And Then There Were None
by Agatha Christie
Published by Dodd, Mead and Company 1940

In this classic mystery, the seventh best-selling book of all time, ten complete strangers, including a judge, a doctor, a general, a cook, a governess, a teacher, a butler, a private investigator, a soldier, and an amoral young man are invited to a mansion on Indian Island off the coast of Devon for some reasons or another by U. N. Owen.  Each guest finds in his or her room a framed copy of the nursery rhyme “Ten Little Indians,” describing the death of ten silly Indian boys.  During dinner that night, a gramophone record plays, accusing all of the guests of being guilty of murder.  The guests realize that U.N. Owen is really a sly way of saying “unknown” and that they have been tricked-however, they cannot get off of the island because the boat which regularly delivers supplies has stopped arriving.  One by one, the people are each murdered in a way that parallels a verse of the nursery rhyme.  The ones remaining realize that one of them must be the murderer, and still they are disappearing.  Death keeps on falling upon the guests …and then there were none.  The clues don’t add up, and the police wonder who could have possibly killed everyone, including himself?

And Then There Were None is a fascinating book; however, I feel it should not be read by those under 11 because the characters often use foul language and it takes a bit more intellect to comprehend what the story is and how everything connects.  Some of the murders are somewhat gruesome, too.  I loved And Then There Were None, mostly because it was so well thought out and how every little detail mattered.  I would have never guessed who the murderer was.  However, the thing that annoys me is how many times they curse in this book.  Most of it is lighthearted (is there such a thing?) but I couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable while reading this.  Although this book has some dislikeable parts about it, I thought it was a spine-tingling mystery and is at the top of my list of the best books I have ever read. 

Reviewed by Amanda G.

The King In The Window
By Adam Gopnik
Published by Disney Publishing in 2005

Oliver Parker is a twelve year old boy who lives with his workaholic parents in Paris, France. His life is dull and boring, with nothing to do but go to his progressive school and listen to his snappy teachers. There is nothing he wants more than to have a friend and have an adventure. On a cold winter night, Oliver gets all he could ever hope for, and more. As he was staring through his window, looking at a bleak gray street, he realizes that his reflection is not staring back at him. A boy about his age, dressed like he is from a kings royal court two-hundred years ago, is staring him strait in the face. The boy only has one message, he wants Oliver to be his people’s king. This mysterious boy then vanishes, leaving behind Clues that lead Oliver to the Palace of Versailles, where he learns about the Window Wraths, a people who live in glass and water; the people who want him to be their king. Oliver is given a new name, The king in the window. This name gives him a lot of power in the world around him, both invisible to the normal eye, and not. Oliver is swept into a parallel universe where he makes unlikely friends, and has the adventure of his life.
The King in the Window was an enriching book that took me wherever it went. It engulfs people form ages 12 to 72. Although it is a fantastic book, it should not be read by children ages 11 and under. Reasons are that the reading level is very high, Oliver tends to lie to his advantage a lot, and his parents use some foul language. I loved The King in the window because it was like no other book I have read. It dealt with parallel universes, which is hard for the mind to comprehend. I love books that pose a challenge to understand, and then once you think you have the idea, it turns it up a whole other notch. There were a few things that made reading it slightly unpleasant. First, Oliver is constantly hating his parents and arguing. There are certain chapters in the book that bring a dark or hurtful feeling to you. Oliver is constantly lying, and trying to hurt those around him.
Although the book has it’s ups and downs, I give it a nine out of ten for making me completely engulfed in its story.
Reviewed by: Tiffany B.

The Lightning Thief
By: Rick Riordan
Published by Scholastic in March 2006

The book The Lightning Thief is a really awesome book!!! The main character is a boy named Percy Jackson and he is a half blood or a demigod. A half blood is when either your mom or your dad is a god.  Percy didn’t know it at first that he was a half blood but then one of his teachers attacked him and he found out.  After that he went to this place called Half Blood Hill where there were lots of other half bloods.  In there, they would be safe from monsters who wanted to kill them.  At Half Blood Hill it was sort of like a summer camp.  They trained with swards, and practiced if they ever got called on a quest.  One day Percy got called on a quest to find Zeus’s master lightning bolt, because it was stolen.  So Percy and some friends went out to try to find it.  They face monsters demons and all sorts of dangers and traps.  I the end it takes a weird, scary, and awesome twist, and someone betrays Percy.

I thought this book was awesome and so cool!!!!!  I’d read it again if I wasn’t busy reading the second book.  The ages that people should read it are probably eight and up because there are some really scary parts that would give little kids nightmares for the rest of their lives.  My favorite part in the book is the suspense when he fights a monster because the author puts in a lot of good detail.  My favorite person he fights is not necessarily a monster but another god, Ares, the god of war.  It’s pretty cool because there are cops trying to stop them and interfering in their battle.  My least favorite thing about this book was that it ended right at a good part and left you hanging. 
reviewed by: Aaron L.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
By: David Wroblewski
Harper Collins Publishers 2008

Edger is a perfectly healthy kid, except for the fact that he is mute. The story starts out with Gar and Trudy (Edgar’s Parents) has a lot of miscarriages then they have Edgar. He and his family raise and train dogs for a living. One day Edgar’s mysterious uncle shows up and starts to help out at the house. Life is good for the Sawtelle’s and everything is fine until Edger finds his father dead on the ground outside of his house in the snow. After they bury him, his uncle proposes to his mother. This is all too much for Edgar so he runs away with his litter and sets out for Star child Colony, and that’s when his life is turned upside down. Then one day when he is walking along side a railroad and disaster strikes, he finds one of his dogs limping. Then he makes the difficult decision of turning back and getting help from a house he passed a little bit ago.

It was written thoughtfully, and it was beautifully descriptive. I loved how it was in Edgar’s perspective. And showed what he thought of situations, and what he wanted to accomplish. Though the book was very well written, it was at some parts a little slow. I loved how descriptive it was, and how close Edgar and the dogs got. Though one time it didn’t say what happened clearly in a situation and it was confusing. But it was an amazing book and I would recommend it to anyone people 13 and up.
reviewed by: Drake S.

Scat
by Carl Hiaasen

Scat is by Carl Hiaasen, the author of New York best sellers Hoot and Flush.  Scat is about Nick Waters a student who attends school in Florida.  His science class is a nightmare,  the students can thank their science teacher Mrs. Starch for this.  She makes Science class the class to avoid at the school.  Mrs. Starch snaps one day  at a boy by the name of Duane Scrod Jr. who has a reputation as a pyromaniac and has the Juvenile Hall record to prove it.  When they go on their field trip,  their field trip comes to an abrupt end due to a sudden “wild” fire.  They evacuate the swamp, and Mrs. Starch is missing and so is Duane.  Meanwhile, Red Diamond Energy Corporation is building an Illegal oil well in sector 21, which is partially in Black Vine Swamp.  But they are having problems with the Florida Panther,  there are less then 100 hundred left in the world.  If anyone finds out that there are Panthers any way near there well they will be shut down AND arrested.  This book is a great story about kids and there efforts to save the rare Florida Panther and find the mystery of the disappearance of their teacher Mrs. Starch.

