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.

The Whim of the Dragon by Pamela Dean

THE WHIM OF THE DRAGON is the last part in the three part series of The Secret Country. Even though it is the last, it has to be the best out of the three. It's full of adventure and mystery; you won't be able to put it down!

The story starts where the last book, The Hidden Land, left off. Ted, Laura, Ruth, Patrick, and Ellen are summoned back to the secret country to finish the story. (In the past stories, you learned that the group of children made up a story, The Secret Country, and would act it out every summer they got together. But they stumble upon a place actually called The Secret Country, and they were shocked to see that their story had come to life.) When summoned back, they had to face a dragon in order to save their beloved story.

To find out if the five children saved the country, pick up these books, and read them! -Christine Y.

The Witch's Boy by Michael Gruber

This fantasy story is one that makes the others seem like nothing. THE WITCH'S BOY has bits and pieces of the classic fairy-tales Jack and Jill , Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, and others. But along with those there is a twist that brings everything together. In a way, it's a whole new approach on the Phantom of the Opera, fantasy style.

The story actually starts out when a witch adopts an ugly, abandoned child. The witch, however, had no experience whatsoever with children, so she gave the responsibility of the child, now called Lump, to a caretaker bear named Ysul. Lump ends up growing hateful and bitter, because the witch always seemed to have something to do or somewhere else to be. Lump wreaks havoc at a nearby village for revenge, causing the witch to lose magic and job. They end up moving to a new town, scraping by with what they can. As Lump grows older, his heart grows harder, but he still manages to fall in love with the vainest girl in town, Aude.

What will happen to Lump? Will he get the girl of his dreams? Will his heart finally melt? Not only a good story but a good lesson as well in it . If you wanna know the ending of this fantastic story, go pick up the book now! -Christine Y.

A Wrinkle in Time

A WRINKLE IN TIME begins with Meg getting in trouble at school. This happens often. She gets home and has dinner with her brothers, Denny and Sandy (twins) and Charles Wallace, and her mother. Their father is working for the government and has disappeared. That night, Meg comes down to find Charles Wallace making hot chocolate. Her mom comes in and the three have hot chocolate together. A stranger comes in and talks to Charles Wallace as though they are friends (which they are). Later the next day, Meg and Charles are on their way to the stranger's house. They run into Calvin O'Keefe. They talk together and all continue to their walk to a stranger's house. They meet the stranger, Mrs. Whatsit, and her friend, Mrs. Who. After talking to them for a while, she tells them to come back later. That evening, Calvin, Charles, Meg, Mrs. Whatsit, and Mrs. Who and their friend, Mrs. Which, all meet together. They travel through space to the planet where Meg's and Charles ' father is. He is trapped by a huge brain named I.T. After several adventures, they get him out of his prison. All of them escape, except Charles Wallace who had his mind controlled by I.T. Meg returns and rescues Charles by saying that she loves him They escape together and return home for a big family reunion.This is a very good, but confusing, book. You should read it. -Josh M.

The Opal Deception by Eoin Colfer

THE OPAL DECEPTION is the fourth book in the Artemis Fowl series. It starts with Artemis trying to steal a prized painting and being unsuccessful. He has been brainwashed, so he remembers nothing of the fairies. He meets Holly after an attempt on his live Opal Koboi. Opal has already killed Jullies. Holly is on the run because the Leps think she killed Jullies. Butler is left behind, and he runs into Mulch Diggums who gives him a disk that not only refreshes his memory but he immediately knows what danger they are in. They rescue Holly and Artemis from Opal and figure out the plan to give up fairies to the human race. They immediately set out to stop it and do they get Holly's good name back and get Opal. This is a really good book, and I am sure you will enjoy it. -Josh M.

Wringer by Jerry Spinelli

WRINGER is a great and exciting book by Jerry Spinelli. Living a normal, but sad life, Palmer LaRue has really no friends. He only plays with Dorothy Gruzik, a sweet little girl who is one year younger than him. He finally gets this gang of kids who he wants to join, and he does. After his ninth birthday, he invites Beans, Mutto, and Henry, the gang members. The only way he can be in the gang, he has to get the treatment from Farquar, the most feared kid in town. He joins the gang, and his nickname is Snots. He fears only one day that he hoped would never come: Pigeon Day. On his tenth birthday, he has to wring the pigeons' necks that don't die whenever the shooters shoot them. He doesn't want to kill them. He also has a secret pigeon named Nipper. Will Palmer become a wringer? Will Palmer fight for what he believes in? All you have to do is pick up this book.

I liked the way how Palmer thought differently about something that everyone else thought only one way of. I liked how this book ended. It was very exciting and a great book for all ages. -Nilma M.

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

HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX is the latest and the best series of Harry Potter yet, with more excitement and adventure following the famous Harry Potter and his friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasly. More trouble brews at Hogwarts, and, as usual, Dumbledore tries to do his best to keep Hogwarts safe, but no one believes him. Harry and his friends find out, and they think of ways to help Dumbledore. Harry has many other problems of his own. Harry finds a teacher worse than Professor Snape. How will Harry help Dumbledore? Who is this horrible, but curiously familiar-related, teacher who he hates? Pick up this book and find out!

J.K. Rowling's writing style makes this book great! I love the way this story went. It was scary and nice at the same time. This book gave me chills, and sometimes I felt really bad for Harry, and sometimes I wish I was Harry. I felt like I was in the book because I was really in to it. -Nilma M.

The Drowning of Stephan Jones by Bette Greene

THE DROWNING OF STEPHAN JONES is about a girl's boyfriend, Andy, who hates the guy couple Stephen Jones and Frank Montgomery. Andy Harris totally dislikes gay people, from who he takes after his father. After Andy and his friends beat Stephen Jones up, they decide to throw him in the lake. Even though Stephen tells them that he cannot swim, they still throw him, anyway. After a while, he does not come back up. Andy is accused of murdering Stephen Jones. Carla Wayland, the narrator and Andy's girlfriend, cannot decide which side she is on, Andy's or Frank's side. I did not really have a favorite part of this book. It was not very appealing to me because of its hatred and revulsion. -Chessa H.

From E to You by Chris d'Lacey and Linda Newberry

Boy meets girl. Boy likes girl. That is the typical relationship. This relationship is like the one in the book From E to You. Annabelle's dad and Guy's dad thought it would be a good idea if their daughter and son wrote emails to each other. They soon became cyber-friends, but their budding relationship creates havoc when they start to speculate about what caused a feud between their fathers, letting their imaginations run wild- with hilarious results. My favorite part of the book was when they both insulted each other back and forth. It was hysterical! Guy Woodham was my favorite character because he was so down to earth. -Chessa H.

Real Teens Volume II: A Diary of a Junior Year

This book is made up of diaries of junior 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 are a continuation of Volume One on their relationship problems and their other high school problems. I didn't like this volume as well as I liked the first, but the things that the teens talk about are the typical things that occur in today's high school. That was my favorite part of the book. My favorite character in this book was Kevin Moran. -Chessa H.

Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul

CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE PRETEEN SOUL is a great book for preteens. This book is about friendship, family, hardships, happiness, growing up, and love. This excellent book has stories of real kids and real problems. I know that everyone will enjoy this book as much as I did.

This book made me realize that more kids my age go through the same thing as me. It also, in a way, gave answers to my problems. It was very hard to put this book down because it was very interesting. So why don't you just try it? -Nilma M.

Brian's Return by Gary Paulsen

I read the book BRIAN'S RETURN by Gary Paulsen. One part of the story that I liked was how Brian matured. At the beginning, he viewed himself as a wild boy in the city. He then decides to move back to the wild, where he can view himself as normal. He prepares himself with items he may need, then he sets off to the woods.

I also like how Brian meets Billy. Billy teaches Brian about his medicine animal which will help him. Brian's medicine animal is a deer. Brian realizes that he will be like Billy when he gets older.

Some things in the Brian series have happened to Gary Paulsen. He wrote in the author's note that he lived in the wild just like Brian. Also, the character Billy and Gary Paulsen both have a crow as their medicine animal. I liked BRIAN'S RETURN. Bruce H.

Sirena by Donna Jo Napoli

Sirena, a cursed mermaid, cannot become immortal until a human man loves her. She longs to sing the song that she sings with her mermaid sisters, but it leads men to their deaths as well as it makes thenm adore the mermaids. This causes Sirena to hide on the isle of Lemnos. She finds a young soldier abandoned on the isle, and eventually they fall in love. Sirena finds that her immortality can be more of a curse than a gift, when she realizes that her lover is growing older each day.

This is an excellent book by Donna Jo Napoli, a beautiful tale of an immortal and cursed love. I think this book is excellent for people who love Greek mythology. This book has a feeling of great joy and despair. With each passing year, new events occur, sometimes painful and sometimes joyful. What made the book stand out was its tale of a Greek mermaid with famous characters from Greek myths. -Olivia R.

Be True to Yourself by Amanda Ford

This book is about everything from living a great life to loving yourself. It's a wonderful book about being true to yourself. Did I mention it has something written from January 1st to December 31st and every day in between? It's lovely, it's wonderful, and it's extremely helpful giving you confidence for every day of the week, month, and year. It teaches you most importantly to love your life and self and if you do your life is complete. So remember: Be true to yourself! -Melissa L.

Wurst Case Scenario by Catherine Clark

The worst decision that Courtney Von Dragen had ever made was to go to college in Wisconsin. This not only means living miles away from her home in Arizona, but being apart from her longtime boyfriend, Grant. Courtney worries about keeping up this relationship. She's afraid that Grant will find someone else or they'll lose contact with each other.

Other obstacles are put in front of Courtney, so she has more than one thing to worry about. In Wisconsin, they sell only cheese and meats, but Courtney can't eat anything since she is a vegetarian. Not only that, she is having trouble with her roommate, Mary Jo.

All of these problems and how Courtney gets out of them is what makes this book so great. Courtney is someone that you could relate to. She was also in the book, Truth or Dairy. Catherine Clark has a great way of making characters come to life. This is a wonderful book to enjoy. -Christine Y.

The Princess Diaries: Volume IV Princess in Waiting by Meg Cabot

Meg Cabot continues this sensational series. Mia must suffer through the duties of being a princess, her cousin Rene, and her grandmother. Then the whole boyfriend thing of whether or not Michael is in love with her or loves her like a friend. And, of course, what shall she get him for his birthday?

I loved this book and could not put it down until I finished it. It was a captivating tale of a princess and her semi-normal life. I cannot wait (with hope against hope) that the series will be continued. -Chelsey C.

Candle in the Wind by Maureen Wartski

A sad tale of a family breaking apart because of the eldest son's death. Then a strange force unites the family together again, but not before tragedy and disaster strike too many times. But throughout this all, Terri realizes her dream job of a writer. She has help through this from her new friend and his newspaper dad.

As I strayed away from the usual books I read, I admit it was a very sad yet satisfying tale. I realized how lucky I am to have my family and deeply appreciated them much more. -Chelsey C.

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON was about a man with a low IQ. The man's name is Charlie Gordon, and he has been chosen to have an experiment done on him to see if he gains more intelligence. It already has proved positive on a mouse named Algernon, but the doctors want to see if this test proves positive on humans. The book talks about what Charlie is feeling day in and day out.

When I first got introduced to the book, I thought it would have been very boring, but I was wrong, and I loved it. I also liked the way the author, Daniel Keyes, wrote how a mentally disabled person writes. This book was formatted from Charlie's reports that he had to do for the doctors that were there to see his progressions. I liked how Keyes wrote from Charlie's point of view, not from somebody else's. Without a doubt, I would recommend this book to everyone. -Elyse H.

Fire-us by Jennifer Armstrong and Nancy Butcher

FIRE-US starts with memories of adults and the terrible fever-like disease that kills only adults. The main characters are Teacher, Hunter, Mommy, and Anchorman/Angerman, all teens, and they act like their names. They take care of kids called Teddy Bear, Action Figure, Dolly, and Baby. One day, Angerman shows up and says he is going to find the president. The trip is very hard because Mommy hates being outside. They find a river and follow it up and run into an Adult. They are terrified because all the adults died.

This book is like the aftermath of the end of the world. It is a little strange, but lots of fun. -Josh M.

Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul compiled by Jack Canfield and others

CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE TEENAGE SOUL is about teenagers talking about things that have happened in their lives. The stories they write are about life, love, and learning.

My favorite story in this Chicken Soup book would be "Reaching Out to a Stranger". Even though I love all the stories, this one made me cry. It is about a boy who gave his favorite basketball sneakers to a pregnant woman who couldn't afford shoes. Deep in this boy's heart, he gave the woman his shoes. I thought that this was the most caring thing that someone could do for another. I hope that people in this world do more of these actions every day; even a simple "Hello" to someone would make them feel better.

I would recommend this book to all teenagers in the world. That is how good it is. -Elyse Horomanski

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

THE OUTSIDERS was about two groups of people. One group was called the "Socs", which were the rich kids, and the other group was called the "Greasers", the poor kids. Some of the main characters were Johnny, Ponyboy, Darry, Dally, and Sodapop. The main event that happens was that Johnny manslaughters one of the Socs. So Johnny and Ponyboy run away. There is much more to this story and more interesting facts that I won't give away so you can read the story.

I really enjoyed this book a lot. I also liked how the author, S.E. Hinton, got the main point across. I would recommend this book to everyone. - Elyse H.

Haunted by Desire by Cameron Dokey

1958. A Halloween party on October 31st. Private University campus. Screams. Blood. Murder. Three young friends murdered, or are they?

