Monday, November 5, 2012

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
By: Nintendo (America)
Reviewed by:  Trina N; 12
 

Rating:  It was amazing!!

Another adventure begins with a young boy named Link. Link was sailing with his friend Tetra and her crew mates on their pirate ship, when a mysterious ship appears out of nowhere. This ship is called the Ghost Ship. Brave Tetra jumps on the ship to check it out when something lurks and captures Tetra! With the help of Captain Linebeck, Link journeys out to save Tetra and have another great adventure! 

 
Recommended to:  Everyone

Hikaru No Go, Volume 9

View full image Hikaru No Go, Volume 9
By: Yumi Hotta
Reviewed by: David B., 18

Rating:   It was amazing!

I just recently started reading the manga Hikaru No Go and I love it. It's about a boy named Hikaru Shindo who's ambition is to become one of the best Go players in Japan. He is aided by a master go-playing spirit, Fujiwara-no-Sai, who can only be seen by Hikaru. In volume 9, Shindo's friends help strengthen his skills as a go player by frequenting go-salons. On one such occasion, Hikaru accidently insults another expert player and the situation can only be resolved through a game of Go. Since both players are respected for their exceptional skill at the game, the reader doesn't necessarily believe the main character will win. You just have to wait till the end to find out. Hikaru No Go shows us that even if your as young as 14 years old, you can commit to accomplishing your dreams at any age. The art is remarkable, and the story telling is well-paced, easy to read and suspensefull aswell as funny.


Recommended to: Old and new manga fans alike.

Push

By: Richard Wright
Reviewed by:  Raquel P., 16
Rating:  Really liked it.

Push is a story about an abused teenager, who later on birthes the children of her father. she wanted to become a model and provide a better life for her challenged children. she has trouble at school ,also she is abused and and beaten at home. Later she takes a stand and starts to finally find love and comfort in the people surrounding her and in herself and her baby.

Recommended to:  Anyone

The Miserable Mill

The Miserable Mill
By: Lemony Snicket
Reviewed by: Elisabeth D., 12
Rating: It was amazing!

This book is about the Baudelaire children (Violet, Klaus, and Sunny). They go to their new guardian Mr.Sir who makes them work in the mill and only gives them gum for lunch. Count Olaf has another evil plan. Will they get away?

Recommended to: Everyone

Reckoning

View full image Reckoning
By: Lili St. Crow
Reviewed by: Dihmar C., 17

Rating:   Really liked it.

 The fifth book in the Stange Angels series. I couldn't put it down for a single second. I didn't really like the ending though.:( But overall it was pretty good.

Recommended to: Everyone

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

View full imageThe Perks of Being a Wallflower
By: Stephen Chbosky
Reviewed by:  Rachel, 12

Rating:  Really liked it.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a coming of age about awkward 15 year old Charlie who is starting his freshman year of High School and dealing with the death of his best friend Micheal. When meets two step siblings, Sam and Patrick, he finally feels more open and free. Charlie goes through life and comes across love, friendship, and drugs and learns the harsh facts of life. I would strongly suggest this book; however, some aspects of the book or movie maybe too mature for some kids. All in all it is an outstanding book.

Recommended to:  16+ (if younger, talk to your parents first.)

Mossflower

View full image Mossflower
By: Brian Jacques
Reviewed by: Luke S., 13

Rating:   Really liked it.

Follow Martin as he frees mossflower from a wicked wildcat queen.An adventure any teen would love to read.

Recommended to: Adventure Fans

Martin the Warrior

View full image Martin the Warrior
By: Brian Jacques
Reviewed by: Luke S., 13

Rating:   Really liked it.

 Follow Martin as he is captured by Badrang,then escapes from him and vows to kill Badrang and to take back his father's sword.

Recommended to: Adventure Fans

Flight of the eagles

View full image Flight of the eagles
By: Gilbert Morris
Reviewed by: Luke S., 13

Rating:   Really liked it.

Fourteen year old Joshua Adams wakes up from a fifty year sleep and finds out that he escaped nuclear war and also finds out that the altered races of earth have awaited his awakening,for it was sung that the Seven Sleepers would awake and unite their strength with Goel to fight the wicked Sanhedrin.Embark on an adventure with Joshua and his friends as they go and fight the Sanhedrin. 

