Alanna: The First Adventure (book review)

Alanna: The First Adventure, by Tamora Pierce, is the first installment in the Song of the Lioness quartet. The heroine of the story, Alanna, is to be sent to a convent to study magic, while her twin brother, Thom, is to go to the palace to train as a knight. It isn't a good match; while both twins have what is known as "the Gift", Alanna is much braver and more skilled at fighting than Thom, while Thom has more of a knack for magic. So they decide to switch places. Alanna, disguised as a boy, heads to King Roald's palace to begin her training, and Thom, disguised as a girl, heads to the convent.

Once she arrives, Alanna discovers that being a knight isn't all about battles and glory. She must also learn to work hard and curb her fierce temper before it gets her into trouble. Throughout the course of her training as a page, Alanna will make more than one enemy...but she will also discover a host of unlikely allies.

This was overall a very good book, although it wasn't as good as some of the other Tamora Pierce novels I've read. It seemed as if most of the action took place at the very end. However, it was still enjoyable, and the heroine was funny and likable. But I'd recommend reading some of her other, better books first.

Vacations from Hell (book review)

Vacations from Hell is a story anthology with contributions by Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Claudia Gray, Maureen Johnson, and Sarah Mlynowski.

In the first story, "Cruisin'," Kristin finds herself on a cruise ship rumored to be plagued by a mysterious vampire. But no one will ever suspect the truth...

"I Don't Like Your Girlfriend," is the story of two enemies who are forced to bunk with each other for a week in a tiny, claustrophobic cabin. The only catch? They're both witches!

In "The Law of Suspects," sisters Marylou and Charlotte are enjoying a peaceful, if strange, vacation in the French countryside...that is, until Charlotte meets two mysterious young men and uncovers an ancient curse...

"The Mirror House," takes place in sunny Jamaica. Violet is on a vacation with her mother, stepfather, and stepbrother on an island paradise, but she's not having any fun. She's mostly bored, and concerned about her stepfather abusing her mother...that is, until she questions a servant and discovers that the beautiful woman living next door is really a witch--and she's preying on Violet's stepbrother's soul!

The final story in the book, "Nowhere is Safe," is by far the scariest of them all. It is the story of four young backpackers journeying deep into a European forest. Little do they know that one of them will soon become the subject of an unpleasant prophecy, and that they will soon participate in a gruesome ritual and witness an uprising of the dead to get revenge for their unfair murder.


Overall, this anthology was very good. There was a nice mix of funny and scary stories in it. However, the last one was kind of disturbing, but still very good writing. I would definitely recommend these stories to fans of horror!

This book is for the RIP IV Challenge.

My Sister the Vampire: Switched

My Sister the Vampire: Switched, by Sienna Mercer, is the story of two sisters, Ivy and Olivia. Adopted by different parents when they were babies, they have never known each other...until Olivia moves to Franklin Grove and starts eighth grade at the same school as Ivy. Soon, they meet and discover that not only are they sisters, but they're twins--identical twins!

Ivy and Olivia are brimming with plans to switch places and try out life in one another's shoes. But Ivy has a secret--she's a vampire, and she's not the only one in Franklin Grove. Will she tell Olivia, or will her sister find out the hard way?

This was, overall, a good book. It was nice to read if you want something quick, light, and funny. However, sometimes it seems as if the author came up with a quick explanation for some parts of the book to keep the plot from becoming more complicated. But that was my only problem with it, and I'd definitely recommend it to fans of vampire books.

This book was for the RIP IV Challenge.

Another RIP Challenge

Hi everyone! I'm signing up for another challenge, the RIP Challenge IV hosted by Carl. I'm joining at the four-book-level. Here are a few possibilities from my list:

Vacations from Hell by Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Claudia Gray, Maureen Johnson, and Sara Mlynowski

The Book of Dead Days by Marcus Sedgwick

Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer

Sweep: Book of Shadows by Cate Tiernan

Strange Tales of the Civil War by Michael Sanders

Blue is for Nightmares by Laurie Faria Stolarz

The Good Ghouls' Guide to Getting Even by Julie Kenner

Mystery Stories for Girls by various authors

Poison Ink by Christopher Golden

Glass Houses by Rachel Caine

Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Marked by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Dracula by Bram Stoker

And that's just a few...thanks for hosting this great challenge again, Carl!

Ophelia Speaks (book review)

Ophelia Speaks, by Sara Shandler, is actually a collection of essays, poems, stories, and diary entries about various topics affecting teenage girls today. The entries come from girls ages 12-18 all across the U.S. Their cultural backgrounds, religions, and ideals are varied. The topics range from friendship to faith, academics to anorexia. At the beginning of each topic the author gives a short introduction about her views and experiences with the subject.

I thought all the topics were interesting, and that many different views were represented in this book. Usually there were about three contributions per topic, sometimes less and sometimes more. At times I wished the author had put more of the letters she'd recieved in the book, but I know she couldn't put all of them in; then it would be enormous!

Dramacon Volume 1 (book review)

Dramacon Volume 1, by Svetlana Chmakova, is the story of Christie, who writes a manga along with her artist boyfriend, Derek. Along with a pair of very strange roomies, the two travel to a manga convention to promote their manga. At first, Christie is excited, until Derek starts acting like she's not even there. When she suddenly falls for a cosplayer she barely knows, things get a lot more confusing. Will Christie be able to reconcile her emotions before the end of the con?

This was a great book. It was one of the best mangas I've ever read, and now I wish I'd bought the second and third books as well! Christie was a fun, exciting heroine and I never wanted to put the book down!

This book was my final book for the Random Reading Challenge!!!

Firegirl (book review)

Firegirl, by Tony Abbott, is a heartwarming story that takes place in a small Catholic school. The protagonist is Tom Bender, a chubby boy with only one close friend. Tom spends his days reading comic books and daydreaming about his crush, Courtney. That is, until Jessica arrives. Jessica is a new girl at their school, and she's a little different from the other kids in the class. She was badly burned in a fire, and she is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital nearby. Other kids are quick to make up cruel rumors about Jessica, but Tom is reluctant. In fact, he seems to even be growing closer to her. Their friendship will change his life forever.

This was an amazing book. It was incredibly moving. Sad, yet hopeful at the same time. Again, it was a wonderful book. I'd recommend it to almost anybody who's interested.

This book was for the Random Reading Challenge.

Pita-Ten Volume 1 (book review)

Pita-Ten Volume 1, by Koge-Donbo, is the story of a schoolboy named Kotarou. Kotarou's mother is dead, and his father is always on business trips, so Kotarou spends most of his time alone...until a strange girl named Misha moves in next door. She follows him around, always popping up at inopportune moments, such as in the middle of class. She also claims to be an angel whose mission is to make people on Earth, particularly Kotarou, safe and happy. But what will she do when Kotarou finds her antics more annoying than amusing?

This book was okay. It wasn't the best manga I've ever read, and it was kind of annoying sometimes. I don't think I will be getting the next ones, except maybe from the library. I'd only pick it up if you have nothing else to read.

This book was for the Random Reading Challenge.

The Battle of the Labyrinth (book review)

The Battle of the Labyrinth, by Rick Roirdan, is the fourth book in the Percy Jackson series. In this book, a battle with the titan lord Kronos is imminent. Percy Jackson (who is the son of Poseidon) and his friends Annabeth, a fellow demigod; Grover, a satyr; and Tyson, a cyclops; must journey deep into the impenetrable maze known as the Labyrinth. What they find there will be like nothing they have faced before, but with the help of a few very unexpected allies, perhaps they will make it through and find what they are looking for.

I think this was by far the best book yet in the series, although they were all good. It was action-packed, thrilling, and fast-paced, just like the others. I would recommend this series to any fans of Greek mythology or any fantasy for that matter.

This book was for the Random Reading Challenge.

Spooky New York (book review)

Spooky New York, retold by S.E. Schlosser, is a book of supernatural folktales and legends from New York. Part of the book is filled with ghost stories, and part of it is filled with stories about various other spooky beings, including, among others, giants, werewolves, and gnomes. The settings are extremely varied, from Niagara Falls to Ellis Island. One even took place somewhere I've been before, Durand-Eastman Park, which is supposedly haunted by the ghost of the White Lady.

