Monday, March 30, 2009

Pish Posh

Pish Posh


By: Ellen Potter
Reviewed by: Jessi, 14
Rating: Really liked it


This book has a twist to humanity as we know it!


Recommended to: Any1

Cirque Du Freak: Vampire Mountain

Cirque Du Freak: Vampire Mountain


By: Darren Shan
Reviewed by: Christopher A., 16
Rating: Really liked it


Vampire mountain is the fourth book in the bestselling Cirque Du Freak series. Darren Shan and Mr Crepsley embark on a long dangerous journey to the very heart of the vampire world. Will the meeting with the vampire princes restore his human side or will he become part of the vampire clan. This book will leave people begging for more. This book is "Brillant" with a capital B. Its even better than the Twilight Saga.


Recommended to: Teens and young adults

Overdue Media

Overdue Media


By: Bill Barnes and Gene Ambaum
Reviewed by: Matt, 13
Rating: It was amazing!


This site is the home base of the most excellent comic strip: Unshelved. It contains the archive of every strip and book club (the sunday strips) all of which are hilarious. As well ad this, you can find any merchandise (honestly, go for the books because they also contain stuff like ALA confrence strips) on the site.
Check it out, its one of the best comic strips ever.


Recommended to: EVERYONE....GO NOW!!!!!!

Monday, March 23, 2009

Sold

Sold


By: Patricia McCormick
Reviewed by: Lynna, 16
Rating: It was amazing!


One word: Astounding.

Sold will open the eyes of readers everywhere that there's more beyond what meets the eyes in this world. Unlike other stories, this novel really makes you want to cry to think outside the box and might even inspire you to help out in the world. This novel was simply awe-spiring, eye-opening, and very well written. Although the author has not gone through such a horrible event, she has done a wonderful job maintaining the tone of the story so that it is very unique and genuine. I felt like I was reading and seeing through the eyes of the narrator. It was that good.

This novel is narrated by Lakshimi, who is a thirteen year old hard-working and poverty-stricken girl of Nepal. She finds the joy of living worth living, even though there were many hard times. Her mother loves her as much as her stepfather despises her. Thinking she would go to work as a maid in a wealthy city, she agrees to leave her family if she can send them her wages. Little did she know that her stepfather has sold her body to prostitution.

She goes through terrible things after this, trusting people she shouldn't have and others in which she should have but didn't. You'd have to read this book to actually feel emotionally attached as Lakshimi suffers event after event in trying to escape the brothel in India.

I finished this book in a day. I could not stop reading, wanting to know what happens next, simply attached. The author went through a lot of research, but I applaud her for her writing this book in her purpose to reveal the dark things that happen behind closed curtains.

I want to help, sooner or later in life, these innocent children. What they go through, it's horrible. You will feel such way too, when you can vividly witness it through the pages of Sold.

[This novel also is a National Book Award Finalist.]


Recommended to: Everyone who is up for real, troubling, and impowering books...

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Crunch Time

Crunch Time


By: Mariah Fredericks
Reviewed by: Lynna, 16
Rating: It was alright...


Crunchtime was a nice read, and I'm glad I finished it feeling like I didn't waste my time at all, reading it. It was basically about highschool teenagers of different cliques getting together and having study sessions for the SATs. They were the kind of kids you wouldn't see basically hanging out together, and throughout the book you read through each of the different main character's perspectives and narrations. They initally did not get along well in the beginning, but tight relations cause them to become a little closer together. Love, friendship, and drama builds between these teenagers.

Also, they're all very competitive and want to score perfectly on the SATs. In that, they are all very suspicious of each other and feeling skeptical as they are all different from one another. The main conflict in the story was when one of them is suspected of cheating on the SATs, and total teenage drama begins as they accuse and refuse each other, etc.

Overall, I read this before taking my SATs, so I kind of had an insight of the pressures behind the importance of this test. If I can see this as a movie, it'd be a total chick flick or some dramatic teenage story. It's good if you have nothing to do, and I didn't regret reading the whole thing, so it was better than average!