I love this book!  One reason I liked this book is because I was able to connect to these characters easier, they don’t have to shoot bows and arrows or fight dragons.  I know what they are feeling.  It also has several morals.  It talks about not judging people by their looks or rumors about them.  They show that all sorts of people have talents even if they are different or scary.  This book also has a great message about helping the environment,  but it tells you without preaching to you or other things like that.  Another great thing about this book is that the villain is more relatable to todays times, so you can think about the oil companies point of view.  This is a great book and I think that you should defiantly read it. 
reviewed by: Eli M.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Written by J.K. Rowling
Published by Scholastic Press In 2003

Harry Potter has been having nightmares about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named ever since summer break started. And to make matters worse, he has to go to wizard court because some dementours attacked him and his cousin Dudley, and Harry had to use magic to protect them. When Harry gets back to school, everything gets worse, his two best friends, Ronald Weasley, and Hermoine Granger become prefects. Hogwarts gets a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher who wants Harry dead, Harry gets kicked off the Gryffindor Quidditch team, and everyone else is stressed out because the end of term Ordinary Wizarding Exams are coming quickly. Harrys life is just horrible. And when he figures out what his nightmares mean, will his new friends hlep him beat Lord Vouldamort before it's too late?

I really liked this book because it was exciting and there was a lot of action and suspense in it. This book is good for boys and girls because there is a main character who is a girl in the book. I would reccomend this book to people young and old because there is nothing bad in this book, yet it isn't just a little baby book. My favorite thing about the book is how Harry Potter and his enemy Lord Vouldamort are so much alike, they can do the same things, and Vouldamort has been working all his life to be as powerful as he is, and Harry doesn't have to work hard at all to be a great wizard. My least favorite thing about the book is how mean Proffesor Umbridge is, even though she may be short and tiny, she is the meanest person I have ever read about.
Reviewed by McKyna R

Kissed by an Angel
by Elizabeth Chandler

This is a very intriguing book. It involves action, mystery, romance and many more. Ivy, the main character is moving in with her new stepfamily. Andrew, her stepfather, is really nice to Ivy and her little brother Philip. Gregory, her stepbrother is cocky and popular and Ivy, being shy and unconfident doesn’t like him. But when the death of Gregory’s mother brings them closer, Ivy begins to fit in at school. She finds love with Tristen, who turns out to be a real guy, who cares about the important things, and they begin dating.

But when Tristen dies in a car crash, Ivy’s world collapses. The only thing to keep her sane is Gregory. He knows what it’s like to lose someone. But, does he take advantage of this new closeness between them?

Tristen returns to earth as an angel. But Philip is the only one who can see his glow. Finally, Ivy is convinced that Philip’s belief in angels is real. And soon, she sees Tristen’s light too. Tristen is able to talk to her, and ends up telling her Gregory is the one who killed his breaks, causing the crash that killed Tristen. When friends go missing one-by-one, Ivy fears for her own life. Finally, her guardian angel’s help saves her from Gregory. But soon, Tristen’s “mission” is complete, and he is gone forever. See what happens next in Kissed by an Angel.

I loved this book! It was a page-turner, tearjerker and so incredible the whole way through. I couldn’t put it down! I would give this book a five out of five stars because it was so intense, page after page. It was the perfect book for me. Ivy and Tristen have such a good relationship and all the clues and foreshadows make this book a phenomenal book. I enjoyed it so much.
reviewed by: Jordan K.

Tanks from World War 1 to Modern Day
By: Martin J. Dougherty
Published by Amber Books Ltd. 2008

            The book Tanks from World War 1 to Modern Day is essentially about the very first tanks invented designed to cross trenches and to move heavy artillery pieces. To the world today’s modern ultimate battle machines.  It begins with the Allies struggle in WW1 to design a vehicle that does not rely on wheels to be able to tough its way through on the rutted battle field.  That basically that means that it was supposed to be a vehicle that could cross the trenches on the battle field and to be an infantry killer.  It also had to have a big enough compartments for the crew and enough armor to stop bullets shot at the tank.  The early designs by nations usually had more than one turret and had many armaments.  After many millions of dollars spent and many failed attempts, the theory was abandoned.  While some nations like Germany decided to start working on an excellent tank that was just like a super tank.  Others decided to start plans for a moderate tank that could be built in large numbers like the United States.  The Germans eventually came up with the most famous of all tanks during the 1930’s to the late 1950’s the Panzer and Tiger class tanks.  These were huge monsters that for the first few years of the war were unstoppable with their heavy armor and imposing armaments. .  That was until the Americans came up with the M-1 Bazooka.  If the rocket these fired hit the weakly armored under side of a tank or the tracks of the tank, it could disable or destroy the tanks.  Then after that comes the sporadic wars and the new designs of the tanks until finally it comes to modern day. 

            My favorite part about the book is definitely the part about WW2.  It tells of the Allies tank, the M4 Sherman and of the German Tigers, Panzers, and Panthers.  It also has diagrams of the big tank battles and pictures of the tanks with their armaments.    The special head to head pages also tell of their guns, maximum traveling distance, and the number of crew each important tank can hold.  I also enjoyed learning about the most modern U.S. tanks today.  The new and improved M-1 Abrams Tank.  The part that I dislike about the book is that not all of the tank data is included with the book.  It does not contain the Elephant tank designed by the Germans as a heavy tank, it weighed almost 90 tons!!!  It was so heavy that if it was not on concrete, it would start sinking into the ground.  If you wish to find a copy of this book, go to the bookstore Barns and Nobles. 

The Mysterious Benedict Society
By: Trenton Lee Stewart
Published in 2007 by Little, Brown and Company

Summary: This book is a story about four children sent on a secret mission to stop the evil Mr. Curtains wicked plans to conquer the world. These highly intelligent children first go through a series of test to prove their ability to proceed on the mission. Reynie, the main character in this book feels as though he is the leader and takes charge of the group but as Mr. Benedict always says, “Each child is essential to the success of the mission.” Sticky, or George Washington, is the smartest of all the children. He has memorized many dictionaries and knows the answers to most of the others questions. Kate is a daredevil, with her bucket tied to her side and her friends to give her strength Kate climbs flag poles, get Sticky out of traps and climbs up the side of a building. Kate is on a mission of her own, to find her dad. Will he be found? Last, but not least, is Constance Contraire. The smallest and least intelligent of them all is Constance. Though Mr. Benedict always said she was more gifted them she looked. The other three children all think she is just an annoying tag along. Little did they now that she would be the best help. The fact that Constance is so little gives her low expectations from the others but she exceeds those to a far extent.

