Macbeth The Young Reader's Shakespeare by Adam McKeown

Macbeth (The Young Reader's Shakespeare) by Adam McKeown is a retelling of Shakespeare's famous play, Macbeth, using easier language and illustrated by Lynne Cannoy. The story is about general Macbeth. Returning from a victorious battle, Macbeth and his friend (and fellow general) Banquo are visited by three witches who tell their future. Macbeth, having been an honorable, trustworthy man before, turns into a vengeful tyrant as he seeks out his future. He kills the king of Scotland so he can be named king himself. He kills the other generals who had been his friends and companions. He becomes so paranoid, he seeks out the witches again. Again, they foretell a prophecy, which Macbeth misunderstands making him beileve he in invincible. It is this belief that eventually causes his downfall.

I had never read Macbeth before, so I didn't know the story before reading this version. This was an excellent, quick read and made me want to read Shakespeare's own version! It is a bit on the mature side due to violence, however. I would recommend this version of Macbeth to anyone who is nervous about tackling Shakespeare, but wants to know the story!

The Search for WondLa by Tony DiTerlizzi

The Search for WondLa by Tony DiTerlizzi is about Eva, a 12 year old girl who has been raised in her underground Sanctuary by her robot Muthr since she was born. Every day, Muthr puts Eva through a variety of lessons and tests, all in preparation for the day Eva will be able to leave Sanctuary and explore the Earth above. Eva's was a peaceful life until one day someone attacked her Sanctuary, destroying it. Muthr forced Eva to leave, giving her directions to get as far away as possible and call the nearest settlement for help using her Omnipod. Terrified, Eva tried to follow Muthr's directions, but nothing on the surface was what Eva was expecting. Eventually, Eva found a strange looking alien, Rovender Kitt, who was willing to help her get back to her own Sanctuary to find Muthr. As she feared, everything was ruined, but they were able to find Muthr and repair her. Because nothing was as they thought, Rovender agreed to help Muthr and Eva on their search for other humans. The only thing guiding them was a torn piece of cardboard that Eva found in her Sanctuary. She taped it back together to show a human girl holding hands with a robot and another human adult. Most of the words were missing, except for Wond and La, thus Eva dubbed it the "WondLa". Rovender thought he'd seen some artifacts similar to those in the Sanctuary in a museum in one of the large settlements, so they set off to find it. Eva made friends with an alien animal, similar to a great water bear, who also traveled with them. Plagued along the way by the evil Besteel, the alien who destroyed Sanctuary and who is trying to capture Eva, and a whole host of other dangerous aliens, the three continue their search for WondLa until they reach a very surprising conclusion to their journey!

This was a really interesting book! I absolutely loved the illustrations and the interactive website where I could view 3-D versions of the maps of Orbona. I am excited to read the second book so I can find out what happens to Eva Nine and Rovender next!

The Unidentified by Rae Mariz

The Unidentified by Rae Mariz is about Kid, a typical high school student who goes to school at a very atypical place. It's an old shopping mall, converted to "The Game". In the game, students earn points by playing different games and competing in a variety of arenas. There are very few adults seen in the game because the students are all monitored by video cameras and through their game cards, which they swipe before entering each of the different areas. Kid's best friend Ari wants nothing more than to be "sponsored" by a commercial company so that she can earn free clothes and extra game points, and she is constantly working at being noticed. Kid, on the other hand, works hard to not be noticed. However, Kid caught the attention of two sponsors when she was the first to post a video and comment on a mysterious incident that took place in the common area of the game. Someone pushed a human-sized dummy off the balcony, causing its balloon head to splat on the cement floor. On the dummy was the phrase, "Choose your Suicide". The people behind this display were only known as the unidentified. Kid is desperate to find out more about this group and their reasons for their public displays. But, it's becoming increasingly difficult for her to investigate because of her corporate sponsors. It seems as though they know every bit of information Kid discovers and are using it against her and the unidentified. The closer Kid gets to finding the truth, the more dangerous it becomes for her, her family, and her friends.

This was a really interesting book! I loved the futuristic, but completely realistic, way the author shows how technology is so pervasive. Students at the game communicate almost constantly using their intouches and notebooks. I also liked the modern twist on schooling. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good science fiction story!

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl is about Ethan, a good basketball-playing, cheerleader-dating, southern boy who had (until recently) enjoyed a peaceful, ordinary life in Gatlin, South Carolina. That is, until Lena Duchannes showed up at school. Lena was the niece of the town shut-in, Macon Ravenwood, who lived in the oldest plantation house on the outskirts of Gatlin. The upstanding citizens of Gatlin tolerated him because he never showed his face in town. Lena, on the other hand turned into the bane of everyone's existence... except for Ethan. It turns out, the strange dreams Ethan had been having were actually about Lena - they shared a strange connection and could even read each others' thoughts from miles away! Ethan finds out that's because Lena and her family are not typical Mortals like everyone else in Gatlin. They are Casters and Lena has until her 16th birthday, only a few months from their first meeting, before she is claimed - either Light or Dark. Lena is terrified of the Claiming, certain she is going Dark. She is just as terrified of losing Ethan, whom she has grown to love over the course of their few months together. Everything comes to a head the night of Lena's 16th birthday when she has to make a life or death decision which will result in losing one or more of the people she loves. Will she repeat the mistakes from the past which cursed her family? Will she choose Mortals over Casters? Light over Dark? Mother or Uncle?

This was a great fantasy. I really liked the way the authors made it from Ethan's point of view. Most of the paranormal romance stories I've read are from the girl's perspective. I also liked the way the authors wove in information about the Civil War and southern living. I'd recommend this to anyone who likes the Twilight Series or is a fan of paranormal romance.