Recommended to: Teenagers interested in SATs, drama, etc.

All I Ever Wanted

All I Ever Wanted

By: Kelly Clarkson
Reviewed by: Lynna, 16
Rating: Really liked it


This is an awesome CD, no doubt about it! Here are the songs:

1. My Life Would Suck Without You
2. I Do Not Hook Up
3. Cry
4. Don’t Let Me Stop You
5. All I Ever Wanted
6. Already Gone
7. If I Can’t Have You
8. Save You
9. Whyyawannabringmedown
10. Long Shot
11. Impossible
12. Ready
13. I Want You
14. If No One Will Listen

Okay, to start off, Kelly has a spectacular voice and really shows it in this CD! I'm really hooked onto the songs "I Want You", "I Do Not Hook Up", "If I Can't Have You", "Long Shot", "Already Gone" and of course, "My Life Would Suck without You". She shows a new side of her in this CD. If you're into the Pop-py sensation kinda music, then buy this album! Great music, great lyrics, and awesome vocals! Love the colors she used on this CD too! :)


Recommended to: Girls, but guys can too... :P

Monday, March 16, 2009

.Hack G.U.+ Volume 1

.Hack G.U.+ Volume 1


By: Tatsuya Hamazaki and Yuzuka Morita
Reviewed by: gothiclolitamaiden, 15
Rating: Really liked it


It is the year 2017, and the stakes have gotten even higher in the massively multiplayer online game The World -- now The World R:2, a dangerous place overrun by player killers, where lawlessness abounds. The PKK Haseo, known as "The Terror of Death," is a fearsome foe who punishes those who want to slay other players. But things have gotten personal as Haseo tries to track down the killer Tri-Edge, who has threatened the real life of his friend, Shino.

The .hack franchise includes games, anime, manga and novels. G.U.+ is one of the more recent manga titles in the popular series. I have some background in the .hack universe, having read one of the novels and watched a little bit of the anime, so I didn't require any major explanations. However, this series may not be the best place to start if you are looking to immerse yourself in the World for the first time. There are references to events from previous series in the franchise and little exposition is given. The character profiles in the back may help some new readers, but most will be a bit lost.

Fans of .hack will likely enjoy G.U.+. The plot moves along at an appropriately quick rate. The art is very clean and the color pages at the beginning of the book are a great bonus. The character designs are all very detailed, but there is some...fanservice. The series may be shonen, but the fanservice does detract from the manga somewhat.

Unfortunately, the characters of G.U.+ do not have very distinct personalities. Haseo is no Naruto (thank goodness) but he is very angsty and revenge-oriented, a steretype for many shonen heros. Most of the story is focused on his hunt for Tri-Edge, so some of the background characters do get pushed to the side.

Overall, G.U.+ is a pretty good addition to the .hack franchise.


Recommended to: Teens 13+ Fans of the .hack franchise, fans of sci-fi manga

The Valley of the Wolves

The Valley of the Wolves


By: Laura Gallego Garcia
Reviewed by: Lizzie, 17
Rating: It was amazing!


Dana meets a mysterious boy named Kai. She is drawn to his easy smile, and can't help but befriend him. Then a man called The Maestro comes and takes Dana to go live with him, because he says she is destined for great things. However, Dana starts to question the Maestro, and the secerts hidden in the valley of the wolves.

I am in LOVE with this book! I have read this book more than 10 times. I love all the characters. Each character has a role in the book. I love the fact that it has to with sorcery-and then at the same time, it's not hard to understand. Ferris (the elf) is my favorite characer. At first, I didn't think the would have a big role in the book, but he did.

The author gave each character a unique aspect, that's how I came to appreciate the characters. Usually when I come to the end of a book, I wish they could have a better ending. Though I wanted Kai and Dana to be together, the ending spoke for itself. The ending was good. Now, the only thing I sort of disliked was Danas hair.

