Ariel by: Grace Tiffany
"Ariel" by Grace Tiffany is a re-creation of William Shakespeare’s "The Tempest". Ariel is a powerful spirit who does not possess a physical body. However, she can shift shape, control people’s minds, create other spirits, and show images in the air. In the beginning of the book, Ariel starts out as a dream that belongs to a sailor named Jasper. A storm has swept Jasper onto an island. Over time, Jasper starts to go mad. He starts praying to his dreams and calls the spirit Ariel out of them. Jasper finally dies of his madness, but Ariel lives on. One day, a pregnant woman named Sycorax washes up onto the island. She and Ariel help each other to survive. Finally, Sycorax is about to give birth to her baby. She asks Ariel to help her, but Ariel cannot because she is only a spirit. Angry, Sycorax prays to her god, Setebos, to trap Ariel. Setebos turns Ariel into an ant and sticks her inside a tree! To find out what happens to Ariel, and Sycorax, read on for yourself!
"Ariel" is an enchanting book. Many interesting characters show up on Ariel’s island, including Sycorax’s “monster” son, Caliban; Prospero the farmer and his young daughter, Miranda; Alonso the king of Naples and his son, Ferdinand; Prospero’s “evil” brother Antonio; and Ariel’s three spirit minions—Acrazia, Nous, and Fantasia. At some points Ariel is a little slow, but other parts are exciting and read quickly. Readers who like "Treasure Island" and those who like Shakespeare’s stories would like Ariel.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 11
Reviewed by: GS
Tackling Dad by: Elizabeth Levy
Cassie was the star of the pee-wee football team a few years ago. Many things have changed since then, such as her parents getting divorced. Now she only visits her dad on weekends. When she and her best friend Molly make the new football team, will Cassie ever get her parents to sign the form to allow her to play in the games? If they do let Cassie play, will she ever get the respect she wants from the boys on the team? How much longer will Cassie be able to stand Serena, her new step-mom(Mrs. Tofu Queen), who gets worked up over almost everything? You can find out in this terrific book called "Tackling Dad".
This book was a page-turner and and I enjoyed spending the time to read it! At first I didn't know how this book would be since it was about football and I don't like football, but this book turned out to be excellent. The things the characters said in "Tackling Dad" were very funny. I recommend "Tackling Dad" to pretty much anybody who likes to read funny books, but especially if you like football.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 11
Reviewed by: CMy
Under the Persimmon Tree" by Suzanne Fisher Staples
The year is 2001. Afghanistan is in the middle of a war between the Taliban and the US-backed Northern Alliance. The story follows two extraordinary people: Najmah and Nusrat. Najmah, whose name means ‘star’, has lost almost all of her family to the fighting. Her only remaining relative is an uncle, whose sole aim is to steal the land that her father wanted her so much to protect. Najmah has no choice, but to accompany a family of travelers, as they are the only people, it seems, that care about her. The other main character is a woman by the name of Nusrat, an American living in Peshawar, Pakistan. Her school for refugee children under her persimmon tree keeps her mind away from her husband, who is working in northern Afghanistan as a doctor. Through a perilous journey, Najmah comes to live with Nusrat, and their lives entwine, as Najmah studies under the persimmon tree with other children who have seen more hardship in their young lives than Nusrat has seen in her entire lifetime.
This book was an amazing testament to those who must give up their lifestyle and possessions to warfare and hardship. "Under the Persimmon Tree" gives a face to all those who surrender all individuality to the western media, and are just masses of people in their eyes. I could not put the book down. I received the book on a Friday evening, and was done by Saturday morning. The way Suzanne Fisher Staples writes is both knowledgeable and empathetic. Her firsthand experience of the change of Afghanistan from a cultural center to a barren wasteland translates very clearly into the amazing and true-to-life storyline. Ms. Staples lived in Afghanistan from the time before the Soviet Invasion that changed the country forever to the time of the Taliban takeover. The ending leaves readers to wonder, and yet a sense of closure is within a close grasp. Under the Persimmon Tree is an essential to anyone with family members fighting in Afghanistan, who follow events there, or just want to learn about the war that seems to have disappeared out of our media spotlight.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewed by: CS
A.D. 62: Pompeii by: Rebecca East
A twenty-first century woman named Miranda is stranded in A.D. 62 Pompeii as a house slave of a wealthy family. True, that's what she came to do, get an up close and personal look into the lives of first century Romans. However, with no way to get back home, it looks like she'll be there forever, or at least until Mt. Vesuvius covers the entire city with 20 feet of lava, mud, and ash. Slowly through the help of storytelling and music she makes her way up the ladder of slaves so instead of scrubbing floors and cleaning chamber pots she is playing her flute for guests at dinner parties. Soon she finds her self attracted to the master of the house, but love between a slave and her master is absolutely unheard of. Truly a different kind of love story.
