute for princesses when they take their vacations. Desi agrees, hoping to add some glamour to her small town life. She soon finds that being a princess isn’t always what it is cracked up to be.

She also begins to change the lives of her princesses. Her agency disagrees, but who can stop a princess (substitute?)?

I highly recommend this book to people who like fantasy mixed with realistic fiction. This book made me laugh but think about what the right thing to do is when you are someone else.

Rose Turpin's Reviews

Palace Beautiful

by Sarah deFord Williams

Reviewed by: Rose Turpin, 4th Grade

When you move to a new house, do you think how your life might change when you find a diary hidden there? Sadie and Zuzu know all about this when they move to Utah from Texas. Sadie meets a friend named Bella. Sadie, Bella, and Zuzu discover a mysterious diary in the attic crawl space. In the diary they read about how thirteen year old Helen and baby brother Freddie survived the influenza outbreak in Utah of 1918.

I recommend this book because there is friendshipo, caring, and responsibility. It's a learning adventure about life difficulties. All of the things that I just said are why I like this book. I love this book which is why I cannot say anything I did not like.

Kate Trapnell's Reviews

All Unquiet Things

by Anna Jarzab

Reviewed by: Kate Trapnell, 7th Grade

In this novel, a girl named Carly is brutally murdered. Her death is blamed on her cousin’s unresponsible father, who is charged with murder at his hearing. Carly and her cousin Audrey were very close, and Audrey now decides to investigate the murder. She believes that her father isn’t guilty. Audrey enlists the help of Carly’s ex-boyfriend, Neily, in her search for the criminal. Neilly is a smart, slightly handsome boy who refuses to be sucked into the in crowds and out crowds of high school. Together, they begin a search that will end in surprising results.

All Unquiet Things is written by Anna Jarzab. I thought it was very suspenseful and well-written. I liked how you could see both Audrey’s and Neilly’s thoughts since it was narrated by both of them. It wasn’t a normal mystery, where the detective is perfect and sees everything right away. It was deeper than that, and all the characters seemed very real and connected. I really enjoyed reading this story.

The View From the Top

by Hillary Frank

Reviewed by: Kate Trapnell, 7th Grade

Due: May, 2010

In this book, The View From the Top, the author Hillary Frank does a great job of describing the characters. She also connects them from the start, weaving their lives together into a one great story. This book was set in Maine, and it involves six teens who each have at least one chapter they get to narrate. Anabelle is the one everyone loves, as a friend or as a girlfriend. The five others all rotate around her, vying for her attention. Most of them are friends, but as the summer goes on, many things change. Also, Anabelle starts to wonder about who she really is. Through this complicated book, the minds of these teens are revealed in their writing. I really enjoyed reading this novel and entering the lives of these people. This book was filled with choices and discoveries. The characters Jonah, Lexi, Matt, Anabelle, Tobin, and Mary-Tyler all have hard lives in one way or another, but in the end they all reach a conclusion about their lives. This book is definitely on my top ten list.

For Keeps

by Natasha Friend

Reviewed by: Kate Trapnell, 7th Grade

For Keeps, by Natasha Friend, is a novel about love, knowledge, and moving on. Josie Gardner is in her third year of high school when something big happens. Her mother’s ex-boyfriend’s parents show up in town. This may not seem like a big deal, but for her mother it is. These people are the parents of Josie’s father whom she has never met. After he got her mother pregnant in high school, he took off to Arizona and her mother had to drop out of high school. This is tough all around. Josie doesn’t have a father, and her mother has a mental breakdown after she spots his parents. This is the beginning of a string of problems for Josie.

First, she begins to like a boy she would never pick after what happened........ Then her crazy best friend gets in trouble. After that, her dad shows up, and then chaos erupts. I enjoyed reading this book, because the characters were very vibrant. They all had a distinct personality, and they all had different likes and dislikes. It was fun to read, because the author kept you interested in the plot.