I would recommend this book to fans of ghost stories and folktales. There was a wide variety of stories in this book; some were scary and some were funny, a nice balance between the two. I've heard that the author has written books on other states as well. I will have to check them out sometime!

This book was for the Random Reading Challenge.

Fruits Basket Volume 3 (book review)

Fruits Basket Volume 3, by Natsuki Takaya, is the next episode in the story of Tohru Honda, an orphan who is living with the enigmatic Sohma family. Tohru is the only outsider who knows the Sohmas' secret: certain members are possessed by the spirits of the Chinese Zodiac, and transform into their animals whenever they are weak or are hugged by a member of the opposite sex. In this volume, Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and kind-hearted Tohru makes sure there are plenty of chocolates for everyone. But soon another member of the Zodiac shows up, and tensions are running high. Can Tohru calm everyone down before somebody gets hurt?

The books in this series just keep getting better and better! I think this was the best one yet. I'd recommend these books to any fans of manga. They're really great. I'm looking forward to the next book!

This book was for the Random Reading Challenge.

Faeries' Landing Volume 1 (book review)

Faerie's Landing Volume 1, by You Hyun, is the story of 16-year-old Ryang Jegal. Little does he know that faeries and other mystical beings descend into his town at night, until he ends up helping a shapeshifting deer-boy named Goodfellow escape from the police. After this, the two stumble upon a faerie bath, and Ryang ends up the guardian of a grounded faerie named Fanta. Fanta is friendly, perky, and pretty, and Ryang is starting to enjoy having her around...until she tells him that he is doomed to 108 failed relationships. But with a little bit of faerie magic, perhaps girl-shy Ryang can pull through.

I really enjoyed this manga. The characters were funny, and the plot was action-packed yet easy to follow. The pictures were clear and didn't run into each other like in some other mangas I've read. I can't wait to read the next volume.

This book is for the Random Reading Challenge.

Freaky Green Eyes (book review)

Freaky Green Eyes, by Joyce Carol Oates, is the haunting story of Franky Pierson. Her father is a famous sportscaster and former athlete, and her mother is an artist. Franky, who lives in an enormous modern mansion, thinks her life is great. That is, until her parents separate. Tension builds between her mother and father, but this is nothing new to Franky and her siblings. They've always been fighting. But then, her mother disappears. Franky hopes that her mother is simply pulling a vanishing act, and will show up again in a week or two. But deep in her heart, a part of her that she calls Freaky Green Eyes knows that it's much more complicated. And only Freaky can lead Franky to discover the horrible truth.

I loved this book. It was fast-paced, compelling, and nearly impossible to put down. It kept me guessing until the very end. It was humorous, frightening, heartwarming, and sad at the same time. I would recommend this book to fans of psychological thrillers, or just plain old realistic fiction. Again, this was a truly wonderful book!

This book was for the Random Reading Challenge.

Little (Grrl) Lost (book review)

Little (Grrl) Lost, by Charles De Lint, is the story of two very different girls, TJ and Elizabeth. TJ has just moved from her farm to the Newford suburbs, and she misses her old friends, school, and most of all her beloved horse Red. Elizabeth is a punked-out runaway Little, a six-inch-tall girl trying to find her place in the world. They soon forge a strong friendship, but when some bullies unknowingly kidnap Elizabeth after stealing TJ's backpack, the two find themselves separated. They will have to figure out how to make it on their own in two different worlds.

This was a very good book. It dragged in a few places, but for the most part I couldn't put it down. There were a ton of cliffhangers and I always wanted to know what happened next. The main characters were very different from one another, and I enjoyed hearing the story from both points of view. I am definitely interested in checking out more of De Lint's books.

This book was for the Random Reading Challenge.

Ten Things I Hate About Me (book review)

Ten Things I Hate About Me, by Randa Abdel-Fattah, is the story of a girl desperately trying to fit in at school and struggling to come to terms with her cultural heritage. At school, she's Jamie, the cool girl who flirts with the most popular boy in her grade. At home, she's Jamilah, the Muslim girl who speaks Arabic and plays the darabuka drums. No one at school knows about her Lebanese-Muslim heritage. But she feels like she can't keep it up much longer. How can she become both Jamie and Jamilah? In the end, she decides to just be herself...and makes some true friends along the way.

I really enjoyed this book. Jamie/Jamilah was a funny, spunky heroine, and I enjoyed reading about her life at school and at home. I also thought it was interesting to learn about her culture and traditions. It was a great novel that went very quickly, and I would prepare to read it in one sitting if I were you.

This book is for the Random Reading Challenge.

Warriors: Code of the Clans (book review)

Warriors: Code of the Clans, by Erin Hunter, is the story of the warrior code, the law that is obeyed by each and every warrior cat. Each chapter is about one part of the code. Besides a brief explanation of each segment, there are also one or two short stories in every chapter about the code's origins and about cats who decreed the laws and what happened to them. I enjoyed this book a lot, and I liked how the stories were about different clans, not just Thunderclan, which is the main clan in the novels. Although some parts dragged a little, overall it was an excellent book, perfect for fans of the series. However, I would not read this book unless you've read the original novels.

This book was for the Random Reading Challenge.

The Poison Apples (book review)

The Poison Apples, by Lily Archer, is the story of three fifteen-year-old girls: Alice Bingley-Beckerman, Molly Miller, and Reena Paruchuri. They are all students at posh Putnam Mount McKinsey boarding school, and at first glance they have nothing in common. Alice is the shy, quiet one who gets along with everyone. Molly is the dorky one, who would rather sit and read the Oxford English Dictionary than go to a school dance. And Reena is the gorgous, rich one who lives in a mansion in Beverly Hills. However, they do have one thing in common: they are all the stepdaughters of very wicked stepmothers. But it is only once they all meet that they will be able to plot their revenge...

This was a very humorous read. It would be perfect if you wanted something light, funny, and quick. I often had a hard time putting this one down. I found it especially interesting how all the characters and their backgrounds were so different. This is a great book for fans of realistic fiction and modern fairy tale retellings.

This book was for the Random Reading Challenge.

Even Angels Fall (book review)

Even Angels Fall, by Sherry Mauro, is the thrilling story of sixteen-year-old Sabrina Devour. Sabrina is no normal teenage girl; she has the ability to see the dead and help them cross over. Upon returning to claim his family's estate after many years away, handsome Hunter Ravenwood begins to show interest in Sabrina. Sabrina is happy as their relationship blossoms, but she becomes unnerved by Hunter's enormous mansion, Rambling Rose. She feels as if something is in there, watching her. It's almost like the house is alive. Rumors claim that Rambling Rose sits on a Sheol, a gateway to Hell, and Sabrina can't help but believe it. She soon realizes that, like many families, the Ravenwoods have their own dark secrets. And as she tries to help the ghost of a mysterious woman whose past is tied in with that of Sabrina's own family, she discovers just how dangerous those secrets may be.

Even Angels Fall was exciting, engaging, and all-around fun to read. I found it nearly impossible to put down. Sabrina was witty and likable, if a bit dreamy, and the book had all the hooks of a good Gothic romance. I would certainly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the genre.

*NOTE: As of 11/01/2009 the author offers a FREE PDF version to anyone who is interested in reading this book or others in the series. Just contact her with your email addy at her blog: http://sherryhallmauro.blogspot.com/

Wolf Tower (book review)

Warning: This review may contain spoilers.

Wolf Tower, by Tanith Lee, is the story of sixteen-year-old Claidi, who, all her life, has served the spoiled royalty of the House, a sparkling oasis in the midst of the barren Waste (or so she has been taught). She never expects that her life could change until a handsome stranger, Nemian, arrives from the Waste. Claidi risks everything to rescue him, leaveing behind the only life she has known and accompanying him to his city ruled over by the mysterious Wolf Tower. Together they journey across barren deserts, through toxic jungles, across vast rivers, and all the while Claidi begins to think she could come to love Nemian..until they reach the Wolf Tower, and an unexpected betrayal leaves her trapped and confused. Will her real Prince Charming come and rescue her? Or will she be stuck here forever?

This was a great book. Claidi was a likeable heroine, and I enjoyed reading about her journeys across the "Waste". The plot had a twist at the end that I would never have suspected!

This book is for the What's in a Name Challenge 2.