The beginning was good, the middle was a bit slow, but the end was TERRIFIC! The beginning was packed with detail about her surroundings. The middle was the day to day life of a slave with the same thoughts, ideas, and actions repeated over and over. The end was filled to the brim with action and plot. The book also tends to deal with rather mature ideas. Set some time aside for the end because you won't want to stop until you have finished the last page.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewed by: KA
Nasty Book by: Barry Yourgrau
This book is as collection of stories. The stories are comical, creepy, gorey, scary, gross, and nasty. Some of them have a mission to scare you, while others just live up to the name "nasty". They are all good for a sleepless night.
This book was okay. The author did a good job on making up nasty stories. Many of them were too unbeleivable. They weren't that nasty, becuase I know some of the events couldn't happen. However, some of them really sent the hair on my neck rising.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewed by: RC
Orphans of Chaos by: John C. Wright
"Orphans of Chaos" involves five children, Amelia, Quentin, Victor, Colin, and Vanity, who are living in a British orphanage. As time goes on, the children discover unusual, unbelievable things about themselves. They can do incredible things like walk on air, unlock bolted doors, and reach into the fourth dimension. It becomes evident that they are not humans at all, but rather supernatural beings whose memories and powers have been stripped away from them and who have been trapped within the boundaries of the orphanage. Where are they from? Who has confined them here, and why?
Like a master chef sprinkling seasoning over a dish, Wright has flavored his fantasy with hints of science, mythology, and mystery. The plot was enthralling, and the characters multi-layered. As the story progresses and questions from previous chapters are answered, new questions arise, keeping you spellbound from cover to cover. There were a few parts in the book, usually pretty short, with scientific concepts that went a little over my head, but they did not detract at all from my enjoyment of the book, and might make it more fun to read through a second time. I thought this book was very well written, and genuinely regreted to set it down once I was finished. I'd love to read the sequel. It is a good read for most young adults who like fantasy.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewed by: SV
Dustin Grubbs, One Man Show by: John J. Bonk
In his first novel "Dustin Grubbs, One Man Show", John J. Bonk examines the intersection of dreams and reality in middle school. The hero, Dustin Grubbs, wants to change the world through his stage performances. Unfortunately, Dustin has no acting experience since his mother does not approve of the theater because his father deserted the family three years ago to become a stand-up comic. When sixth grade teacher Miss Honeywell proposes a play, Dustin ignores his mother’s expected disapproval and pursues his goal. Then reality sets in. Calamity becomes the star of The Castle of the Crooked Crowns as a fire drill stops the show. On the day of the rescheduled performance Dustin manages to get locked in the boys’ bathroom. When the janitor finally rescues him, his entire class and new student TV child star Jeremy Jason Wilder watch him appear from the stall. A public bathroom rescue should be the worst event ever, but it isn’t. A broken piano isn’t the worst either. Neither is Principal Futterman’s giving the starring role to Jeremy. The worst part is when Dustin almost let his fascination with Jeremy damage his friendship with Wally Dorkin, Ellen Mennopi aka LMNOP, and the other kids at Buttermilk Falls Middle School. Although few middle school students have TV stars in their school, many have dreamed of the friendship of an unresponsive someone and will identify with Dustin’s attempt to understand friendship, trust, and loyalty. John Bonk has created a believable middle school atmosphere with its puns, alliteration, and bathroom humor. Readers may welcome another visit to Buttermilk Falls when the sequel comes out in 2006.