Simone L.'s Reviews

Movie For Dogs

by Lois Duncan

Reviewed by: Simone L., 6th Grade

In the book, Movie For Dogs, an 11 year old girl named Andi Walker submits a story to Pet Lovers Press, hoping Bobby Strikes Back will get published. Bobby Strikes Back is about a basset who saves a bunch of other dogs from the mean Mr. Rinkle. When Andi finds out that her story got second place, she is devastated. She feels even worse because she lost to her enemy, Jerry Gordon. Her older brother, Bruce, then finds something on the internet to substitute for not getting first place in the Pet Lovers Press contest, with the help of their great aunt Alice. Then, Andi, Bruce, Aunt Alice, and friends all help to make a movie out of Bobby Strikes Back. When Bobby Strikes Back gets into the finals, everyone is excited. Andi, Aunt Alice, Bruce, and his dog go to Hollywood for interviews. But when they find out that Jerry Gordon has to sign a release form, their hopes drop. Why would their enemy agree to sign it? Read the rest of the book to find out what happens next.

I think that the author, Lois Duncan, does a great job describing everything and everybody, like what a dog or person looks like, and their personalities. And what’s really cool is that there are other books in the series. Movie For Dogs is the third one. The first is Hotel for Dogs, which you probably know about because of the movie, and the second one is News for Dogs. I hope you read this awesome book, and love it as much as I do.

Sheryl Cherian's Reviews

Incarceron

by Catherine Fisher

Reviewed by: Sheryl Cherian, 8th Grade

Incarceron is a vast prison that was created hundreds of years before the book begins, for putting all the bad people and rebels. It was an experiment to supposedly create a perfect society within the prison.

The two main characters are Finn and Claudia. Claudia lives Outside, in an era where people are trying to recreate a past age. She comes from a fairly rich family. She lives in a manor, and her father is the Warden of Incarceron. She is engaged to marry the prince, which she is not too happy about because she dislikes him and his mother, the queen.

Finn is inside Incarceron, and when we first meet him he is with a gang of criminals. He cannot remember where he came room, and he sees visions, often of the stars, which cannot be seen in Incarceron.

Throughout the book, Finn and his friends are trying to escape, and Claudia is trying to discover Incarceron’s secrets, and to find a way in. I really liked this book for many reasons, including that it has many shocks, is fascinating, and that it is just a very good book. I am looking forward to reading the sequel, Sapphique.

Through this tantalyzing adventure, Catherine Fisher takes you on a journey you can't wait to finish. Although the book can be confusing at times, it never fails to reel you back in. Earning 7 and 1/2 stars, Incarceron is a book for people who like intense novels with a revealing end. Needless to say, I hope that there will be a sequel as the end of the book is a cliff-hanger. All-in-all, this book is an intriguing read for those who dare to open the book and enter the gates of Incarceron.

The Cinderella Society

by Kay Cassidy

Reviewed by: Sheryl Cherian, 8th Grade

Moving into a new town as the new sophomore is never easy. It's even harder if you are the enemy of one of the most popular kids in the school just because you are looking for salvation in a sport. Jess Parker was so grateful that it was the end of school, but when she finds an anonymous note telling her to go to a famous restaurant, Jess doesn't know if it is the work of her enemy. Later that day, she finds the note is legit and that she is supposed to join the Cinderella Society; a group of the nicest, most popular girls in the school. She is supposed to help the Reggies (regular kids) stand up against the Wickeds. Now with a new employment surge, the Wickeds are a bigger threat than ever! With a new look and confident attitude, Jess must help the Reggies fight against the Wickeds and find out a way to stop their organization altogether.

This book is a total chick-novel; if you like novels about girls with problems with looks and guys, this is the book for you. For me, I thought this was a little too girly. I would have preferred a book with more fast-paced action and adventure, but overall, it's not a bad book. Earning a 6 1/2 out of 10, This book is a good read for the average girl, looking for some confidence. This book tells you that you don't need to be a girl with the best looks or most popular in the class, all you need is a little confidence and brains, then you can go far.

Leah Kaufman's Reviews

Wish I Might

by Coleen Muragh Paratore

Reviewed by: Leah Kaufman, 9th Grade

Wish I Might, the title of Coleen Muragh Paratore’s beach read says it all. The girl wishes, she gets. Though not realistic--in fact more idealistic-- the novel gives us hope that the teen world isn’t so tainted and vulgar as it appears. The story is surprisingly complex including a long lost brother, a cute boyfriend, a missing father, and a best friend in need of some aid. Willa is about to have the summer of a lifetime when JFK, Willa’s devoted and sweet boyfriend, goes away for the summer and it seems as if everything is shut down. But then her bestie gets evicted and her long lost brother that she never knew about shows up to tell her that her father may not be dead. Woo, sounds like quite a summer to me.