Present day. Pheobe Halliwell is working on an extra credit project. The project is Halloween night of 1958 on the same campus.

While Phoebe is working on her project, her sisters are working on getting a guy. They are being unusually mean to each other as they compete for the same guy, almost as if they are under a spell.

HAUNTED BY DESIRE shows you how sisters will always come through for each other. It taught me how lucky I am to have my sister. -Chelsey C.

Girls in Love by Jacqueline WIlson

Jacqueline Wilson brings you a novel full of love surprises, with twists on every page you turn. Three best friends, keeping each other safe from love disasters.

GIRLS IN LOVE taught me about love. It helped me realize how far friends - true blue friends - are willing to go to make sure one another are safe. Plus how pressured young girls are to have boyfriends or sex. And how about the parents? What are you going to do with them? Ellie decides to handle them by being mostly honest with them, making friends with them, and having only a few fights. -Chelsey C.

Just as Long as We're Together by Judy Blume

Two best friends joined by a third. Competition. Lying. Fighting. These all arise between the three friends. With all of this two against one, how will they reunite?

JUST AS LONG AS WE'RE TOGETHER, a novel by Judy Blume, teaches you an important lesson about truth, compassion, and friendship. These characters all mesh together to make very wonderful friendships. Judy Blume shows you how.

I would also recommend Here's To You, Rachel Robinson. It teaches you more about these important lessons and continues the story of these three girls. - Chelsey C.

Girls Under Pressure by Jacqueline Wilson

Anorexic? Bulimic? A few words used to describe the character of a few girls in this novel, Girls Under Pressure.

This novel by Jacqueline Wilson taught me a very important lesson. I could relate to Ellie, mostly on the weight level. This novel taught me how unimportant it is how tall you are or how much you weigh. You can lose a few pounds, but don't go crazy. All that matters is your friends and who you are. - Chelsey C.

My Mother was Never a Kid by Francine Pascal

Francine Pascal's MY MOTHER WAS NEVER A KID takes place in the seventies. When traveling on a train, Victoria goes back to 1944, where she meets her mother. Victoria, while trying to make sure her mom stays out of trouble, hangs out with her.

As I am close to the age of the main characters, I was able to compare my life to theirs. They are very different. Their lives included smoking pot and cigarettes on a daily basis. It is illegal for kids, this time and age, at that age to smoke cigarettes, let alone pot. This book should be for older kids because while the writing style is enjoyable, drugs are mentioned more than twice and for the cuss words so often displayed. -Chelsey C.

My First Love and Other Disasters by Francine Pascal

As Victoria Martin plans to impress the guy of her dreams, many things go wrong. She gets caught sneaking into the summerhouse (after curfew) that she is living in for the summer as a mother's helper. She also puts the kids she is watching in danger, but then miracle of miracles she saves tham. Most importantly is how her dream guy turns out.

MY FIRST LOVE AND OTHER DISASTERS is a funny tale filled with surprises in every corner you turn. Francine Pascal shows you what it's like to be a teenage girl. - Chelsey C.

Love and Betrayal and Hold the Mayo by Francine Pascal

As Victoria Martin continues her story during her 16th summer in camp as a waitress, she gets into many a trouble. She and two friends play a harmless, or so they thought, part in the most important event of all of the summer. Then she and her best friend's boyfriend fall in love. Will she betray her best friend for the guy she loves, or will she choose friendship over a relationship?

In LOVE AND BETRAYAL AND HOLD THE MAYO, Francine Pascal brings alive challenges that most teens face. The unique writing style lets you know, really know, what is going on inside Victoria's head. - Chelsey C.

Princess Diaries Volume III: Princess in Love by Meg Cabot

Meg Cabot does it again in this fascinating volume of the Princess Diaries: PRINCESS IN LOVE. Princess Mia has to deal with the pressures of the holidays and exams. Plus how will Mia break the news to her boyfriend, who loves her, that she does not return his adoration? How can she win over the guy that she has loved forever but has been too afraid to tell? This book entices you with the writing style of a diary entry that makes you feel as if you are Princess Mia. You experience with her the changes that has made this Genovian/American Princess a braver, more independent person. Princess in Love tells and does it all. -Chelsey C.

Princess Diaries Volume II: Princess in the Spotlight by Meg Cabot

Meg Cabot continues Princess Mia's life as she is in training to become Princess of Gergovia in PRINCESS IN THE SPOTLIGHT. Mia has to deal with her mother's pregnancy and disaster wedding that Grandmere is planning - to her Algebra teacher. Also, Princess Mia needs to determine the identity of her Secret Admirer, Jo-C-rox. You will not want to put down this hilarious book. I cannot wait to read the next volume and can't help but wonder what will happen next. -Chelsey C.

All-American Girl by Meg Cabot

ALL-AMERICAN GIRL is a far-fetched and entertainingly fun tale about Samantha Madison. She lives in Washingtom D.C. where skipping your art class can change your life. As Meg Cabot introduces to you what would/could be the life of a sophomore in high school that saves the life of the leader of the free world, you will not want to put this book down. Also, Samantha develops a crush on the first son, as does he. Experience changes Samantha Madison as she goes from "wearing all black because she is mourning her generation's superficiality" to the girl who saved the President of the United States, is dating th first son, and is the Ambassador representing the United States in the teen's UN. - Chelsey C.

Charmed: Mirror Image by Jeff Mariotte

MIRROR IMAGE has affected me by its family tone, while keeping up with the drama and fast-paced excitement of the unreal world of magic.

Paige Matthews meets a mysterious young man, claiming to be a good witch. Will Paige trust him over her Charmed gut feeling?

Will Pheobe Halliwell be persuaded by an old letter left to the Charmed Ones from a great-great-great Aunt Agnes, telling her to distrust Paige?

Will Piper Halliwell and her two sisters make up before something goes terribly wrong?

All the while the Charmed Ones lives are in disarray, bones of fifty plus people of 100 years ago are found. That's when the present day killings start. Could this be a supernatural coincidence? -Chelsey C.

The Lady Grace Mysteries: Conspiracy by Patricia Finney

Lady Grace must do her job of protecting the Queen Elizabeth in this realistic, far-fetched tale entitled Conspiracy. How will she ever solve this mind-boggling case and save Her Majesty from awful traitiors?

Grace develops by becoming more of a girl when she has a crush on one of the workers, except she doesn't seem to know it. I felt particularly fond of the way Grace developed. She became a girl in love, yet stuck to her values and what she knew was right. She valued honesty and struck out to make sure everything was set right with the innocent victims involved. -Chelsey C.

I will Survive by Kristen Kemp

I WILL SURVIVE by Kristen Kemp brings you into the reality of high school. Ellen has to endure her junior year filled with disasters. Her world is turned upside down when she learns her best friend and boyfriend are cheating on her. Her younger sister gets into big trouble with her parents. Her best guy friend dumps her and dates her sister. When Ellen thinks all is lost, she learns shocking news about her mother. How will Ellen exact revenge on everyone who betrayed her? Read I Will Survive to find out. My personal mood was filled with excitement, unhappiness, and embarassment. These feelings mainly came from what she included in her revenge. While my mood contained the emotions throughout the beginning and middle it was uplifted witha happy non-fairy tale ending. -Chelsey C.