I didn't like that Danas hair was dark black, like a raven. It sort of makes me think of Raven, from Teen Titans. I have never been a fan of simple black hair. I dunno, it's pretty dumb, but when I read it, I just get annoyed.

Anyways, overall the book was great.


Recommended to: Anyone

It Girls Series

It Girls Series


By: Cecily von Ziegesar
Reviewed by: Tina R., 13
Rating: It was amazing!


Review: The books in this series are:
The It Girl
Notorious
Reckless
Unforgettable
Lucky
Tempted
Infamous

This series is about a group of competive girls and their daring lives at an exclusive boarding school. This is a great series and i would reccomend it to anyone that fell in love with the A-List series.

Recommended to: Fans of the A-List

All I Ever Wanted

All I Ever Wanted

By: Kelly Clarkson
Reviewed by: Tina R., 13
Rating: It was amazing!


Wow! Kelly Clarkson's newest cd is very different than the ones before. It's very catch and the lyrics are so true! One of the best cd's out now!


Recommended to: Everyone should listen to this cd!

A Wrinkle in Time

A Wrinkle in Time


By: Madeleine L'Engle
Reviewed by: Henry L., 12
Rating: It was alright...


A Wrinkle in Time is a fantasy novel written by Madeleine L'Engle. In the story, Meg Murry, a high-school-aged girl, is transported on an adventure through time and space with her younger brother Charles Wallace and her friend Calvin O'Keefe to rescue her father, a gifted scientist, from the evil forces that hold him prisoner on another planet. From the story, Meg Murry learns the importance of love and the difference of good and evil.

The author uses many writing techniques. For example, the vocabulary is very interesting; the words the author uses is hard for the ordinary young teen. Also, the character development is very noticeable, since the reader can tell Meg Murry's transformation to a whole new person.

In conclusion, A Wrinkle in Time is a novel that can appeal to young teens and above for its vocabulary and character development. I strongly believe that readers will truly enjoy reading A Wrinkle in Time.


Recommended to: people who like fantasies.

Twilght

Twilight


By: Stephenie Meyer
Reviewed by: Madison, 11
Rating: It was amazing!


i really loved the series of twilght and wish it would go on forever and ever!They were great books and im only 11.Edward was the best thing about all of it i wish i could meet him in real life ut i doubt that will happen,i mean he's robert pattinson.I should just keep dreaming because we all know he will probably be dead and me as well before ill get the chance to meet him.But enogh of that, Stephine Meyers please keep writing this serie,PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Recommended to: Teenage Girls

Shrimp

Shrimp


By: Rachel Cohn
Reviewed by: Lynna, 16
Rating: Really liked it


The sequel to Gingerbread, Shrimp is an even more heartwarming story than the first. I enjoyed the java breaks in this book, and seeing through the perspective of CC (Cyd Charisse) as she returns to San Fran to be with the "love-of-her-life" Shrimp, the surfer dude.

I found this story more opinionated, and emotionally vulnerable, which makes the story even better.

Everything about this novel is about difficult decisions, difficult of relationships and romance, and just trying to find yourself. I liked the fact that CC is as faulty as the next teenage girl that walks by, yet we can understand her vulnerability.

This is a must read if you've finished Gingerbread!


Recommended to: Teenage Girls

Incantation

Incantation


By: Alice Hoffman
Reviewed by: Lynna, 16
Rating: Really liked it


This was a really interesting story about a girl name Esther who lives during the time of the Spanish Inquisition. You can definitely feel the pain she goes through as her bright, innocent life turns into a horrifying, suffering one when she gets betrayed by her so-called best friend, Catalina.

Everything about this novel made you want to turn the page, and the next, and next, and next... until you're done! There's a lot of adventures, romance, betrayal, and just total drama. I'm not talking about annoying, stupid chick-flick high school girls drama, either. Sure, you're looking through a 16 year old teen girl's eyes, but you're looking out into a totally different world.

