Owly by Andy Runton

Andy Runton presents two heartwarming stories in Owly: The Way Home and The Bittersweet Summer. Big hearted and well meaning Owly helps all little critters in need. Even though some run off fearing him to be a large predator, this sweet owl continues to help everyone in need. He eventually makes some good friends and saves a little worm during a rainstorm. The two become close friends as Owly nurses him back to heath and sets out to help the little worm get home. (“The Way Home”)

In his other adventure, “The Bittersweet Summer,” Owly meets a pair of hummingbirds and learns that although he loves his new friends, they cannot stay in such a cold place through the winter. They leave Owly for a few months, but perhaps they will return when the weather is warmer!

I loved this first book on Runton’s Owly series! A definite recommendation for young readers and even older readers! This caring owl and all his adorable friends will appeal all readers! These sweet little illustrations tell adorable and wonderful stories and convey a good lesson on friendship even though Runton does not use words!

Don’t forget to check out Owly’s Tiny Tales as well!

An enjoyable collection of short stories in comic-form, featuring Owly, Wormy, and their friends!

Top 8 by Katie Finn

Madison MacDonald is just your average teenager; she attends her local high school, hangs out with her friends, has a (new!) cute boyfriend, and is part of the popular Friendverse network that just about every teenager has a profile on. This isn’t anything out of the ordinary until the day she gets back from vacationing in the Galapagos with her family only to find that her Friendverse profile has been hacked and utterly changed.

Unfortunately for Madison, the damage goes beyond the new bad songs posted under her ‘favorites’—her hacker has been writing nasty comments to and about her friends! Some awful secrets have been revealed about pretty much everyone Madison knows and more than a few unflattering pictures of Madison and others have surfaced as well! With only a handful of friends left on her Friendverse profile (and goodness knows how many in real life!), her boyfriend convinced that she broke up with him, people left and right hating her, and the class couple broken up, things do not look good for Madison.

The good news is that her three closest friends believe that she was hacked and did not write all those revealing comments herself, but the bad news is that not many others believe her, and her boyfriend, Justin, is now dating someone else! Many people are hurt by what Madison’s hacker posted about them—harsh comments that Madison knows that she may not have said to their faces, but did say behind their backs to others, or at least had thought to herself. Madison wants to know who did this (and her boyfriend back)! The hunt for Madison’s hacker is on!

Despite making a list and doing a bit of investigation, Madison doesn’t get very far. However, she does met this cute guy who she had actually previous met during her vacation in the Galapagos. But she mustn’t think about him, after all, she’s still trying to get Justin back! When most of her leads don’t get her very far, it looks like Madison might have been looking in the wrong direction all along…

I found this book rather predictable, but Top 8 does have some good morals/lessons behind it. It’s definitely more hurtful to speak about people behind their backs, and it’s a good thing that Madison learned a few lessons and matured a lot by the end! The format of Top 8 with the Friendverse profile and comments views was great as well! It really enhanced the story!

I also really like the title—it really fits for this book, but isn’t too ordinary or common, and after reading this book, I think it might have a bit of foreshadowing to it as well!

The Emerald Tablet by P.J. Hoover

After a long year at school, summer school would sound less than appealing to plenty of students. “Enthusiastic” would not describe Benjamin Holt’s reaction when his parents announced that he would be away all summer—at school. Luckily, his best friend Andy will be going along. Though the pair may seem normal on the surface, Benjamin and Andy have telekinesis abilities. They’ve been using this gift to their advantage from a young age; from levitating frogs to reading each others minds.

Though most kids lack these special abilities, Benjamin has had them since childhood and has grown up in a family that also possesses these special talents. His two brothers levitating toy cars is perfectly normal for Benjamin, but when a mirror in his house suddenly starts talking, even Benjamin is taken by surprise. Benjamin is soon teleported to summer school—and one summer vacation he’ll never forget!

Benjamin is stunned to find that there are a lot of children and people that also have supernatural talents, such as telekinesis, telepathy, telegnosis, and advanced science. He is enrolled into different classes to help hone his abilities where he makes new friends like Iva, Heidi and Gary.