Critique: I loved this book. It gives you a touch of Mystery and Adventure and tops it off with problem solving. I am a mystery girl but I also like to think. Constance is my favorite character, she may seem a little bratty and stubborn at first but in the end you will see why and it will make it easier for you to understand. Some parts in this book I had to read twice but it made it easier to comprehend and more exciting to figure out. I didn’t like the fact that they leave a few loose ends at the end and it leaves you with a few questions. I also think that they should have given a few more clues so it is easier to solve on your own. This book is good for the Middle School age group but I recommend it for adults too.  I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it.

Pillage
By: Obert Skye
Publisher/ Year of Publication: Shadow Mountain Publishing/ 2008

Beck Phillip's life has never been a very good one. He always ends up finding some way to get himself into trouble. However, when his mother dies, he is sent to a small town named Kingsplot to live with his odd and insane uncle. On the lengthy train ride there, he befriends a girl named Kate. When he finally arrives at Kingsplot, he finds out that his uncle is fabulously wealthy. However, he always stays up in the observatory on the top floor. Here in Kingsplot, Beck also befriends a boy named Milo and once again finds Kate. Once Beck starts going to school, he has some interesting experiences. For example, when a bully was getting ready to attack him, the plants outside grabbed the bully, as well as the bully’s friends, and throws him out the window! Another time, the vegetables in the lunch room start attacking the same bully! Although these may be mere coincidences, Beck suspects much more. Together with Milo and Kate, he tries to unravel these mysteries. He ends up accidentally finding a door into the sealed in basement, where he finds the Grim Knot, a family history book about his family. While reading the Grim Knot, Beck ends up finding out some horrible truths about his family that would be better left unsaid.

I personally thought that this was a very interesting and intriguing book. I thought that it was a little creepy and scary, though, so I would have to say that only children over the age of 12 should read this book. I liked when the bullies were getting beaten up by the vegetables and plants. I personally thought that that was one of the funniest parts of the book. However, the book did take a bit longer than most to get really interesting. It was also kind of weird and creepy. Let me just say that once I really got into this book, I completely lost track of time. Even though it was past 11:00 at night, I had to keep reading until I had finished. It may take a longer time to get into, but when you actually get into it, reading Pillage is nearly equal to an addiction! I would recommend it to anyone who really loves reading, as at 352 pages, it is a decent sized book. Also, if it is time for Beat the Teach, then this will be an easy 352 pages that you can use to Beat that Teach! Once again, this is a fabulous book and I highly recommend it.
Reviewed by Kevin L.

Mistborn
By: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher Tom Doherty Associates in 2006

Summary: This book starts out with a catching chapter; a revolutionist is on a skaa farm.  This skaa’s name is Kelsier he is here to stir up trouble but when a little girl is taken to the castle for the man in charge Kelsier kills the entire castle crew.  This story is about a land ruled by a man called the Lord Ruler.  It is an action fantasy and like all good fantasies has an oppressor and an oppressed.  The main powers in this book are people called Allomancers.  These people can “burn” a metal that they absorb out of the water and other things, and use almost magic powers.  The powers all have their own opposite so like in Newton’s law for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The ultimate Allomancer is called a Mistborn and they can use all of the Allomatic metals.

The whole story is about Kelsier and his orphaned pupil Vin.  He is teaching her the skills of a Mistborn while leading a rebellion against the Final Empire and the Lord Ruler.  Unfortunately there is a time limit and its run out.

Critique: I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to most everyone. If I had to put an age limit I would say probably 10 just because of the suggestive content.  It never says what’s going on but it suggests unrighteous dominion if you understand what that is, if not good for you.  My favorite part of the book is the whole ending, up until that point the story moves, but just doesn’t have the pace that I would like.  My least favorite part is just the middle, it is good writing and a good story-line but there is no climax of the whole thing it is pretty much setting up for a completely awesome ending. This book rocks!! It is the best book (beside the sequel) that I’ve read in a long time, maybe my favorite ever.
Reviewed by: Christian S.

Tuesdays with Morrie
By: Mitch Albom
Published by Broadway books in 1997

Everyone has one of those people in life that truly inspires them. For Mitch Album, it was his old college professor Morrie. All throughout collage Mitch had a connection and friendship with his unusual professor Morrie. After graduating and throughout the next years Mitch lost contact with his beloved professor. He became a famous journalist and wrote about athletes and sports. As he became more and more absorbed in his work, he also became more and worldlier and lost sight of all the goals and dreams he had once had. Just as his world becomes a hopeless mess Mitch is reacquainted with Morrie who is sick and dying. This old professor attempts to teach one more class. This "last class" meets every Tuesday in Morrie's home. Mitch is the only student. There are no grades. This book recounts Mitch's final class with Morrie and the greatest life lessons he learns.

This is an amazing book. Everyone can take something different from the lessons Morrie teaches. Every time you put it down Morrie's latest "lesson" lingers in your head and you find yourself thinking about it throughout the rest of the day. Although there is nothing bad or inappropriate in this book it is probably best understood by readers from about twelve and up. I love this whole book, and I have many favorite parts, but I don't want to give too much of this unforgettable book away! I love the part when Mitch is reunited with Morrie for the first time. It is a part that makes you think. They visit like old friends and enjoy each other. There is no part that I don't like or would change at all. The writer did a fantastic job capturing feelings and emotions in this book and you won't quickly forget it!
Reviewed by Alexis W.

Howl's Moving Castle
By: Diana Wynne Jones
HarperCollins Publishers Inc. 1986

Summary: Sophie is the eldest daughter in her family, and she has two younger sisters; Martha and Lettie. In her small town of Market Chipping, (which is in the land of Ingary) it is considered a misfortune to be the eldest daughter and are the most unsuccessful. Sophie's father suddenly passes away and her stepmother can't afford to send them to school anymore. So she sends them out to make their fortunes. Martha is sent to learn witchcraft with her mother's friend; Lettie is sent to be an apprentice chef at Cesari's, the best pastry cook in town; Sophie gets to stay right close to home with her stepmother in the family hat shop. There she makes hats and soon starts to help out customers as well. One day, a very unusual customer comes in; not one you would see in Market Chipping. She has the looks of someone who is very wealthy, and to prove that she has a footman who follows her around and a stage coach waiting outside. Sophie was already in a cranky mood before this customer came in, but this customer wasn't kind to Sophie so she was even crabbier than usual. This customer turns out to be the Witch of the Waste, and she turns Sophie into an old lady for being spiteful. Sophie decides to leave the hat shop and makes her way out of town. When she gets to the edge of town, she spies Wizard Howl's castle, which roams the hills. Howl is known to eat pretty girls' souls and hearts, but since Sophie was turned into an old lady, she doesn't have any fear of seeking refuge there. She meets his apprentice, Michael, and the fire demon, Calcifer, with whom she strikes a deal. She stays in the castle as Howl's cleaning lady (and mends his clothes) and there is so much that needs cleaning! No one likes how she always cleans so much, but Howl keeps her on. They have many adventures, small and one very large. The ending is one of the best parts!