Random Reading Challenge

I am joining the Random Reading Challenge, hosted by Caribou's Mom. I'm joining at Level Three, which means I have to read twelve books. It runs from August 1st, 2009 to July 31, 2010. This is a great one for me because I always have trouble picking what books to read!

A Mango-Shaped Space (book review)

A Mango-Shaped Space, by Wendy Mass, is the story of a girl with a rare condition struggling to fit in. Thirteen-year-old Mia appears to be the most normal child in her family--after all, her brother keeps a chart of all the hamburgers he's ever eaten, and her sister dies her hair as often as she changes clothes. But Mia knows that she is anything but normal. Letters, numbers and sounds have colors for her. D is a pinkish purple, for example, and slamming the door causes her to see brown rings floating in the air. Difficulty at school forces her to reveal her secret, and now she feels like a freak. It will only be when Mia loses something incredibly special that she realizes just how much her colors mean to her.

This was an incredibly moving book. It was sad, humorous, and heartwarming all at different times. It was a great book for people of all ages. The heroine is someone whom people can relate to as she struggles with school problems, crushes, and the loss of a loved one.

Warriors (book review)

Warning: This review may contain spoilers.

This is a book review of the first mini-series in the Warriors saga by Erin Hunter. The series starts when the main character, then a house cat named Rusty, journeys into the forest behind his house for the first time. There he meets a forest cat named Graypaw, who tells him about life in ThunderClan, a group of feral cats living in the woods. Soon Rusty is faced with the biggest decision of his life...should he join ThunderClan and leave behind his soft life or stay with his "Twolegs" (the cats' word for humans)? When he decides to head into the forest, his life is changed forever. But clan life is not easy. There are three other clans in the forest--WindClan, ShadowClan, and RiverClan, and they often fight one another. Now known as Firepaw, he must handle his new duties as a warrior apprentice, a mysterious prophecy from StarClan (the "heaven" of the cat world, where good warriors go after their death), and the gnawing suspicion that ThunderClan is housing a murderous traitor...

In the next book, Bluestar, ThunderClan's leader, sends Fireheart and Graystripe (now full warriors with their own warrior names) well beyond the boundaries of the forest to retrieve WindClan, who has been driven out by ShadowClan's murderous leader, Brokenstar. The journey will be long and hard, and it will test the skills of both cats to the end. Fireheart must also deal with the evidence that one of the most trusted cats in ThunderClan is a traitor, and the fact that Graystripe is having an illegal romance with a she-cat from RiverClan, a romance which puts both cats in incredible danger.

In the third book, Fireheart decides he must uncover the truth. Is ThunderClan deputy Tigerclaw a murderer or not? While digging for clues, he discovers another fact, something quite unexpected...many years ago, two ThunderClan kits vanished without a trace. But two cats in RiverClan also have ThunderClan blood. Could these be the two missing kits? And if so, who is their mother?

By the time that the next book starts, murderous Tigerclaw has been exiled from ThunderClan...but Fireheart can't shake the feeling that he's lurking in the forest somewhere, waiting to strike. Meanwhile, Bluestar has not dealt well with Tigerclaw's treachery. She has become a shell of her former self, and Fireheart, now the new deputy, feels as if he is the one running the clan. And as ThunderClan struggles to deal with the aftermath of a raging forest fire that took three cats' lives, Fireheart begins to wonder if he can really handle the pressure of his new job.

The fifth is the most chilling book yet. Cinderpelt, ThunderClan's medicine cat, tells Fireheart of a warning she was given by StarClan of a dangerous new enemy, and a dream in which she heard the words, "Pack, pack," and "kill, kill". A mysterious force is sweeping through the forest, leaving death and destruction in its wake. Fireheart is not sure what it is, but he has a feeling that Tigerstar, now leader of ShadowClan, has something to do with it. But what can he do about it when ThunderClan's leader has begun to lose her mind and has decided to wage war on StarClan itself?

In the final book of the mini-series, Fireheart, or Firestar now, has become leader of ThunderClan after Bluestar gave her life to save the Clan from the mysterious threat lurking in the last book. But Fireheart must deal with an even bigger problem as Tigerstar brings another threat into the forest, and every cat must prepare themselves for the final battle, where the clans will fight side by side, heroes will be made, and one brave cat's destiny will be fulfilled.


These were some truly excellent books. I would recommend them to fans of animal fantasy or cat books. Although they are violent, they are recommended for 8-12 year olds, and are quite appropriate for children. Erin Hunter brought the cats to life and personified them in a unique way. It is sometimes easy to forget that they are cats at all!

Wildwood Dancing (book review)

Wildwood Dancing, by Juliet Marillier, is a fantasy story based on the fairy tale of the twelve dancing princesses. The story is told from the point of view of one of five sisters. Her name is Jenica, or Jena for short. A little, enchanted frog named Gogu, who can speak to Jena, is her constant companion. They live in a castle called Piscul Dracului, deep in the Transylvanian forests, and each Full Moon the five sisters open an enchanted portal and are whisked away to the Other Kingdom, an enchanted world filled with faeries, elves, and other fantasy creatures. However, Jena's world is quickly turned upside down as her father is sent away to a warmer climate to improve his ill-health, and their tyrannical cousin Cezar takes his place as head of the household. To make things worse, Night People, aka vampires, have arrived in the Other Kingdom, and Jena's older sister Tatiana has fallen in love with one of them. But is the mysterious, mournful Sorrow really a vampire? Or is he, as Tatiana claims, one of their slaves? Jena is deeply afraid for her sister. But as it becomes more and more clear that Tatiana may be willing to give up her humanity to live with Sorrow forever, and that despotic Cezar will never give up his grip on Pascul Dracului, and on the five sisters, Jena begins to realize that she must make a choice--or risk giving up everything that is dear to her.

This book was wonderful! I absolutely loved it! It combined true love, enchantment, fantastical journeys, wicked villains, and the strong bonds of sisterhood into a perfect plot. This book was nearly impossible to put down. An amazing read!

Ghostly Encounters (book review)

Ghostly Encounters, by Frances Kermeen, is a book about the haunted inns and hotels of America. Starting with what has been called the most haunted house in America, the Myrtles Plantation, the author brings us on a journey across the U.S., from California to Maine. Read about ghostly bears, stallions, and cats. Encounter evil dolls, floating candles, and lovers reunited after death. These stories are fascinating and will keep you up all night! There was a nice range of stories in this book. Some were scary, some were bittersweet, and some were funny. At the end of each story, Ms. Kermeen also provides detailed information about the hotel, including contact info, dining info, and the best rooms to check into if you want to have a ghostly encounter.

Saving Zoe (book review)

Saving Zoe, by Alyson Noel, is a moving story of sisterhood, secrets, and coming of age. Fifteen-year-old Echo is still struggling with the brutal murder of her older sister, Zoe. She misses her dearly, but also feels that she will never live up to her memory. Then, Zoe's former boyfriend Marc gives Echo Zoe's diary. At first she doesn't want it, convinced that she knows her sister like no one else does. But when her own life starts to take some unexpected turns, Echo begins reading. In the pages of her sister's diary, Echo finds a Zoe that nobody knew, not even her parents. But she also learns that one of her friends is in trouble from one of the same people who hurt Zoe. Can Echo save her friend, herself...and her sister?

I really enjoyed this book! It was reminiscent of Thirteen Reasons Why, and I would recommend it to fans of that novel. The plot moved so fast and the book was hard to put down. It kept me up way into the night. However, I should probably say here that this book is NOT for younger readers.

May Bird: Warrior Princess (book review)

May Bird: Warrior Princess, by Jodi Lynn Anderson, is the final installment in the May Bird trilogy. It has been three years since ten-year-old May Bird wandered into the land of the dead, a magical place called the Ever After. It was claimed that May and her cat, Somber Kitty, were the only ones who could save the Ever After from certain doom. But, when May found a chance to escape the Ever After and return home, she took it, leaving her friends behind. Now, at thirteen, May is ready to return to the afterlife. But she gets her wish in a most unexpected way...she dies. And the Ever After now is not what it once was. It has been turned into a vast wasteland ruled by the evil spirit Bo Cleevil. Can May find her friends and finally become the warrior princess she was always destined to be?

I think this was probably the best of all three books in the series, even though they were all great. The characters were interesting and dynamic, and the book was just the right mix of fantasy, horror, and humor.