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan is the first book in his new Heroes of Olympus series. Jason wakes up on a school bus traveling to a field trip with his class, and holding his girlfriend's hand. The only problem is, he doesn't remember getting there, doesn't remember the school, his girlfriend Piper, his friend Leo... anything! After being attacked by storm spirits at Niagara Falls, Jason, Leo and Piper find out they are half-bloods (one of their parents is a Greek god and one is a mortal) and are whisked away to Camp Half-Blood, a safe haven for demigods. While there, they find out that one of the camp's heroes, Percy Jackson, is missing and their savior Annabeth is searching for him. The trio also learns that their entire world is threatened by the rise of Gaea (mother earth) and her titan children, having kidnapped Hera. Hera has been visiting the demigods through their dreams, trying to lead them to her in hopes they'll free her before the worst titan rises on the eve of the summer solstice. Jason, Piper, and Leo go off on their first quest, to free Hera and save the world. Unfortunately, all three have their own ulterior motives - Piper is desperate to save her father from the clutches of an evil giant even though she knows her friends will be hurt if they go with her. Jason just wants to find out who he is and where he came from. And Leo, terrified that his ability to produce fire will hurt or kill another person he loves, just wants to belong somewhere. They meet many different characters along the way, including Midas who turns anything he touches into gold, Medea one of Ancient Greece's most evil mortals, Coach Hedge a crazy satyr bent on protecting them, and even some interesting gods/goddesses. And of course, they are plagued by mystery and danger the whole way. Will the succeed in holding off another war between gods and titans? Will Gaea rise and take back the world?

This was a great adventure! It was really fun to have some of my favorite characters brought back from the Percy Jackson series - Chiron, Annabeth, Clarise, etc. The story was really engaging and I loved the new characters. I also really liked the way the author brought in the Roman side of the characters and stories. I can't wait to read the next book, The Son of Neptune, coming out in fall of 2011.

Dirt Road Home by Watt Key

Dirt Road Home by Watt Key is the companion novel to Alabama Moon, one of the 2010-2011 Maud Hart Lovelace nominees. Dirt Road Home is about Hal, a fifteen year old boy who, though a series of bad decisions, winds up in Hellenweiler, a home for seriously troubled boys. Hal was sent to Pinson, a different home for boys after stealing some bikes and disrespecting his mother. He and two friends, Moon and Kit, escaped from there and lived off the land in rugged Alabama until Hal split from the others and made his way home to his father. He would have been home free, but Moon needed his help, so he came forward and ended up helping Moon, but being sent to Hellenweiler in the end. Determined to get out right away, Hal decides to straighten up and follow the rules. His father, also determined to be reunited with Hal decides to clean up his act and stop drinking. They have been told by their lawyer that if they can both stay out of trouble, Hal will be out before they know it. Unfortunately, the two ruling gangs at Hellenweiler are just as determined to force Hal to choose sides. They pick fights with him, steal his things, and make life miserable. The worst news of all comes when Hal realizes that even the guards at Hellenweiler are corrupt and have been falsifying his behavior reports! Unable to prove his innocence, Hal is near the breaking point and ready to give in to the constant provoking by the other boys. But, two unlikely friends and a crazy plan give Hal hope that he still may be able to leave Hellenweiler for good.

This was a great story! I was expecting it to be like Alabama Moon, but it was completely different. Most of the story takes place at the boys' home and deals with Hal's struggle to do the right thing. I really liked the way the author wove parts of Alabama Moon into the story. I also liked the way I got to know the other characters in the story through their actions and discussions with Hal.

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick is about Nora, a typical teen who leads an a-typical life. Her father was killed several months ago and she lives with her single mother in an old farm house on the outskirts of a small Oregon town. Her mother has to travel a lot for her job, so Nora is left alone in the house more often than not. This arrangement was working out just fine until some strange things began happening. First, Nora was paired up with the mysterious transfer student in biology class, Patch, who seemed to know a lot more about her than she had actually revealed. Nora began feeling like someone was watching her and even suspected someone had been in her room! A stranger tried to attack her while driving home one night, but when she was able to escape there was no damage to the car she thought had been smashed up! Things got even more strange when Nora and her best friend Vee met a new student who had previously gone to a fancy prep school in Portland. Elliot and his friend Jules were just a little too interested in hanging out with the two girls. Nora became suspicious of this behavior when she learned that Elliot had been suspected in the death of one of his former classmates and that was the real reason he had left the private school. Nora is convinced Elliot is behind the strange events plaguing her and her friends, while Vee is just as convinced it is Patch causing the problems. Nora is inexplicably draw to Patch, and on the evening of a strange storm learns a lot more about him, Elliot, and Jules than she ever could have thought was possible.

This was a very entertaining book! I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loved the Twilight Series. There are some very similar themes within the two series. I really liked the way Nora and Patch's relationship developed and unfolded. I felt like I was a part of all the drama!

Lockdown: Escape from Furnace by Alexander Gordon Smith

Lockdown: Escape from Furnace by Alexander Gordon Smith is about Alex Sawyer, a troubled teen who was at the wrong place at the wrong time. He and his best friend, Toby, broke into a house to rob it, but were attacked by mysterious looking men in black suits and a monstrous "being" who appeared to be stitched together and wearing a gas mask. The blacksuits shot killed and framed Alex. As a result, Alex was sentenced to life imprisonment in Furnace, a new prison built into a deep rocky crevice especially for violent kids. Every night something new and horrifying awakens Alex from his sleep - skinless, vicious dogs terrorizing and eating the inmates, the "wheezers" marking certain cells and taking the inhabitants after stabbing them with a needle, and of course, the taunts and jeers from the resident gangs within the prison. And the day isn't much better - having to perform "hard labor" chipping rock walls, cleaning toilets, doing laundry, or preparing the prison food which is a mush made from rotten and moldy left-overs. Alex contemplates suicide nearly every day until he and his roommate, Donovan, and friend Zee figure out a plan for escape. If they get caught, they will be killed - they may be killed anyway! But they believe it is worth the risk for just the chance to escape the Furnace.

This was a really exciting book. It reminded me of an angrier cross between The Maze Runner and The City of Ember. At first, I didn't really even like Alex. He was a jerk and a bully. But then, as he tried to live through the horrors of Furnace, his character changed and he began standing up for the same kinds of kids he would have tormented in his old life. The book ends on a huge cliff-hanger, which makes me want to read the second book, Solitary, right away - it comes out December 21st, 2010!