John Bonk has captured the drama of middle school with its emphasis on friendships and peer pressure. The characters are believable and a little goofy, just like middle schoolers. I liked visiting Buttermilk Falls Middle School and wonder what the kids will be up to in the sequel. I would recommend this book to folks with a sense of humor.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
This book was reviewed by a Graduate Student
The Lace Dowry by: Andrea Cheng
When Juli and her mama go to Halas to order an elegant lace tablecloth for Juli's dowry, she finds a new friend named Roza, otherwise known as the best lacemaker's daughter. They return every two months to the lacemaker's shop to check up on the progress of the tablecloth and to make payments on it. Juli's mama doesn't want her having a friend from the country. So when her mama finds out Juli and Roza have become friends, Juli's mama forces her to go to dance class instead of going to Halas with her. Juli is afraid that Roza might go blind like her (Roza's) mama and she decides to help her. How, you ask? Well, instead of using the money her mama gave her for white dance shoes, Juli uses it to buy something that she thinks will help Roza not to go blind from making lace, but will Juli ever see Roza again to give it to her? Find out in one of the greatest books ever, called "The Lace Dowry".
I loved this book so much that I wished it would never end. The Lace Dowry is set in 1933 in the city in Budapest. This book has magnificent characters that are interesting to read about. I enjoyed reading this book very much because it had a wonderful plot and the setting was unusual. This book also has a moral question: Is it ok to tell lies and steal to help someone else who is in need? Everything about this book is awesome, and I recommend "The Lace Dowry" to everybody.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10
Reviewer Age: 11
Reviewed by CMy
His Oldest Friend by Sonny Kleinfeld
When Elvis started volunteering at the nursing home, it was to keep out of trouble. He was a poor, Hispanic young man living in a not-so safe neighborhood in New York City, and everyday just trying to stay alive. But when Elvis is hired look in on Ms. Oliver, a resident of the home, their weekly check-ups gradually turn into daily visits, and a rare and strong relationship is formed. While Elvis brings light into Ms. Oliver's dull world at the nursing home, she gives him the strength and wisdom to better his life day by day.
His Oldest Friend is not a book that I will pick up again any time soon. Though Kleinfield is a renowned journalist, when it comes to books geared for young adults, his work is not up to expectations. The story itself is a bit cliché, an elderly person enlightening a troubled youth and vice-versa, but also, the use of vocabulary did not seem to fit the age group the book was written for. By the time the book was over, I not only didn't particularly care what became of the characters, but I wasn't able to absorb any points that Kleinfield was trying to make with this story, which left me feeling that I went through the trouble of reading the book for nothing.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 4
Reviewer Age: 15
Gulliver Zone by: Stephen Baxter
In the world of "The Web" series, people are hooked up to the internet by using suits that take their minds to the web. Sarah is one of the many users on the Web, and on world peace day takes a friend and her annoying little brother on a trip to the Gulliver Zone, a virtual magical kingdom. However, after meeting a small race of people called lilliputians, Sarah and her brother are shrunk down to the lilliputian's size. Now Sarah, George, and a lillputian named Cefven must go to the castle of the sorceress, grow back to normal, save her friend, and save a race of people from an evil tyrant before they are all stuck in the Gulliver Zone.
"The Gulliver Zone," set in a not so distant future, begins and ends as a great book. The plot is really good and it made me not want put the book down. The premise for the book, though not original, makes a lot of sense and the writer did a good job of playing that out.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewed by: RF
Poppy's Return by: Avi
When Poppy's sister, Lily, unexpectedly arrives in Dimwood Forest with bad news that her family's and friends' home will be destroyed, Poppy decides to go back to her old home and try to save Gray House. How will she manage taking along her bratty teenage son, Ragweed Jr. (a mouse) and his best friend, Mephitis. When Poppy returns to Gray House, will she accept her father's plans for her, and will she be able to stop the bulldozer from wrecking the house? If not, what will happen to all the mice that live there? Find out in this amazing story of "Poppy's Return".
I thought this book was exciting to read. I didn't want to put it down when it was time for bed but I had to. The book had amazing characters with many different personalities. This book was a real page turner but I only gave it an eight because of the weird stuff Ereth (a porcupine) says. The illustrations were drawn by Brian Floca and are detailed black and white pictures. I really liked the ones that had Poppy in the picture; she's a really cute mouse. The plot was interesting, and my favorite character was Ragweed Jr. because he did hilarious things. I recommend this book for kids ages 8-12 because the language is fairly easy.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 11
Reviewed by: CMy
The Foretelling by: Alice Hoffman
This novel is a coming of age story centered around the life of a young Amazon queen-to-be, Rain. It tells of her relationship, or lack therof, with her mother, the Queen of the Amazon women, and all of the things that are expected of her as the future Queen. The novel starts with Rain being absolutely sure of what she wants and the course that her life should take. Throughout the novel, however, she slowly begins considering what life can be like outside of the never-ending war that is the empire of the Amazon women.