Recommended to: Adventure Fans

Dragon Spear

View full image Dragon Spear
By: Jessica Day George
Reviewed by: Luke S., 13

Rating:   It was amazing!

Any teen will love this book! When Creel goes to the Far Isles to meet her dragon friends, Velika, the dragon queen, is captured. Creel and her friends (dragons and humans) set out on an adventure to find Velika. A wonderful story for teens.

Recommended to: Everyone!!!!!

What doesn't kill you

View full image What doesn't kill you
By: Iris Johansen
Reviewed by: Cynthia V., 14

Rating:   It was amazing!

Catherine Ling Is Super Awesome In This Book...I Had No Idea That She Was CSI Her Life Started Out Very Bad And Sad But Now Shes Like Super Successful!

Recommended to: Cathy C.

Twilight Saga: official illustrated guide

View full image Twilight Saga: official illustrated guide
By: Stephenie Meyer
Reviewed by: Cynthia V., 14

Rating:   It was amazing!

This informed me big time with the characters and who was who in the movies... it gives you so many deets on every person like for example Edward : his name is long! It was amazing to find out how my fav vamps became well vamps lol and what their lives were like before..

Recommended to: Lucy

Twilight

View full image Twilight
By: Stephenie Meyer
Reviewed by: Cynthia V., 14

Rating:   Really liked it.

This book is so cute and i love how Edward and Bella begin to fall in love with each other.

Recommended to: Lucy

New Moon

View full image New Moon
By: Stephenie Meyer
Reviewed by: Cynthia V., 14

Rating:   Really liked it.

I was so sad when Edward decided to leave Bella behind. But it's nice that she got closer to Jacob. Still Team Edward !!

Recommended to: Lucy

Hunger Games

View full image Hunger Games
By: Suzanne Collins
Reviewed by: Cynthia V., 14

Rating:   It was amazing!

This book is so amazing and has so much action..its really sad that CHILDREN had to die..i actually cried when poor Rue had died.........it was cute though that Katniss put flowers around little Rues body.

Recommended to: Cathy C.

Hostile Witness

Hostile Witness (Witness Series, #1) Hostile Witness
By: Rebecca Forster
Reviewed by: Cynthia V., 14

Rating:   It was amazing!

A girl who was blamed for the murder of her step-grandfather..did she do it? does she know who did it? you dont know well okay i do....it was her mother..made her daughter keep quiet for her own sake....best ever!!

Recommended to: Cathy C.

Eclipse

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Eclipse
By: Stephenie Meyer
Reviewed by: Cynthia V., 14

Rating:  It was amazing!

Team Edward!! I was so happy when she accepted to marry Edward but i was soooo sad that Jacob was in love with her and knowing that she was going to marry Edward was probably heart-breaking for him :(

Recommended to: Cathy C.

Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch


Crime Scene At Cardwell Ranch 

Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch
By: B.J. Daniels
Reviewed by: Cynthia V., 14

Rating:   It was amazing!

Like Mystery?! Well Then This Is The Book For You !

Recommended to: Mystery Lovers
View full image Breaking Dawn
By: Stephenie Meyer
Reviewed by: Cynthia V., 14

Rating:   Really liked it.

Best Book Ever!  when i found out that she was prego i was like "Whaaat" only after like a week ! lol but yeah to the people who are late in reading these books i suggest you read this ! :)ohh yeah and i was like whoa!! when Jacob imprinted on Bella's baby ! :O

Recommended to: Lucy

Bonnie

View full image Bonnie
By: Iris Johansen
Reviewed by: Cynthia V., 14

Rating:   It was amazing!

Best Book I Have Ever Read!! It's About A Mother Who  Has Been Searching For Years To Find The Body Of Her Missing 7 Year Old And The Person Who Murdered Her...Read It It's Very Interesting !!My favorite thing about this book is that it's interesting how Eve (Bonnie's Mother)never gives up in trying to find Bonnie even after so many years have gone by. It's sad because in the end I find out that it was her grandfather that was involved in her murder even if it was accidental. I like how this whole book was plotted out and how it actually brought some emotion. 

