Friday, August 05, 2005

Dragons in the Water by Madeleine L'Engle


Simon Renier goes to Venezuela to sell a portrait for his aunt with his Uncle Forsyth. On the way, he befriends Polly and Charles O'Keefe, who are going with their father. On the way, there was an attempt to murder Simon. To add to the mystery, someone on board was murdered and the portrait was stolen. When they land in the Port of Dragons, the police investigate the murder and think they found the murderer but didn't know how the portrait was stolen. Who was the murderer, and who stole the portrait? Read the book to find out. I liked the book because it's full of mytery and suspense. -Michael K.

Princess Lessons by Meg Cabot


The book PRINCESS LESSONS goes along with the series The Princess Diaries. This book teaches you how to be a princess. This book has it all, preventing your tiara from falling off, self defense, what every girl needs, keeping your pores clean, manners, and much more! I thought this book was funny and very interesting. I really enjoyed this book. It's something that I would enjoy reading again. This book tells you how to be a princess or just live like one. -Jisun K.

The Dead Game by A.Bates


Linnie, Ming, and Jackson were typical high school seniors in a school full of cheats, fakes and liars. Unable to stang these rivals. they decided to take revenge. They created The Dead Game, in which " killing" your target meant publicly humiliating that person. After one victim became hospitalized and another dead, the three friends stopped playngh, but The Dead Gme didn't stop. Te others on their "hit" list were still being torented and Linnie, Ming,and Jackson become even more suspicious by the minute. As each character's personality eerily unravels, you won't know whom to trust. This attention-grabbing, mind-boggling story kept me reading by the extraordinary writing style and bizzare twists. It's sure to send shivers down your spine. -Timmy W.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling


If you like suprises, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a book for you. This book is about Harry finding out who the half-blood prince is and discovering Voldemort's Horcruxes. Harry has to make a new Quidditch team, and he gets some surprises while he's playing Quidditch. Headmaster Dumbledore decides to give Harry some lessons in his office, and these are supposed to help him in the future. In the end, someone has to kick the bucket, so read this book to find out who that is. I liked this book because it was so interesting I never wanted to put it down. If you have read the other Harry Potter books, you will notice the author's writing style is different and compared to the other books in the series it is darker and depressing. I liked it and I hope you like it too. -Ronak P.

Thursday, August 04, 2005

Princess in the Spotlight by Meg Cabot


PRINCESS IN THE SPOTLIGHT is the second volume in the Princess Diaries set. This time, Mia learns that her mother is going to have her algebra teacher's baby!!! Mia's mother and Algebra teacher elope. Mia gets a secret admirer who will not say who he is. Lilly, Mia's best friend, is very upset because she did not get the first interview with Mia. This is one of the best books that I have ever read. -Kaitlyn D.

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot


THE PRINCESS DIARIES is a fictional diary about a young girl named Mia Thermopolis. In the book, she finds out her father is the prince of Genovia and she is heir to the throne. Her mother is Helen Thermopolis, an artist who is dating Mia's algebra teacher. Mia's grandmother is the dowager princess giving her princess lessons. Mia is also madly in love with her best friend's brother. And to top it all off, she is flunking algebra. This is one of the best books I have ever read. -Kaitlyn D.

The Magic Circle by Donna Jo Napoli


High up on a mountain, deep in its woods, lives an old witch known as the Ugly One. She longs to forget that she is now a witch, claimed by devils and demons; she wants to return to being a loving mother, midwife, and healer she once was. One day, she hears the sound she never wanted to hear again. The sound of foot steps. Children's footsteps. She now longs to take care of the young girl named Gretel and her younger brother Hansel, just as she took care of her daughter Asa. They are so beautiful and good hearted. Yet the devils and demons in her head screm," Eat them!" How can she, but how can she ignore the demon's commands?

The Magic Circle is an emotional and compassionate book by Donna Jo Napoli. This book is an interesting tale about the witch in Hansel and Gretel, how she came to be, and her demise. People who love folktales and fairy tales will love this book. The mood of this book is compassionate and mystifying. What made this book catch my eye was that it was by Donna Jo Napol, an excellent writer. The Magic Circle is another great book by Donna Jo Napol. -Olivia R.

The Year of Secret Assignments


THE YEAR OF SECRET ASSIGNMENTS is a book about love, hate, learning not to use electrions, and dealing with crazy parents! These 3 girls start to write letters to 3 guys at a rival high school. This book was really good, and it made me feel different. When I read this book, I really did not feel anything. This book was not like any others that I had read. This was a really good book, and every teen should try to read it. -Kaitlyn D.

Rise of a Hero by Hilari Bell

Legend says that when Farsala needs a warrior, Sorahb will be restored by the god Azura. Now is that time. After a devestating loss to the Hrum army, Farsala has nearly fallen. Only the walled city, Mazad, and a few more of its uninhabited regions remain. Three young people, Soraya, Jiaan, and Kavi, are waging war against Hrum as best as they can. Alone, they cannot conquer the Hrum, as none of them are the Sorabh restored, but together, they can manage to destry the Hrum.