This novel should be made into a movie. It'd make an awesome one! If you're in for something different and good (in a different, riveting way), then take a read of this!


Recommended to: Anyone who likes reading through the past and realistic adventures

Gingerbread

Gingerbread


By: Rachel Cohn
Reviewed by: Lynna, 16
Rating: It was alright...


This was quite a novel, your ordinary coming-of-age kinda story. It's about a really lonely, wanting-to-be-out-there girl named Cyd Charisse.

You'd have to read the story to see all the amusing things she go through, wanting to transform into "somebody". She's pretty much just trying to look for herself, and through that she goes through part of her life impersonating other people she thinks is cool. However, her true soft personality outshines what she wants to be as people only see her as caring, funny, and even sweet. Through her punky clothes, befriendments with wild people, and dirty mouth, people actually are striked by her caring and soft side.

I read this story quite a while ago, yet I still remember a lot of it. I love the amusing undertone of the narration, and Cohn can really write through a teenager's perspective.


Recommended to: 13-15 Year Old Girls

Friday, March 13, 2009

New Moon

New Moon


By: Stephenie Meyer
Reviewed by: Paige G., 15
Rating: Hated it!


Although the flaws with this book are absolutely countless, I would like to focus on one: Bella tries to kill herself just so she can hear her ex-boyfriend's voice. Anyone see something wrong with that?

I mean honestly people! What kind of message is she trying to send to the youth of the world? That you, as a teenage girl, are nothing without your man? That you should commit suicide if he breaks up with you?

Whatever happened to the strong herionesses? A main character with some spine and independence? In New Moon, Bella is just...pathetic. Granted, she is pathetic in all the books, but especially in the second of the ridiculous saga.

Secondly, although I think Edward is an unrealisitcally perfect fantasy, I think it was a huge mistake on Stephanie's part to basically knock him out of the storyline for almost the entirety of the book, and to be replaced by the completely annoying and womanizing Jacob. No one wants to read about him. The general population of teen girls (excluding me) want to read about Edward!

And finally, anyone think that it is a little odd that some guy is in love with her because she smells good? And he watches her sleep?


Recommended to: Absolutely nobody. Even my worst enemy.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Danger Overseas

Danger Overseas


By: Carolyn Keene and Franklin W. Dixon
Reviewed by: Tracy L., 13
Rating: Really liked it


Nancy Drew and her friends team together with the Hardy boys to solve the same mystery, and they get a trip to Europe.

There has been a suspected robbery of ancient items from an archaelogy dig, and their jobs are to find the suspect and get back the items.


The guilty people ended up being Claude Bonaire, Joanna Paoli, and Sam.


Recommended to: mystery lovers

Hazed

Hazed


By: Franklin W. Dixon
Reviewed by: Tracy L., 13
Rating: It was alright...


The Hardy boys go on an adventure when they find out there is a possible hazing at Eagle River Academy that left a student dead.

Possible suspects are the seniors, dorm monitor, Mr. Diehl, and the girlfriend of the dead student.

The suspect ended up being Mr. Diehl.

He killed Roy because he previously had been a "servant" and was slashed many times. He wanted to kill a couple students to stop hazing forever at the school.

He nearly killed another student, Liam, but the Hardy boys and the other students got there just in time.


Recommended to: mystery lovers

Twilight

Twilight


By: Stephenie Meyer
Reviewed by: Lynna, 16
Rating: Really liked it


Okay, to tell you the truth, this book is really addicting, but I honestly feel like it's really overrated and even the thought of vampires are becoming cliche. I read it earlier thanks to a recommendation from a friend, and the story and almost-realistic-yet-fantasy feeling of the novel was good...

I liked it a lot.


Recommended to: Everyone

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Best Friends

Best Friends


By: Jacqueline Wilson
Reviewed by: Tracy L., 13
Rating: It was alright...