Through the novel Willa stays true to herself and ideals and is headstrong, yet still is kind which is a refreshing take on the teen girl. Willa splishes and splashes through this uplifting book that reminds us that there are sometimes believable happily ever afters. Magic is in the air and I invite you to take a peak into Willa’s life and you might be surprised but what you see.

Unwritten Rule

by Elizabeth Scott

Reviewed by: Leah Kaufman, 9th Grade

The Unwritten Rule, by Elizabeth Scott, weaves a tale of three teens all-searching for love. Sarah, the narrator of the novel, is best friends with the beautiful and dramatic Brianna. All the boys are in love with her yet Brianna isn’t as perfect as she appears. Her parents have practically abandoned her after their nasty divorce and she lives in constant fear of being deserted by people. Now enters a boy. Ryan and Sarah have a history and on one summer night it looks like they will finally face their affection for each other. Yet through a turn of fate when the evening ends, Ryan leaves with Brianna. The story of friendship, lost love, and searching thus ensues.

The battle between ones heart and what is right is a problem in our lives today and as Sarah, Ryan, and Brianna take the tumultuous ride we can all see ourselves in them. Seeing Sarah become her own person as the book goes on and as she becomes stronger and stronger is a beautiful thing to be a part of. As the end nears you can practically see Sarah’s wings spread and her heart pound as she takes the leap of faith into her own being.

Though this book isn’t wonderful literature, it is a good read and reminds us all to dance to our own drum and to sometimes go after love even if you lose something, because in the end sometimes the things you lost, you never really needed.

My Boyfriends’ Dogs

by Dandi Daley Mackall

Reviewed by: Leah Kaufman, 9th Grade

My Boyfriends’ Dogs by Dandi Daley Mackall is a sweet and innocent teen novel about the twists and turns of first love and all the emotions that unfortunately come with it. Bailey Dailey, the principal character, is trying to find the one. She hasn’t had a boyfriend and longs for one as many do. Enter Went Smith, the perfect guy. Just newly transferred from California, blond, tan, and utterly breathtaking Bailey is head over heels and it just might be that Went feels the same way. But what Bailey doesn’t know is that there is a lot more to learn about Went and it might take her a while to finally come to terms with it. Now enters Adam. No--not another boy--but a furry, white, adorable dog who happens to belong to Went and who Bailey falls utterly in love with. This book follows Bailey, her best friend Amber, and her positively crazy mother, a few boys (some good but mostly bad), and a couple lovable dogs through the painful and exciting years of first love.

The story begins with a bedraggled, Bailey entering a small café on a rainy night that happens to also be the night of her high school prom. She steps into the closed café asking for shelter. Inside she finds the kindly, yet old owner, a harsh cook who has a lot to learn from Bailey and a young college man who has a secret to tell. Thus brings us to another story within a story. Here in the cozy confines of the café she tells the tale of Bailey Dailey.

The story though charming and engaging at times lags and is predictable. The characters on the other hand are completely different. Bailey Dailey is an innocent, lovable, and completely boy-obsessed girl who just can’t seem to find "the one." Bailey is sweet but at times becomes erratically obsessive about boys...putting them before more important things which I am sure leans towards accuracy but is unappealing to say the least. The sidekicks, her mother and best friend Amber, are much more interesting and seem like more worthwhile people. They never are disloyal to Bailey even when she is at her worst and seem to truly love and care for her as she is along with all her faults.

All in all this novel is a sweet twist of first love and high school. Though a bit on the generic side, it still has its moments. It is nice though to every once in a while have a book that has more truth in it then made up ideas of what high school and people really are. The characters are enchanting but seem like real people who make mistakes and do bad and stupid things. This book is worth a read, but not a book you would read multiple times. I have enjoyed my time with Bailey Dailey but am ready to pass her on to the next reader.

Eliana Heath's Reviews

Incarceron

by Catherine Fisher

Reviewed by: Eliana Heath, 5th Grade

Incarceron is a vast prison that was created hundreds of years before the book begins, for putting all the bad people and rebels in it. It was an experiment to supposedly create a perfect society within the prison.

The two main characters are Finn and Claudia. Claudia lives Outside, in an era where people are trying to recreate a past age. She comes from a fairly rich family. She lives in a manor, and her father is the Warden of Incarceron. She is engaged to marry the prince, which she is not too happy about because she dislikes him and his mother the queen.