Recommended to: To People Who Love Mystery And Love

Abused: A Daughter's Story

Cover for 'Abused - A Daughter's Story' Abused: A Daughter's Story
By: L.L Bartlett
Reviewed by: Cynthia V., 14

Rating:   Really liked it.

The most saddest book I've read yet..the little girl's mother dies and now she's stuck with siblings and an abusive father..no one there to help her as she goes through the memories of when her mother was there

Recommended to: Lucy

Tunnels

View full image Tunnels
By: Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams
Reviewed by: Daniel M., 16

Rating:   Really liked it.


You have heard this story before. It starts with a 14-year-old kid from a dysfunctional family who is bullied at school for his appearance. He befriends another outcast; they stand up for each other and get in fights. Sound familiar? This essentially sums up most high school dramas ever invented, give or take a love interest.

Tunnels, by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams, manages to break that mold. In fact, it completely shatters this cliche with its serpentine plot and mixture of harsh reality and widespread conspiracy.

What separates the ironically named Will Burrows from the average teen is that he and his dad, Roger, dig. A lot. They share an obsession for excavating and discovering under their small British town, Highfield. Secrecy is a key to their work, ever since an important professor claimed credit for a buried Roman villa, leaving Dr. Burrows only a small footnote. Between Will and his father, however, there are no secrets.

Because of this, Will is stunned when he finds evidence indicating that his father has been conducting a secret dig, near his house. Then, his father disappears.

Since the police are baffled at where to start, Will and his friend Chester set to work finding out where he has gone. They find few concrete clues, but a collapsed tunnel in Will's basement and cryptic notes in Dr. Burrow's office seem to indicate that something is afoot.

Chester helps Will clear the tunnel and they discover a strange elevator where city records show nothing manmade should exist. Here, Will's scientific curiosity gets the better of him and Chester follows him down.

Things below are stranger than anything Will could have possibly imagined. A whole society known as the Colony exists there, under the earth. Unfortunately, he and Chester are accused of breaking some sort of trespassing law, so he and Chester are imprisoned and interrogated by a group of pale, black-eyed men known as the Styx.

Here, the plot takes an unexpected turn again. The guards inform Will that he has visitors, and they claim that Will's real name is Seth and they are his real family. They take Will out of the prison, leaving Chester alone.

Although Will initially refuses to believe them, his new family's resemblance to him and their utter conviction eventually convince him. His newfound younger brother, Cal, looks up to him, a new experience for Will.

However, Will soon grows uneasy with life in the Colony. He learns that his real mother fled to the surface to escape the Styx, who control the citizens underground through a kind of cult. Chester continues to be imprisoned and is growing more desperate day by day. In the meantime, Cal shows a willingness to escape with Will.
   
The remainder of the book deals with Will's attempts to escape and rescue Chester. He soon learns that the Styx have influence everywhere, even on the surface. He is locked in a desperate fight and he can never return home.
   
Despite the absurdity of the premises, I found that Tunnels had a sort of grim charisma to it. Will, Chester and Cal are real, relatable characters, and their decisions and interactions are interesting. The plot held me in a kind of bizarre fascination, showing at the same time both the wonder of this strange world and the doubts the protagonists felt about it.
   
I found Tunnels to be a gritty adventure, living up to its name with its dark tone and twisting plot. Because of this, I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy or science fiction, or just weird conspiracies.

The book covers a little less than 500 pages and is first in a series of five books to date. The book is available on Amazon.com for about $9.


Recommended to: Sci-fi/Fantasy/Conspiracy fans

The Last Thing I Remember

View full image The Last Thing I Remember
By: Andrew Klavan
Reviewed by: Daniel M., 16

Rating:   Really liked it.


Have you ever been certain of something? So sure of it that you never question it? Charlie West, the main character in The Last Thing I Remember byAndrew Klavan, has that kind of assurance in his country. So, he is very surprised when he wakes up bloodied and strapped to a chair in what is apparently a terrorist hideout in the woods.