Gemma and Alice have been friends from the moment they were born. They may be best friends, but they are totally different people. Alice is polite, clean, and organized. Gemma is sometimes a troublemaker, being where she shouldn't, and doing wrong things.

When Alice's dad gets a great job opportunity in Scotland, Gemma and Alice try running away together.

They get caught by Biscuits, and Alice does move away. Gemma gets to see Alice, but what do you know? Gemma causes trouble and gets sent home.

Alice is always talking about Flora. Flora's room, Flora's clothes, Flora's ballet skills. Gemma is sick and tired of it.

She becomes friends with Biscuits, before her enemy, and they end up being great friends.

Gemma realizes that Alice will always be there no matter what, and she can make other friends, but still have the one that stands out.


Recommended to: preteens

High School Musical

High School Musical


Directed by: Kenny Ortega
Reviewed by: Tracy L., 13
Rating: It was amazing!


High School Musical is about things you go through during high school. Drama and memories forever. Gabriella(Vannessa Anne Hudgens) moved to New Mexico not knowing anyone. She meets Troy(Zac Efron) unexpectedly, when they are both forced to sing together at a New Year's Party.

They end up going to the same high school and the rest of the movie is about things they go through.

Sharpay and Ryan have made their schools' musicals every single year, and they are determined to have a repeat. Troy and Gabriella get in the way, and Sharpay trys in all her power to split them apart.

She eventually becomes sucessful, but Gabriella and Troy patch up and end up singing in the musical together.


Recommended to: anyone

The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor

The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor


Directed by: Rob Cohen
Reviewed by: Lizzie, 17
Rating: Didn't like it


The movie is about the rise of the dragon emperor. Rick and the others have to kill the emperor before he awakes his army.

I couldn't think of a better summary, probably because I am negative about this movie. Alright, let's start off with the plot itself. I am not against chinese, but this made no sense with the movie. I have been a huge fan of the first 2 Mummy movies, and this one failed 100%. I didn't get the feel of the movie. Everything seemed like blah. I didn't like the fact that it is set in China, with a chinese mummy. They could have done something with a egyptian storyline, like Cleopatra, King tut, and etc.

Now, with the characters. Rick was not himself like the first two movies. I felt that his character was drifted away. Eve. Don't get me started with the NEW person playing her. I have always loved the first actress, she was the EVE. This girl was pretty, but she wasn't Eve. She was just different, and I didn't get the vibe. That's probably why the movie sucked altogether. jonathan seemed boring too. He is usually funny, but in this movie, it's like they tried to make him funny, and he just didn't have a role in this one. I can't really describe it.

Oh and Alex, the son of Rick and Eve. He is so annoying. I think his character would have been more bearable, if it wasn't the dumb plot. So yes, their was some funny stuff in the movie, and some action scenes, but I seriously felt that it drifted away from everything- from the characters, to the plot.


They ruined my favorite series with that movie. I am just going to stick to the first 2 movies.


Recommended to: No one

Picaresque

Picaresque

By: The Decemberists
Reviewed by: Matt, 13
Rating: It was amazing!


This is simply a cool cd, the Decemberists' sound is interesting, and transcendends from shorter songs to sub-epics. This is definitely fun to listen to, especially because of the shifting style. The track listing is as follows:

1. The Infanta
2. We Both Go Down Together
3. Eli. The Barrow Boy
4. The Sporting Life
5. The Bagman's Gambit
6. From My Own True Love (Lost at Sea)
7. 16 Military Wives
8. The Engine Driver
9. On the Bus Mall
10. The Mariner's Revenge Song
11. Of Angels and Angles

I recommend The Infanta, The Sporting Life, 16 Military Wives, and The Mariner's Revenge Song.


Recommended to: everyone

Monday, March 9, 2009

WWE Smackdown vs Raw '09

WWE Smackdown vs Raw '09*


Developed By: THQ
Reviewed by: Sandor S., 13
Rating: It was amazing!