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

If I Stay by Gayle Forman is about seventeen year old Mia, a typical high school senior living in Oregon. Mia has a wonderful family including two super-cool parents and an awesome eight year old brother, a perfect best friend, a boyfriend who shares her love of music, and a good chance at getting into Julliard. Everything in Mia's life is pretty great until one fateful morning. Mia and her family woke up to a slight snow storm which caused all of the schools in the area to close. Rather than miss out on a chance to spend quality family time together, everyone decides to hop in the car and head toward Portland where they'll visit with friends, eat dinner with the grandparents, and Mia will round out the evening by watching her boyfriend Adam play in his band. A terrible car accident derails all of those plans, though. Mia's entire family is killed and Mia's body is left in a coma. Her soul, however remains behind to witness all of her remaining loved ones' reactions to the accident. The rest of the story is told through Mia reliving many different moments in her life, all leading up to her big decision... should she stay or let go and join her family?

This was a really great story. I loved the way it was all told through flashbacks to various moments in Mia's life. There were parts where I laughed out loud and also parts where I nearly cried. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good romance. This book is definitely for more mature readers, though, due to language and content.

The Clone Codes by The McKissacks

The Clone Codes by The McKissacks is set in 2170 during a time when scientific advancements have made cloning of humans possible. There are many laws (or codes) governing the creation and ownership of clones, such as clones are only to be created as adults, they have no rights as humans but are recognized as property, and they aren't capable of lying. In this story, Leanna is a typical 13 year old, until her mother is arrested for belonging to a treasonous group called The Liberty Bell. This forces Leanna into hiding because suddenly the authorities are searching for her and have placed a one million bounty on her head! Many people are helping Leanna along the way, and through this she learns terrifying secrets that her mother has kept from her, including one that dramatically changes how Leanna sees herself, thus changing her views on cloning, making her determined to do what's right for humanity.

This was a really interesting book. I really liked the way the authors wove historical facts into their fictional novel, showing the similarities to slavery in the 1800s. It was fun to read the fact/fiction part at the back of the book to find the information supporting the ideas within the story. This book reminded me of The Adoration of Jenna Fox.

Sabotaged by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Sabotaged by Margaret Peterson Haddix is the third book in The Missing Series. In this story, JB has asked Jonah and Katherine to accompany Andrea, another one of the kids stolen from history, back to her own time period in order to repair time. Things don't go as easily as they would have hoped when Andrea mysteriously changes their destination. Jonah and Katherine find out that Andrea was visited by a stranger who promised she'd be able to change time and prevent her adoptive parents' death. Instead, the kids wound up in America during the early 1600s! They are all confused about who would want them there and why until they rescue an old man who was washed ashore during a terrible storm. He turned out to be Andrea's biological grandfather and Andrea herself had been born Virginia Dare, the first white girl born in the "New World". In true history's events, the two never meet, but in this new reality, everything is broken and the rules don't seem to hold. Jonah and Katherine are still determined to save Andrea and repair time, they just don't know how. With the help of two other 21st century adoptees who time-smack into Jonah, a dog named Dare, and a stranger named Second, Jonah and Katherine continue their quest to return everything to normal and make it back to the 21st century alive... turns out there are other plans in the works that no one could have suspected!

This book was definitely my least favorite of the three. I was hoping it would be more about the history of Virgina Dare and her time in New York. It was actually more about time traveling and the scientists fighting to change the world's past events than Andrea's story. It ends with a cliff-hanger which makes me think there will be a 4th book coming soon!

Zeus: King of the Gods by George O'Connor

Zeus: King of the Gods by George O'Connor is a graphic novel telling the story of Zeus's rise to power among the Olympians. It begins with Gaea, mother earth, and her creation of the sky, Ouranos, to end her loneliness. Together, they spawned the Titans, the one-eyed Cyclopes, and the fifty-headed Hekatonchieres. Ouranos was so disgusted by his monstrous children that he banished them to a deep chasm called Tartarus. Gaea was so upset by this she asked her Titan children to fight against their father. Only Kronus was brave enough to take the sickle Gaea offered and attack Ouranos. After a mighty fight, Kronus won, but he did not free his brothers from the depths of Tartarus! Gaea cursed him to the same fate as his father - that a son of his own would one day defeat him and take over the world. As a result, Kronus ate every single one of his newborn children... until his wife got smart and fed him a stone instead of his final child. Instead, Zeus was raised far away from his father's rule. When he grew up, Gaea gave him a plant to feed his father that would cause all of his children to be vomited up and freed. When Kronus saw Zeus, he immediately ate him! But, because he also ate the special plant, he violently threw up Zeus and all of his brothers and sisters: Hera, Poseidon, Hades, Demeter, and Hestia. These OIympian Gods fought together against Kronus and the Titans for years, until finally The Olympians won. Zeus imprisoned the Titans in Tartarus, punished anyone else who had fought against him, and began his rule over the heavens and earth from his seat in Mount Olympus.

This was a really cool book! I already knew the story of Zeus's rise to power, so it was really cool to see it in pictures! The battle scenes were awesome! I actually read this book aloud to my family and showed the pictures on each page. It was a great way to spend a Saturday evening. Everyone loved it - from the 6 year old boy to the 16 year old girl to my 34 year old husband! Here is a link to the author's blog, Olympians Rule!

Acceleration by Graham McNamee

Acceleration by Graham McNamee is about 17 year old Duncan. He's been having a hard time since last summer, when he witnessed a girl drown and couldn't reach her in time. He feels like it's his fault. Ever since, he's had bone chilling nightmares about that day, and has even lost his girlfriend due to his over-protectedness. Now, Duncan is working at the lost and found in the Toronto subway system. Bored one day, he picks up a leather-bound diary that someone left on one of the trains. What he finds both terrifies and intrigues him. There are journal entries, notes, newspaper clippings, and drawings of all of the terrible things he's done - setting fires, torturing animals - and, worst of all, plans to take it to the next level. Duncan finds detailed plans for harming a woman. Seeing this as his opportunity to make up for not saving the drowning girl, Duncan does his best to try to solve this mystery: Who does the diary belong to? Is he really planning to kill someone? Can he be stopped? With the help of his best friends Vin and Wayne, Duncan does his best to save the victims and stop the madman.