The overall idea and plot of the novel is both original and creative while tying in themes that most young adults can relate to. Alice Hoffman also did a good job of using symbols consistently throughout the novel. Although the novel is exciting because of its originality, at the same time you finish it with a feeling of incompleteness and sadness-- as if the entire journey you have taken with Rain is pointless. Although Rain does age in the novel by many years, the content of her thoughts seem to remain the same. Had the author not written that she had gotten older, I would not have thought so. Besides this fact, I do feel that the novel is interesting and worth reading, just don't expect to finish it feeling as though you have taken a meaningful journey along with the main character.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewed by: ACC
The Printer's Devil by: Paul Bajoria
It all starts when the Printer's Devil is making wanted posters of an ugly convict named Cockburn. Mog Winter had stayed up late one night after printing 100 copies of the poster. Once done with that, the orphan had to deliver a bill to one of Mr. Cramplock's customers (he's Mog's employer). The man who is to receive the bill's name is Mr. Flethick. Mog finds Flethick in his room with several other men smoking and speaking of things like "The Sun of Calcutta" and "The Bonsun". Before you could blink and eye Mog is whisked away in a grand adventure involving thieves, camels, deception, and a mysterious past.
I thought that "The Printer's Devil" was good, but definitely a book you might want to use a notecard as a bookmark to keep track of who's who. At times it can be dreadfully confusing as to who's doing what and how they're involved in the first place. I thought the writing was inconsistent at times. One chapter would be smooth and the next it would take a while to catch up with the plot line. It was almost as if you missed something important. Warning: When reading this book be prepared for the weird little twists and turn that could utimately change the plot for somthing totally different. Assume nothing.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewed by: KA
Worlds of the Golden Queen by: David Farland
David Farland takes you on an adventure through amazing worlds, where there is knowledge on how to expand life, create new creatures/lifeforms, and so much more. But throughout the thousands of worlds there is suffering of people, for the Golden Queen Semarritte is dead, and now the Dronon are in control of the worlds. The Dronon are nasty creatures who have created chaos throughout the worlds. But there is hope to overthrow the Dronon by means of Semarritte's clone, Everynne. On the way to regain control of the worlds Everynne comes across three people, a bodyguard named Gallen, an orphen named Maggie, and a bear named Orick. Gallen, Maggie, and Orick live on what is known as a backwards world, where the tecnologies of the other worlds have been rejected by the original people on the backwards world, and so when they agree to help Everynne they have no idea of what kinds of things or people they will find on their adventure. Throughout Gallen, Maggie, and Orick's journey they find good and bad worlds and people, that always tests what they believe in . The only thing certain about this adventure is it will change them all forever.
I loved "Worlds of the Golden Queen." it was a great book with characters you easily could like. The bad guys in the book you hated, but felt bad for them because of the fact that they were convinced that what they were doing was going to make the world a better place. The best part of the book, in my opnion, was the first time Gallen, Maggie, and Orick meet Everynne. I liked that part the best because that is when Maggie, Gallen, and Orick's life changing adventure begins.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewed by : VR
Steel Magic by: Andre Norton
Avalon is Earth’s guardian. If Avalon falls into the hands of evil, Earth will soon follow. When Greg, Sara, and Eric are transported to Avalon by a hidden door in a castle and learn how close Avalon is to destruction they know they have to help. With the aid of a steel knife, fork, and spoon, they set off in search of three missing talismans, the protectors of Avalon. Without these iron objects in a land where iron is deadly, the war against evil is sure to fail. Each of them must conquer their individual fears to rescue the sword Excalibur that belongs to King Arthur, the Horn that is Huon’s, the Warden of the West, and the ring that circles Merlin’s finger. If they don’t succeed, Avalon will fall, and Earth, as they know it will be no more.