The 2009 vesion of SVR has come!It features Smackdown,Raw,and,Ecw wrestlers.It includes New matches such as inferno matches and Ecw extreme rules,where you can set barb wire and tables on fire.I have had the game for two days and It has already amazed me.


Recommended to: 13-up( contains language,blood,and,volence)

*this game is on order

Elsewhere

Elsewhere


By: Gabrielle Zevin
Reviewed by: Lynna, 16
Rating: It was amazing!


Elsewhere is probably the most unique, clever, and original novel I've ever read in my sixteen years. Zevin definitely did a wonderful job writing something that paves a new light in how we can perceive life after death.

Basically, this novel is about an almost-sixteen year old ambitious girl name Liz Hall, who had her goals set and her future all planned out. Before she can live her dreams as a vet, find her love, etc. she dies in a hit-and-run accident. But it doesn't end there, nosiree...

Her soul is lost after she leaves her body. Of course, like to most conscious souls, the out-of-the-body feeling is a little creepy. Liz was confused, scared, and freaking out. But later she soon finds out that Elsewhere is awaiting her and the other recently-dead souls of the world, and this is when the novel gets interesting.

Where time floats backward, dogs can talk, and babies are sent off in rivers to reborn, Elsewhere is truly out of this world. Liz, even though depressed she lived such a short life, meets a new love and her formerly deceased grandmother. And, instead of growing older, everyone in Elsewhere is growing younger, awaiting to become a baby and sent off to a brand new life where they forget their past...

This novel is a must-read! I guess you can say this is like a Benjamin-Button story with more twists, turns, and def lots more of captivating scenes in the world of Elsewhere. If anything, I truly would want this to be made into a movie! Everything about it is purely of creative imagination, but eerily, you'll find yourself making emotional ties with it. It was fantasy, but yet, you feel that you can relate realistically to the things in the story.

This novel definitely gives you things to ponder about, and well... it's a really magical story! I almost found myself in tears by the end of the book, and you will too if you dig yourself deep into this novel like I, and many other readers (I'm sure), has!


Recommended to: Everyone

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Shock Point

Shock Point


By: April Henry
Reviewed by: Lynna, 16
Rating: It was amazing!


Shock Point is an extremely riveting novel; this is the kind of book you can’t put down. You can read this while on a long road trip or even late into Friday night. Basically, it’s about a girl named Cassie with a two-faced therapist stepfather whom she learned had been administering illegal drugs to his teenage patients. The worse news? Three of these patients committed suicide, and nobody, except a friend of hers, knows that it was caused by Cassie’s stepfather. Before she and her friend can confide about this before anymore teenagers die from the hands of the so-called therapist, Cassie gets shipped off to a camp that’s more like prison than a camp. Apparently she gets sent off because her stepfather “found” meth in her room, though Cassie knew he planted it there to prevent her from revealing his crime. Worst yet, her mother has absolutely no idea and is falling for Cassie’s stepfather’s lies.

She goes through tons of unbelievable things while at the prison. The prison part was the best part for me. It was so realistic and graphic at the same time… this was a real thriller! You should totally go for this book if you’re in for an exciting narration of her trying to escape the prison (which has a cliff, barb wires, etc.). It was really awesome!!!


Recommended to: Everyone

Pop Princess

Pop Princess


By: Rachel Cohn
Reviewed by: Lynna, 16
Rating: Really liked it


Amazing things can happen to ordinary people - and this was just so in Pop Princess! Though... amazing things (the things that are too good to be true, etc.) aren't always so amazing once you realized you're not living an ordinary life anymore.

Meet fifteen year old Wonder Blake (aka girl that works at the Dairy Queen), who becomes a huge pop sensation after her former pop sensation star older sister, Lucky, died. When I read this book, I wasn't expecting too much. I was thinking, "Oh, maybe just another chick-flick novel created for teenage girls!" But oh boy, there's more than what meets the eye!