Benjamin learns that he is a telegen, a human with special abilities. In fact, all the people teaching and attending the summer school are telegens! And the surprises for Benjamin don’t end there—the summer school itself is currently on Lemuria! Lemuria, like Atlantis, is a “lost continent.” Both are sunk beneath the ocean and are virtually unknown and uncharted by humans. Before, they were just like any continent: above sea level and accessible. However, because the people of Atlantis were exploiting and enslaving humans, the telegens of Lemuria tried to restore the balance by subduing the trouble makers and encasing Atlantis in a shield that did not allow them to leave the city. As a final precautionary measure, they sunk both Lemuria and Atlantis deep into the sea.

Now telegens from Lemuria are placed all around Earth as agents, making sure everything on Earth is fine, and that Atlantis was still under control. But lately, the shield around Atlantis has been weakening, and their own agents have been getting out and infiltrating humankind once more. Is it right to keep a whole population captive just because there were trouble makers in the past? Or are the telegens of Lemuria doing the right thing and protecting the human race? There are some that would give anything for the shield to be lifted from Atlantis so they can dominate the humans, but others wish to keep their abilities secret.

When Benjamin and his friends wander off one day, they discover a hidden passage that leads them to The Emerald Tablet. Their fateful trip down the secret passageway would change their lives forever—Benjamin holds the balance of two worlds in his hands, as well as the power to raise the two sunken continents. He and his friends are linked by the Tablet into an Alliance, and they must find the three keys of the hunter before their dark nemesis does, or the worlds will be doomed. But fate always offers two choices, will Benjamin free the world he knows is being unwillingly held captive, or will he restore the balance so that humans can remain ignorant of the telegen’s existence?

I really liked the idea behind The Emerald Tablet as well as the Alliance’s exciting adventure—both were very creative. Although I thought some of the characters were a bit 2-D (or at least I would’ve liked to see them a bit more in the story and get to know more about them!), it will appeal to many young readers! The Emerald Tablet is a great start to P.J. Hoover’s new series and the surprising twists and turns will leave you wanting more of Benjamin’s adventures!

A BFF Novel: The Guy Next Door by Carol Culver

All may be going smoothly for the rest of the kids at Manderley Prep, but Maggie seems to be the only exception. Maggie’s parents are going through a divorce and the two are all too eager to express their rage and hatred for the other to Maggie. The worst thing is? Maggie’s dad is refusing to pay for her chorus’ spring competition trip to Hawaii! On top of that, the school’s fencing club has been cancelled, and fencing was the one sport Maggie loved and excelled at.

Already short on funds, it doesn’t help that Maggie wants to get invisible braces since she’s too afraid to smile with her teeth covered in metal braces. Surrounded by kids of wealthy families, Maggie’s too ashamed to let any one other than her closest friends know of her financial troubles. The main reason she wants her smile back? Ethan Andrews. Ethan’s always been the “guy next door” that Maggie hung out with throughout her childhood—until Maggie fell for him. But since Maggie’s parents are divorcing, Maggie has moved with her mother to rented home and her old house is being sold. With her less than extraordinary looks and her metal-filled smile, Maggie hardly catches Ethan’s eye. But that could all change, if only she could figure out a way to go on that trip to Hawaii and find the courage to make the first move!

With a few tricks up her sleeve, a bit of scheming, and her talented and caring friends, Maggie just may make her way to Hawaii, and make her way into Ethan’s heart!

The Guy Next Door is a light-hearted, romantic YA read. Although I have not read the rest of the novels in Carol Culver’s BFF series, and may be missing a bit of background information, I didn’t find The Guy Next Door confusing and it still made for a nice read. This novel (especially the plot) wasn’t anything that out of the ordinary, just cute romantic YA novel. But it does portray a typical teenager’s high school experience quite accurately, as well as Maggie’s feelings and her crush. Overall, it was realistic and believable, and I did like how the POV switched so we could get a peek into both Maggie’s and Ethan’s minds and thoughts—it definitely enhanced the story!

Into the Wild by Sarah Beth Durst

Julie may look like an ordinary kid on the outside, but she is anything but. Her mother is Rapunzel, yes the Rapunzel, who was locked in a tower and forced to let her hair down so her mean witch step-mom could visit her. But that was years ago, and Julie’s mom, along with other fairytale characters have escaped the Wild.