Critique: This book was written for young adults in my opinion. There are some things that may not be appropriate for children under 11 years old. And it is definitely a movie for girls. So, for all you boys out there, you can read this book if you want, but you have been warned. This book is kind of like a chic flick but a book, as well as fantasy. My favorite thing about this book is that Sophie accepts her fate with grace and dignity. She accepts that she has become an old woman, and she was going to die eventually anyway, and she wouldn't be having an easy life, so why not now? I also like how she still has the same personality, even though she is an old woman. My least favorite part of the book would have to be when the woman Howl was apprenticed to to learn sorcery, Mrs. Pentstemmon, passes away after the visit that Howl, Sophie, and Michael pay to her. The book doesn't exactly say how she died, and that is probably a good thing. This is one of my favorite books! I love the way the character's face their challenges upfront, and how they all have a lasting friendship. Everything ends pretty happily as well, and I liked that about this book. I'm glad nothing too horrible happens. This is a very well written book as well. Sophie has a very imaginable personality and a lot of situations in this book are things that could happen in the real world today (excluding the fictional things).
Reviewed by: Sadie W.

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
Author: Avi
Publisher: Jacket Illustration 1990

From the moment she steps on to the ship, Charlotte Doyle can tell that she should have followed the nagging sailor’s advice, and not boarded the Seahawk. But it is too late, she has no where else to go. When the ship takes off, the adventure starts. Right off Charlotte makes friends with Captain Jaggery; he is a very refined man, like Charlottes father. Charlotte slowly makes friends with all of the ship mates, including an old black slave named Zachariah. When Charlotte stands up to Captain Jaggery after he kills Zachariah, they will never be friends again. When Charlotte decides to take Zachariah’s place, wear sailor clothes, and do the chores. It gives Captain Jaggery even more of a reason to hate her. All is going well until the first mate mysteriously dies one night during a huge storm, and Charlottes pocket knife is found stabbed in to his chest. Everyone on the ship has turned against her. And Captain Jaggery has a reason to get rid of her. So he sentences Charlotte to death; with the help of her old friend can Charlotte prove that she is innocent? 

I really liked this book because I like action, and mystery. I also liked this book because it shows that girls are hard workers, and don’t have to be proper all of the time. I think the age appropriateness for this book would be from ten to fourteen, because it has some challenging words in it, but it isn’t a really hard book to read. My favorite thing about the book was how intense it was, and how it taught you about what it is like working on a ship. My least favorite thing about this book was how mean Avi made the characters seem, and the deaths in the book.
Critiqued by: McKyna R

Ranger's Apprentice, Book Four: The Battle for Skandia
John Flanagan
Publisher/ Year of Publication: The Penguin Group/ 2006

The middle ages can be a very dangerous time, as Will is about to find out. Will has finally been cured of his addiction to warmweed, a very dangerous drug. Then, all of a sudden, Evanlyn, a good friend of Will¢s, is kidnapped by mysterious warriors. Meanwhile, Halt, Will's master, is searching through Skandia to find Will. Halt, being a master tracker, quickly identifies these warriors as the Temujai, a dangerous race of mounted warriors whose goal is to dominate Araluen, the island which is Will and Halt's home country. They are trying to conquer Skandia in order to gain ships to reach Araluen. Eventually, Will and Halt must team up with a team of Skandian axmen, who just happen to be a very warlike people and are not always the friendliest of people, to defeat these Temujai before they conquer Skandia.

I thought that this was a very interesting book. Once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone in or above the third grade as there is a lot of violence during the war. I especially liked how even though Halt is from a different country, the Skandians make him their war strategist. This is an enjoyable book that I think that almost all ages can enjoy. Part of the reason for this is the fact that there really isn't much that I dislike about the book. There are constant cliffhangers, so this book will keep you going and going. In addition to this, the fifth book was just released, so don't miss out and get a copy of this amazing book. (Note: You should probably start with the first book in the series, though, as this is the fourth book).
Reviewed by Kevin L.

Three Days
Donna Jo Napoli
Puffin Group/2001

    She was spending time having a great time with her father on their way to
Italy.  She didn’t want to fall asleep.  Suddenly, the car was going wild,
and Jackie realized her father had collapsed at the wheel.  Anxiously,
Jackie tries to get a car to pull over to give her some help.  She was
relieved when two men finally stopped.  She got in their car to go get an
ambulance.  What was going on?  They were passing each exit!  Then she
realized it.  These men were keeping her hostage.  There was nothing to do.  
She couldn’t get with her dad.  The two mysterious men did feed her and let
her sleep; they even gave her her toy cat.  But they took her back to their
own house.  Jackie soon was introduced to a woman who is a part the men’s
family.  Her name is Claudia, and becomes a good friend of Jackie’s.  
Despite not understanding Italian, Jackie figures out that finding her way
home depends on figuring out the answer to the mysterious secret of her
captors’ family.

    I really enjoyed how this book was written in first person.  That way, you
could easily understand what was going through Jackie’s head.  Also, that
put pictures in your head without difficulty.  It made the experiences seem
very realistic.  In addition, I really like how this book is suspenseful.
The author uses good wording to give you an urge to quickly continue
reading.  I would suggest this to all children second grade and up.  Even
adults could enjoy this book. It is appropriate for anyone who could use a
good thriller!  I’m not sure there is much about Three Days that I don’t
like.  It was cool to see the relationship that grew between Claudia and
Jackie, especially since they could not communicate.  It is a very
fascinating book, so go get a copy!
reviewed by: Bethany M.

Double Identity
Author: Margaret Peterson Haddix
Publisher/Year of Publication: Scholastic Inc. 2005

Summary: This story is about a thirteen-year-old girl named Bethany Cole. Her parents began acting more and more oddly, then, all of a sudden, they hustled her into the car. They took her to a different state to an aunt she’s never even heard of. Bethany had no idea what was going on, but she was worried her parents were running away from something. They wouldn’t even tell her where they were going. Her only clue was a few words she heard her father tell her aunt Myrlie: “She doesn’t know about Elizabeth.” But Aunt Myrlie wouldn’t tell her who Elizabeth was, or why people in this small town acted as if they’d seen a ghost when they saw Bethany. The mystery grew more complicated when she received a package from her father, including four different birth certificates from four states, with four different last names – and thousands of dollars in cash. And when a strange man showed up at her door asking questions, Bethany realized she wasn’t the only one trying to understand her past. The book’s main characters are Bethany, her aunt Myrlie, and her cousin Joss, all trying to unravel the mystery of Bethany’s past.

Critique: I really loved this book! It was very gripping, and I couldn’t put it down! Since it was written in first person from Bethany’s point of view, it showed many of her thoughts and feelings about everything she was finding out and everything happening to her. I really liked the author’s word choice, and all the different twists and turns in the plot. They made it exceptionally interesting, and every time a question was answered, a new question came up! The only thing I didn’t like was having to wait so long to find out the explanation of the mystery. I would say this book is for anyone eleven and up, only because of the level of comprehension required to read this thrilling mystery that will hold you in its grasp and won’t let go until you solve the mystery!
Reviewed by Alyssa L.