This novel is full of everything you'd expect out of an entertaining chick flick, and loads more. You'd feel like you're riding through Wonder's emotional strides, as she goes through unique and not-so-unique events in becoming "America's Pop Star". There are many people you gotta watch out for, and these people might be the least you'd expect to be holding the caution sign up.

If you're ready for a fun, hooked-up high school novel with an added twist of a moral, then grab this book! It's a unique book that's worth the read - without the soda and popcorn!

Recommended to: Teenage Girls

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Going Postal

Going Postal


By: Terry Pratchett
Reviewed by: Matt, 13
Rating: It was amazing!


Going Postal can be described in one word: hilarious. Enter con artist Moist van Lipwig he has been captured and sentenced to hang, but lord Vetinari has a better idea. After hanging within half an inch of his life, Moist is given a choice... Either he can put the postal service back on its feet, or die. Featuring a cast of humorous characters, Going Postal is a great read worthy of any fantasy fan. This is around book thirty in the Discworld series.


Recommended to: fantasy fans, or anyone who enjoys a good, funny book

Nevermind

Nevermind

By: Nirvana
Reviewed by: Matt, 13
Rating: It was amazing!


I believe that Nevermind is Nirvana's best CD. Its songs are catchy with good instrumentals; each song conveys some form of meaning and though they don't talk about political or social issuses, it neither detracts from their awesomeness or the aforementioned meaning in each song.

track listing:
1. Smells Like Teen Spirit
2. In Bloom
3. Come As You Are
4. Breed
5. Lithium
6. Polly
7. Territorial Pissings
8. Drain You
9. Lounge Act
10. Stay Away
11. On A Plain
bonus track: Something In The Way


Recommended to: everyone

The House of the Scorpion

The House of the Scorpion


By: Nancy Farmer
Reviewed by: Lynna, 16
Rating: It was amazing!


This book has to be on the top of my list of Favorite Books, which I might add, is a very picky and limited list. It had an endless amount of suspense, humor, and even a little bit of romance. This book was a mystery from the beginning, and the reader will turn every page to encounter a twist of some kind. Not only does the subject revolve around the sensitive yet fascinating subject of clones, but the Farmer wrote this book so well that it will evoke genuine feelings out of the reader as he/she reads from point of view of the clone himself. This book is beyond awesome!!! The story literally pulls you into a world that seems almost fantasy, yet realistically possible at the same time. The suspense was captivating and will get the reader hooked. The characters are realistic, the mysterious past was golden, the setting was perfect, the conflicts will have you intensely intrigued and emotional, and the plot? The plot was just pure magic. Nancy Farmer is absolutely, most postively, BRILLIANT!

There are not a lot of books I will ever read twice, but this book is a must-read. It might seem long, but once you dive into the pages you will see that you will NOT want it to end!


Recommended to: Every teenager!

The Invisible

The Invisible


By: Mats Wahl
Reviewed by: Lizzie, 17
Rating: It was alright...


Summary: Hilmer Ericksson realize's he is invisible, and he dosen't who or how he got hurt. He follows detective Harald Fors, hoping to find some answers to his mysterious disappearance.


When you first purchase this book, the storyline says it's about a boy who is invisible, dosen't know what happened to him, and can't communicate with the outside world. Alright, sound's interesting. However, I started reading and I felt sort of cheated. There was only few paragraphs that he appeared in.

Then it just talks about the investigation. Now, that part of the story is interesting, and it drew me in, despite the fact the character wasn't to involved. As you continue reading, you get a hint of what could have happened, and why. The suspects are those who are skinheads- so basically, you can draw an idea there.

I did like the detective Harald Fors. He had flaws, just like any normal police officer. His character itself, made the story more bearable.

So basically, good plot. But I think we needed to see more of Hilmer's Eriksoson's involvment- more of this inner thoughts, and just basically a better role in the story.