All-American Girl by Meg Cabot

ALL-AMERICAN GIRL is a story about a girl, Sam, who saves the President. She also thinks that she is in love with her older sister's boyfriend, Jack. When she saves the President's life, she is invited to dinner. At dinner, she meets the President's son, David. She slowly realizes that she doesn't like Jack like she thought, but she likes David.

I really enjoyed this book. I felt that it was well-written and was a quick read. I also like the way Sam matured over the course of the book. Her feelings about people really changed. In the beginning, she thought that all people did not understand about art or anything, but later, she learned that everyone's good in their own way. -Cassie P.

The Hounds of the Morrigan by Pat O'Shea

THE HOUNDS OF THE MORRIGAN is about two children, Pidge and Brigit, who are sent to save the world by the Dagda, a powerful force for good. They have to defeat the Morrigan and stop her from consuming Olc-Glas, a demon who would increase her strength and enable her to take over the world. In the end, Pidge and Brigit prevail.

This was easily the best book I've read in a while. I could not get enough, and it kept me hooked. There was never a dull moment the whole time. This is a good book, especially if you're into Irish myths and fantasy stories. - Cassie P.

Rakkety Tam by Brian Jacques

RAKKETY TAM is the seventeenth book in the Redwall series. In it, Gulo the Savage, tracking his brother who stole from him the Walking Stone, lands on the shores of Mossflower country. He eventually comes to Redwall Abbey and thinks his brother is there. Meanwhile, Rakkety Tam MacBurl comes to know and befriend the Redwallers. When Gulo attacks, he's the one to save them all.

This book was another great Redwall tale. Jacques' ability to capture readers' imaginations again shines through. I immensely enjoyed this book. Rakkety Tam was extremely well-written and is a must-read for fans of Redwall. - Cassie P.

Sweet-blood by Pete Hautman

Lucy, known as Sweet-blood to the members of her favorite chat room, considers herself to be a modern-day teenage vampire. Once she was a relatively normal girl, but her struggles with self-identity led her down a much darker path. The allure and mystery of vampiric subculture quickly led her life into a downward spiral as her grades dropped and she grew less careful about controlling her diabetes. Reckless and uncaring, her new lifestyle threatens her very life. Can she recover from this destructive path or will her dangerous behavior lead her to tragedy? -Tanya J.

The Purple Emperor by Herbie Brennan

Just when all seemed well in the Kingdom of Faerie, an evil plot is uncovered that throws the royal household into chaos. The Purple Emperor has been resurrected and is now being controlled by the dark Lord Hairstreak. Pyrgus Malvae, the Emperor Elect, has been forced into exile along with his sister, Her Serene Highness, Holly Blue. They are faced with the challenge of recovering their kingdom before Lord Hairstreak destroys everything and everyone they hold dear. Full of twists and turns, this epic adventure leaves the reader breathless and hungry for more. - Tanya J.

Sorcery and Cecelia or the Enchanted Chocolate Pot by Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer

To cousins Kate and Cecy, the impending Season was going to be a very exciting time, but they had no idea just how dangerous it was to be. At first, everything is fine for the two, with Kate going to elegant balls in London and Cecy receiving gallant callers at home, but it all takes a tragic turn. At a party, Kate accidently stumbles into a trap set for someone else, the Mysterious Marquis, and is very nearly poisoned. Meanwhile, back in Essex, Cecy is horribly frightened to discover that her brother is missing. This is only the beginning for the two cousins who soon find themselves in the gaze of two very powerful enemies.

This book is truly an amazing piece of work. For the authors, it began as a game, writing letters to each other as characters, but it quickly developed into a truly remarkable novel. I recommend this book to any lover of fantasy, excitement, and romance. - Tanya J.

The Baby-Sitter by R.L. Stine

Jenny Jeffers has just taken a baby-sitting job at the residence of the Hagens. The Hagens are a compassionate family. Mr. Hagens is a bit strange because he is paranoid over his son, Donny, but he is nice... for the most part. The house the Hagens live in looks like a first-class haunted house, and Jenny does not like it one bit. The things she dislikes the most are the bizarre phone calls from an anonymous man and the "surprise" visits from Mr. Willers, their neighbor.

One day, when Jenny went for the first time to get her jacket from the closet in the master bedroom, she saw clippings of newspapers belonging to Mr. Hagens. The headlines were all about murders of baby-sitters. Before she could run away from there, Mr. Hagens grabbed her and forced her into the car. They drove about forty miles out of town to an abandoned quarry. There was a pit there, which was about a hundred feet deep with sharp rocks at the bottom. Mr. Hagens pushed Jenny as hard as he could into the pit. Read the book to become aware of what happens.

My comments on this book are that it was full of suspense and excitement. It was a pleasure reading this book and very helpful grammatically to me. I enjoyed the book very much and would with no hesitation recommend this book to anyone. I selected this book because it looked like it was the type that had a turn of events. - Abhinav K.

This Side of Paradise by Steven L. Layne

When Jack Barret's father starts working for the Eden Corporation, he forces his family to move to the village of Paradise. In this town, Jack uncovers a plan that could destroy his family, and he discovers that some people will go to any length to achieve perfection.

The theme of this story is that there's a bad side to perfection. Although perfection would eliminate poverty, crime, death, and illness, there wouldn't be any fun and no one would be truly happy. One person or group would rule everything, and no one else would have a say in the matter. This story makes you realize that there's a price for perfection, and it's not all that it seems. -Natalie M.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

This fun, fictional book is about four girls reaching sixteen and parting for the first time this summer. Lena, the beauty, and her sister are on their way to Greece to stay with her grandparents. Bridget, the athlete, is on her way to soccer camp in L.A. Carmen, the brains, is off to South Carolina to visit her dad. Then Tibby, the rebel, is getting her first job at their home in Washington D.C. The only thing keeping them together are these pair of pants that magically fits all of them.

This book is about how these pants help these girls get through all of their problems. Lena will face problems with a boy who likes her. Bridget will fall for a coach who can't love her. Carmen will find out about her father's new family and marriage. Tibby will face the summer by working and making a curious young friend named Bailey. The part that really grabbed me was title. It sounded so comforting and together. This book is a great girl book for those of drama, laughter, and fun times with friends. -Brittany T.

All-American Girl by Meg Cabot

ALL-AMERICAN GIRL is a story about a girl, Sam, who saves the president. She also thinks she is in love with her older sister's boyfriend, Jack. When she saves the president's life, she is invited to dinner. At dinner, she meets the president's son, David. She slowly realizes that she doesn't like Jack like she thought, but she likes David.

