Never Say Die by Carolyn Keene

If you are a mystery lover, NEVER SAY DIE is perfect for you! Nancy Drew, a teen detective, must save her friend, George, from all the so-called accidents happening to her. George, a girl who loves sports, is racing in quite a few different events in the Summitville Junior Classic. But someone is trying to get her to quit and will stop at nothing. Then a client of Nancy's father is robbed of a software program. Can Nancy solve the two crimes at once? Read the book to find out! I liked this book because it's very descriptive, clear with wording, and has lots of cliffhangers. In conclusion, I think NEVER SAY DIE is a great book for all suspense seekers! Timmy W.

Leaving Fishers by Margaret Haddix

At a new high school in Indianapolis, Dorry Stevens thought she would never make friends when one day she is introduced to a faction of acquaintances. Soon, she discovers that her friends are all a part of a religious group called the Fishers of Men. Dorry is overjoyed with her new companions' attention, but the Fishers make severe demands of their members. LEAVING FISHERS is an intense book written by Margaret Peterson Haddix, who is also the author of Running out of Time. I thought this was a wonderful and very descriptive book that tells a superb story. It has a great storyline and is filled with many feelings and emotions. Audrey C.

Vanished by Jean Waricha

Many people vanish without a trace. VANISHED tells of some of the most famous of all these cases. Was Ambrose Bierce killed in the Mexican Revolution, or was his stressful life too much to handle? Did George Leigh Mallory ever make it to the peak of Mt. Everest? Was Amelia Earhart alive after her plane crashed, or did she even make it to land? Whatever happened to Michael Clark Rockefeller who went exploring in New Guinea and never returned?

This book has its ups and downs. For me, one of the ups is its mysterious tone. I love reading mysteries. One of the downs is that it only has a few pages for each disappearance. The mood changes. For most cases, the mood starts happily, with the only exception being Ambrose Bierce who, growing up, hated his parents. Then the mood starts to go bad. For instance, Amelia Earhart's plane started to run out of fuel. Then things quickly go from bad to worse when the disappearances occur. Bruce H.

In the Key of Do by Carole Frechette

This book was excellent. The story is about a girl named Vero who befriends a wildly dressed girl named Do. The story describes their friendship and the strange disappearance of Do. After seeing someone who looks like Do, Vero searches for Do with her other friend, JFK. Will she find Do? How will it end? Read it to find out!

I particularly enjoyed the writing style the author uses. Each chapter jumps from the past to the present. As the story progresses, the reader learns more about the girls' friendship and Vero's search in the present. The plot is incredibly simple, yet the characters and the suspense make you read on. I began to care about the characters' friendship and wanted to know if Do was found. The ending answers all the questions developed throughout the story. I highly recommend this book. Ellen D.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possesion of a good fortune must be in want of a wife...."

Thus begins one of the greatest romance classics in English literature. Elizabeth Bennet is the daughter of a country gentleman, the second of four sisters, with a fine sense of the ridiculous, no dowry, and questionable beauty. The eldest sister, Jane, is compared to an angel, and rightly so, for Jane is beautiful, thoughtful, sweet, amiable... and in some ways boringly lovable. Mary is the third sister, who ought to have been a preacher, for she believes herself very wise and well-informed. As Mary is the only plain daughter in a family of beauties, she dedicates herself to music and singing... which ought to have resulted in great musical achievement but for the fact that she is almost tone-deaf, has a horrendous voice, and has no taste of music whatsoever. Catherine comes next. She is known as the sister who has no personality of her own and, therefore, follows the youngest, Lydia, around like a lost puppy. As for Lydia, she is all that is loud, brazen, and impolite, with no manners to speak of. Their father is in the possession of a very dry sense of humor and a great love of books. Mrs. Bennet is best described as a twit, with the voice of a yowling cat and one goal in life, to get all five daughters married.

When 2 eligible bachelors enter the neighborhood, the entire town is thrown into a frenzy of excitement. Mr. Charles Bingley is all that is amiable and friendly, pleasant to look at, and "in possesion of a good fortune". He is immediately taken with Jane, and Jane returns his affections. To Elizabeth, they are indeed the perfectly matched couple.

The second gentleman is Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, tall, dark, and handsome (more along the lines of drop-dead gorgeous). He comes from a very prestigious and noble lineage, is his own master, and is very, very, very wealthy (10,000 pounds). However,(there is always a however, for such perfect men do not exist even in literature) Darcy is proud, arrogant, aloof, and thought to be above everyone around him. And insulting Elizabeth isn't the wisest thing he did, right below falling in love with her immediately afterwards. She thinks he's a jerk, and he'd rather die than admit a love for a woman of no connections, wealth, or anything to recommend her. Even the most neutral of topics end up with sparks flying. His pride and her prejudice remain a great obstacle on the road to happiness... so great an obstacle that after a series of tragic events, it is very doubtful whether that happiness will ever be reached.... Eileen Y.

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. LeGuin

Ged is a wizard of great power, of great talent, and of great arrogance. And in his very pride and arrogance, he unleashed into the world a great evil, an evil which none but Ged can conquer. But the question remains, if that evil haunts Ged's every dream, dogs his every step, and continues to hunt him, how can Ged defeat it? How can the hunted become the hunter, the conquered, conquerer? How much courage must be needed? And what would happen should he fail?

Every page nearly drips with action and suspense... a wonderfully written book. Eileen Y.