Fortunately, Charlie is a black belt in karate. With a mixture of luck and skill, he makes his escape. He still has a problem, though. The last year of his life is completely gone from his memory. During this year, he somehow went from going to school and hanging out with friends to being interrogated in a terrorist encampment.

For Charlie, it only gets worse. After his escape, he contacts the police. They come immediately, but to arrest him for murder of his friend, Alex Hauser. With a year of his life missing, Charlie West is a convicted murderer.

In transit to prison, someone cuts his handcuffs and leaves him with a puzzling message. With his hands free, Charlie again manages to escape in the prison van. He returns to his home town of Centerville, staying away from his house to avoid capture. While stopping at a soup kitchen for food and rest, he sees a news feature on his escape.

Here the clash between Charlie's past and the present becomes most defined. Throughout the first half of the story, frequent flashbacks return to the last day that Charlie remembers. However, the news program shows a clip of his girlfriend begging him to turn himself in. This only adds to Charlie's puzzlement, since he does not remember having a girlfriend.

Because of this, Charlie is initially desperate to prove his innocence. Then he makes the connection. From a conversation he overheard in the terrorist compound and a news report he saw, Charlie realizes that the terrorists have plans to strike again and he is the only one who can stop them.

Despite a few flaws, I found The Last Thing I Remember an enjoyable read. The plot moved quickly, and the storyline retained a remarkable continuity even with the frequent flashbacks. The contrast between Charlie's ordinary life and the insanity of his circumstances is emphasized, making him a more believable character.

Charlie's narration of the story also helps to add a more human element to his otherwise incredible story. His tone is that of the ordinary teen, confused by the chaos he is faced with. The narration also serves to provide more background on Charlie and show some of his doubts and fears.

However, Charlie's patriotic idealism never wavers, which comes across as alternatively admirable and ridiculous. His trust in his America never wanes, even as he is pursued for a crime he did not commit. This, and some unlikely plot elements, such as Charlie's uncanny karate skills and escapes, are the main problems with the story.

For example, while Charlie is fleeing the terrorists, he comes across a small cave. This cave has an opening barely big enough for Charlie, and just too big for the burly terrorist guards. Charlie happens to have a keychain flashlight, and the cave eventually leads back out to the surface. Rare instances of overly convenient storytelling irritated me with their sheer unlikeliness, despite the fact that they did not occur often.

At the same time, I appreciated the changes in narration style during the escape scenes. When Charlie became terrified or exhausted, his narration changed to suit his emotion. During the cave scene, for example, I was forced to admire Klavan's representation of claustrophobic panic even as I was annoyed by the plot. This element helped redeem the occasionally lacking storyline and renewed my interest in the book.

Overall, The Last Thing I Remember presented a fast-paced, gripping story with remarkable fluidity, adeptly using flashbacks to deepen the plot and introduce background. Each chapter ended with some sort of suspense or new conflict, drawing me in to the story. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys intense, action-filled fiction. My advice: If you enjoy the first twenty pages, stop reading and find the rest of the series. Otherwise, the suspense might be hazardous to your health.

The Last Thing I Remember is the first in the four-book Homelanders series. It runs just under 350 pages, and is available on  Amazon or at local bookstores for about $10.

Recommended to: Action/Espionage fans

Twilight

View full image Twilight
By: Stephenie Meyer
Reviewed by: Darayana B., 13

Rating:   It was amazing!


This is a fascinating book full of romance. Edward and Isabella Swan are made to be with each other no matter what the world thinks.

Recommended to: All Teens

The Host

View full image The Host
By: Stephenie Meyer

Reviewed by: Darayana B., 13

Rating:   It was amazing!

Oh my god! This book was awesome. Jared is the best. I love him. This book is about aliens taking over you. It isn't like any other alien book. Stephinie creates a magical and scary world. It has a little of everything;love, war, sadness,joy.

Recommended to: Everyone

Beastly

Beastly (Kendra Chronicles #1) Beastly
By: Alex Flinn
Reviewed by: Darayana B., 13

Rating:   It was amazing!


Beastly is an amazing story. It is about a kid named Kyle who turns into a beast, due to a curse. The only thing that can break this horrible curse is if he gets kissed or has been told I love you. There is no one. Except for Lindy.This is an awesome story.