I really enjoyed this book. I felt that it was well-written and was a quick read. I also liked the way Sam matured over the course of the book. Her feelings about people really changed. In the beginning, she thought that all people did not understand about art or anything, but later she learned that everyone's good in their own way. -Cassie P.

The Second Summer of the Sisterhood

There are four girls, Lena, Carmen, Bridget, and Tibby. During the summer they all split up, and they have "magical" pants that they share to keep their tight bond. The four girls, who have been inseparable since birth, mail the pants to each other while they are apart. They experience love and loss in them, but the pants always seem to bring them good fortune in the end.

This is an excellent book for girls because the characters go through the same events as we do, and you can relate to them. I liked it because it changed scenes and people a lot, which kept it from being dull. - Hannah K.

The Last Shot by John Feinstein

This book is about two kids who win a writing contest and get to report at the Final Four. When they are exploring, they overhear a conversation between a coach and a player involving blackmail. In this mystery, as they are trying to help, they have many obstacles to overcome, including guards that won't let them in without a key, lying to their parents, and more! What will happen? Will they help Chip and his father? I think this story illustrates what really could happen during March Madness. What grabbed my attention was the title, because I love basketball! I hope you'll enjoy this book! - Melissa L.

Halloween Night II by R. L. Stine

Brenda's luck is absolutely not getting any better than last year. Her cruel cousin, Halley, has come to stay with her forever. Brenda's old friend, Dina, who tried to stab her, has returned from the mental hospital she was in, and that definitely isn't helping her mood. Just to make things worse, her extremely untimely boyfriend, Jake, was seen by Brenda and her friend, Angela (the new girl in town), kissing Halley in the foodcourt of the mall. Can life get any worse than this? It definitely does for Brenda.

This time the trio (Brenda, Traci, and Angela) is planning to get revenge on Jake by scaring him into calling for his mother. The plan is to go trick-or-treating with him throughout the whole neighborhood and, when they reach Angela's house, she is supposed to be lying down in a coffin with her hand sticking out as if she were dead. However, when they actually do reach Angela's house, she's nowhere to be found. Read the book to discover what happens.

My comments about this book are that it was mediocre because it copied off the first book, Halloween Night, a bit. It had a similar story, just a few differences such as the setting and two additions character-wise (Jake and Angela). The reason I chose this book especially is because it was the sequel to the book Halloween Night, which I enjoyed very much. - Abhinav K.

Halloween Night by R.L. Stine

Brenda is a teenage girl whose troubles are never-ending. Her cousin, Halley, whose parents are getting divorced, has come to stay with Brenda, and she is not enjoying it. Halley wants everything Brenda has. She took Brenda's clothes, room, and even her boyfriend. By the way, it gets even better from here. Brenda's parents don't listen to a thing she says.

To get revenge on Halley, Brenda and her friends Dina and Traci plan to murder her at Brenda's Halloween party, but at the last moment, before Brenda can make any changes, she and Halley start getting along. So now Brenda realizes she's made a huge mess of things. Read the book to find out what happens.

My comments about the book are that it was very interesting. It had a lot of suspense, and I took pleasure in reading it. There are many things that I enjoyed about this book. First was that the author, R.L. Stine, has a very engaging style of writing. Another reason I chose this book, in particular, is when I read the review at the back of the book, I had to find out what happened at the end. -Abhinav K.

The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney

During one lunch day, Janie Johnson was eating her peanut butter and jelly sandwich. She suddenly got a craving for milk, even though she had just found out that she was allergic to it, and grabbed her friend's carton. She finished it and glanced down to see who was missing that day (the milk company posted pictures of missing children on their cartons) and instantly recognized the picture. She thought about it for a minute and realized that it was her picture! She was missing! This book is definitely a page-turner. It's a little freaky, but it's still really good. This is the story of a girl who is in search of her real self. - Apeksha V.

The Purple Emperor by Herbie Brennan

Henry Atherton, Pyrgus Malvae, and his sister, Holly Blue, thought they had defeated the Faeries of the Night. Now, Lord Hairstreak, leader of the Faeries of the Night, has resurrected Pyrgus's father, the murdered Purple Emperor, in order to control the Faerie Realm. When Henry tries to teleport through a portal leading to the Royal Palace, he discovers that his friends have been exiled to foreign lands. In his struggle to find them, Pyrgus and Blue are also struggling to return to the palace. When the friends are finally reunited, Pygus's father has been killed again, and they lead the final battle against Lord Hairstreak's men. The Purple Emperor is the even more complex and exciting sequel to Faerie Wars. Faerie Wars was also an excellent book which compelled me to read the sequel. Henry, Pyrgus, and Blue mature emotionally, and they have a better understanding of the political ways of their world. The mood of this book is dark and depressing throughout. It does not lighten up until the end, and even then, it is still sad. -Olivia R.

So Hard to Say by Alex Sanchez

Fredrick moves to California from Wisconsin. In his first period class he forgets a pen and meets a girl, Xio. They become fast friends, but Xio has something else in mind. Does Fredrick feel the same way? Find out how he feels in this amazing book. It was a very well-written book. - Apeksha V.

Whatever Happened to Janie? by Caroline B. Cooney

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO JANIE? is the sequel to The Face on the Milk Carton. In this book, Janie goes to live with her second family, or rather, her first. The Springs are overjoyed when Janie, or Jennie, returns home. but does Janie feel the same way? Over the days, Janie tries to become Jennie, but to the Springs, it isn't enough. 12 years have gone by and the Springs want all 12 back. Will Janie manage? Or will she turn on them once again? This book is exciting and very well-written. - Apeksha V.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

Bridget, Lena, Carmen, and Tibby had been friends since before they were born. Their mothers all took prenatal aerobics class, and they had one thing in common: due dates. During their first summer apart, they find a pair of pants that magically fit them all. Through these pants, they will be together even when they are far apart.

In this story, I loved each girl's personal qualities and how when they were together, it's like they make one complete, perfect person. I think the theme of this story illustrates that friendship is a very important part of life and that everyone needs a friend to rely on. This story makes you realize that friendship is one of the greatest gifts you can receive. -Natalie M.

Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan

In FAERIE WARS, Henry Atherton, torn apart by his troubles at home, decides to work for Mr. Fogarty, an old man whose house is in dire need of cleaning. Henry expects to find garbage and rubbish, not Pyrgus Malvae, crown prince of the Faerie Realm. In danger of being murdered by the treacherous Faeries of the Night, who plan on taking over the realm, he escapes by traveling through a portal into the human world. With the help of Henry and Pyrgus' sister, Holly Blue, he manages to return to the Faerie Realm and overthrow the Faeires of the Night.

Faerie Wars is a wonderful book of fantasy, magic, and science. The mood was dark as the wicked Faeries of the Night plotted to murder Pyrgus. In the end, the mood was joyful as justice was exacted upon the Faeries of the Night. Henry, throughout the book, grows less resentful of his family predicament. I decided to read this book because it looked like an interesting tale. -Olivia R.