Maggie by Ann M. Martin

In this book, Maggie, the main character, deals with lots of pressure. Her parents pressure her to be perfect. Also, in school, she feels the need to be perfect and get good grades. She studies all the time and never has time for anything else. Her parents are rarely home, too. Yet in the end, she finds a way to pull herself together.

I sat down to read this book, and I ended up reading the whole thing at the same time. This was a really good book, and as I read it, I could picture myself as being the main character. This book helps the person reading it understand that they can't always please others. They have to please themselves, too. Cassie P.

Shattered Mirror by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Sarah Vida is a vampire hunter of the oldest and most powerful line of witches. Her family's mission is to avenge the death of their ancestor by killing Nikolas, the most powerful vampire of all. She is taught to be unfeeling and hateful towards all vampires, and all friendly contact with them is forbidden. When she befriends two weak vampires, her world of all black and white begins to form shades of grey.

This is an easy-to-read story that keeps your attention the entire novel. The plot is full of twists and turns, and the ending is fabulously unexpected. Tanya J.

In the Forests of the Night by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Rachel Weatre died in 1701, but was reborn as the vampire Risika. She was forced against her will to become a killer, but eventually adopted the role. Once she was a human, with a loving family and wonderful life until a powerful vampire named Aubrey killed her brother and she was changed into a vampire. She vowed to avenge her brother's death no matter what the cost. She will challenge the all-powerful Aubrey and discover the strength that she didn't know she had.

This was an amazing stroy with unbelievable excitement. I found it hard to believe that the author was only 14. Tanya J.

Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne

At the esteemed Reform Club in London, eccentric gentleman Phileas Fogg undertakes an audacious wager with his fellow club members; as a result, he embarks on an adventure of a lifetime - to traverse the world in eighty days. Having much at stake on this risky gamble, even a mere delay could cause Fogg to lose everything as he attempts to complete his journey.

AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS, a masterpiece written by the esteemed Jules Verne, chronicles a "calm and phlegmatic" gentleman's ventures across the globe. Through language, Verne paints realistic, picturesque portraits of different peoples and locations. Many contrasting personalities are also present in this novel, from the loyal servant Passepartout, to the ambivalent and duty-minded Detective Fix, and finally to the enigmatic and mysterious Phileas Fogg himself, whose complex character is unraveled throughout the novel as he does deeds that betray his usual cold and exact personality. AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS is a classic that no one should miss. Andrew C.

Checkmate in Carpathians by Mary Reeves Bell

The book, CHECKMATE IN CARPATHIANS, finds Con and Hannah on their way to Romania to vacation with Hannah's uncle, the American Ambassador. On the train, Con sees Hans Grunwald, also known as Dirty Harry. Hannah doesn't believe him. Con finds a letter from Frau Rozstosk asking him to find the son of a long dead friend. This leads to an exciting adventure. Con and Hannah go to the house Frau R. named in her letter and find an orphanage with a boy named Poppy, and Con promises to come back to help Poppy. Con and Hannah meet Dirty Harry again. Can they escape? Who is Poppy? Read this book to find out!

I think that this book illustrates the tension in Romania after WW2. I think Poppy almost became the main character. This book's mood changed from very happy to sad to scared and stunned. Josh M.

Shattering Glass by Gail Giles

Simon Glass, a smart, unkempt outcast, is taken in by a group of popular guys. Soon to be accepted, Simon starts rejecting important plans. Could he be facing death?

SHATTERING GLASS is a cutting edge story that will keep you on the edge of your seat flipping wildly through the pages for hours. Its dark yet unique style of writing puts the mood of the story into a whole new perspective. I loved the way the author focuses on the main event yet circles around it with different obstacles which pull the whole story together. What was really interesting was the way a few words would convince you to read more. This book is filled with mystery, and I'd encourage you to read it. Saleena G.

Nancy Drew: High Risk by Carolyn Keene

Just as with any other Nancy Drew Files,'High Risk' was able to capture my attention and keep me interested until the end. Nancy's boyfriend, Ned Nickerson, is accused of the murder of one his customers at the insurance company he works for. Ned Nickerson believed that Toby Foyle had filed a false injury claim to earn some money. As Ned tries out the truth, he gets caught up at the crime scene by the cops and is accused of murdering Toby. Nancy Drew tries to crack the case but keeps ending up at dead ends. With her life at High Risk, Nancy tries to save her boyfriend from going behind bars. Ishani P.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

The story is about four girls growing up during a war stricken time (Civil War), of their hopes, their disappointments, of laughter and sorrow, of love and heartache, but most of all, of growing up and becoming 'Little Women'. Meg is th eldest, pretty and grown up, very sensible, and in love with the neighbor's grandson's tutor, most of the time known as John. Jo is the classic tomboy, foolhardly and impetuous, full of laughter and spirit, with an unquenchable temper. Then there's Beth, the gentlest of the four, with a sweetness and innocence that touches one's heart. Amy, the youngest, spoiled rotten but never mean hearted, is artistic and destined for riches. These four little women stick together through joy and sorrow, pain and anguish, and come through to bring true meaning to the word 'sisters'.

It was a a nice story. Nice and only nice. The author doesn't seem to know what the word excitement means. It was touching, I suppose, in a cheesy sort of way. There is nothing about the book-at least the events-that just jumps out and grabs you. However, the characters are what made the book so memerable. Years from now, one will still remember the plucky Jo, shy Beth, artistic Amy, playful Laurie, and sensible Meg. Eileen Y.