Finn is inside Incarceron, and when we first meet him he is with a gang of criminals. He cannot remember where he came room, and he sees visions, often of the stars, which cannot be seen in Incarceron.

Throughout the book, Finn and his friends are trying to escape, and Claudia is trying to discover Incarceron’s secrets, and to find a way in. I really liked this book for many reasons, including that it has many shocks, is fascinating, and that it is just a very good book. I am looking forward to reading the sequel, Sapphique.

Hearts at Stake

by Alyxandra Harvey

Reviewed by: Eliana Heath, 5th Grade

Hearts at Stake is a book about vampires. In this story, however, there is family known as the Drakes who can reproduce vampires, or rather, humans who will turn into vampires on their sixteenth birthday.

The story actually starts with a prophecy about the next girl to be born in the Drake family. Supposedly she would become the vampire queen, which would be a bit of a problem since there was already a not-so-nice one known as Lady Natasha.

As a matter of fact, Solange, who is the main character along with her human friend Lucy, doesn’t really want to be the vampire queen.

Solange is nearly sixteen when the book starts. She likes pottery making, has three brothers, and her family dates back for centuries. You can’t really find out if she is a good fighter or not, because when the huge fight is going on towards the end of the book, Solange is transforming, which means she is basically passed out.

Although this book is slightly short (short for me, that is), it is amusing and an extremely fascinating story.

Rampant

by Diana Peterfreund

Reviewed by: Eliana Heath, 5th Grade

Rampant is actually a very interesting book about unicorns. However, the unicorns in this book are man-eating beasts that have poisonous horns and can only be killed by virgin warriors called Hunters descended from Alexander the Great.

When the story actually starts, sixteen year old Astrid Llewelyn (the main character in this book) is babysitting two little girls, one age six and the other four. Both the girls are obsessed with unicorns, the imaginary kid. When Astrid finally gets them into bed, she calls her boyfriend, and when he arrives they go into the woods that are near the house. But when Astrid walks into the trees a little bit away from Brandt, the already mentioned boyfriend, she sees a goat-sized creature. At first she isn’t quite sure what it is, but then she realizes it is a unicorn, and, as she is told later, the smallest type known as Zhi, the only kind that are friendly to hunters. The Zhi tries to kill Brandt, and Astrid calls her mom, Lilith, who is able to cure Brandt. Brandt thinks he was drugged, so he breaks up with Astrid.

Lilith finds out that there is a Hunter school in Rome that is reopening and that flights there will be paid for, so Astrid goes there almost immediately. When all the young Hunters that can be found are in the school, they number around twelve.

When Astrid makes her first kill, it is a Reem, one of the larger types. Later when she is alone, somehow a Karkadann, the largest kind of unicorn, which is about the size of an elephant finds her and she has a kind of conversation with it which helps her in the future

.

The reasons I liked this book include the fact that it is extremely funny and suspenseful. This is probably for teenagers and young adults because it is super awesome. Literally.

Racing the Dark

by Alaya Dawn Johnson
*Available this Spring

Reviewed by: Eliana Heath, 5th Grade

Racing the dark is a book about a girl whose name is Lana. The story starts when she is twelve or thirteen. On the island she lives on there is a tradition, when a girl has her first period she has to pass a sort of test to enter womanhood. Lana has to dive and take a jewel from a kind of fish known as a Mandagah Fish. The jewel actually grows inside the fishes’ mouth. However, when Lana dives, she finds a dying fish which, as dying fish of that kind do, gives her two jewels, one a fairly normal one of a bright blue, and the other one an unusual orange-red. If she shows other people the red jewel she will be made into an elder eventually. Yet Lana does not want to stay on the island for the rest of her life, so she decides to hide the red jewel and simply show the others the blue. Determining this, she swims to the surface.

By the time Lana comes onto dry land she has been underwater for six minutes. When she returns home, she begins a process known as the “curing “ of the jewels. However, when she is taking a handful of slat to pat on the jewels, she drops one of them, and in order for it not to touch the ground (for then it would begin to rot) she accidently drops the salt. This is also rather a bad thing for the water around the outer islands were fresh water, and legend says that if salt touches the ground, the water will turn brackish. Eventually is does, but by that time Lana has moved to a different island. Her father has moved to an island further away to find a job so Lana and her mother both have to find separate jobs. Lana’s job is stirring these laundry vats, and the poisonous fumes make her sick. When she has recovered, she is apprenticed to a witch woman called Akua who teaches her magic.