Recommended to: Everyone

Justice: what's the right thing to do?

By: Michael J. Sandel
Reviewed by:  Sihyun K; 16
Rating:  It was amazing!


A reputable professor at Harvard University, explores various themes of justice and righteousness, providing diverse perspectives on difficult philosophical matters; instead of asserting his own opinions, Dr. Sandel throws questions which lead us to derive our own conclusion. The first two chapters discuss the fundamental requirements of happiness, while describing sophisticated ideas of J. Bentham and J. Mill. For example, if people had a choice to bring happiness to a community by throwing an innocent child in the dungeon, would they willingly sacrifice a boy for a greater purpose? According to Bentham, the ultimate goal of all human beings lies on the happiness of a community, rather than that of individuals. However, two arguments featured in the book defy the utilitarianism developed by Bentham, and they place the rights of individuals before the common goals of a community. Justice also tackles racial issues in the American society by posing questions regarding racial discrimination and affirmative action; Dr. Sandel showcases multi-faceted aspects of racial conflicts between Caucasians and African Americans with various examples. Justice is best characterized as a book that converts the long-standing notion of traditional philosophy, regarded as dull and difficult, to a practical concept involving our community and daily routines. 

Recommended to: Everyone who seeks a keen philosophical analysis on modern issues of the world.


Wake

View full image

Wake 
By: Lisa McMann
Reviewed by: Vanesa B., 15

Rating:   It was amazing!

This was an amazing book. Janie has not had a good childhood with an alcholic mother and no father. Then a new neighbor moves in and becomes like her best friend. But there is something no one knows she has the ability to go into peoples dreams. No one haas ever seen her in their dreams. Until a boy mameed Cable catches her in his dream. What will he do?

Recommended to: Ages 14 and up

The Awakening

The Awakening (The New Heroes/Quantum Prophecy, #1) The Awakening
By: Michael Carroll
Reviewed by: Wesley, J.,14

Rating:   It was amazing!

"The Awakening" by Michael Carroll is the first of a really great trilogy. Through vaguely following X Men, with twists and turns at every chapter, it leaves you wanting more at the end of the book. After reading through the series 2 times, I've gotten caught into reading it a third. I highly recommend this to people of all ages.

Recommended to: All People

The Trouble with Skye

View full image The Trouble with Skye
By: Marsha Hubler
Reviewed by: Brandi S., 12

Rating:   Really liked it.


Rebellious 13-year-old Skye Nicholson has been in more foster homes than she can count. When she's saved from going to juvenile detention, she goes to live on a horse farm. At the ranch, she finds tough love and God she's never known.

Recommended to: Horse Lovers

The Waiting

View full imageThe Waiting
By: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Reviewed by: Brandi S., 12

Rating:   Really liked it.


Amish Jorie King has been waiting for Ben Zook to return home so they could get married, so when she is told that he was killed, she's heart-broken. Jorie finds comfort in Ben's brother, Caleb, and they fall in love, everything is normal again, until everything goes wrong.

Recommended to: Amish and Romance Fans

The Wild One

The Wild One
By: Terri Farley
Reviewed by: Brandi S., 12

Rating:   Really liked it.

Book 1 in the Phantom Stallion series. Samantha Forster, or Sam as she prefers to be called, has returned home from Los Angeles after being there for two years. (Her dad sent her there after a near-fatal accident; her half-wild horse, Blackie, had bucked and a hoof had struck her head. I think it was just too much for her dad since his wife's death.) When a mustang comes to Sam, one night, she wonders is it Blackie, grown up and gone wild? Or is it the legendary Phantom? Or could it be both? Includes authentic ranch life.

Recommended to: Horse Lovers

The Shunning

View full imageThe Shunning
By: Beverly Lewis
Reviewed by: Brandi S., 12

Rating:   Really liked it.


Book 1 in The Heritage of Lancaster County series, The Shunning has recently been made into a movie, but the book is much better. Katie Lapp’s world was perfect, until she found a small satin dress in the attic, and her world began to crumble.