This was a suspenseful story. It was really interesting to see how the author unfolded the events with the drowning, the diary, and Roach (Duncan's name for the serial killer). I especially enjoyed the action sequence at the end when Duncan confronts who he suspects is the owner of the diary. This book does have some violence, content, and language, so I would recommend it for more mature readers.

Big Nate in a Class by Himself by Lincoln Peirce

Big Nate in a Class by Himself by Lincoln Peirce is about Nate, a wise-cracking, mischief-making 6th grader who just can't seem to catch a break. That is, until he opens a fortune cookie and finds out that this one day only, he'll "surpass all others". The entire day at school Nate focuses on that fortune, trying to figure out what special talent he has, or record he can break, or SOMETHING he can do to surpass all others. All that ends up happening, though, is Nate gets in trouble in all of his classes and ends up with detention slips from every teacher - including the principal!

This book was hilarious! It's told through text and comics, similar to the style in The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Fans of that series will definitely like Nate. You'll have to read to find out if Nate does indeed surpass all others!

Sent (Missing Series #2) by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Sent (The Missing Book 2) by Margaret Peterson Haddix takes place immediately after Found (Missing Series #1) ends, where Chip, Jonah, Katherine, and Alex arrive in the year 1483 just as evil King Richard is coming into power in England. It turns out that Chip and Alex were taken, as babies, from the 15th century to "save" them from their terrible fates - death at the hand of their uncle (Richard), who has Edward V (Chip) killed so he can steal the crown. Trying to put history back together, the time police have sent Chip and Alex back to take their rightful places as children of the former king and meet their inevitable fates. Unfortunately, Katherine and Jonah tagged along and are bent on trying to save their friends from dying at the hand of Richard. JB, the one in charge of the time traveling has given them some hints and tips on how to do this without disrupting the flow of time too much, but will they succeed? Will Chip and Alex even want to return to the 21st century after being reunited with their former selves?

This was an awesome book! I absolutely loved learning about the history of 1483 and what happened in England! I really get into historical mysteries like this, so I'm excited to try to learn even more about the young princes and what may have happened to them. I liked this book better than the first book in the series, Found, because of the historical aspect. I'm really looking forward to reading Sabotaged, the third book in the series!

Into the Gauntlet (The 39 Clues Series #10) by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Into the Gauntlet by Margaret Peterson Haddix is the final book in the 39 Clues Series. In this novel, Amy and Dan find themselves following leads to Shakespeare's final resting place. All of the other family members are hot on their trail and have actually resorted to following them to find the clues! It turns out that all of the 5 family branches (Tomas, Janus, Ekaterina, Lucian, and Madrigal, named after the 5 children of Olivia and Gideon Cahill) have 38 of the clues between them - if they would just get along and share, they could easily solve the entire mystery together. Unfortunately, the majority of the Cahills are cut-throat, greedy, and uninterested in "bonding". Amy and Dan have been asked to do just that - reunite the descendants of Gideon and Olivia Cahill. They are convinced that finding the last clue will give them enough power to convince the other teams to unite, but they'll have to survive The Gauntlet and their competition first!

This was an AWESOME ending to the series! Like the other books in the series, it was filled with action, adventure, mystery, and some interesting historical facts. I absolutely loved the way the story came together and I'm really happy with the end. I am really excited to read the new series about another family who has also been after the Cahill Clues. The first book, Vespers Rising comes out in April, 2011.

The Crossbones by Patrick Carman

The Crossbones by Patrick Carman is the third book in The Skeleton Creek Series. The story is told through Ryan McCray's journal and Sarah Fincher's videos, just like the first two books in the series. After finding the hidden gold in the floorboards of the old gold dredge in their small town, Sarah and her family moved to Boston while Ryan's family stayed in Skeleton Creek and opened a fly fishing shop/guide operation. But, Ryan has held onto a secret since the night of their discovery: he found a mysterious envelope in the pocket of the man who had embodied Old Joe Bush's ghost and terrorized them. Henry ran off before the police arrived, but the note was left behind. The note was a set of encrypted directions to four different haunted places all over the United Stated. He and Sarah hatched a plan to visit these places, find the clues the note described, and solve yet another mystery involving the strange group, the Crossbones. Their timing was perfect because Sarah was scheduled to attend film school in California. As she drove across the country on her way to film school, she stopped by all of the locations in the message, finding video after video of The Apostle, a known member of The Crossbones. All four clues led to an amazing find right back in Skeleton Creek - this time, it was Ryan's turn to investigate. At every turn, both kids are plagued by the three remaining members of the original Crossbones group: The Raven, the ghost, and the Apostle, and the danger is getting more and more real!

This was probably my favorite of the three books! I really felt like I was in Ryan's shoes as he stayed at home anxiously awaiting Sarah's video uploads as she investigated the haunted places. I loved the way the story branched out to include unsolved hauntings and mysteries from around the U.S. It reminded me a bit of the 39 Clues Series by the end, because of the seemingly endless hunt for more information to solve the mystery of The Crossbones.

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor is the first book in the Looking Glass Wars series. It tells the "true" story of Alice in Wonderland. Alyss Heart is the daughter of Queen Genevieve and King Nolan. She had lived a relatively happy life in Wonderland, until her 7th birthday. On that day, Alyss's Aunt Redd, scorned after being denied the crown in favor of her sister, decided to take over the kingdom. Redd and her army of card soldiers killed both the kind and queen and were ready to kill Alyss as well, until Hatter Madigan saved her. They jumped through the Pool of Tears and ended up in separate places in our world, in the year 1859. Alyss ends up in England, while Hatter Madigan finds himself in France. Alyss, through a series of strange experiences, ends up adopted by a family. After years of trying to convince everyone about her past as princess of Wonderland only to be mocked, she begins to forget. That is, until Madigan finds her and sends her old friend Dodge Anders to bring her home. By this time, Alyss is an adult and about to be married to royalty in England! She doesn't know about what her people have had to endure under the dark imagination reign of her Aunt Redd. The Alyssians, people who still serve the Heart family, have gone into hiding, determined to bring Alyss to her rightful place on the throne. Redd has terrorized everyone she suspects of being loyal to Alyss and white imagination - the kingdom is in turmoil. Will Alyss be able to defeat Redd and return the kingdom to its former glory?