Rebecca
Author: Daphne Du Maurier
Published March 1948
Publisher: Doubleday Publishing

    Rebecca, by Daphne Du Maurier is a sinister book about the marriage of a young girl to Maxim De Winter, a wealthy widower living in an estate called Manderly. Maxim asks this young girl to marry him after a very brief courtship. When the new Mrs. De Winter arrives at Manderly, she is faced with haunting experiences that all seem to revolve around Rebecca, Maxim’s late wife who died when her boat capsized. Mrs. De Winter learns the hard way how to cope with her jealousy of Rebecca and her disturbing housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers. She also must learn how to cope with Maxim, who seems oddly disturbed when reminded of Rebecca. The plot thickens when a ship wrecks near the harbor of Manderly and a peculiar object is found. This “object” just happens to be Rebecca’s boat that was said to have capsized miles away from Manderly (where her “body” was found). The suspense becomes even more thrilling when the body is discovered to be Rebecca’s. The death of Mr. De Winter’s late wife is then suspected to be more than just an accident. Could this “accident” possibly have been suicide or maybe even murder? Read the book to find out!

      I thoroughly enjoyed this romance mystery mainly because of the description. The reader is automatically wrapped up in the gorgeous scenery that Daphne Du Maurier describes on every single page. I would suggest this book to juveniles mainly because the book uses mild language, so it’s a good idea to read at your own risk. (I would also like to list gender appropriateness, and I believe that boys most likely wouldn’t appreciate Rebecca.) But besides that, my favorite aspect of Rebecca would have to have been the beautiful description and the suspense at the end. The thing I didn’t really like was the length of the beginning of the novel. It takes a while to get into it at first, so if you are considering reading it I suggest that you don’t give up during the first few chapters, because reading Rebecca is definitely a worthwhile experience! I consider it to be one of the best books of all time.
reviewed by: Sylvia C.

Out of Step
Author: Nikki Anne Schmutz
Publisher/year: Deseret Book/2002

            Out of Step tells the life story of Jenny Thomas.  Jenny is a Mormon girl who really enjoys dancing.  As described in the book, Jenny just goes and goes when the music gets turned on.  The story really begins when jenny goes to New York for college to become a professional dancer.  She tries to get a scholarship for a dancing class that is known as the hardest to get in to.  Jenny meets many friends along the way, who all help her along the way who all help her along the way with her goal.  The dramatic story of Jenny Thomas is recorded on tape by her friend Paul Taylor.  As Jenny and Paul get taking, you find out that Paul has an unusual goal about dating that he intends to keep.  But you are just going to have to read the book (or watch the movieJ) to find out what that is!  Jenny also meets David Schrader, and finds herself falling in love.  With Jenny’s emotions taking on wild turns, this book is a great description of a teenager’s stresses and thoughts.

            I enjoyed this book a lot.  It was fun to read about another Mormon, which isn’t too common.  I also liked how true it was!  I found I could relate to many things.  Of course, I bet more girls would enjoy this book than boys.  I would recommend this book to Mormons over the age of thirteen, because it does give a lot of love descriptions.  I also think the editor didn’t do a very good job because I found a lot of errors in the text.

Enna Burning
Author: Shannon Hale
Publisher/Year: Bloomsbury/2004

Summary: At first, her fire powers were easy to control – but Enna soon finds herself consumed by the desire to fire. Enna Burning is the sequel to Goose Girl. Enna, after living in the city for two years, went back to the Forrest. She decided to live with her brother, Leifer, after their mother had died. This was really hard for Enna because she had to leave one of her best friends – Isi, also known as the Princesses of Bayern. As time goes on, Enna discovers that Leifer has firepower –the power to control heat and fire with his mind. While this is going on, Tiran has struck up war with Bayern. So Enna and her brother join Prince Geric and Princesses Isi to go fight against Tiran. Sadly, though, Leifer decides to use his fire powers and burns himself to death. Enna is troubled but she too discovers fire powers herself. With this, Enna has the desire to burn. She turns into a spy (With her childhood friend and sweet-heart, Razo and Finn.) and burns enemy camps, but then is captured by a Tiran Captain. The rest, well, that’s up to you to figure out. Will Enna rid of her Burning?

Critique: This book is filled with adventure, romance, bravery and deceit – if any of those are your thing, I recommend Enna Burning to you! The plot book was really intense at times and left cliffhangers – but I liked it. At some parts though, the story line was thin and dragged on a little to long… but what I liked about the entire book was how Shannon Hale described everything. From the people, to the places to the feeling – she painted a wonderful picture in my mind. I was also satisfied with the ending – it tied up some loose ends – yet it let you dwell on the little “mysteries”. I think this book is for kids 10 and up because there was some kissing ect., but I think most 10 year olds are mature enough…. I also recommend Goose Girl, which, as it always seems better than the sequel. It to left me with an eye-opening plot. For the most part, I really did enjoy this book and I hope that you do too
reviewed by: Abby C.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Author: J.K. Rowling
Publisher/Year: Scholastic/2005

Summary: This book tells about Harry Potter’s sixth year at Hogwarts.  It’s main characters, as many already know, are Professor Dumbledore, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Ginny Weasley, the Quidditch team, school staff, and the evil Lord Voldemort.  This year, Harry is surprisingly good in Potions class.  In his Advanced Potions book, he realizes that once before it had belonged to the Half Blood Prince. In it, there are also side notes, with a bunch of suggestions that help Harry.  Who is the Half Blood Prince? You find out near the end of the book! Also in this exploratory story, Harry works even harder to defeat the powerful Lord Voldemort. He hasn’t died in previous books yet because he has found a way to make himself “immortal.”  That is where Harry and Professor Dumbledore come in.  Through research of interesting history of Tom Riddle (Lord Voldemort), they find a way to defeat him.  But it takes a lot of work.  They go through many dangerous obstacles, and need superior knowledge to think like Voldemort. Harry said, “I am not afraid, I am with you”, referring to Dumbledore.          

Critique: I really enjoyed this book! It was very adventurous; it also had a lot of foreshadowing, and told more of what was on Harry’s mind.  I would have to say the age group for this book would have to be at least twelve years old.  I decided this because there is a lot of “snogging,” or in an English phrase, intense kissing.  My favorite part of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince was when Dumbledore and Harry went on a very dangerous journey, because they had to go through many trials before they could get to their destination and even when they were there. Yet, I didn’t like the tragic ending.  I still wonder about it; you’ll understand after you read this fantastic book, of Harry’s sixth year at Hogwarts!
Reviewed by: Bethany M.