Recommended to: 14 +

Disturbia

Disturbia


Directed by: D.J. Caruso
Reviewed by: Henry L., 12
Rating: Really liked it


In Disturbia, Kale Brecht is a teen under house arrest who thinks that his neighbor is a serial killer.

Kale Brecht loses his father in a horrible car accident and gets into house arrest for punching his Spanish teacher. Under house arrest, he watches his neighbors and discovers many things about them and tells this to his friend Ronnie. He has a new neighbor named Ashley that he spies on the most. Ronnie, Ashley, and Kale theorize that their neighbor, Robert Turner, is a serial killer from Texas who kills women. Watch this movie to find out what happens to Ronnie, Ashley, Kale, and the serial killer.


Recommended to: people who like suspense

Vampirates - Demons of the Ocean

Vampirates: Demons of the Ocean


By: Justin Somper
Reviewed by: Hannah G., 13
Rating: It was amazing!

Recommended to: myself

Backstage Prince Volume 1

Backstage Prince Volume 1


By: Kanoko Sakurakoji
Reviewed by: gothiclolitamaiden, 15
Rating: Didn't like it


"Drawn into the world of kabuki theatre, Akari spends her time after school assissting the famous actor Shonosuke Ichimura. In the real world, however, this prince of kabuki is actually a high school student by the name of Ryusei Horiuchi. Akari is totally clueless about kabuki--and boys--but she's eager to learn about both. Her first encounter with Ryusei doesn't go very well, but the two teenagers quickly become prince and princess of kabuki."

Another shojo title, another bishonen hero, another boring, plain heroine....*Sigh* (and not a good sigh, either). I found Backstage Prince dull, and I dare to say that it was just plain bad. The author has a weird way of getting Akari and Ryusei together, and it makes no sense at all. Akari is talking to her friends and randomly swings her bag (what the-?), hitting Ryusei. She goes to apologize, and Ryusei's friend (I think? the author never specifies) tells her that she'll have to be his assistant until Ryusei's bruise heals. You heard me right, it was just a bruise. What the heck was the author/artist thinking? The plot doesn't make sense from the beginning, it was as if the author/artist couldn't think of any way to introduce Akari to Ryusei, she just thought of something without making sure that it made sense. And then, (we're still in the first chapter!) Ryusei confesses his love to Akari, and, as I've mentioned, it is still the first chapter. Ryusei and Akari's relationship is moving just a bit too fast, and is very unrealistic. What are they going to do for the rest of the series, other than anger Ryusei's dad? The author/artist tries to add conflict by making the story into a love triangle, and of course introducing Ryusei's dad, but it doesn't really work. The plot is incoherent, unrealistic and unoriginal.

The characters are sorely lacking as well. Akari is a plain, homely girl who falls in love with an amazing, talented boy, in what feels like a schoolgirl's fantasy (come to think of it, it probably is). Ryusei isn't too bad, he is the ideal bishonen hero, but he's antisocial, which was an interesting twist on the bishonen stereotype. Naoki is not as painfully boring and or stereotypical as the other characters, but not enough to redeem the series. We don't see much of Akari's friends, so I can't really comment on them.

The art isn't too unattractive, but the author/artist obviously wanted to make Akari plain in contrast to Ryusei. Kanoko Sakurakoji isn't a bad artist, she's just a bad storyteller.

I would definetely not buy the second volume of Backstage Prince, especially when there are better shojo titles out there.


Recommended to: Some loyal shojo fans. Anybody who can understand the plot. 13+

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Far From You

Far From You


By: Lisa Schroeder
Reviewed by: Kit, 19
Rating: It was amazing!


at frist i was thinking that this story way going to be about a person loving someone and end up hating them forever, but oh boy was i worng. the book is really about a girl named alice, her real mother had died about 3 mounths or so in the books time line and her father had just married again. she has a childhood friend that plays music and goes to church with her, and she has a boyfriend that loves music as well. for most of what i can tell you about this book is that alice really likes the book 'alice and the wonderland'


Recommended to: everyone