Throughout the rest of the book, Lana’s powers develop, but she is haunted by a sort of spirit she calls The death, as it is a sort of projections of the death spirit. To escape it, she has to become a black angel. However, is is also a curse because she cannot touch the ground without The death getting her unless she is invited over a threshold. If you would like to know the rest of the story, you should read it for yourself.

What I like about this book is that it is funny in some places, interesting, and definitely very good. I think it would be a good thing for someone not too young to read. I also would really, really like to read the second book in the series, The Burning Mountain. So, overall, I thoroughly recommend it.

Keegan Ledger's Reviews

Guinea Dog

by Patrick Jennings
*Available this Spring

Reviewed by: Keegan Ledger, 3rd Grade

What this book is about:
This book is about a boy named Rufus. Rufus’ Mom bought him a guinea pig, instead of the dog that he wanted. Fido is the guinea pig. At first, Rufus doesn’t like the guinea pig, but later on in the book, he learns that the guinea pig has been trained by someone named Lurena. Lurena wants the guinea pig back, so she asks Rufus to give her the guinea pig and she will pay him. Rufus thought about that, but he decided not to give it back to her because Fido could do amazing tricks.

What I think of it:
I think that the book was interesting because usually guinea pigs don’t have the power to jump up and grab a Frisbee in their rodent teeth. It was funny because when the guinea pig was happy, she wiggled all over. I also liked the part when Rufus taught the guinea pig a new trick called “Kill”. When Lurena came over to his house, he told Fido to “Kill”. Fido woke up immediately and then snarled at Lurena, which startled her. (Fido did not kill her.)

Sierra Maciorowski's Reviews

Anastasia's Secret

by Susanne Dunlap

Reviewed by: Sierra Maciorowski, 7th Grade

Anastasia's Secret by Susanne Dunlap is an extraordinary book about Grand Duchess (Princess) Anastasia Nicholaevna Romanova and the journey of her family, from rulers of all Russia to lowly exiles in Siberia. At age 12, Anastasia is the youngest girl in her family, the joking immature girl who will never grow up. Anastasie is delighted when she meets Alexander "Sasha" Mikhailovich Galliapin, a guard at the imperial palace. To Anastasia's relief, Sasha treats her as a friend, not as a grand duchess, like everyone else. When Sasha goes away to fight in the war, Anastasie is extremely upset, and worried that their first kiss will be their last and that their secret romance will end. Anastasia and her sisters begin to nurse and read to the wounded in the hospitals, and every day, Anastasie looks at each man's face, in hopes of seeing her loved one. One day, her wish comes true, but with catches...Sasha has lost an eye, and turned bitter.

Once Sasha has healed, he is able to tell Anastasia the truth, causing innocent Anastasia to wonder and learn of the weaknesses and strengths of her father, the czar. The people's anger grows stronger and stronger, until finally the Provisional Government forces Czar Nicholas II to abdicate. Anastasia and her family are moved north to Siberia, the land of Russian exiles. To Anastasia's joy, Sasha is sent to Siberia as well, to guard over the royal family and prevent them from escape. Unknown to his superiors, Sasha is actually trying to free the czar and his children, but before he can help Anastasie to flee, the family is moved back into Russia, where he may have trouble reaching. Sasha can cause the escape of the entire family, with the help of other tsarist politicians and soldiers. Will he be able to discover an escape for his love? Or will it be too late? Anastasia's Secret, by Susanne Dunlap is a great novel for young adults ages 12 and up. This book is an amazing romantic story of the fall of the Russian czarist reign, especially for students studying the USSR and the czarists!

Fire

by Kristin Cashore

Reviewed by: Sierra Maciorowski, 7th Grade

Fire, by Kristin Cashore, tells the amazing tale of the only human monster in the kingdom of the "Dells" and her unique powers. Raised in the northern mountains by Lord Brocker, his son Archer, and her father Cansrel, "Fire" is extremely surprised when Prince Brigandell arrives on her doorstep, on the orders of the king, to take her back to King's City. Fire travels with the army as they march to the royal city, facing many dangers and heartbreaking moments. In the palace, Fire is led to Queen Roendell's green house, where Princess Claradell, Prince Gavandell, and King Nashdell await her. They want Fire to use her powers of mind twisting to wring the truth out of prisoners about the scheming lords Mydogg and Gentian, and their plans to take over the Dells. Fire, terrified of becoming the monster her father was, refuses.