This was an exciting adventure. I would recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy and adventure! It reminded me of The Mirror's Tale by P. W. Catanese (another excellent adventure). At the end of the book there is a time line which shows the connections between what happened in the story and what was happening in the "real world" during the same time period. It was really interesting to see how the author mirrored the events.

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater is the second book in the Wolves of Mercy Falls Series. In this book, Sam and Grace are content as a couple, knowing the "cure" worked for Sam - he will never turn into a wolf again, no matter how cold it gets. Unfortunately, Beck didn't know about Sam's cure and created some new wolves to help take care of the pack. Cole is trying desperately to become a wolf and stay a wolf, wanting to leave his tumultuous past behind. He and Sam do not get along. Cole and Isabel do get along, until she finds out about his plan to force the wolf out of himself. She is still upset and guilty about her brother dying from the same thing that cured Sam and doesn't understand Cole's need to change for good. Things take a turn for the worse when Grace begins to exhibit some strange symptoms. It gets even worse when her parents find her with Sam when she was supposed to be alone. The ground her and force the two apart during what could possibly be the worst time of Grace's life. No one will say it, but everyone who knows about the wolves of Mercy Falls is convinced that Grace will be the next to turn (even Grace).

This was another awesome story! I can't wait for the third book to come out in July, 2011. I had forgotten how much I loved Sam and Grace's story until I got back into the series. I really like the way the author switches from character to character for each chapter. It's interesting to see what one character is thinking, then immediately move to another's thoughts on the same situation.

Suck it Up by Brian Meehl

Suck it Up by Brian Meehl is about Morning McCobb, a 16 year old vampire. Morning is what's known as a "Leaguer," meaning a new style of vampires who never dine on human blood. They are formally educated at a special school on ways to blend in with human society and to curb their natural cravings. "Loners" are rogue vampires who still live by the old rules. There aren't many loners left, but they are dangerous. Morning was not at the top of his vampire class. He had a hard time memorizing the rules and a harder time CDing, or changing physical form. As a result, Morning is puzzled when the head of the school asks a special favor from him - to be the first vampire to "come out" to human society. Together, they select a public relations expert (Penny Dredful) to represent him through the experience. Things don't work out as planned, however, when Penny's daughter Portia and Morning fall for each other. Little do they know, a very dangerous loner is not pleased with Morning's decision to "out" himself, and is stalking them in hopes of destroying Morning forever. Things come to an exciting peak when Morning, Penny and Portia attend a festival announcing IVLeague.com at the very vampire school where Morning was educated.

This was an exciting, adventurous and humorous read! The author uses witty and hilarious similes and metaphors throughout to describe the action. This was a nice change of pace from the vampire romances that are so popular right now. I'd recommend it to both boys and girls who need a good read!

Walk Softly, Rachel by Kate Banks

Walk Softly, Rachel by Kate Banks is about fourteen year old Rachel. When she was 7, Rachel's older brother Jake died. Ever since, her family has kept his room exactly the same - complete with all of his track medals and trophies and personal items. Rachel is struggling with the loss of her best friend Adrien, who moved to Africa with his family. As a result, she goes into Jake's room to try to connect with him. She finds his journal and begins reading. The rest of the story goes back and forth between what's happening in Rachel's world and what was happening in Jake's world just before his death. Both share their innermost thoughts, feelings, and struggles. Through reading his journal, Rachel learns a lot about her brother, her family, and herself.

This was an interesting story. It really focused on the inner-struggles of teenaged boys and girls. I especially liked the way the author found ways to connect what was happening in Rachel's life with what had happened in Jake's life, shared through the journal.

Ten Things I Hate About Me by Randa Abdel-Fattah

Ten Things I Hate About Me by Randa Abdel-Fattah is about 16 year old Jamilah, a high school sophomore from Australia who is struggling with her identity. Jamilah is Lebanese and also Muslim and absolutely loves her family's culture, religious traditions and beliefs, and heritage. The only problem is, she's terrified that the students at her school will find out about her background and she'll be bullied. Jamilah attends her Australian high school as Jamie, with dyed blond hair and blue contacts in her eyes. She hates it when the popular "anglo" students in her school tease and bully the "ethnic" kids, but she's so afraid they'll find out about her true self, she doesn't speak up. This becomes especially difficult for her as Peter, the most popular boy in school suddenly becomes interested in her. Jamie/Jamilah finds herself torn between desperately wanting to fit in at school and being comfortable and confident with herself and her background. When her grade's formal nears and her Arabic band is asked to play, she knows she must make a difficult decision about who she is, despite what others might think.

This was a great book! It's interesting how the same types of problems occur in all different cultures and countries around the world. I really felt for Jamilah, trying to fit in at school and feeling like she needed to hide her true self from everyone. I would recommend this book to any girl who has ever felt she needed to be someone different just to be accepted.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins is the third book in the Hunger Games Trilogy. In this last installment, Katniss, after having won the Hunger Games with Peeta and escaped the arena during the Quarter Quell, is living in District 13 with the other rebels. Narrowly escaping the destruction in their home district, 12, Katniss's mother and sister, Prim, and also long-time friend, Gale, have made it to District 13 as well. Coin, the leader of the rebels and her council ask Katniss to agree to be the mockingjay - the "face" of the rebellion. She agrees, but only after making a few demands of her own, including immunity for the other former Hunger Games Tributes. Soon after, Katniss finds out that Peeta, who was captured when she was retrieved from the Quarter Quell, is being held and tortured in the Capitol. Desperate to save Peeta and to kill President Snow to whom she attributes all of the country's suffering, Katniss begins training with the rebel army and taking her role as mockingjay more seriously. Eventually, Peeta is rescued, but has been tortured so much he doesn't know what's real and what isn't. His memories of Katniss were distorted and instead of loving her, he wants to kill her! This just fuels Katniss's fire even more, leading her on a televised raid on the Capitol which ends in more trauma than even Katniss could have imagined. Is the Capitol all bad and the rebels all good? Who can be trusted? Will Katniss ever live a normal life or will being the mockingjay eventually consume her?