The Wish
Author: Gail Carson Levine
Publisher/Year:  Scholastic / 2001

Summary:  After Wilma Sturtz’s two best friends had left her alone at the beginning of eighth grade, she found it very difficult to make new friends.  She had just started making a few friends when her English teacher read an embarrassing paper Wilma has written to the class.  That seemed like the end of her social life.  However, one day while riding the subway to school Wilma gave up her seat to an old woman who looked sick.  The woman acted very strangely and offered to make Wilma always be a part of the “in-crowd” but Wilma exclaims that she wants to be the most popular girl at her school: Claverford.  Unexpectedly for Wilma, when she gets off the subway and enters the school, everything is different.  Every girl wants to be her friend.  Every boy wants her to be his girlfriend.  And she simply couldn’t be happier.  Soon, however, Wilma realizes that she only wished to be the most popular girl at Claverford.  She worries that her wish will soon come to an end, and tries to make every moment of popularity last, hoping that it will last forever.

Critique:  This book has many surprises and funny twists.  It keeps you nearly as worried about Wilma’s future as she is.  She is a funny character who has un-common logic; I thought exactly the opposite of her on many accounts.  I think this book is appropriate for anyone from sixth to eighth, maybe ninth grade.  First, it is about a girl around that age; and second, I think it is about that average reading level.  My favorite part of the book is when it describes Wilma as the same girl the way she was before she was popular.  It shows that everyone can be liked for who they are.  I also liked how one of the popular girls was nice to Wilma the whole time, proving that even if you’re popular, it won’t hurt to talk to someone less popular than yourself.  I didn’t like, though, the way Wilma wasn’t willing to be friends with unpopular people when she was unpopular.  She would have had a better time.  I also didn’t like how in the end it doesn’t really explain all that well what happens to her after Jr. High School.
Reviewed by:  Rachelle F.

Merline: Wie Alles Begann
Author:  T.A. Barron
Publisher/Year:  DTV Junior Extra 1996/2001

Summary:  A thirteen-year-old boy called Emris goes blind in a fire accident.  After the accident he figures out that he can know what is around him without seeing it.  He develops strange powers that his dad had.  With his new ability to see he leaves his mother with a special rock called Der Galator and his mother tells him that it has special powers.  On his way he finds a bird that won’t leave him alone so he calls him Verdruss.  He also meets a girl his age called Rhia.  She gets captured by a growing power called Die Schwarze Seite (orcs, goblins, and all that kind of stuff).  He goes and saves her and he also saves the entire land.  Everybody praises him as a hero.

Critique:  I liked the book because I could understand it.  Most German books are hard for me but this one kept my attention and I also reviewed what I read with a book on tape to clarify.  The book is like a 12-year-old book but I liked it because I could understand it.  I thought the plot was kind of overused.  Example:  “Oh no, the world is being taken over by a dark power.  Let’s go with this special rock with special powers and defeat the dark leader.  Wahoo we saved the land because we killed the head Honcho.”  I didn’t really like that about the book that much.  The author should have thought of something more original.  Otherwise I thought that the book was very well written and I liked the way that the author described the details in the book.
Reviewed by: Jacob B.

The Shakespeare Stealer
Author: Gary Blackwood
Publisher: Penguin Group, 1998

A fourteen year old orphan named Widge had a very sad life growing in the
orphanage. Neither being feed and clothed enough nor having friends or
family. One day at the orphanage a man came to buy Widge to be an
apprentice; his name was Dr. Timothy Bright. He was happy to of been bought.
Widge was taught to read and write, and speak Latin. Dr. Bright had made up
a curious abbreviations call Charactery, you could write as fast as some one
would talk. One day a stranger came to the Bright’s home, the stranger was
tall wearing all black with a hood to cover one side of his face. The
strangers name was Falconer he bought Widge for an excessive amount of
money. They ride for days till they get to Widge’s real master house. His
master’s name was Simon Bass. Simon Bass orders Widge with a heavy burden of
writing in Charactery. Falconer threats that if he doesn’t do it rights
Falconer will do something to him. What do Simon Bass and Falconer want with
Widge? What is he apprenticing under? Will he ever have a family or friends?
Widge will have to be braver than ever to choose what he knows is right.

I like this book because it is very hard to predict and has a huge twist at
the end of it. Also the exciting and funny characters. The book makes you
want to keep reading it and never put it down because so many things are
going on all through the book. It’s for kids nine and older because the
vocabulary would be hard for younger kids to read and would also be hard for
them to understand what is all going on in the Shakespeare Stealer. My
favorite part in the book is when the big twist happens in the end of the
book. Why this book is not my favorite book is because all the negative
things happening to Widge and the people around him. Overall it was an
amazing and well written book.
Review by: Maddie P.

Princess Academy
Author: Shannon Hale
Publisher and date: Bloomsbury, 2005

Summary: Princess Academy is a story about a girl named Miri, she lives on Mount Ezekiel. her village cuts stone in the quarry, Miri is not allowed to cut the stone because she is very small. The prince has to choose a wife from their village. In order to prepare for the choosing, all girls from the ages twelve to fourteen have to go to an academy for a year to get an education and learn about being a princess. While Miri is at the academy she becomes interested in quarry-speaking, which is what the quarry’s use to talk to each other in the loud noise. While they are at the academy, bandits come to kidnap the princess and ask for a ransom. Miri knows that she needs to save all of the girls at the academy, she just needs to figure out how.

Critique: I really liked this book. The whole thing was good, and because of that, I could never stop reading it. Even though Miri is the main character, every girl has a different personality so it is fun to try and guess which girl the prince will choose. I recommend this book to anyone, it doesn’t matter the age, you can have someone else read it to you or something. The only thing about this book that I didn’t like was that some of the parts got a little confusing and you had to really think through what was happening. At the end of the book, there is a pretty big surprise, but it is a good surprise. I am glad that I got to read this book, you should read it too.
Review by: Sarah C.

My Sister’s Keeper
Author: Jodi Picoult
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Date: April 2004

Summary: My Sister’s Keeper is a novel about a girl, 13-year-old Anna Fitzgerald, whose original sole purpose of existing was to save her older sister Kate. When Kate was two years old, she was diagnosed with Leukemia. Mrs. Fitzgerald, wanting to do ANYTHING to save her child, underwent preimplantation genetic diagnosis in order to have a child with the exact bone marrow match as Kate. Anna never had anything wrong with that. She seldom complained about the countless surgeries and pain she experienced until now. She is finally taking action and hires a lawyer to try a get medical emancipation from her parents. Anna knows that the decision she plans to make will get her through the difficulties present, but what she doesn’t know is if she’s willing to cope with the problems ahead; would she rather tear herself, or her family apart.

Critique: I thought this book was excellent! One exciting feature it includes is different views throughout the book. Instead of chapters, the author switches from one person to another and you get to see the story from a 360 view. Not only that, the author really exhibits what it’s like to be a kid at our age and what we have to go through to really find ourselves. For me, I don’t think it would have been mentally or physically possible for me to be able to follow through with the un-thinkable like Anna did. In that way I salute her—even though I could never do that to my family… or to my sister.

All in all, I would say this book is an incredible one and definitely works for all ages, genders, and readers. Enjoy!
Review by Romy F.