Coraline Graphic Novel (book review)

Coraline, by Neil Gaiman and P. Craig Russell, is the graphic adaption of Gaiman's bestselling children's novel. It is based on the book, not the movie. In the story, Coraline is exploring her flat one day when she discovers a door that leads her on a journey to a magical world quite like her own, but better. Except for the fact that there is an other mother and an other father there, with buttons instead of eyes, and they want to sew buttons into her eyes and make her stay with them forever. Coraline will have to use everything she's got if she wants to outwit them and return to her own world.


I really enjoyed this book. The pictures were beautiful, and they really added new life to the story. However, I would recommend reading the original novel before reading this book.

This book was for the Once Upon A Time Challenge III.

The Other Side of the Island (book review)

The Other Side of the Island, by Allegra Goodman, is a haunting vision of the future. Global warming has resulted in an enormous flood, and the only places left are small, isolated islands called Colonies. A mysterious figure named Earth Mother and her Corporation control all of these colonies. Everyone obeys the laws of Earth Mother, and no one questions the life that has been set up for them. But Honor knows her parents are different. They own books, they don't worship Earth Mother, and they stay out past curfew. Honor doesn't know what happens to those who don't obey Earth Mother, but she's sure its not good. And one day, when she returns home and her parents are gone, she must take care of herself and her brother Quintillian all alone. She knows she can't do this for long--she's got to find out the secret of Earth Mother--and get her parents back.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a frightening vision of what life might be like years from now. I always wanted to read more; it was so interesting. Honor was a well-rounded, dynamic heroine whom I felt I could relate to.

The Secret Life of Bees (book review)

The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd, is a heartwarming story about the importance of family. Set in South Carolina in 1964, the story revolves around 14-year-old heroine Lily's search for a mother. After a tragic accident killed her real mom when she was four, Lily has been taken care of by her cruel and unloving father, T. Ray, and his fiery-hearted black servant, Rosaleen. When Rosaleen insults three of their small town's biggest racists and lands herself in jail, Lily decides to set them both free. After she breaks Rosaleen out of jail, they run away to Tiburon, S.C., a town that holds the secret of Lily's mother. They are taken in by three black beekeeping sisters, and as Lily is introduced to their strange world of honey and bees, she realizes that she has discovered a family in a place that she would never have dreamed.

I really loved this book! It was funny at times and sad at others, but the whole book was incredibly interesting. I never wanted to put it down. I would recommend this book to anyone, really. It was written in beautiful prose that would grab anybody, even a reluctant reader.

Julie's Wolf Pack (book review)

I know I haven't written a book review for the last few books I've read, so I decided to write one for this book. It is the sequel to the bestselling book Julie of the Wolves. In the story, we follow a wolf pack in the Alaskan tundra through their daily life. The leader of the pack, Kapu, keeps the pack together, despite frequent challenges from an annoying wanna-be, Raw Bones. They face hardships and celebrate the birth of new pups. Although they lose many pups to the tundra, some grow and survive to become future hunters. The first big change comes when a newcomer, Ice Blink, joins the pack. Although none of the wolves know it, Ice Blink harbors the rabies virus. After her pack was destroyed by an epidemic, she moved on. Luckily, the virus is contained and none of the wolves (except for Ice Blink) die. But when Kapu suddenly disappears near the end of the book, his daughter Sweet Fur Amy must take the stage. Can she handle being the new alpha? And will Kapu return?

This was a great book for any wolf lover to read. It was written in beautiful but easy to read prose, and I thought it was interesting to look into the life of a wolf pack.

Lord of the Flies (book review)

Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, is the story of a group of schoolboys who are the only survivors of a plane crash. Stranded on a remote island, they decide that they must build a large fire so that they can be rescued. By day they frolic on golden beaches and swim in sparkling waters. But at night they dream of a hideous beast roaming the island. Soon, their fear brings out the worst in them and they begin to act like savage animals. More than one boy will be killed before they are rescued...

Okay, I apologize. I know this is really oversimplified, but I just didn't want to give anything away.

I really enjoyed this book. It was definitely creepy and not for the fainthearted, but it always had plenty of action and was never boring. I'd recommend it to almost anybody, but especially fans of the Island and Flight 29 Down series, because this book is reminiscent of those, but a bit more brutal.

Jane Eyre (book review)

Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte, is a classic story of love and sacrifice. Jane, the main character, narrates the story. It begins when she is ten years old, living at her cruel Aunt Reed's house. Being an orphan, Jane has nowhere else to go. Two of her cousins, Eliza and Georgiana, treat her coldly, and their brother, John, is an outright bully. Jane suffers along until her aunt decides to send her to Lowood Institute, a school for orphaned children. She makes various friends and spends a total of eight years at the school--six as a student and two as a teacher. But finally Jane realizes she is not content and posts an ad in the paper looking for a job. She finds one as a governess for a little French girl at stately Thornfield Hall. However, something mysterious is going on there...could it be haunted by a ghost or something even more gruesome? The secret is finally revealed when Jane is about to be married to the master of Thornfield Hall, Mr. Rochester, and it prevents the two from getting married. Brokenhearted and wanting to avoid temptation, Jane sets off on her own, wandering for several days until she comes to a house inhabited by the Rivers family. The head of the house, St. John Rivers, offers Jane a position as schoolmistress for some poor village girls. She accepts the job, but soon after she starts she finds that she has been left with a huge inheritance by her uncle. Splitting it with the Rivers, she moves in with them again. However, something deep within her finally calls her back to Thornfield, and, telling her newfound family she is going on a short trip, she heads back, only to find that it has burned down at that Mr. Rochester, blind and crippled from the fire, has moved somewhere else. She tracks him down and finds that he still loves her like she loves him, and, freed from the obstacle that stopped them before, they marry.


I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was going to be kind of dry and hard to read, but that wasn't the case at all. I don't think there was a single boring part of this book, but the least interesting part was Jane's time at Lowood. I guess I think that because not much happened there, at least not compared to other parts of the book. The characters were dynamic and complex, and I felt like they were real people who could step off the page if they wanted to. I think fans of classics would really love this book, but even if you're not really into classics, I still think you might want to give it a try.

Thank You, Carl!

For my birthday this year, Carl sent me some wonderful gifts: a book called Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan, a beautiful blank book from Paperblanks with a copy of one of my poems in the front, and two beautiful postcards by Anne-Julie Aubry (one of my favorite artists!). Wasn't that really nice of him?!! I've started writing in the journal, but I haven't read the book yet. It sounds very good, though, and I can't wait to get to it! Thank you so much, Carl!!! I will be sending you a Thank-you card soon!

All Shook Up (book review)

All Shook Up, by Glenn Altschuler, is a nonfiction book chronicling the story of rock n roll through the lives of famous rock n rollers, critics of the music, and teenage fans. It discusses rock n roll's connections with race, sexuality, and the generation gap. This book gives an in-depth look at the people who were responsible for the rise of rock n roll, which was anything but an ordinary style of music at the time.

If you want an in-depth but easy-to-read approach to rock n roll, this is the book for you! I never tired of the topics that the author brought up, and I learned a lot about the conflicts facing America during the time of big rock n roll stars such as Elvis Presley. This was truly a fascinating book!

Warriors: Sunrise (book review)

Warriors: Sunrise, by Erin Hunter, is the final installment in Warriors: Power of Three. In this book, the three young warrior cats Hollyleaf, Jayfeather, and Lionblaze will discover a shocking secret that they were never meant to know. Their very existence goes against every rule of the warrior code, and eventually the secret about their true identity will have to come out. But when it does, another cat's life will be lost and the clans will be thrown into chaos.

Meanwhile, Lionblaze and Hollyleaf must embark on a dangerous journey to find the strange loner Sol. Can he offer them advice in this time of darkness? But Sol has wicked plans in his mind, and he is willing to manipulate Thunderclan in order to carry them out.


I really enjoyed this book! I thought it was the best in the series, and it definitely had a shocking ending that I never would have expected. All fans of the Warriors series should read this book!

I am using this book for the Once Upon A Time Challenge III.

Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague (book review)

Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague, the third installment in the renowned Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull, is a fantasy story filled with danger, excitement, and adventure. Fablehaven is one of five magical preserves, the last places on Earth where magical creatures can gather in safety. Fourteen-year-old Kendra and twelve-year-old Seth are staying with their grandparents, the caretakers, for the summer. For a while it seems that all is well, until Seth discovers a magical plague that turns good creatures into creatures of darkness. The plague is spreading faster than anyone can imagine, and it is doubtful that the plague can be stopped. Will Fablehaven have to be abandoned for good?

Meanwhile, Kendra and her friends are journeying deep into the heart of another magical preserve located in Arizona in order to recover a mystical artifact. It is a dangerous place, filled with dragons, zombies, and ancient Native American spirits, and not everyone will make it out alive...


I loved this book! I thought it was by far the best in the series. They just keep getting better! There was a wide and varied cast of characters and the plot was full of twists and turns. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone out there looking for a unique twist on fantasy.

I am using this book for the Once Upon A Time Challenge III.

3 New Book Reviews

#1: The Ruby Key, by Holly Lisle, is the story of young villagers Genna and Dan, who must bargain with the frightening lord of the nightlings (like fairies) in order to save their people from the corrupt village chieftain. Soon, Genna and Dan find themselves, along with a nightling slave and a talking cat, on a dangerous quest to find the long-lost nightling prince and overthrow both the village leader and the nightling lord.

I loved this book! It was a totally unique new take on fantasy, and I never got tired of reading it. The characters were complex and interesting, and the societies of the villagers and the nightlings were fascinating. I'd recommend this to any fantasy fan!

This book was for the Once Upon A Time Challenge.

#2: Skim, by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki, is the story of a sixteen-year-old girl who is forced to deal with complicated and confusing issues like suicide and depression, as well as friendship problems and betrayal. It was very interesting to watch Skim's life evolve throughout the course of the book, and I never wanted to put it down! I'd recommend this to any graphic novel fan!

#3: Rainy, by Sis Deans, is about a ten-year-old girl learning to live with ADHD. Rainy is sad when her parents send her to summer camp. She won't see her parents, her sister, or her beloved dog Max for a whole month! But soon she makes friends who will tolerate her extreme energy, and decides that maybe camp is not so bad. But when tragedy strikes her family and Rainy can no longer control the thoughts bouncing around in her head, she undertakes a dangerous journey, one that may change her life forever.

I loved this book. It was engaging, interesting, and very emotional. It was funny at times and sad at others. I enjoyed it to the very end.

Read-a-thon post 10

Pages read: 49

Total pages read: 716

Time: 40 min.

Currently Reading: Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague by Brandon Mull

Books Finished: The Ruby Key, Skim, Rainy

Read-a-thon Post 9

Pages read: 103

Total pages read: 667

Time: 1 hr. 20 min.

Currently reading: Rainy

Books Finished: The Ruby Key, Skim

Read-a-thon Post 8

Pages read: 142

Total pages read: 564

Time: 50 min.

Currently Reading: Rainy by Sis Deans

Books Finished: The Ruby Key, Skim

Read-a-thon post 7

Pages read: 159

Total pages read: 422

Time: 2 hours

Currently Reading: Skim by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki

Books Finished: The Ruby Key

Read-a-thon post 6

Pages read: 38

Total Pages Read: 263

Time: 1 hr. 30 min.

Currently Reading: The Ruby Key

Books Finished: none

Read-a-thon post 5

Pages read: 30

Total pages read: 225

Time: 1 hr. 5 min.

Currently reading: The Ruby Key

Books finished: none

Read-a-thon post 4

Pages read: 60

Total pages read: 197

Time: 1 hr. 30 min.

Currently Reading: The Ruby Key

Books Finished: none

Read-a-thon post 3

pages read: 42

total pages read: 137

time: 1 hr. 30 min.

now reading: The Ruby Key

books finished: none

Read-a-thon post 2

pages read: 33

total pages read: 95

now reading: The Ruby Key by Holly Lisle

time: 1 hr. 40 min.

books finished: none :)

Read-a-thon post 1

Pages read: 62

Total pages read: 62

Time: 110 min.

Currently reading: The Ruby Key by Holly Lisle

Books finished: None

I started by reading Marked, but I didn't really enjoy it so I switched to this book!

Wrap-up to Read-a-thon list

Hi everybody! I'm now going to announce my final read-a-thon list. The numbers in bold will be the ones that you've chosen.

1. Wolf-Speaker by Tamora Pierce.

2. Wolf Trails by Nik Sawe.

3. The Captain's Dog: My Journey with the Lewis and Clark Tribe by Roland Smith.

4. Monkey Town: The Summer of the Scopes Trial by Ronald Kidd.

5. Faeries' Landing Volume 1 by You Hyun

6. Freaky Green Eyes by Joyce Carol Oates.

7. Zodiac P.I. Volume 2 by Natsumi Ando

8. The Mystery of the Biltmore House by Carole Marsh

9. Sea Princess Azuri Volume 1 by Erica Reiss

10. The Ruby Key by Holly Lisle

11. Moonlight by Rachel Hawthorne

12. Marked by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

13. Tokyo Mew Mew A La Mode Volume 1 by Mia Ikumi

14. The Pack by Tom Pow

15. Rainy by Sis Deans

16. The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen

17. Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague by Brandon Mull

18. Pendragon: The Quillan Games by D.J. MacHale

19. The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

20. Little (Grrl) Lost by Charles De Lint

Read-a-thon list

Hi everyone! As you probably know, it's only a week until the next read-a-thon. I'm going to do what I did last year to help me weed the list down. I'll post the first sentence from each book (and if it's a graphic novel, the first sentence on the back cover), and you choose the ones that you think sound most interesting. Even if you know what book the sentence comes from, judge only from the sentence!!! Ready?

1. The wolves of the Long Lake Pack, gorged on a careless mountain sheep, slept as they digested their meal.

2. The sunlight, for a brief moment, seemed to flare upon the meadow, casting an orange glow about the pale brown grasses.

3. John Colter gallops into camp, jumps off his horse, and shouts, "Seaman? Good Lord! Is that really you? We thought you were dead!"

4. In my house the early bird didn't get the worm.

5. Welcome to Faeries' Landing, a place where the real world and the Faerie realm collide.

6. Later, I would think of it as crossing over.

7. What's your sign?

8. Stacy Brown dealt the cards into the sloppy stacks in the back seat of the red station wagon.

9. Azuri is the mermaid princess and the only royal heir of the Orcans, a race of whale-mer-people that lives in a magical environment deep within the ocean.

10. The sun slid down towards the tops of the trees.

11. Moonlight washed over us, washed over Lucas and me.

12. Just when I thought my day couldn't get any worse I saw the dead guy standing next to my locker.

13. The cats are back, and a new Mew is about to emerge!

14. The engine screamed as the driver, both hands round the gear stick, forced the transport truck up into third.

15. The main building at Camp Megunticook was called Penobscot Lodge.

16. "I'm tired of remembering," Hannah said to her mother as she climbed into the car.

17. On a muggy August day, Seth hurried along a faint path, eyes scanning the lush foliage to his left.

18. I like to play games.

19. There was once a kindly old wizard who used his magic generously and wisely for the benefit of his neighbors.

20. SCRITCH, SCRITCH, SCRITCH.

That's all! Have fun choosing!

Zodiac P.I. Book #1 (book review)

Zodiac P.I. Book #1, by Natsumi Ando, is the story of thirteen-year-old Lili Hoshizawa, who's not just any other girl. She's a talented astrologer who uses her knowledge of the stars to solve crimes as the mysterious Spica P.I. When a fellow classmate is murdered, Lili suspects one of her own teachers is the culprit. Can she solve this challenging case or will she become the next victim? Then, Lili must go undercover as a piano student in order to investigate a haunted music school.

This was a great book! It was quick and engaging, and I never wanted to put it down! Lili was a complex and interesting character. I'd recommend this book to anybody who enjoys reading manga or detective stories.

This book was for the Graphic Novel Challenge '09.

Two Book Reviews

First, I read Evolution, Me, & Other Freaks of Nature by Robin Brande. It is the story of how one girl tried to reconcile her belief in both religion and science.

Life sucks for Mena Reece. She's been kicked out of her church group and everyone in it hates her, including her parents. Her first day of high school is filled with dirty glares and hard shoves. She doesn't think life will ever get better until she meets her lab partner, Casey. He's pretty funny--and cute--for the smartest guy ever. When the unit on evolution begins, Mena's life gets even wilder as she struggles to deal with her belief in God and science.