Pride and Prescience by Carrie Bebris

PRIDE AND PRESCIENCE is an outstanding sequel to the original classic, Pride and Prejudice. This story starts where it left off, with the marriage of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. It turns out to be a joint marriage (wedding) with Mr. Bingley and her sister, Jane. At their weddings, Caroline Bingley, Mr. Bingley's sister, announces her own engagement to an American, Mr. Frederick Parrish.

After the Parrish's spectacular wedding, strange events occur that would have usually been unheard of. Even though Caroline is happily married to a wealthy man, she has begun acts of self-destruction. These include sleepwalking, spooked horses, carriage accidents, and even arson.

The Darcys soon become wrapped in a mystery full of adventure. Not knowing the outcome, they plunge head first into the plot. They hope to revive Mrs. Parrish to her senses.

A great mystery, full of devious characters, old myths, and a capturing plot. A book that deserves a spot in the classics with its prequel. If you pick it up, you'll never be able to put it down. A great story for those into romance, mystery, and adventure. - Christine Y.

The Lost Years of Merlin by T.A. Barron

When Emrys washes ashore on an Island, unable to remember his past, he is taken by Branwen, who claims to be his mother. To discover his identity and his powers, Emrys must go to Fincayra, a land between earth and sky that is being destroyed. With some friends to guide him, Emrys will learn that Fincayra's fate and his are connected.

I loved the main characters' personalities. Emrys was a strong-willed boy who was determined to finish his quest. Rhia loved nature and Druma Woods and would do anything to try to save her home. Trouble loved to fight. And Shim wanted to be tall. The part that really grabbed me is that by working together, they managed to have their goals achieved. -Natalie M.

Sorceress

In the book SORCERESS, 18-year -old Agnes Herne is in college when she reads the book Witch Child. She senses a connection between Mary Newburry, the girl in the book, and one of her own ancestors, a medicine woman whom her aunt still honors. Agnes contacts the e-mail address at the back of the book, but someone contacts Agnes first. Agnes undergoes an experience that changes her life forever. Is it a dream or a vision? Could it be Mary? I think this book was written excellently. The mood was very dark and full of mystery as Agnes went into her visions. When she came out of her visions, the mood was lighter, and it lightened even more as she solved the mystery. Agnes grew more mature as she learned more about Mary. The book is a sequel to Witch Child, which was also a good book, so I decided to read the sequel. -Olivia R

A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass

This book is about one girl's journey as she tries to conquer a condition called Synesthesia. Synesthesia is a condition in which you see words and numbers, feelings and other things, in color, unlike most people. When Mia starts to go to Dr. Jerry Weiss, he tells her she'll have it forever. He tells her about a weekends meeting to talk about it, so she goes and meets a boy named Adam, who she likes instantly. But then tragedy strikes, and she thinks she lost it. Does she lose this so called "gift"? Will it come back to her? To find out, read her book. -Melissa L.

Artemis Fowl; The Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer

I read the book ARTEMIS FOWL: THE ETERNITY CODE by Eoin Colfer. The main character, Artemis Fowl, uses confiscated fairy technology in a scheme to restore his family's wealth. However, when the technology is stolen, Artemis and friends go on an adventure to get it back.

The mood of the book is one of my favorites, as it often changes. In the begining the mood is cheery. Then it changes to helplessness. After that it changes to determination.

The ending of the book is sad. Artemis is being mind-wiped of his fairy memories; however, there is hope that he can regain his memories. After all, he is a genius. -Bruce H

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling

If you lke the Harry Potter series like I do, or action and adventure books, this is a book for you. In the world of muggles and wizards, there is a boy namd Harry Potter. He lives with his evil Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon and their greedy son, Dudley. Harry goes back to Hogwarts, the school of witchcraft and wizardry, for his fourth year with the help of his friends. At Hogwarts, he finds out that they will be hosting the Triwizard Tournament. There are also two other schools that willl participate, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. He gets chosen for the tournament and has to complete three tasks. So read how Harry completes them. The writting style of the author is easy to understand. The book will always keep you in suspense and always make you think, what is next? The theme of the story is friendship always wins. -Ronak P.

The Boy Who Couldn't Die by William Sleator

THE BOY WHO COULDN'T DIE was about a boy whose friend died in an airplane crash. Ever since then, this boy, Ken, is terrified of dying. When he finds an ad in the local newspaper that simply says "Escape from Death," Ken has to go. He meets the crazy Cheri Buttercup, who claims that she can make Ken invulnerable from pain and death for the unbelievable price of fifty dollars. And it actually works. Ken can't get beaten up , burned, or cut. Even the sharks in the Caribbean where Ken goes for a family vacation can't harm him.

But there's a downside to being immortal, for Cherii Buttercup now controls him. In his dreams, his spirit is set loose on a killing rampage. Cheri can force Ken to do anything, as long as she has his spirit. And no one can stop Ken from doing these things, not even hmself.

I really liked this book because it was very suspenseful. It was filled with twists and turns that you would never expect to happen. I think that the message that the book really illustrates is that it is better to know everything about something, than something about everything. -Ashlyn T

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

This story is about a girl who is in love with a boy named Leo, but as the "weird" girl in school, it's hard to become even friends. During the book, she wears pioneer dresses and helps others daily. But when she cheers for the opposing team, she gets shunned, so she changes her name to the original Susan, and she tries to become popular. I liked this book because it illustrates how different and unique you can be. What part of this book that grabbed me was the cover. It was the picture of a star above a girl's head. This book was fantastic! -Melissa L

The Giant Rat Of Sumatra by Sid Fleischman

THE GIANT RAT OF SUMATRA is a very exciting book with a slew of devilish characters. The main character is called Shipwreck because he was pulled from one. He ends up overhearing a plot on the captain's life and throws it off track. When in a port in Mexico, the Captain declares the ship unsafe and makes everyone leave. Shipwreck becomes the captain's new right hand man because he saved him and because Mexico is at war with the U.S. over Texas and Shipwreck is American. The Captain buys land and settles down. He runs another merchant out of business because when the Captain was young he always used to beat him. They run into Lady Wildcat, a desert bandit, and end up fighting a duel with her. In the end, the Captain and Lady Wildcat fall in love and marry. If you want to know what happens to Shipwreck, read this book to find out. This book is very good and I could hardly put it down to even eat. It is full of suspense. It is a must read. - Joshua M.

The Gadget By Paul Zindel

THE GADGET by Paul Zindel deals with a base in Los Alamos, New Mexico. In this base, the atomic bomb is being developed.

The mood of the story starts out happy, with two cousins hanging out in London. However, the story takes a turn for the worse when Stephen, the main character, and his cousin are caught in the bombing that was taking place. The cousin dies, and Stephen moves to New Mexico to be with his father, one of the scientists creating the atomic bomb.