The Bad Beginning
Author: Lemony Snicket
Publisher: Harper Collins Date: 1999

Summary: Fourteen-year-old Violet, twelve-year-old Klaus, and one-year-old Sunny start this story on the beach. Sunny notices something coming toward them in the mist and they all get scared. It turns out to be Mr. Poe coming to tell them some bad news. Their parents had died. They understood the words but not the meaning, how could their parents have died and what would they do now? For a while they live with Mr. Poe who is charge of their enormous fortune. Then they go to live with Count Olaf, their distant relative. This man is creepy. He lives in an extremely dirty house and has pictures or carvings of eyes all around the house. They get one bed to sleep the three of them and have to eat lumpy oatmeal for breakfast and then do the jobs he leaves for them. He has a creepy acting crew and uses violence to get them to do what he wants. How long will they have to put up with him? Will they ever escape? The only way they have a chance is if they work together.

Critique: I liked this book because it is hard to predict what is coming and how they will get out of their predicament. I recommend this book to anyone over nine because it has the definition of big words right next to them and is a little easier to read but is very exciting and fun. My favorite part of this book was when Violet tricks Count Olaf towards the end because I could just imagine how everyone's mood would change from sad to glad or from glad to mad. I didn't like when they first met COunt Olaf's crew because they were creepy. I am glad I read this book and want all of you to enjoy it as well.
Reviewed by Betsy B.

Inkheart
Author: Cornelia Funke
Publisher: Scholastic Inc. Date: 2003

Summary: Twelve-year-old Meggie lives alone with her father, whom she calls Mo,andthey share an abiding love for books. Meggie is perfectly content until a mysterious stranger called Dustfinger shows up on her doorstep. Dustfinger tells her father to come back with him to see Capricorn, an evil ruler from a world of fantasy. Mo refuses, and he prepares to leave their house, telling Meggie they are going to see her Aunt Elinor. As they are packing, Meggie findsa book that Mo seems to be hiding from Meggie. She has little chance to find out about the book, however, because Capricorn's men kidnap Mo while they are staying at Elinor's house. Dustfinger, Meggie, and Elinor go to Capricorn's village to find Mo, but end up being captured as well. Now Meggie has to find a way to set everything right, and soon.

Critique: This book was really interesting, and I could never seem to put it down formore than a few hours. It was really well written, and there are so many surprises hidden in the story. It took place in our world, but there was fantasy and mystery woven into the plot. My favorite thing was the marvelous way in which they described books as the door to a new world, which is the way I think of them as well. My least favorite thing was all the evil in the story. It was very sad at times, and I shuddered to imagine the characters' situation. I also didn't like how they never really told us where the story was taking place. They hinted at it, using Italian words, names, and food, but I wish I had known where they really were. I think anyone over nine years old should be able to read it, because there is a lot of evil, even though the reading level is fairly easy.
Reviewed by: Elissa C.

THE CALL OF THE WILD
Author: Jack London
Pubisher: Scholastic Inc. Date: 1903

Summary: Buck, a St. Bernard- Shephard mix is taken away from his family and
his home in the Santa Clara Valley. He taken up to the Northlands, where he is used as a sled dog. He than passes through many owners and is taught the law of survival. Buck fights his way through dogs to win his place as the leader. After an especially dificult ownership, he is taken into the loving arms of John Thornton. Later, while John and his team are looking for gold, Buck hears a mysterious call from the forest. He chases after this call of the wild, and finds his "brother," a timber wolf. Buck feels a rush of adrenaline and feels as though this is what his heart has been searching for. He comes back to the camp later to find that the Yeehat Indians have killed the entire team, dogs and men. Buck is enraged and kills many of the Indians as an act of revenge. He then feels that all ties between dog and man are severed, and that he must return back to the wolf pack. He is
respected for his bravery, strength, and agility, and is once again made a leader of the beasts. Any Teehat Indians who survived this "massacre" knew Buck as the "Ghost  Dog" who is feared by all. Buck is a very strong animal and can adapt to any circumstance that is thrust at him.

Critique: I absolutely love this book. I think that the age appropriateness depends on the level of maturity. Fifth grade up to High School sounds reasonable, but again the maturity level is the main point. There are many death scenes, and is also very exciting. My favorite part of the book has to be just about everything. Jack Lodon uses such exquistite words and adjectives, it makes the reader feel as though they are right there, experiencing it along with Buck. My least favorite thing has to be when the owners, like the man in the red sweater, beats the dogs. You can feel the excrusiating pain, the things they had to deal with. Two thumbs up for Jack
London, this book is so realistic that it could almost be qualified as non-fiction. If you have not read this book, i highly recommend it. After you start to read it, it is hard to put it down.
Reviewed by: Sydnie S.

Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo
Author: Obert Skye
Publisher: Shadow Mountain, Year: 2005

Summary: This book is wonderfully told about Leven Thumps, who is adopted by his evil aunt because his mother had died when he was born; Winter, a girl who is misunderstood greatly and knows more than she thinks; Geth, once a great tree and now a toothpick; and Clover, a great helper to Leven from Foo.

Sabine, the evil ruler of Foo, is trying to find the gateway out of Foo to rule the human world.  Leven is the only one who can shut the gateway down before Sabine gets through.  On his long and perilous journey, Leven figures out that he is an “Offing.”  An Offing is a person from Foo that has two special powers.  Leven’s powers turn out to be that he can control lightning and he can alter the future.

Leven feels as if he does not belong in this world when he meets Clover.  Clover was sent from Foo to help Leven on his journey.  When Leven goes to school the next day, he meets Winter when he is being pushed around by bullies.  Winter is a “Nit.”  A Nit is someone from Foo like an Offing but only with one power.  Her power is that she can freeze anything she wants.

Together they set off to find the Gateway.  Eventually, Sabine finds out they are tryig to close the gateway, so he sets off to find and kill Winter, Leven, and Geth.

Critique: Personally, I really liked the action and the suspenseful plot.  My favorite part in this book is when Leven meets Sabine for the first time in his life.  A power fight breaks out.  Sabine, who is a Nit, can freeze things like Winter.  And Leven refers to the fight as if he was fighting Winter.  I liked this part because of all the action and illustrations.  I don’t really have a part that I hated, but when Sabine tries to find the gateway, I thought it was pretty boring.

I would recommend this book for people between ten and fourteen, because it has some words and phrases that someone under ten wouldn’t understand.
Reviewed by Madison S.

Ender’s Game
Author: Orson Scott Card
Publisher: Tor, Year: 1985

Summary: This book has won numerous awards including the Nebula and Hugo awards.  This action-packed book was a great story of a young boy who was a military genius.  He is taken from his home at a very young age to a battle school where he trains to be a commander in the International Fleet to protect the world from an alien race known as buggers.  While in school he learns military strategy, hand-to-hand combat, how to shoot accurately, and how to operate in zero gravity.  He also studies the buggers trying to understand them to anticipate what they would do in battle.  He excels at the school and goes on to commander school in the asteroid Eros, chosen to be the commander of the entire fleet.  His mentor who will help him bear this burden is none other than the hero from the last bugger invasion, Major Rackham.  While in command school he also has friends from battle school come and join him in order to defeat the aliens.  After the battle, Ender meets with his sister and they go and help colonize one of the buggers’ worlds.