I loved this book! It was filled with twists and turns, and I never got bored of reading it. I'd recommend it to anybody interested in realistic fiction or the controversy between evolutionists and creationists.

This book was for the Spring Reading Thing 09 Challenge.


The second review is of When My Name was Keoko, by Linda Sue Park. It is the story of one Korean family during World War II. During the war, the Japanese occupied Korea. The native Koreans lost everything: their possessions, their food, even their own names. Ten-year-old Sun-Hee and her older brother, Tae-yul, are furious when they are forced to take Japanese names. But what can they do? If they disobey the Japanese, their family will be severely punished. When they discover that their beloved uncle, who is a part of the Korean resistance, has been forced into hiding, their lives are torn apart even more. And when Tae-yul, knowing that the families of soldiers are given special benefits, decides to join the Japanese army as a kamikaze, Sun-hee doesn't know what to think. Will her beloved brother ever return?

I loved this book!!! It was very moving and very emotional--happy at times, sad at others. I think this will be a story that stays with me forever, and I can't say that about many books.

This book was for the Spring Reading Thing 09 Challenge and the World War II Challenge.

Teen Book Festival

On Saturday, I went to the Teen Book Festival, or TBF, with my friend Cece. There were many famous authors there, including Linda Sue Park and Michael Buckley. I had four books signed: Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr, Evolution, Me, & Other Freaks of Nature by Robin Brande, Dramacon Volume 1 by Svetlana Chmakova, and When My Name Was Keoko by Linda Sue Park. I had so much fun there!!!!!!

Story of a Girl (book review)

Story of a Girl, by Sara Zarr, is the tale of sixteen-year-old Deanna Lambert, who, three years ago, made a huge mistake that she's never been able to forget. Her father caught her in the back of Tommy Webber's Buick. Tommy was seventeen, her older brother Darren's supposed friend, and Deanna wasn't even sure she liked him. Even now, she is still struggling to overcome the role of "school slut" and get people to see her for who she really is. She is not who the rumors portray her as, but how can she get everyone else to realize that? So much drama is going on in her life right now, and Deanna soon finds that everything can change in one summer...

I loved this book! It was the second book I read by this author, and I enjoyed it just as much as (maybe even better than) Sweethearts! The language was beautiful, and it flowed very smoothly. The characters were very realistic; I felt like they could walk out of the book and tap me on the shoulder at any time.

This book is for the Spring Reading Thing Challenge '09.

Three Poems

Here are three poems I wrote yesterday:

The Forest Sleeps

In the heat of midday
when the chirping of cicadas
drones on and on
and the field, ripe with golden wheat
shimmers with heat waves
the forest sleeps.

But when the sun sinks slowly out of the sky
and the doleful call of the mourning dove rises and fades,
rises and fades
and the crickets play sweet music
for all to hear
and the deer frolic under the trees'
bent boughs,
and the willow
sways calmly in the gentle breeze
it is filled with life.

And in the early morning light
the crickets stop their song
and the deer recede back into
the thickets
and the chickadees chirp for joy
because a new day has begun.


Murder in the Palace

Gilded crimson
velvety cloak
flutters slowly to the ground.

Blood, red as the fabric itself,
pools on the floor.

The assassin, with his
knife
clenched between his teeth,
slips quietly out
the window
just as
the royal guards
come rushing into
the queen's chambers.


Starwalkers

There are three
who walk
the endless path of the stars
on icy nights when the cold
freezes off the toes
of the homeless man,
on sultry nights,
when couples
sit on their porches
and gaze out into the heavens,
and on rainy nights,
when the stray dog
shelters under a soggy cardboard box.

First, there is the girl,
young though she may seem,
her eyes show wisdom
beyond her years
and her feet are worn from treading paths
even the oldest man on Earth
has yet to touch.

Second, there is the cat,
wild though it may seem,
its breath is the wind,
wild, fierce, and free
and the ground upon which it walks
glows with silvery molten light.

Third, there is the elder,
old though he may seem,
his cane
is the trunk
of the tallest redwood tree
and his cloak
is the wing
of the prettiest
nightingale.

Together,
the girl, Time,
and the cat, Earth,
and the elder, Life
maintain the intricate balance
of the world as we know it.

When they finally
fade away
into the distance
and the earth
slows
and the life
withers
and the time
stops

Yay!!! Once Upon A Time 3!!!!

I am SOOOOOOOOOOO excited for the Once Upon A Time III Challenge!!!!!!!!! I chose Quest The First, which means you have to read five books that fall under the category of fantasy, myth, folklore, or fairy tales.





Here is my pool of books to choose from:

The Forest in the Hallway by Gordon Smith

Stoneheart by Charlie Fletcher

Seekers: The Quest Begins by Erin Hunter

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Attica by Garry Kilworth

Gossamer by Lois Lowry

Here, There Be Dragons by James A. Owen

River Secrets by Shannon Hale

Iris, Messenger by Sarah Deming

Gifts by Ursula K. Le Guin

Little (Grrl) Lost by Charles De Lint

The Ruby Key by Holly Lisle

The Siren Song by Anne Ursu

Moonlight by Rachel Hawthorne

Into the Wild by Sarah Beth Durst

I can't wait to start! Thank you Carl for hosting this challenge!

Spring Reading Thing!!!!

I am so excited for the Spring Reading Thing!









Here is my list:

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Paper Towns by John Green

Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr

Monkey Town: The Summer of the Scopes Trial by Robert Kidd

The Captain's Dog: My Journey with the Lewis and Clark Tribe by Roland Smith

The Last Full Measure by Jeff Shaara

Evolution, Me, and Other Freaks of Nature by Robin Brande

Saving Zoe by Alyson Noel

When My Name Was Keoko by Linda Sue Park

Changed book

I switched from The Faerie Path to Story of a Girl because I just couldn't get into it. Maybe I'll check it out from the library again another time and try again.

The Plain Janes (book review)

The Plain Janes is a graphic novel by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg. When Jane moves from exciting Metro City to the boring suburbs, she's convinced her life is over...that is, until she meets three other girls named Jane, whom she persuades to form an exclusive club called P.L.A.I.N. (People Loving Art In Neighborhoods). Together, the Janes, through a bunch of so-called "art attacks," try to bring the beauty of art to the people of their town. But some people don't appreciate P.L.A.I.N.'s attempts so much, and now the police are on their trail! Can the Janes keep pulling off their art attacks, or will they get busted once and for all?

I thought this book was very good. It was a nice, quick, and very unique read. In my opinion, it was an excellent break from heavier reading.

This book is for the Support Your Local Library Challenge and for the Graphic Novel Challenge 2009.

Beneath my Mother's Feet (book review)

Beneath My Mother's Feet, by Amjed Qamar, is a wonderful coming-of-age story which takes place in Pakistan. Nazia is a dutiful daughter, and does whatever her amma (mother) asks her to. She has never questioned the fact that she will soon be married off and have to tend to her husband's house. That is, until all the clothes for her dowry are stolen, her family is kicked out of their house, and her father abandons them all. Now Amma has arranged for them to work as house servants for three wealthy Pakistani families. Nazia has never wondered if there was another life for her, but now she begins to question all the rules she has grown up with. Perhaps there is another destiny out there for her. It is thoughts like these that eventually lead Nazia to rebel against the tame life planned for her and throw aside all the restrictions that have bound her for so long.

This book was wonderful! It introduced to me a world that is so different from the world that I know, a world where girls are married off at a very young age, with no say in the matter. I felt very bad for Nazia because of all the hardships she was going through, and sometimes I wondered if I would have been brave enough to do what she did if I were in her situation.

This book is for the Support Your Local Library Challenge.

Ghostgirl (book review)

Ghostgirl, by Tonya Hurley, is the story of Charlotte Usher, who's invisible to virtually everyone at her high school. She's a nobody, someone who the popular girls, Petula Kensington and her crowd, look down upon. Charlotte wants more than anything to become like Petula and to catch the eye of her crush, Damen. But things never seem to go Charlotte's way, and just when she thinks she's getting somewhere she chokes on a gummy bear on the way to the next class...and dies.