After many days, and many trials, Fire comes to a realization about her power. While she is held captive by a strange "graceling" from another kingdom, Fire finally realizes that not using her power will get people hurt, especially herself. Fire's power will save her kingdom... if she can only use it without harming her loved ones... Fire is an absolutely fabulous story for people ages 13 and up. I would especially recommend this book to any Tamora Pierce fans.

Logan Heyerly's Reviews

The Miles Between

by Mary E. Pearson

Reviewed by: Logan Heyerly, 12th Grade

I like it. Rather odd, but sweet, cute, touching. And amusing. I can see this appealing to anyone who likes contemporary fiction novels.

Looking for Marco Polo

by Alan Armstrong

Reviewed by: Logan Heyerly, 12th Grade

A good book, fun, but the subject (Marco Polo) isn't that interesting to me. I liked it, I guess. Great for any kids that like to learn about historical figures.

Hush, Hush

by Becca FitzPatrick

Reviewed by: Logan Heyerly, 12th Grade

Mysterious, sexy, compelling. Fallen angels and mysterious killers. Very exciting and original. I enjoyed it a lot; it kept me guessing until the very end.

The Magician's Elephant

by DiCamillo

Due: September, 2010

Reviewed by: Logan Heyerly, 12th Grade

I like it. Sweet Story. Good for intended age group.

Anyone who likes magic would probably like it. It reminds me a bit of Coraline, only without the creepiness.

Fat Vampire

by Adam Rex

Due: August, 2010

Reviewed by: Logan Heyerly, 12th Grade

I really liked the uniqueness of this book's main character- a fat vampire! I didn't particularly enjoy the ending, but the story was overall very good. It has the main points of any average vampire book, but with the fun twist of the vampire not being hot and sexy.

White Cat

by Holly Black

Due: May, 2010

Reviewed by: Logan Heyerly, 12th Grade

I didn't enjoy this book as much as Black's others that I have read, but it is still good. The plot was very interesting, and very confusing--one of those where the characters make plans without telling the reader. I always find that fun. The ending was very satisfying.

The Fire Opal

by Regina McBride

Due: May, 2010

Reviewed by: Logan Heyerly, 12th Grade

A very interesting story, based on an Irish myth of some sort, I believe. It's a bit confusing, but overall, it's pretty fun. In some parts, the story is a bit rushed, which I find slightly annoying, but it wasn't that bad.

She's So Dead To Us

by Kieran Scott

Due: May, 2010

Reviewed by: Logan Heyerly, 12th Grade

I really enjoyed this book, it was a good teen book for sure. It illustrates the horrible things that peer pressure can cause people to do, and also how people can move past that. I really liked the ending of this book, it was a "ending", but also left room for a sequel if Scott decides to write one.

Jack Blank and the Imagine Nation

by Matt Myklusch

Due: May, 2010

Reviewed by: Logan Heyerly, 12th Grade

Very good book with a fairly original storyline, I enjoyed it. The Imagine Nation is a very interesting place, a place where comic book stories come from. Jack Blank is a fun character. Good book for comic book lovers, at least in my opinion.

Carter's Big Break

by Brent Crawford

Due: June 01, 2010

Reviewed by: Logan Heyerly, 12th Grade

This book was okay, I mean, I suppose it's good. But the main character, Carter, is such an idiot- though I suppose that goes without saying, as he is a young teenage guy. The storyline is pretty good, and the book is well written, but I just don't enjoy reading about boys at that age, especially ones as stupid as Carter. I sincerely hope that not all teen guys his age are as stupid as him when it comes to relationships....

A Most Improper Magick

by Stephanie Burgis

Due: April 01, 2010

Reviewed by: Logan Heyerly, 12th Grade

Kat is hilarious, very spunky. The family dynamic is interesting to start out with, and the added magic problems just makes it that much more fun. The story is funny, and fits perfectly in the time in which it is set. I really enjoyed the book. It's a bit like The Purple Emperor set in a Jane Austen book.

Spells

by Aprilynne Pike

Due: May 01, 2010

Reviewed by: Logan Heyerly, 12th Grade

I really really like this book. The setting is so cool, and the storyline is fun. I love the main character and her dilemma is an interesting one. The world that Pike has created is unlike any faerie world I've ever read about, and I wish the book had focused more on that instead of the story, but I know that will come in the later in the series. Well written, good faerie/human story.