Critique: I don’t like a lot of science fiction books, but I really enjoyed reading Ender’s Game.  Orson Scott Card did a great job of making this book seem so real, in other words making you feel like you are right beside Ender going through the “games” or just talking with his friends.  I liked how Card was able to involve so much action and still stick to the story of how Ender is forced to do things that aren’t fair and he doesn’t agree with.  The vocabulary in this book isn’t too complicated, but some of the concepts are complicated enough that you have to read parts of it a few times before you get what is going on.  It also takes a lot of time to finish.  Besides these two things, Ender’s Game is one of my favorite books.  I would recommend it to anyone.
Reviewed by Calahan L.

Dark Angel
Author: Robert Kirby
Publisher: Cedar Fort Inc., Year: 1991

Summary: This book takes place in Utah Valley during the summer of 1869.  When Rose Lee Merrell (Budge) and her beautiful sister Laurel Anne are being attacked by three drunken soldiers, a strange man comes to their rescue.  This man is scarred from serving in the Civil War and is known as Ghost Smiler, Hash Face, Red Legs, or Devil Man.  He rescues the sisters from their attackers.  He doesn’t talk and won’t let anyone into his life or see his face.  The Mormon bishop Merrell takes the “Devil Man” into his home with gratitude for the safety of his daughters.  The quiet community is very angry to have this gunman in their presence.  Budge, being a curious and energetic ten-year-old, wants to find out more about this dangerous gunman.  See the dangerous things she tries to find our and the relationship that grows between this ten-year-old girl and “Devil Man.”

Critique: This book is absolutely my favorite book.  It made me laugh and cry.  I got extremely nervous at some of the stupid and dangerous things Budge does for her own curiosity.  This book is extremely funny and you will have to laugh.  It is a bigger book, but I wish that it never ended.  I read it all in one night.  The age for this book would be a mature teenager and up, because for a little of the contents you should be able to handle it.  My favorite thing in the book is Budge’s point of view, her big mouth, and her curious ways.  I love the adventure to the book.  I also like how it holds many different styles like adventure, humor, mystery, etc.  There was nothing that I didn’t like.  The only thing is that the first few pages take maturity, but after that I KNOW you will absolutely love it!  Don’t stop; it is such a fantastic book!
Reviewed by: Amy D.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Author: Richard Bach
Publisher: Harper Collins, Year: 1970

Summary: Jonathan Seagull is no ordinary seagull and doesn't think that the only thing to the life of a seagull is fighting for food. He discovers a new talent of flying. The seagulls soon learn not to like him and he was abolished from his seagull clan. As Jonathan grows older he gets better and better at flying. One day some seagulls that know how to fly well, like Jonathan, take him away to a "better world" in heaven. Jonathan overcomes his weaknesses at flying by practicing. His hope is to return to earth and teach the other seagulls there how to be good fliers and how to be kind to each other. Will he be successful and make the world of the seagulls a better place?

Critique: I really like this book because of its meaning in my religion. My favorite part is when Jonathan wouldn't give up because he was determined to do something. That really inspired me to overcome my weaknesses. If I practice and I'm dedicated to something I can do hard things. There are a few words readers younger than nine or ten might not understand. There are some parts I was confused about but later understood. The only thing I disliked about the book was that it wasn't longer!
Reviewed by: Kevin K.

Eragon
Author: Christopher Paolini
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopg Publishing Year: 2003

Summary: The story starts out in the mystical land of Alagaesia. Deep in the mountains of The Spine the fifteen-year-old Eragon finds a polished blue stone. He takes the stone to his house and a dragon hatches from it. Then the Ra'zac, servants of King Galbatorix, come to his small town and completely destroy his old life. He, Saphira, his dragon, and Brom, the story teller from his village, travel across Alagaesia in hopes of getting revenge on the Ra'xac. While they travel Brom trains Eragon how to swordfight and use magic. In their travels, a boy named Murtagh saves them from the Ra'zac. Later in the book Eragon and Saphira decide that they want to join the Varden, a rebel group whose goal is to annihilate King Galbatorix's evil Empire. While getting to the Varden they face many servants o fthe king and face many challenges in the land of men, dwarves, and elves.

Critique: I really liked this book; it's one of my favorites. I like the fantasy things in it like dwarves, elves, dragons, and magic. This book is best for twelve and up because it would not be interesting to younger children and there are some violent parts that young children should not read. My favorite part is when Eragon kills Durza and when Saphira breathes fire. My least favorite part is when they go to the tavern and get drunk. This is a great book full of adventure. This is a good book for anyone who likes fantasy. I can't wait until the next book comes out.
Reviewed by Jeffrey B.

Artemis Fowl
Author: Erin Colfer
Publisher: Hyperion Publishing Year: 2001

Summary: Artemis Fowl is a criminal mastermind, and he’s only 12-years-old. After his father’s mysterious disappearance, Artemis is left in charge of the family’s criminal business. It is up to him to restore the fortune of the Fowl family. Artemis learns that the magical world of fairies and elves still exist, and more importantly, their gold exists. Artemis and his faithful bodyguard soon find out, though, that fairies and leprechauns do not part easily from their gold. Soon, Artemis and Butler are facing the LEP (the fairy world’s police force) in the battle for gold, and only what group is going to end up with it!

Critique: I absolutely love this book. It combines a magical world with the world that we live in today. I think it will appeal to people ages 10 and older because the content isn’t very hard to understand, but there’s some violence that children younger shouldn’t read. My favorite thing about the book was how Artemis is only 12, but he’s really smart. He figures out so many problems and has everything planned out. My least favorite thing about the book is that it left unanswered questions. Good thing that there’s a second book!
Reviewed by Caroline L.

Mara, Daughter of the Nile
Author: Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Publisher: Puffin Publishing Year: 1990

Summary: Mara, Daughter of the Nile is set in ancient Egypt. Queen Hashupet has taken the throne from her brother, who is the rightful pharaoh. Mara, however, does not care about this. The only thing she thinks about is how she can escape her life as a slave. The opportunity comes when she is bought by the Queen’s servants to be a spy on the Queen’s brother to see if he is receiving any secret messages from the outside. Her reward for obeying is freedom. However, while on her war, Mara meets with the mysterious Sheptu, who also asks her to be a spy for the Queen’s brother! Both sides promise her freedom, but Mara must decide which side is right to rule the land of Egypt. The fate of a nation rests in her hands.

Critique: This is one of my most favorite books in the world. I love the descriptions and characters that McGraw creates in her book. This book is most appropriate for people over the age of 14. It deals with concepts that younger people might not understand. My most favorite thing about the book is the main character, Mara. I like seeing how she changed from thinking about herself to thinking about others. My least favorite thing about the book was some of the language. Parts of it were hard to understand because I don’t know Egyptian mythology that well. Everyone should read it though, because it is a great book.
Reviewed by Caroline L.