But, as it turns out, she can't rest in peace until she completes an unfinished task. For now, she's stuck on Earth in some kind of strange school for ghosts. Charlotte can only guess what her "unfinished task" is. But for now she's completely fine following Damen around in secrecy. After all, no human can see her now...except for one, Petula's younger sister, Scarlet. And Scarlet just might be the key to scoring a kiss from Damen. Now that Charlotte's a ghost, she can possess humans and inhabit their bodies. All she has to do is convince Scarlet to agree...and get Damen to fall for her. But carrying out this plan just might destroy the delicate world that Charlotte's ghostly friends have built up around them.

This book was okay. I was really enjoying it at first, but towards the middle it seemed to be getting old. All it talked about was Damen, 24/7, which started to get annoying. However, it began to pick up towards the end again. I really loved the bittersweet ending. Overall it was a good book, but I wouldn't rush out to buy it or anything. WARNING: This book, even though it's a fast read, isn't for very young readers. It uses quite a bit of bad language.

This book was for the Support Your Local Library Challenge.

Long Shadows (book review)

Long Shadows, by Erin Hunter, is the newest installment in the Warriors: Power of Three saga. Power of Three is the most recent of three six-book series about warrior cats, the first two being Warriors and Warriors: The New Prophecy. There is also a Warriors Super Edition book, called Firestar's Quest, and two Warriors field guides.

Hollyleaf, Jaypaw, and Lionblaze are kin to the legendary clan leader Firestar (who first appeared as Firepaw in the original Warriors series) and are the subject of a prophecy about three of Firestar's relatives who hold the power of the stars in their paws. The three siblings belong to ThunderClan, one of four warrior cat clans, ShadowClan, ThunderClan, WindClan, and RiverClan. One cat from each clan, known as the medicine cat, has the ability to heal other cats with herbs as well as to speak to the cats' warrior ancestors, who are known as StarClan. Jaypaw is the apprentice of ThunderClan's current medicine cat, Leafpool. He has the ability to walk in the dreams of other cats, and although he was born blind, he knows things other cats don't know. When a horrible bout of sickness strikes ThunderClan, it seems as if this more than half of the clan may die. And StarClan has placed their fate in his paws. Can Jaypaw save the sick cats before time runs out?

Hollyleaf is the diplomat of the group. Her dream is to become leader of Thunderclan one day. To her, preserving the warrior code, which all clan cats live by, is more important than almost anything else. But when a mysterious loner begins convincing ShadowClan to abandon the warrior code, Hollyleaf may have to break it herself if she wants to convince them to return to clan life.

Lionblaze is dedicated to becoming the best warrior he can possibly be, but he's hiding a big secret from the rest of ThunderClan--he is visited in his dreams by the dark warrior Tigerstar, who once caused the forest to run red with the blood of innocent cats. Lionblaze is beginning to free himself from Tigerstar's control. However, he is still tormented by bloody visions and violent dreams. Will the darkness within him affect the cats around him?

When madness and murder reach the heart of ThunderClan itself, the three siblings uncover a shocking secret. This revelation forces Jaypaw, Lionblaze, and Hollyleaf to question everything they've ever believed, and it changes their whole world forever.

I LOVED this book! Once I started reading, it was almost impossible to put it down (although that's happened with every book in the series that I've read so far)! This book revealed darkness in the hearts of some cats, which I didn't notice before. It was very descriptive and easy to understand, and it ended in a cliffhanger that left me wanting more! I will DEFINITELY run out to buy the next book as soon as it comes out in early April. However, to new readers of Warriors I'd definitely recommend starting with the first series. The books are much easier to understand that way.

This book was for the 999 Challenge under the category of "Fantasy with Animals".

Evernight (book review)

In the suspenseful novel Evernight, Bianca finds herself attending the eerie Evernight Academy. She thinks her life is over...that is, until she meets Lucas. He's handsome, smart, and kind. But the school, and Bianca, are hiding a big secret from him. Except for a select few students, everyone at Evernight is a vampire. Evernight is one of the only places where they can relax and be themselves. Born to two vampires, Bianca is destined to become one herself someday. But it turns out Lucas is hiding a secret just as big, one that threatens to destroy the magical world of Evernight...and those in it...forever.

This was a great book. It wasn't as good as the Twilight saga, but then again it's hard to beat that series. At times it was a little confusing. For example, about halfway through the book, I learned that Evernight was a vampire school. Then, it was revealed that Bianca had known about the vampires all along. Overall, however, it was excellent. The characters were complex and realistic, and I felt like I actually knew them. I will definitely look for the next Evernight book, Stargazer.

This book was for the Young Adult Challenge 09.

Gothic Lolita (book review)

Gothic Lolita, by Dakota Lane, is the story of two girls in two separate countries with a supernatural connection. Miya lives in Japan. Chelsea lives in California. They're both half Japanese, dress like Gothic lolitas, and love reading a manga series called, "Shonen Rainbow Warrior". But they have more in common than that, as they will soon realize...

They got to know each other through their blogs, but three years ago tragedy struck Chelsea's family, and she stopped writing. Miya has experienced tragedy as well, but she keeps posting and checking Chelsea's blog in the hopes that one day Chelsea will write back. Soon, Chelsea realizes she can't avoid Miya any longer. She goes back online and tells Miya everything. And both girls' lives will drastically change because of it...

I loved this book! It was a bittersweet story of tragedy, love, and triumph with a bit of mystery and fantasy thrown in as well. It was a very quick read, and I'm definitely glad I bought it!

This book was for the Young Adult Challenge 09.

Warriors: Cats of the Clans (book review)

Warriors: Cats of the Clans, by Erin Hunter, is an overview of the lives of the cats from the Warriors series, which is also by this author. With beautiful illustrations and short but fact-filled descriptions of the cats' lives, the book presents well-known cats from each of the clans (ThunderClan, RiverClan, ShadowClan, and WindClan).

This is a must-read for fans of the series, and a good introduction for new readers as well. It was very quick, and very enjoyable. I loved it!

This book was for the Support Your Local Library Challenge.

Bliss (book review)

Bliss, by Lauren Myracle, is the story of fourteen-year-old Bliss, who's spent most of her life on a commune with her hippie parents. But that's behind her, and now she's going to school at stately Crestview Academy. She's excited at first, but soon she begins to hear a voice...a voice that speaks of ghastly things. Bliss soon learns that something terrible is lurking on campus, and that it thirsts for blood...possibly hers. Her fellow classmates seem oblivious to the horrors around them, but, as Bliss soon learns, they are hiding secrets as well. And Bliss will soon be caught in the center of a grisly conflict that will inevitably end in somebody's death.

I really enjoyed this book at the beginning, but near the end it just got too disturbing for my taste. I stuck with it, though. I know the author, Lauren Myracle, has written many other books, and I bet they're probably pretty good. She just went a bit too far for my tastes in this book.

This book was for the Support Your Local Library Challenge.

Don't Know Where, Don't Know When (book review)

Don't Know Where, Don't Know When, by Annette Laing, is the story of three children and their time-travel adventure. For Hannah Dias and her brother Alex, life couldn't get any worse. They've moved from their home in California to boring Snipesville, Georgia, where nothing ever happens. Nothing changes when they meet Brandon, a weird kid whom Alex befriends.

But before they know it, the three kids are catapulted into World War II England. The food is gross, the adults are strict, and overall it's not much fun...at first. Hannah longs to return home, but Alex is slowly warming to this new environment. Brandon, meanwhile, is swept backwards in time to 1915. Why is he here? He doesn't know for sure, but what Brandon DOES know is that it has something to do with a person named George Braithwaite. And none of the kids can return home until they solve the mystery and find this boy.

I enjoyed this story overall. It hit a little bit of a drag in the middle, but it soon picked up again. This book made me eager to read the next in this series, called The Snipesville Chronicles.

Werewolves (book review)

Werewolves, edited by Jane Yolen and Martin H. Greenberg, is a collection of stories about, well, werewolves. The stories in this book are incredibly varied. In "Bad Blood", by Debra Doyle and J.D. Macdonald, a group of young backpackers is terrorized by a bloodthirsty werewolf in the middle of the night. Who would suspect that the one to save them would be...another werewolf? This was one of my favorite stories.

In "The Werewolf's Gift", by Ru Emerson, an old werewolf, stuck as an animal for the rest of his life, is given the choice to turn back into a man, but throws it away in order to save a young child. This was a heartwarming story, and I enjoyed it as well.