Imaginalis

by J. M. DeMatteis

Due: June 29, 2010

Reviewed by: Logan Heyerly, 12th Grade

This book is a little bit Narnia, a little bit Inkheart, and a little bit all its own. Though it is a bit young for me, I like it. Mehera, the main character, is cute- though a bit obsessive, and I enjoyed how DeMatteis brought modern technology into the world of paper and imagination.

Early to Death, Early to Rise

by Kim Harrison

Due: May 25, 2010

Reviewed by: Logan Heyerly, 12th Grade

I really like this story. The storyline is original, fun, and exciting. Madison, the dead main character who doesn't seem very dead, is really cool, and her sidekicks are hilarious. The underlying question in the story, of whether fate or choice is more important or powerful, is a very interesting one, and Harrison's storyline is perfect for the discussion of it, in a fun, light way.

Bullet Point

by Peter Abrahams

Due: April 27, 2010

Reviewed by: Logan Heyerly, 12th Grade

This book irritated me. Wyatt wouldn't do what I thought he should, the characters ended up being who I didn't want them to be, it was just frustrating for me overall. But it is an interesting story, though I find the ending to just be sad, with no real point.

Hold Still

by Nina LaCour

Reviewed by:Logan Heyerly, 12th Grade

I like this book. It's very sad, but good because it's realistic. I'm not sure what type of person would like it. It's a teen survivor guilt kind of a story. Actually, I can't think of many teen girls who wouldn't like it really.

Along for the Ride

by Sarah Dessen

Reviewed by: Logan Heyerly, 12th Grade

Like all of Sarah Dessen's books, Along for the Ride, is a very accurate representation of teenage struggles. Poor Auden, dealing with divorced parents, college, and her own emotional problems, is not far from the average teen, which makes it so easy to connect. This particular book is so beautiful, as it tells of the healing through love of two deeply wounded teens. The story also shows quite clearly the fear of close relationships that most teens experience in today's world, as they see and experience so many dysfunctional relationships.

All Unquiet Things- A Novel

by Anna Jarzab

Reviewed by: Logan Heyerly, 12th Grade

A heart-wrenching story; this book made me cry. However, the mystery makes the novel something besides a sob-story, and the ending is such a surprise. While it isn't a happy fairytale ending, it's realistic and about as happy as it could get. I really enjoyed the book, despite its depressing subject matter, and feel that most girls in my age group would. It's well written and a good story.

Hamlet

by John Marsden

Reviewed by: Logan Heyerly, 12th Grade

Rating(1-10): 7

This book has taken a Shakespeare play and inserted enough emotions and sexuality into it to make it much easier to relate to. There is a lot of insanity and it is rather depressing story, but also very captivating, as I have never found Shakespeare's plays to be. I feel that anyone who likes Hamlet by Shakespeare, but can't abide his language or writing style, would like this book. Also this version of the story gives a lot more attention to Ophelia, which is interesting. I enjoyed it, and I now feel that I understand the story of Hamlet much better than I did after reading the play.

Demon King

by Cinda Williams Chima

Reviewed by: Logan Heyerly, 12th Grade

Rating(1-10): 8-9

I really like this book, it's got a very interesting story line. The ending leaves you waiting for the sequel. Anyone who likes the "magic/kingdom/streetrat" type of story should love this.

Emerald's Reviews

Peace, Love & Baby Ducks

by Lauren Myracle

Reviewed by: Emerald (member, Teen book of the Month club)

Peace, Love & Baby Ducks was a very exciting book. The book begins with a letter from Carly, the main character, to her little sister, Anna. Carly is off building a trail in the mountains for 6-weeks-a clever way to open up the story. When Carly returns, she discovers things have changed in her absence-her cute “little” sister, Anna, has become “the girl guys are drooling over.” Carly cannot help but be a little bit jealous. As the girls start the school year, Carly gets a bad haircut while Anna continues her transformation of “gorgeous.”.Over the course of the school year, the girls deal with parents, boys, friends and evil P.E. teachers. The book comes to an end with a party complete with wine coolers and a swimming pool kiss!

Overall, this book was awesome-I was engrossed from the get-go! It had a plot that was both complicated, yet funny. It is probably the best “teen fiction” I have ever read.