I especially like how the character develops. After his bombing experience, Stephen is afraid of heights. As the story progresses, he takes chances and forgets his fears to save his own life. The Gadget is a great World War II story. -Bruce H

Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice

THE QUEEN OF THE DAMNED tells how the first vampires came to exist according to Anne Rice. To her, it all started with two sister witches, a ghost, and greedy rulers. The Queen of the Damned comes back to life and the two witches, who are the very first two vampires, must stop her before she kills the whole human race.

I loved the way Anne Rice wrote this book. She described everything in detail, but not too much detail. It was easy to read and a very enjoyable book. Megan B.

Dead Man's Dance by Robert Ferrigno

A mystery about the murder of a judge and the people invlved in his life and murder, DEAD MAN'S DANCE was written wonderfully, which made it easy to read. When the judge is murdered, his stepson, Quinn, begins to ask questions about the judge's relationship with everyone he knew. The people Quinn thought he could trust end up getting hurt or betraying his trust. It's a mystery full of twists. Megan B.

Grass for His Pillow by Lian Hearn

Separated from his beloved Kaede, Takeo was trapped by his Tribe family the Kikuta. Takeo regretted this, having never expected to live after the night at Inuyama where he had both rescued and avenged his adopted father, Lord Otori Shigeru. He was now forced to take part in the wicked duties of spying and silent assassanation, but all the while the magical talents that he inherited from the Tribe were being trained and honed into an acute and focused power. He wished that he could return to his life as Lord Otori Takeo, heir to the Otori clan. The religion of the Hidden that he was born to was lost to him by then, as were any traces of another religion that he might have picked up. He wanted to leave, but he was bound by both word and blood, and if he strayed from Tribe he would be sentenced to certain death. He did, however, run away to fulfill Shigeru's wish for vengeance and to marry Shirakawa Kaede. He learned that he could find safety from the Tribe, however temporary, with all those loyal to the Otori, the shunned Hidden outcasts, and the monks at the monastery of Terayama. Through one of the Hidden, he heard of a prophecy which said that he was to fight five battles, four to win and one to lose. The one he would lose would be at the hands of his child, whose mother was not Shirakawa Kaede. Kaede, one of an extreme few female leaders, also needed to claim a seat of power at the head of two clans, the Shirakawa and the Maruyama. Now faced with winning alliance with the new overlord Arai, the constant threat of the Tribe, and the five battles, Takeo's life was more tense and suspenseful than it ahd ever been before. I was so impressed by Grass for His Pillow. I am eagerly awaiting the chance to read the final book in Lian Hearn's trilogy. Both of the book so far are immensely worthwhile to read, even for those who have less than favorable outlooks towards reading. Nadia J.

Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn

Tomasu was born amongst the peace-loving people called the Hidden who believed in forgiveness and shunned the thought of war or killing. He grew up knowing only of harmony, without the thought of war. This gentle lifestyle, however, was one day shattered when he returned to his village to find everyone dead. He soon realizes that this mass murder was the work of the most powerful warlord in the Three Countries, Lord Iida. He tried to flee, with Iida's men on his tail, but without knowing the art of war, he was defenseless. He was rescued by another great lord, Lord Otori Shigeru, who adopted him as his own and taught him the basics of life in the warrior class. He was renamed Takeo, to make the neglect of his Hidden religion even more complete. He struggled to fully understand which of his identities were really his own, a problem added to when he discovered that he was gifted with the mystical powers of the Tribe. Now swept up in the complicated whirlwind of alliances and confrontations of the warrior class, he had to determine his place in the world. Was it with the Hidden, who are persecuted for their beliefs? Was it with the Otori clan that had accepted him as its own? Was it with the woman he loved, Lady Shirakawa Kaede, or was it with the other side of his heritage, the Tribe who were so contrary to the beliefs of his childhood? Across the Nightingale Floor is a beautifully written work of sheer creativity, a perfect blend of reality and fantasy that made me tingle in anticipation for its sequel. I was amazed by its tale of love, war, and bitter revenge. Lian Hearn's written world is definitely one worth revisiting. Nadia J.

Artemis Fowl The Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer

This book is about Artemis Fowl a thirteen-year-old rich genius. In his past two books, he has encounters with the fairy world. Well, in this book he steals fairy technology and designs a C Cube supercomputer. When he made the C Cube it caused fairy technology to shutdown and could make humans find the fairies. Artemis decides to sell the C Cube to Jon Spiro, a big business man. They meet at a restaurant, and Jon Spiro steals the C Cube and shoots Butler (Artemis Fowl's bodyguard and best friend). Can Artemis Fowl save Butler and destroy the C Cube so the fairies world will be saved? Read this book to find out. This book interests me because of the fairies and how Artemis saves them and they save him.
Rishi P.

The Wish by Gail Carson Levine

In this book, Wilma, an unpopular eighth grader, is going to school not knowing that her bus ride could change her life forever. She notices a feeble old lady and gives her seat to her. The lady in turn grants Wilma a wish. She says she can make her one of the crowd, but Wilma asks if she can be the most popular kid at Claverford. Will Wilma still be able to keep her friends? I think this book is wonderful. I love this book because it was really interesting. Rishi P.

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke

In the book, The Thief Lord, two boys, Prosper and Bo, run away when they heard they were going to be separated. They decided to run away to Venice, a place their mother talked about a lot. When the two boys arrive at Venice, they meet a kid named Hornet. Hornet told them about how she was a part of a runaway gang who lived in a movie theater. So Prosper and Bo decide to join them. They meet the leader of the gang, Scipio. Scipio was known as the Thief Lord and stole jewels to buy clothes for the runaway kids. Everything was going smoothly till Scipio was asked to steal a wooden wing. Will Scipio be able to steal the wing or is he hiding something? Read the book to find out. I liked this book because it wasn't a book which you couldn't easily find out the ending. Rishi P.

Super Suite by Mark Montanos

SUPER SUITE by Mark Montanos is a great bedroom makeover guide for girls. I really enjoyed this book. It gave me lots of wonderful ideas for all different styles. Mark Mantano teaches you how to make great accesories on a budget. From ribbon pillows and tin tables to popsicle stick picture frames, you're sure to find your perfect style. If you're planning on redecorating your bedroom, this is a must. Angela M.

Polgara the Sorceress by David Eddings

Polgara the Sorceress is 3000-some-years-old, the Duchess of Erat, the most beautiful woman in all the world (with the exception of her sister, Beldazan), and has worked her magic for eons. We see through her eyes the story of her long and vivid life. From her birth to the homecoming of her wayward father and the losing of a most beloved sister, to the ledgendary battle of Vo mimbre, and finally, the fulfillment of her destiny as the Guardian and protecter of the Godslayer, whose coming had been fortold and on whose shoulders the fate of the world rests.... Eileen Y.