This was an awesome end to the trilogy! It took me awhile to get back into the story because it's been nearly a year since I read Catching Fire and even longer since I read The Hunger Games, but once I began remembering the details of the first two books, I really got into Mockingjay. There were twists and turns throughout the entire story, especially where Gale and Peeta were concerned... which will Katniss choose? You'll be surprised!

Meanwhile by Jason Shiga

Meanwhile by Jason Shiga is a really interesting graphic novel. The reader can choose the path of the story using little "tubes" that travel between the illustrations and tabbed pages. Depending on the reader's choices, the story has up to 3,856 different possibilities. It begins with the simple choice - chocolate or vanilla? - and from there can take you literally anywhere! I read this one with my son and we both loved it! As soon as we finished one story, we started over and chose different paths.

The Boy in the Basement by Susan Shaw

The Boy in the Basement by Susan Shaw is about Charlie, a 12 year old boy who has been forced by his father to live in the basement as a punishment. Charlie is certain he is a bad child who has been "ruined" and that his harsh punishments are deserved. This is the only life he's ever known. Even when he's not confined to the basement, his father doesn't allow him to attend school, play outside, or interact with any other people. Late one night as Charlie snuck outside the backdoor to relieve himself (he was not allowed to use the bathroom as a part of his punishment), the wind slams the door closed, locking him out. Sick with fever and not knowing what do to, Charlie runs down his street until he collapses. After being rescued, he is taken to the hospital where he begins to learn that his life was not "normal" and that his father's punishments were wrong. Charlie is scared to death of his father and imagines a giant spider pursuing him every tie he does something that would break his father's rules. After he leaves the hospital, Charlie goes to a foster home to live with Mrs. H and Ambrose, another foster child. Charlie desperately misses his mother, who was always helpless to stop his father's abuse - even taking it herself - but he knows his home is with Mrs. H. Still, the spider plagues him and he is terrified to do the things he knows his father wouldn't approve of. As his parents' trial looms closer, more and more people want to question Charlie about his experiences and Charlie begins to learn what it is like to live like a "normal" child.

This was a heart-wrenching story. I felt so bad for Charlie the entire time I was reading! To think, he didn't even realize that what his parents did to him was wrong - that he somehow deserved to be treated that way. I don't normally read stories about abuse because they upset me, but this one was different. The actual abuse was never described in detail and the ending was very happy. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read (or has already read) A Child Called "It".

Mind Games by Jeanne Marie Grunwell

Mind Games by Jeanne Marie Grunwell is about a group of middle school students who choose to research ESP in their Mad Science Club. As a result of their research, the group wins $500 in the lottery! The story is told through newspaper articles, lab reports, and experiment reports. Each part is written through the eyes of a different character and all add their own personal perspectives and stories. By the end of the novel, the reader not only has a better understanding of paranormal activities, but also of each character, the ways they are completely different, but also how they find their similarities as a result of being part of this group.

This was a quick read. I really liked the format of the story - being told through the voices of each character through lab reports and experiments. It makes me want to study ESP and even try some of the experiments! I loved the ways the author helped me get to know each character personally through what they wrote in their sections. A great story!!

Below are images of Zener Cards used in some tests for ESP:

If you are interested in exploring your own ESP abilities, check out this link to "Test Your ESP"

Shock Point by April Henry

Shock Point by April Henry is about Cassie Streng, a teenage girl who finds out a shocking secret her step-father, Rick is trying to hide. He's a psychologist and has been prescribing a drug to his patients that causes them to commit suicide! When Cassie finds out, she wants to tell someone... anyone... to put a stop to it. Unfortunately, Rick finds out that Cassie knows and convinces her mother to send her to a "private boarding school" in Mexico called Peaceful Cove. Peaceful Cove is really a prison camp meant to break rebellious teens through power and control and sometimes even pain. Cassie is desperate to escape so she can be reunited with her mother and tell the truth about her stepfather and what he has done. The only problem is, it's nearly impossible to get out... people have even died (or been killed) trying.

This was a great action story and a really quick read. I finished it in a few hours one Sunday afternoon! I really liked the way the author used flashbacks to what happened just before Cassie was kidnapped and transported to Peaceful Cove. It was a really cool way to provide the back story! I also liked the way everything fell into place at the end.

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan is the first book in the new Kane Chronicles, by the author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series. Sadie and Carter had been raised apart ever since their mother died six years ago. Carter lived with their father, an Egyptologist who traveled the world researching and collecting Ancient Egyptian artifacts. Carter never attended school, but received his education through their travels. Sadie lived with her grandparents in a flat in London, only seeing Carter and her father twice each year... until one Christmas night when everything changed. Little did Carter and Sadie know, their mother and father came from the two most powerful lines of Pharoah blood. The two of them were literally the only humans with enough power to stop the coming chaos that would begin taking over as soon as their father, in an attempt to make everything "right", unleashed five Egyptian Gods - Isis, Horus, Nephthys, Osiris, and the red lord, Set. Now, the kids have to figure out who they really are, save their dad, and try to save the United States from Set's evil plan, not to mention stay away from the House of Life (a group of magicians trying to keep the peace between the human world and the world of the Gods since the time of the Pharoahs), who believes Carter and Sadie are at fault for releasing the Gods! Will they set things right before it's too late?

This was an awesome book! It was full of action and adventure and packed with so much information about Ancient Egypt that I didn't know! I really liked the way it was told through both Carter's and Sadie's voices as though they were recording their stories. I would recommend this book to anyone who liked the Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series, as well as anyone who enjoys a great adventure!

Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne

Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne is a collection of stories about a boy named Christopher Robin and his friends in the 100 Acre Wood - Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Eyeore, Kanga, and Roo, and Rabbit and all of his friends and relations. Each of the ten chapters tells a different story about the adventures and misadventures of these characters. The stories are based on the author's son, for which Christopher Robin was named, and his collection of stuffed animals (see the photo on the right). Winnie the Pooh was originally named Edward! He was renamed Winnie after a black bear who escaped from a zoo in Winnipeg during WWI, and Pooh after a swan Christopher Robin had named Pooh. I read this book with my son and enjoyed the stories as much as he did! The writing is really funny, for people of any age, and the illustrations are amazing.

Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock is about Benevolence, the niece of King Ferdinand of Montagne. Ben was raised in the soldiers' barracks by her mother and father (King Ferdinand's brother) and lived a very happy life sheltered from the dramas of the kingdom. That is, until her parents and King Ferdinand were assassinated and Princess Benevolence became the only heir to the throne of Montagne. Ferdinand's wife, Queen Sofia immediately took over her care, forcing Ben to learn the ways befitting her station... preparing her for her future queenly duties. Ben fought this at all costs and ended up imprisoned in the wizard's tower of the castle. By day Ben was forced to endure the awful trainings but by night, she worked in her little cell to discover the secrets to the castle. Purely by mistake Ben discovered her magical abilities and the maze-like paths and tunnels that ran throughout the castle. She also discovered a tiny room above her own which held a magical spell book, teaching herself many spells and enchantments. These proved useful as Ben learned of a plot by Queen Sofia to marry her off in an attempt to strengthen the kingdom. Ben winds up escaping the castle, but becoming a prisoner of the very people she suspects killed her parents! In an exciting turn of events, Princess Benevolence finds peace within herself, her aunt, and even the rival kingdom with which Montange has warred for years...

This was a great fantasy. There was magic, adventure, dragons, a great battle scene, and even a little romance! I loved the way Ben's character changed throughout the story as a result of all of her experiences. I also really liked the role of magic in the story, which was very minimal. There were parts where I laughed right out loud! I would recommend this book to anyone who liked The Goose Girl series or The Princess Academy (both by Shannon Hale).

Tree Girl by Ben Mikaelsen

Tree Girl by Ben Mikaelsen is based on a true story, told to the author by the actual Tree Girl in Guatemala. Gabriela has become known by the other villagers in her Mayan canton as the Tree Girl because of her love of climbing to the tops of the highest trees. She can climb higher and faster than anyone else in the canton! Gabi's life with her large family was going well... she was the only one able to attend school, she was preparing for her quinceanera (a big celebration on her 15th birthday), and the war that was raging on other parts of the country between the soldiers and guerrillas had not yet touched their little village. All that changed during her birthday celebration. Soldiers arrived and took her older brother, Jorge. Her mother became sick and eventually died, leaving sadness and extra responsibilities for Gabi. But worse, soldiers destroyed their canton while Gabi was far away at market and killed nearly everyone. Gabi was able to find her youngest sister, Alicia and her brother Antonio (who died almost immediately). She and Alicia began the long journey to Mexico, hoping to find refuge. Along the way, Gabi and Alicia witnessed unspeakable violence and eventually became separated. All Gabi wanted to do was find Alicia, her only remaining family member and responsibility. She struggled to make it to Mexico alone, foraging for food, finding shelter where she could, and feeling as though she let everyone down because she was unable to protect the ones she loved the most. She felt she was a coward for hiding in a tree while an entire village was massacred in front of her... so Gabi promised herself she would never climb a tree again. Thankfully, things began looking up for Gabi when she arrived in a Mexican refugee camp, found some people she could trust, and was even reunited with Alicia!

This was a very heart-wrenching book. It's hard to believe this sort of thing happens in our world today! I found myself becoming immersed in Gabi's story, really feeling for her and all she's been through. It makes me sad to know it was based on a true story. What a brave girl Gabi is. Because of the violence and acts of war, I would recommend it for more mature readers.

Follow this link for a preview of the first 75 pages of Tree Girl by Ben Mikaelsen

Witness by Karen Hesse

Witness by Karen Hesse is the story of a small Vermont town that is invaded by the Ku Klux Klan in 1924. Many of the townspeople welcomed the Klan, joining their ranks immediately - including the preacher, an 18 year old student, and a prominent shop owner. Some of the townspeople remained wary, not joining but not stopping the hateful behavior. The rest, the African American father and 12 year old daughter, the Jewish father and 6 year old daughter, and even the people who were friends with them, were terrorized and even shot! Thankfully their reign of terror didn't last long... but certainly long enough to cause lasting damage, leaving folks scared, hurt, run off, and one dead.

This story is told through the perspectives of several different townspeople, including the two youngest and most hated by the Klan, 12 year old Leonora and 6 year old Esther. It is also told through some of the people who joined the Klan and even some people who didn't join and actively opposed their presence. I really enjoyed the free verse style of this book and the variety of perspectives shown. I would recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction.

The Miracle Worker a play by William Gibson

The Miracle Worker by William Gibson is a play about the story of Helen Keller and her teacher, Annie Sullivan. Helen was born in the late 1800s a typical child. As an infant, she suffered from an illness that left her blind and deaf. Helen's family struggled to raise her, but never truly found a way to reach her until they hired Annie Sullivan. Annie had been blind herself, but underwent several surgeries to bring her vision up by about half. At age 20, she was summoned by the Kellers to teach Helen. Helen's family had catered to Helen all her life, so she had no manners and no discipline. Annie worked to change that, but it was tough. She knew she somehow needed to get Helen to understand that each object had a "name", which she dutifully finger-spelled using sign language into Helen's hands each time she encountered something. While Helen learned to finger-spell many words herself, Annie knew she did not connect those gestures to the items they named. That is, until one crazy evening during supper when Helen threw a tantrum, splashing the water out of the pitcher at the table. Annie took Helen and the pitcher to the water pump, and that was when the breakthrough occurred. Suddenly Helen wanted to know the names of everything, including her mother and her teacher.

I already knew the story of Helen Keller before reading this book, but it was eyeopening to read about it! Because this is a play, all of the stage directions and emotions are described for the actors to follow. This made everything easier for me, as the reader, to visualize. Wow - if ever there was a teacher to admire, it's Annie Sullivan. She never gave up, even though she wanted to, even though she was stopped at every turn, even though it seemed hopeless.

Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom by Eric Wight

Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom by Eric Wight is the story of Frankie and his quest to never clean again. Frankie is an incredibly creative boy who turns just about everything he does into an awesome adventure. So, while he has every intention of cleaning his room so he can go hang out with his friend Kenny, he ends up on an exciting quest to save the world from a gigantic robot. That's when he decides (and his mother actually agrees!) that he will not clean his room ever again... it just gets messy again anyway, so what's the point? Everything goes downhill from there, especially when Frankie decides to stop cleaning himself, too! His clothes are stinky, he's stinky, his room even becomes somewhat dangerous! The night Frankie decides to do something about the growing disaster is the night he and his faithful sidekick Argyle (his dog) enter the Closet of Doom for one of the biggest adventures of his life!

I read this awesome adventure with my son. We both absolutely loved it! The story is told through typical (but short!) chapters along with comic book-style text and pictures (sort of like Captain Underpants style). The story was laugh-out-loud hilarious!! The drawings are really cool, too. See my attempt at following the author/illustrator's drawing tutorial in the back of the book on how to draw Frankie, then watch the video to see how Eric Wight actually draws him!

The Last Treasure by Janet S. Anderson

The Last Treasure by Janet S. Anderson is about Ellsworth Smith, one of the youngest heirs to John Matthew and Elizabeth Smith's last treasures. John and Elizabeth had 13 children in the mid-1800s and their biggest dream was for their family to always be together. They even built special houses for the family around a square block, each facing the "Sward" in the center where a beautiful pond and oak and pine trees stood. Through a series of events through the years, many of the children (and the children's children) moved away and the Square started to decline... the remaining family members had to close up some of the houses and even sell some of Elizabeth's lovely paintings to have enough money to live! Before he died, John Matthew hid treasure in each of three houses on the south side of the Square. Up to now, only two of the treasures had been found. The one remaining in "Richard's" house (one of the John Matthew and Elizabeth's children) was still a mystery. Desperate to solve the mystery and hopefully earn some money to keep the Square in decent shape, Elizabeth writes a letter to Ellsworth (Zee) inviting him to come and stay with her. His father, Ben Robert, was initially against the idea because he was holding a grudge against his father (who still lives on the Square) as a result of his father's feelings about Ellsworth's mother. He finally gives in, though, and Zee arrives at the Square. He and his cousin Jess are certain they can find the treasure in Richard's house if they can just get into the mind of John Matthew. When the solve the mystery and figure out the secret of the final treasure, they realize just how important keeping the family together really is.

This was a great mystery! I was so glad the author included a map and a family tree in the beginning of the book. At times I was a little confused about who each of the characters were and how they were related, but it all made sense in the end. I really liked the message behind the mystery and they way the search for the treasure came together at the end.

The Miles Between by Mary E. Pearson

The Miles Between by Mary E. Pearson is about seventeen year old Destiny Faraday. She's been shuffled around from boarding school to boarding school since she was seven, when her parents abandoned her in favor of her baby brother. All Des wants is one fair day, where everything works out right. She had no idea what kind of chain of events would ensue after stating her wish aloud for a visiting professor who finds her ditching class one October morning. One bizarre coincidence after the other finds Des ands three classmates on the road trip of a lifetime, ending in a strange, but perfect twist of fate.

This was an excellent story! Typically, I am not surprised by twists in the plots of stories, but this one really got me. I really liked the way the author unraveled Des's story slowly and the way each of the other three friends were able to have their version of a 'fair day'.

Storm Warning (The 39 Clues Series, book 9) by Linda Sue Park

Storm Warning by Linda Sue Park is about Amy and Dan Cahill's continued search for the 39 clues, leading to power and fortune. In the installment, Amy, Dan, and their au pair Nellie end up in Jamaica searching for something famed pirate Anne Bonny may have possessed. Things Are never simple for Amy and Dan, however, with the other powerful branches of the Cahill family trying to stop them at any cost (even death). In this story, Amy and Dan discover that Nellie isn't who she says she is and that she may have been hired to betray them all along. They also discover the truth a out the Madrigals, the Cahill branch to which they belong, and the real reason the Madrigals exist and behave the ways they do.

As always, this was a great adventure! I love the 39 Clues Series because of all of the geographical history about each of the places the Cahills travel and also the historical facts the authors present. I always thought there would be 39 of these books (one for each clue), but something happened in this book to make me think the rise may be coming to a close more quickly! I'm excited to read the next book which takes place in England.

The Capture (The Guardians of Ga'Hoole) by Kathryn Lasky

The Capture by Kathryn Lasky is about Soren, a young barn owl who was stolen from his family at only 20 days old by St. Aegolius patrols. Soren, terrified and not sure how he ended up out of the safety of his family's nest, meets Gylfi, a young elf owl who found herself in a similar situation at St. Aegolius. Neither owl understand the bizarre rituals their captors force them to do - marching around during the full moon saying their "old names" over and over (all of the owlets at St. Aggies are given numbers instead of names). They also don't understand why the other owls there behave like zombies. Despite getting into a lot of trouble together, Soren and Gelfie are determined to find out exactly what is going on at St. Aggies, why owlets and eggs are being snatched from all of the Owl Kingdoms, and what the flecks in the owl pellets are being harvested for. What they find out scares them into action - first escape, then to find their long lost families. Their ultimate goal? To find the Ga'Hoole tree and the owls of legend from the tales of yore and stop the villains at St. Aggies for good.

This was a really good fantasy/adventure story! It was an excellent start to the series, giving the reader all of the background information about the different owl species and kingdoms. I am excited to read the other books in this sees to see if Gylfie and Soren accomplish their goals.

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm takes place during 1935 when jobs are hard to come by and and money is even scarcer. Turtle is an 11 year old girl who's life is turned upside down when her mother takes a job as a housekeeper for a woman who refuses to have children in her home. Turtle is sent to live in Key West, Florida with her aunt and cousins who she barely knows. Turtle, like her namesake, has a hard shell and makes do in just about any situation... even when she finds a mysterious treasure map leading to Black Caesar's pirate gold. A series of strange events eventually lead up to Turtle's mother returning, a sudden knowledge of who her long-lost father really is, and a happiness no one thought imaginable during such tough times.

This was a really cute story. I found myself really admiring Turtle's resiliency through the various situations and predicaments she gets into. The story revolves around several real events, including the hurricane of 1935, chasing Black Caesar's treasure, rum runners, and even Little Orphan Annie and Shirley Temple!