"The White Wolf", by Leigh Ann Hussey, is the story of a young boy, Kagwai, who wants nothing more than to earn an animal totem and learn the ability to change shape...that is, until he spends a few nights away from his village. He meets his grandfather, who has become totally obsessed with the change and spends most of his time in the shape of a wolf, and learns that shapeshifting can have its downsides. But in the end, when the fate of his entire village hangs in the balance, will Kagwai decide to embrace his destiny and his animal totem? This story was okay, but I didn't think it was great.

In "Not all Wolves" by Harry Turtledove, a thirteen-year-old werewolf tired of persecution finds solitude in a Jewish ghetto, living with a man who has been persecuted just as many times as he has. This story was also okay, but not great.

"Wolfskin", by Mary K. Whittington, is a futuristic werewolf story about a young boy named Gwehr, who has finally been admitted to the Hall of Shapeshifting! In this building, one can put on the "skin" of a creature (kraken, dragon, vampire, etc.) and, for a time, be transported into a virtual world where one IS that creature. Gwehr has been waiting forever for this day, but unfortunately the only creature left is a werewolf. But, once he's tried it, Gwehr decides that he loves roaming as a wolf, and he secretly takes the skin home with him. He slips it back on in his room, not expecting himself to actually change...but he does. He enters the enchanted world of the werewolf, and decides that he will never turn back into a boy...but when the sun rises, the magic fades, and in the end Gwehr has no choice but to part with the skin. I really enjoyed this story.

"Night Calls", by Katharine Eliska Kimbriel, is the story of a young girl whose village is being plagued by bloodthirsty werewolves. She longs to go out and fight them with her father, but, unfortunately, she's expected to stay home with her mother while her older brothers fight. Soon, all the werewolves are killed except one. But she never expected that werewolf would be...her brother. I didn't like this story that much.

"Wolf from the Door", by Elizabeth Scarborough, is the humorous story of a young girl, Lucy Garou, conducting a study on wolves. The only problem is--in the term paper she's trying to complete, Life Cycle of the Wolf, she's completely personified all the wolves she studied. And, as her professor reminds her, this is a scientific class, not a creative writing one. Basically, he's given her an F, and she isn't too happy, no matter how much Professor Forrest thinks she might deserve it. Because Lucy Garou has a good reason for personifying the wolves--she's one of them! And it's not wise to draw the wrath of a werewolf...we're left wondering what unhappy fate Professor Forrest will meet. This was a very funny story that left me hanging.

In "Monster Mash", by Sherwood Smith, a girl named Cat is a drummer in a school rock band called The Nerds...when she isn't running free in the shape of a wolf. But one night, a big concert coincides with the full moon. Good thing it's Halloween, because Cat has a plan. She'll pretend to be dressed in a costume the whole time! Can she be clever and resourceful enough to pull this off, or will the night end in disaster? This story was okay.

"The Passing of the Pack", by Bruce Coville, was the story of a young boy who's always had a strange connection with wolves. They seem to be there watching him whenever he turns around. And one day, when he is prosecuted and thrown in jail along with his friend, Wandis, the wolves come to rescue him, and take him to his mysterious father, who just happens to be a werewolf! And his father wants to pass the responsibility of leader of the wolf pack on to him! Will he accept his destiny, or will he remain human forever? This was an excellent story.

In "Flesh and Blood", by Marguerite W. Davol, Sally's spending her whole summer in a boring European village called Krev. But things start to get exciting when she discovers a chest full of clothes...along with a mysterious furry belt that seems to fit her just right. But when she tries the clothes on, she experiences an intense bloodlust and a painful change from a human to something in between human and wolf. The problem is that she can't seem to get the clothes off! Is she doomed to life as a bloody monster forever? This story was okay.

In "Green Messiah", by Jane Yolen, the ultimate science experiment is attempted as a girl is transformed into a wolf in order to gain important data that she couldn't have otherwise. But, once experiencing the wonderful change, she decides to throw her responsibilities to the wind and run free as a wolf forever. I loved this story!

"The Wolf's Flock", by Susan Shwartz, is the story of a young werewolf who wants to rid himself of his curse forever. He embarks on an incredibly long journey, accompanied by a group of children who are heading for the same place that he is. He grows to feel at home among them, and when their lives are threatened, he must reveal his secret in order to save them. I liked this story.

In "Met by Moonlight", by Anne E. Crompton, teenager Len wanders off on his snowmobile and gets lost in the snow. He meets a strange girl, who asks him about his life, and in turn tells him about hers. Len has come to the conclusion that she's crazy, babbling on and on about wolves, hunting, and blood...until she saves him from an angry wolf...by transforming into one herself! I didn't really enjoy this story.

"A Winter's Night", by Esther M. Friesner, is the tale of a lone Gypsy, whose companions were killed by Nazis, hiding out alone in a cemetery. At least, he thinks he's alone...until he finds a mysterious boy with a big secret...I did not like this story at all. It was very confusing and hard to understand. However, I have read Esther Friesner's book, Nobody's Princess, and I enjoyed that a great deal.

The final story in this book was "One Chance" by Charles de Lint. It is the story of a girl, Susanna, and her friend Billy. They are both unpopular at school, and they hate their lives. But Billy thinks he knows a way to get away from all this...using a bronze wolf figurine, he summons a mysterious wolf that beckons them to follow it to a better world. Billy gladly agrees, but Susanna pulls away at the last second, knowing she's doing the right thing, but feeling great pain inside to see Billy frolicking away with the wolf to a magical world. She knows that she'll never see him again, that this was her one chance...and now it was gone. This was a bittersweet story, and a good end to the book.

I give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars.

This book was for the Support Your Local Library Challenge.

Saving the World and other Extreme Sports (book review)

Saving the World and other Extreme Sports, by James Patterson, is the third installment in the Maximum Ride series. Max and her friends, Fang, Iggy, the Gasman (or Gazzy), Nudge, and Angel, are six kids who have escaped from a horrible laboratory called the School. Bird DNA was grafted into their bodies when they were infants, so now they have wings and can fly. Max and the "flock" were happy to sit back and relax after their escape, but they soon found out that the School was in league with an organization called Itex, who planned to wipe out almost everyone on Earth and create a new, better "super-race". As it turned out, Max and her friends were the only ones who could stop them.

Now Max and her friends have been captured, and are back at the horrible School once again. And it turns out one of them just might be a traitor. But who? Have Max and her friends finally met their end?

I thought this book was really good. It was action-packed, and the plot was intricately developed. There were a ton of cliffhangers, and it kept me guessing at every turn.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

This book is for the Sci-Fi Experience.

A Bottle in the Gaza Sea (book review)

In A Bottle in the Gaza Sea, by Valerie Zenatti, 17-year-old Tal Levine, who lives in Israel, decides to ask her brother to throw a bottle into the Gaza Sea, with a message inside of it. She expects a Palestinian girl about her age to discover it. What she doesn't expect is Gazaman, a witty twenty-year-old boy who mocks Tal at first, but gradually begins to befriend her. They begin exchanging emails, learning not only about each other but also a great deal about themselves.

This was a very moving book. I was sad when it was over. I learned a lot about the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians while reading it, too. As it says on the jacket of the book, this was "a modern-day Romeo-and-Juliet tale for the third millennium."

I give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars.

This book was for the Support Your Local Library Challenge.

The Dog with Golden Eyes (book review)

The Dog With Golden Eyes, by Frances Wilbur, is the story of Cassie, a girl who has always wanted a dog. But her mother is too busy to take care of a dog, and besides, who would pay for it? Feed it? Care for it? With Cassie away at school and her mother away at work, there would be no one left to watch the dog. But one day, when Cassie is sitting in her backyard, a beautiful snow-white dog wanders into her yard. Cassie immediately decides that she will be the one to take care of him. even if she has to get a job (or two) to pay for all the food he eats.

But soon Cassie learns that Toklata, as she has named him, is not a dog at all--he's a runaway Arctic wolf! Can Cassie afford to take care of a wolf? And can she protect Toklata from animal control and the hunters who want to kill him?

This was a quick read, but it was very good. I think children who are interested in animals would love reading this book. It was filled with facts about wolves and their behavior.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

This book was for the Support Your Local Library Challenge.