Recommended to: Amish and Romance Fans

The Winning Summer

View full image The Winning Summer
By: Marsha Hubler
Reviewed by: Brandi S., 12

Rating:   It was alright.

Back at Keystone Stables, Skye is assigned to teach Katie Thomas, a blind girl, how to ride. Upset about her parents' upcoming divorce, Katie is bitter at God and everyone else. Skye tries to show her that, no matter what, God and her parents will always love her. Will her efforts be good enough?

Recommended to: Horse Lovers

Trouble Times Two

View full image Trouble Times Two
By: Marsha Hubler
Reviewed by: Brandi S., 12

Rating:   It was alright.

Skye and Morgan have their hands full when the Chambers take on another troubled teen; runaway Tanya Bell. Tanya is tested, however, during the birth of a foal, as she wrestles with her past, and is forced to face the person she could never run from - herself.

Recommended to: Horse Lovers

Viking Quest Series

View full image Viking Quest Series
By: Lois Walfrid Johnson
Reviewed by: Brandi S., 12

Rating:   Really liked it



Join Bree and her brother Devin as they are captured by Viking raiders, separated, and embark on journeys of their own, trust their all-powerful God to lead the way. Including Raiders from the Sea, Mystery of the Silver Coins, The Invisible Friend, Heart of Courage, and The Raider’s Promise.

Recommended to: Adventure Fans

The Search

View full image The Search
By: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Reviewed by: Brandi S., 12

Rating:   Really liked it.


When Lainey O'Toole was a child, she made a drastic desision that changed a life. Years later, secrets are revealed, and Lainey must face the consequences of her desision, and meet the one who it affected most.

Recommended to: Amish and Romance Fans

The Reckoning

View full image 
The Reckoning
By: Beverly Lewis
Reviewed by: Brandi S., 12

Rating:   Really liked it.


Katherine Mayfield’s dreams have been fulfilled, so why does she feel so empty inside? She has a mansion, a handsome suitor, servants waiting on her every second, what more could she want? Yet she can’t help but yearn for the life she once knew.

Recommended to: Amish and Romance Fans

The Postcard

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The Postcard
By: Beverly Lewis
Reviewed by: Brandi S., 12

Rating:   Really liked it.


This is a really good book. Beverly Lewis weaves a unique tale with romance, mystery and faith. Rachel Yoder dreamed of becoming a strong, sturdy woman, grounded in her faith, but things don’t always work out as we hoped. When a tragic accident shattered her life, and her dream, Rachel is a constant victim of depression. When Philip Bradley, an Englisch journalist, arrives at Rachel’s parents’ bed n’ breakfast, he discovers a postcard written in Pennsylvania Dutch. As he searches for clues, he finds himself drawn to a lovely Amish woman (Rachel).

Recommended to: Teens

The Map of Me


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The Map of Me
By: Tami Lewis Brown
Reviewed by: Brandi S., 12

Rating:   Really liked it.

When Margie Tempest’s mom leaves, Margie’s sure she knows where she went. So, dragging her annoying little sister along, Margie sets out to find her mother – and finds herself. A good story showing that at one point and time everyone has to find themselves. Fast read, but the book seems unfinished.

Recommended to: Anyone

Sunday, November 4, 2012

The Palomino

View full image 
The Palomino
By: Pamela Walls
Reviewed by: Brandi S., 12

Rating:   It was amazing!


Book 1 in the Sonrise Farm series. When Jenny Thomas finally earns her way into a Christian riding camp, Sonrise Farm, for the summer, she eagerly joins in the fun. But the summer flies by quickly, and Jenny leaves with a heavy heart. When she is asked to work there as a stable hand, she knows her prayers have been answered. At a horse auction, Jenny finds an abused horse, buys her, names her (Endless Sonrise, Sunny), and nurses her back to health, her dreams fulfilled.

Recommended to: Horse Lovers

The Long Way Home



The Long Way Home
By: Lauraine Snelling
Reviewed by: Brandi S., 12

Rating:   Really liked it.