RISE OF A HERO is the sequel to the acclaimed book Fall of a Kingdon by Hilari Bell. This book is a great book for people who love Lord of the Ring type books or if they love medival tales about war and myths. This book has a dark mood of bloodshed and death, even until the end of unifiction. After reading the first book of The Farsala Triology, I ws compelled to read the second book. Rise of a Hero is just as amazing as Fall of A Kingdom.

-Olivia Ren

Song of the Lioness by Tamora Pierce

ALANNA: FIRST ADVENTURE is the first installment in the Song of the Lioness quartet. It is about a young girl, Alanna, and her brother, Thom. Their father is sending Alana off to learn how to be a lady and Thom off to be a knight. However, Thom wants to learn to be a sorcerer, and Alanna wants to be a Knight of the Realm. So, being identical twins, Thom forges his fathers handwriting and writes different letters, saying Alanna is a young lad off to be a knight, and another that says Thom is off to learn sorcery. And off they go, Alanna disguised as a boy and off to the palace, and Thom off to be a sorcerer,

And so Alanna begins becoming a page (the first step towards your knight's shield). Along the way she befriends Prince Jonathan, heir to the throne of Tortall, Raal of Goldenlake, Gareth of Naxan, Alexander of Tirragen, and Francis of Nond, in which all rank to squires (the second step of becoming a knight). She also meets people outside the palace, such as George Cooper of the lower city, King of Thieves, and his friends.

However, with friends also come enemies. Enter Ralon of Malven and Duke Roger of Cante. However, with the help of George Cooper, Alanna learns to fight only with her hands and can easily defend herself against Ralon. But Duke Roger is different. Hidden beneath the world's most powerful sorcerer's face and handsome features is something terribly evil. And then the sweating sickness comes. When Jon gets it, Alanna is forced to reach inside herself for the Gift, which she so abhorrs. Using so much that she is struggling for life herself, she manages to save Jonathan. But who sent the sweating sickness?? It is something nobody knows, but Alanna finds out. It happens when the squires go on an annual field trip. This year, they are going to the Black City, cursed and haunted by the Nameless Ones. With special permission, Duke Roger organizes and takes the squires on the field trip. With special permission from Jon, who had special permission from Duke Roger, Alanna is allowed to come with the squires. However Duke Roger had a chilling plan that only he knows about...

I thought that this book was excellent in many ways. It was fiction, nonfiction, fantasy, sci-fi, suspense, and mystery all in one. However, I thought that Alanna got upset by the littlest things. I also thought that the book was easy to predict, but other than that, it was good. Tamora Pierce got to the point of the story at the very beginning. Alanna: First Adventure was an excellent book. -Ashlyn T.

Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman

STUCK IN NEUTRAL was about a boy named Shawn McDaniel. He suffers from cerebral palsy (C.P.). This story is about his life and is narrated by him. The story he tells is so powerful and moving that I read it in one sitting. It totally changed the way I look at people now and what I think about them. This book is hard to describe, but it is the best book I have ever read. I recommend it to anyone and everyone the age of 11 or older. Highly recommended. -Ashlyn T.

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

When symbologist Robgert Langdon is woken up at midnight by the Police Judiciare, he knows that the night will be a long one. He is asked for his professional interpretation of a murder of a famous museum curator, only to find that he is the police's prime suspect. Before he can realize it, he becomes a high-profile fugitive attempting to both prove his innocence and uncover a mystery that has been kept secret for 2,000 years.

This book is a delicious mix between Indiana Jones and National Treasure, a nonstop action thriller with the allure of uncovering the greatest secret kept hidden by the Church since the time of Christ. Full of excitement, this novel will set your heart racing. -Tanya J.

The Pack by Elise Carbone

When Becky first saw the new kid, who refused to sit in a chair during English class and threw a book at their teacher, she thought he was the strangest person she'd ever met. However, as time went on, she discovers that he is not the one to be worried about. A plot is uncovered that will threaten almost everyone she knows.

This chilling novel makes the problem of teen hate groups and school violence frighteningly real. It is truly a magnificent piece of writing, and I recommend it to any lover of suspense.

Tanya Johnson

The Opal Deception by Eoin Colfer

The Opal Deception is the fouth book in the Artemis Fowl series. It starts with Artemis trying to steal a prized painting and beign unsuccessful. He has been brain washed so he remembers nothing of the fairies. He meet Holly after an attempt on his life by Opal Koboi. Opal has already killed Jullies. Hoppy is on the run because the LEP's think she killed Jullies. Butler is left behind and he runs into Mulch Diggums who give him a disk that not only refreshes his memory but he immediately knows what kind of danger they are in. They rescue Holly and Artemis from Opal and figure out she plan to give up fairies to the human race. They immediately set out to stop it and they do get Holly's good name back nd get Opal. This is a really good book and I am sure you will enjoy it.