Magic is real in Andre Norton’s book, Steel Magic. The imagery is vivid throughout the book, and fear is always present and always in different forms. Young readers will adore this thrilling adventure. Andre Norton has created a new fantasy world.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewed by: SMo
The Adventures of a Notorious Youth: Capt. Hook by: J.V. Hart
Just like the title promises, this book is all about the youth adventures of Captain Hook. He goes to a school called Eton where he becomes infamous. Roger (nicknamed Jolly Roger) becomes James' best friend, James falls in love with a Sultana, and he creates total havoc at Eton. All the while, he had his loyal spider, Electra, by his side. As the book progresses, James makes a dramatic exit from Eton and gains his ship, the Jolly Roger. With his ship and friends by his side, James sets off in search of the perfect island he has always dreamed of.
This book was very interesting. It explained a lot about Captain Hook and how things came to be how they were in Peter Pan. The ending was a bit vague but you can connect it with Peter Pan and figure out what happens. The book has a lot of vivid word choices and the plot twists and turns a lot. Some parts of the book are a little disturbing so this book is better for older kids. Perhaps when you are done with this book, your outlook on Captain Hook will change.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewed by: AW
Out of Time by: John Marsden
"Out of Time" by John Marsden has multiple plots to it, but the main one is about a boy named James who sneaks over to Lab 17 every night, where Mr.Woodford makes extrodinary scienctific inventions. One night James sees Mr. Woodford's newest invention, a time machine, but the following night when James goes into Lab 17 he finds Mr. Woodford dead. However, temptation rises and James takes the little time machine home with him. Now that James has the power of time, will he use it to help the lives of others or will he use it for his own personal gain? He must decide for himself before the opportunity is lost."Out of Time" has some good aspects in it, like its multiple plot lines, interesting main story, and great theme. However, the multiple plot lines fail to even remotely go together. The ending is highly disappointing and how the author changes from one plot to another in a paragraph-like structure is a complete flop. Again, the book is an interesting idea, but Mr. Marsden does not make it work.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 4
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewed by: RF
Girls Dinner Club by Jessie Elliot is a story about three high school girls of very different backgrounds bonding together to uncover the mysteries of love, friendship, and the art of cooking. Elliot successfully creates a relationship between the book’s characters and the reader. It’s an entertaining tale of the recipes of life, however too advanced for the targeted audience, who may not be able to see beyond some of the titillating details. Best friends Junie and Celia welcome classmate Danielle to join them for dinner one evening after working on a school project. The casual meal turns into a weekly tradition where the girls try their hand at lavish, mouth-watering cuisines while developing an unbreakable sisterhood union. Individually, the girls each have problems they are desperately trying to overcome. Junie’s yearlong relationship comes to a screeching halt when she becomes unsure of the direction it is taking, and then she becomes tempted by Danielle’s hunky twenty-one-year-old cousin. Celia’s sheltered world is turned upside-down when her father brings home a new woman and her annoying or wait, maybe her mystifyingly charming nephew. Life hasn’t been easy for Danielle being raised by mom, grandma, and big sis Christine especially when bad boy Steve resurfaces as a "changed man." The lack of parental guidance throughout the novel is evident when the seventeen-year-olds either have no curfew at all, or defy the 11:00 p.m. weeknights and 12:30 a.m. weekends set for them. Together the trio battles decisions of sex, underage drinking, cheating boyfriends, and sneaking around behind their parents' backs. The content is not appropriate for 12 and below. I would not be comfortable with middle school readers being exposed to issues like sex, underage drinking, and defiance of family rules. However, this behavior is perfectly acceptable according to this book.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6
Reviewer Age: 24
Reviewed by: NY
The Wandering Schoolgirl by: Gary L. Gallegos
Sixteen year old Breanna Cota is spending a week over a her uncle's place with a few friends planning on going to an anime convention. Not seeing why her friends want to go she goes along anyway. At the convention Breanna gets her photo taken, but instead of a regular photo this one takes her to an actual anime world and plops her right in the middle of a battle between evil world leaders and the resistanse. Here she meets a cast of interesting people along with her talking pig backpack. After going back to the real world, Breanna describes the world she's seen and creates a team out of her friends, and her uncle, to save the anime world.
To start off "The Wondering Schoolgirls" is one funny book. It is full of anime puns used as great comedy. The plot is as most animes, but there is a spin so everyone can enjoy it. Huge anime fans may not find this book great, but they might still get a kick out of seeing how their favorite anime characters are compiled into this one book. I can't wait for the next book in the series
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Reviewer Age: 14
Reviewed by: RF