Leap Day by Wendy Mass

LEAP DAY by Wendy Mass is an excellent book. I enjoyed it from the first chapter to the last.

Josie Taylor has an odd birthday. She only has one every four years. Today she turns sixteen, and there is so much to do and so much going on. She must get her drivers license, try out for the play, go on the sophomore scavenger hunt, go to the lake and much more.

I like how the story was laid out and how the author put aside the thoughts of everyone else as well as Josie. I rate this book as an eight because it was an excellent book and was very detailed. Zach B.

How Angel Peterson Got His Name by Gary Paulsen

HOW ANGEL PETERSON GOT HIS NAME is not only funny, but daring. It tells not only odd ways to break records but also inane reasons why five boys break five records.

Carl wanted to beat the 74 miles per hour record on skis. Emil accidentally invented hang gliding. Wayne was the first to do a perfect backward somersault off a bicycle, Orvis the first to stay in the ring with a fighting trained bear for sixty seconds, and Harris the first to experience the negative effect of bungee jumping in a barn.

The causes and effects of what's to happen after such attempts are especially funny. I think that's why they call them extreme sports. Zach B.

Arena by Karen Hancock

I read the book ARENA by Karen Hancock about a girl who must decide who to put her courage in. Choices are all around her and will change her life forever.
Callie Hayes is in a dead-end job feeding rats and going to experimental money offers with her best friend, Meg Riley. This time a supposed obstacle course leads them to a new world where she meets the love of her life, defeats her fears - not only of heights - and fights the opposing Evil whie her faith is tested with her link of Elhanu.

I enjoyed the climax and rising action of Cassie and Pierce wondering, "Will they make it?" over and over again. The setting of this story in this new world was an excellent representation of distraction of what we got through that keeps questioning what we believe in. Zach B.

The Young Entrepreneur's Guide to Starting and Running a Business by Steve Mariotti

Mr. Steve Mariotti is a very smart man, and I appreciate his tips in business in his book, THE YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR'S GUIDE TO STARTING AND RUNNING A BUSINESS. I like the side details of how to handle your money, how to get started, and the success stories of Berry Gordy, Bill Gates and many others. Zach B.

Five-Minute Mysteries by Stan Smith

These five-minute mysteries are fun and challenging. I enjoy trying to solve them. I like the one especially of the case of the kidnapped consultant. They interviewed the employees, only to find one of them has a part in the crime. Zach B.

Dream-Weaver by Louise Lawrence

This story is about an earth boy on a ship going to colonize another planet and a girl that lives on that planet. The boy is appalled by the idea of making the locals slaves and destroying the planet the way ours was destroyed. The girl has the power to travel in a dream state like others in her peaceful society. They meet while she is dream travelling and discover he is heading to her planet. They and others on her planet must figure out how to deal with the approaching ship. Should they let it land and deal with the evils it will bring or force it to go somewhere else? This story is about working toward a greater good and the human fear toward things not understood. It is an ecellent story of love and betrayal with important thought-provoking themes and issues. Katie M.

Second Sight

SECOND SIGHT is a great book by various authors with different views of the millenium. Some stories take place back in 1000 AD and some take place in 2001 AD for those who believe on the extra year. I like how the stories each express their individualty and how each author responds. These authors are some of my favorites with with hit books such as Avi's Crispin or Madelenine L'engle's Wrinkle in Time. Zach B.

The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick

This is a dark story about a boy named Spaz that is living in a dangerous civilization after the world as we know it was destroyed after a giant earthquake. The world has gone back to survival of the fittest except for a genetically altered few that have separated from the rest in a paradise called Eden. Spaz must get from one side of the Urb, the destoyed city in which he lives, to the other through several warring territories to see his sick sister. He enlists the help of an old man who is writing a book about his life that nobody knows how to read and is hoping for one last adventure. He also is accompanied by a small street boy and girl from Eden. Together they must save his sister and find their places in the world. This is a great story with frightening possibilities dealing with renewed prejudices that come from being uneducated. Katie M.

Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul on Love and Friendship

This book, titled CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE TEENAGE SOUL ON LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP, was an inspiring book to read. The stories in this book are very interesting to read beecause they are written by people about my age. This book had stories about breaking up, love, friendship, family, hard times. and growing up. I enjoyed reading this book and I could relate to some of these stories in this book. LISA D.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling

When I read HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN, I liked it. When Harry goes to Hogwarts, the Prisoner of Azkaban has escaped from Azkaban. When Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione find out that Ron's pet rat, Scabbers, is a killer, they are surprised. You should read Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and adults should read it, too. Ronak P.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling

HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS is a wonderful book that I read. It is Harry's second year at the magical school Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It is a great adventure book for kids to read. Will Harry win against the big and deadly basilisk? Find out for yourself when you read HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS. Ronak P.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling

I read HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE, and it was great. It is Harry's first year at Hogwarts. He and his new friends Ron and Hermione quickly find out lots about the Sorcerer's Stone. In the end they were wrong about who was trying to steal the stone. So read the book and you'll find out what happens. Ronak P.

Fences by August Wilson

FENCES is a play by August Wilson and takes place from 1957 to 1965 in the vicinity of Pittsburgh. Troy Maxson, the main character in the play, was a great baseball player. Despite his incredible batting average, he never got a chance to have a career in baseball because of the color of his skin. Troy's son, Cory, has a talent in sports just like his father, however, Troy will not let Cory follow his dream of becoming a football player since he got turned down in baseball because of his race. He didn't want Cory to go through what he had went through. Because of his father's decision to cut him from the team, Cory begins to see Troy as someone who is holding him back. Throughout the play, the writer sets up a dramatic storyline, but at the same time amusing moments are mixed in to make an interesting conglomeration of writing both dramatic and comical. This is why I appreciate the structure of this play and its writing style. Fences tries to keep an imporant message throughout the book. The message is, give one another a shot at their goals and treat each other the way that you would want to be treated because we are all created equal. Bob P.

Heir to the Empire by Zahn

This wasn't the best Star Wars book I've read. It brings out more characters and species, but the story line dragged. The author creates minimal suspense and waits too long to reveal the mysteries. Han Solo tries to create alliances with smugglers for the New Republic. Leia is continually attacked by aliens and learns they have a connection to Vader. We learn of Chewie's world, with cities among the trees. The Empire has employed a new Jedi for their plans. Ultimately, the story is good enough, but it lacked the suspense of the other Star Wars books. Ellen D.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur C. Doyle

The book is set at the end of the 19th century and portrays the cases of the famous English detective, Sherlock Holmes, through the eyes of his loyal assistant, Dr. Watson. Whether it's the solving of a royal family case or discovering a plain old man's secret, the readers become thoroughly interested in the brilliance of the observing eye of the man with a large magnifying glass in his pocket.

Personally, I liked the stories very much. The writing was easy to understand but still managed to paint a picture of the settings and the people involved. Karolina D.