-Josh Meneely

The Courtship of Princess Leia by Dave Wolverton

This was one of the best Star Wars books I've read. Wolverton creates new characters that are appealing to a Star Wars fan. Leia is pursued by a handsome Hapan, who she may marry. Of course, Han Solo won't let that occur, so he kidnaps Leia and takes her to a planet which happens ot be an Empire warlord's terrritory. Read it to find out what happens! -Ellen D.

The Samurai's Tale by Erik Christian Haugaard

When Murakami was just a child, his father, a great samurai, and his mother were killed by an invading lord. He was allowed to live, but was given the name Taro which was worthy only of a servant. Living out his young life in poverty, Taro still had hopes to become samurai one day. The task proved to be more difficult than he could possibly imagine.

A beautifully written piece, this tale depicts life in war-stricken Japan, illustrating the life of a samurai warrior. I thought that this was a very interesting read. The intricate social structures and complex customs of Japan were fascinating to learn about as the were flawlessly meshed into the plot of the story. A tale of loyalty, honor, and love, this novel is a masterpiece.

-Tanya Johnson

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling

HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX is by J. K. Rowling and is the fifth book in the Harry Potter series. It is about Harry and his past with Voldemort, also know as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. So far, in Harry's fifth term, he faces the worst Dark Arts professor; she even throws out Headmaster Dumbledore. Eventually, Harry's friend, Hermione, thinks of a way to get rid of the nasty professor. Sadly, something bad happens to Harry's godfather and the orb belonging to the Dark Lord and Harry. Read this book to find out the worst of it. This book is a fantasy with adventure and a little mystery. If you like authors with a good writing style, this is the book for you. -Ronak P.

Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception by Eoin Colfer

I read the book ARTEMIS FOWL: THE OPAL DECEPTION by Eoin Colfer. This book in the series takes place a while after Artemis's mind wipe. He has returned to his criminal ways. Meanwhile, Captain Holly Short is up for promotion to Major. However, Opal is about to come out of her self-induced coma, and she has revenge on mind.

The mood of the story changes a lot. It begins with a happy mood and stays that way until Commander Root dies. From there it goes from bad to good to bad and then starts all over again, bad to good to bad.
I especially like when Artemis and Holly had to team up to save the world. The action rises as they are chased by trolls . Also, Artemis and Butler get their memories back. The climax is when Holly, Butler, Artemis, and Mulch defeat Opal. I really liked Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception. -Bruce H.

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

This story starts out with six kids; Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman, and Angel. Six normal kids - except for the fact they each have wings and are running for their lives. They all grew up in a lab, called the School, and are like family now to each other. The group is always on the move, because the School sends Erasers, wolf-like creatures, to hunt them down. Their mission in this story is to save their youngest member, Angel, who has been caught by the School. They also plan to reak into a security facility to find their original families.

Maximum Ride is an eleven in a scale from one to ten. It's an extremely well-written science fiction story. It's full of adventure and suspense. You never know for sure what might happen in this story. James Patterson writes a fantastic story that you want to read. -Christine Y.

Garfield Rolls On by Jim Davis

I really liked this comic book. They are very funny . Many of the Garield comics in the newspapers now aren't funny. This is an earlier work of Davis, and he wrote the comics very well. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to laugh. -Ellen D.

The Snow by Caroline B. Coony

Christina, a seventh-grader, lives in the Schooner Inne with the Shevvingtons. Christina goes to the school on the island and lives in the Inne with four other children, in the book The Snow. Christina thinks that the Shevvingtons are evil because they made Anya, a young sane girl, go insane. They seem to be nice people, but christina believes they have a hidden agenda to kill the children. Throughout this book, Christina tries to save herself, Dolly, who is another little girl, and the old Anya. My favorite part of this bookis how Blake, the young, handsome man who Christina loves. but he loves Anya, protects Christina from the Shevvingtons. I also liked how Christina saved Dolly from the Shevvingtons' insane son. -Chessa H.

RealTeens: Diary of a Junior Year; Vol 1

REAL TEENS: THE DIARY OF A JUNIOR YEAR, VOL.1 is made up of diaries of jumior boys and girls who are all friends. The friends are Marybeth Miller, Billy shah, Teresa Falcone, Jake Barossa, Katie Carson, Edward Baxter, Emma West, and Kevin Moran. The diaries tell about their adventures in high school and their relationship problems. The funny part is that my high school is somewhat like theirs. That part was my favorite part of the book. My favorite character was Katie Carson. The reason I like Katie is because she is so much like me. She is loyal and trustworthy and tries hard to get good grades. -Chessa H.