When Jesselynn and the wagon train arrive in Oregon, and the wagon master leaves, Jesselynn wonders what her future holds, and why she's sad to see the wagon master go. As Louisa and her older brother are sneaking supplies into Richmond, they are caught and thrown into prison. While there Louisa is told that she may go free but her brother must pay the punishment of a spy - and be hanged! Can Louisa save her brother in time? The exciting and dangerous conclusion to the A Secret Refuge series.

Recommended to: Fans of Historical Fiction 

The Crossroad

View full image 
The Crossroad
By: Beverly Lewis
Reviewed by: Brandi S., 12

Rating:   Really liked it.


Even after he has solved the mystery of the postcard, Philip Bradley cannot forget the people he left behind. Spurred into action by Rachel’s helplessness, he searches for a cure concerning her blindness. Back in Lancaster, Rachel is also seeking for a cure, confident that if God wants her to see, she will. When Philip returns for the holidays, Rachel can’t help but wonder if he only pays attention to her out of pity.

Recommended to: Amish and Romance Fans

The Confession

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The Confession
By: Beverly Lewis
Reviewed by: Brandi S., 12

Rating:   Really liked it.


After her world was shattered by a mere dress, Katie (now known as Katherine) was shunned and is now in the Englisch world, staying with some Mennonite friends. As she searches for her mother, she discovers deceit in the Bennett mansion.

Recommended to: Amish and Romance Fans

The Choice

View full image 
The Choice
By: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Reviewed by: Brandi S., 12

Rating:   Really liked it.

Amish Carrie Weaver is faced with a choice. A choice that could change her life. Should she join the Amish church? Or should she run away with her beau, leaving all she's ever known behind? Beautifully written, but has a lot of deaths.

Recommended to: Amish and Romance Fans

Teamwork at Camp Tioga


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Teamwork at Camp Tioga
By: Marsha Hubler
Reviewed by: Brandi S., 12

Rating:   Really liked it.


Skye can't wait to be a teen counselor and a special needs camp, especially when she learns that cute Chad Dressler is also working there. But her excitement doesn't last long. Jonathan, a deaf boy, causes trouble at every turn. When he suddenly disappears, on horseback, it's up to Skye and Chad to find him. Seems unfinished.

Recommended to: Teens

SummerHill Secrets


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SummerHill Secrets 
By: Beverly Lewis
Reviewed by: Brandi S., 12

Rating:   Really liked it.


Join Merry Hanson, a regular 15-year-old, who lives in Pennsylvania, as she goes through true-to-life struggles, while trying to be the best she can in God's eyes. But the last book, Shadows Beyond the Gate, has disappointing ending.  

Recommended to: Anyone

Summer with Prince

Summer with Prince
By: Thea Oljelund
Reviewed by: Brandi S., 12

Rating:   It was alright.

Lisa Beauman kept quiet when her parents whisked her off to live in the country, away from her school, friends, everything she knew, to move to a place where she knows no one. Then she meets Stella. Her friendly, elderly neighbor lets her ride her horse, Prince, and when her mother protests, Lisa stands firm. With her life finally returning to normal, Lisa plans her whole summer with Prince, but when something horrible happens… A cute, sad story.

Recommended to: Horse Lovers

Stolen Gold

Stolen Gold 
Stolen Gold
By: Katy Pistole
Reviewed by: Brandi S., 12

Rating:   It was amazing!

But Jenny's paradise doesn't last long. When a rich and famous trainer, Vanessa Dubois, claims Sunny as her stolen horse Gold N' Fire, Jenny's heart-broken. Using deceit to get her on Mrs. Dubois's ranch, Jenny discovers that Sunny is being starved and mistreated, and Jenny can't do a thing about it. Jenny knows that God is the only one who can help her. Can she save her precious horse before it's too late?

Recommended to: Horse Lovers

Skye's Final Test

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Skye's Final Test
By: Marsha Hubler
Reviewed by: Brandi S., 12

Rating:   Really liked it.

Skye's patience in pushed to the limits when Joey, a very friendly and outgoing boy with Down syndrome, calls her his girlfriend in public, both embarrassing and infuriating her. Skye treats him harshly when no one's around. But when Joey's horse comes lame at a horse show, Skye must push aside her own feelings and do what Jesus would do.  Has a lot of humor.

Recommended to: Horse Lovers