The Wild was responsible for all the classic fairytales; Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, and all the rest, but there was a price to pay for these classic stories; the characters were trapped in their stories, doomed to forever play their parts, eating porridge, testing chairs, and running away from bears, over and over again. Once the story ended, the characters had to begin again—they had no choice and were forced into their roles, doomed to such for eternity.

But then Rapunzel rebelled, and along with her, a group of other fairytale characters. After much toil and trouble, she finally broke free, along with her fellow characters, reducing the formerly engulfing and controlling Wild to a small vine-like creature. Then Julie was born, after the Wild was defeated, but Rapunzel’s husband had never made it out alive.

So Julie had a good childhood; her mother ran a local hair salon, her grandmother (the witch of Rapunzel’s story) guards the wishing well by her motel (for a wish made in the well could cause the Wild to grow and regain its strength), Cinderella (Cindy) gives rides to Julie every now and then, and Puss-in-Boots is Julie’s ‘brother’. Sure, Snow’s seven dwarves can be quite a nuisance sometimes when they’re over for dinner, but Julie has her mom, and her best friend, Gillian, who knows Julie’s secret.

But Julie’s mom rarely ever talked about what happened in the Wild, why her father did not make it out, and how Rapunzel got out in the first place. The Wild is just an annoying green lump under Julie’s bed now, eating up Julie’s shoes and transforming them into various magical objects.

Things go smoothly for a while, until one day Julie finds her mother gone, and runs into her room, only to find that the space beneath her bed is empty—the Wild is gone. Seeing a strange green object growing and taking over the town, Julie realizes that the Wild has gotten lose somehow, and is trying to regain its old powers and old characters. As her attempts to find her mother prove futile, her mother’s friends try to whisk her away to safety, but Julie needs to find her mother, so she and her friends will not be forced to endure the same fairytale stories over and over again.

Plunging into the Wild, armed only with the fairytales she remembers and a backpack filled with the magical objects the Wild had created during its residency under her bed, Julie is off to find her mother. But can she make it through the Wild’s paths, which are full of traps and dangers? Or will the Wild trap her in a fairytale of her own, making her a prisoner of the same plot and events over and over again?

There is only one way out: the Wild must be stopped. But can a twelve-year-old match up against all the foes of fairytales and the Wild’s plans? One thing’s for certain, if she cannot find her mother and a way to escape the Wild, Julie may be stuck in a story of her own—forever.

Into the Wild was a very creative novel! I loved how different classic fairytale characters were given new personalities and included into this great plot! Into the Wild was a very fun and action-packed adventure that made for a very enjoyable read that I would recommend to all fantasy lovers!

The Brothers Torres By Coert Voorhees

Frankie’s brother Steve, is everything he’s not—popular, the star soccer player at their high school in New Mexico, and the guy that can get any girl he wants. Frankie waits tables at his family’s restaurant, Les Torres, passes time by setting off explosives with his best friend Zach, and tries to gather the courage to ask his long-time friend and crush, Rebecca out.

Frankie may look up to his brother, but he still resents the fact that Steve has never had to wait a table in his life, has all the girls throwing themselves at him, and is not too happy with the fact that Steve is trying to earn the respect, and possibly join the local cholos, a group of dangerous teens in town. Yet Frankie lies and covers for Steve when he mysteriously doesn’t come home some nights and comes home looking a little banged up.

The prospects for Frankie don’t look that promising as he continues to spend his time lower on the food chain than his brother and watches as his crush gets asked to homecoming but rich boy John Dalton. John Dalton is the son of the local businessman responsible for the Tortilla Emporium; the huge enterprise that bought Rebecca’s family secret recipe for their tortillas, mass produced it and became rich. Dalton is also on the soccer team with Steve, but the two aren’t friends since Dalton’s arrogant despite being quite an awful player.

But when Frankie gets into several confrontations with Dalton, eventually ending in a fight where Frankie gets beat up, Steve steps in. Helping his brother out and actually acknowledging Frankie in school, Steve promises to help Frankie get revenge on Dalton. But just how far will Steve go for revenge? Is it all just for show for the cholos? Frankie isn’t nearly as tough or brutal as Steve; but can he stop his brother if he goes too far? Can Frankie stand up for what’s right, or will he be unable to stop his brother and the rising conflict?

The Brothers Torres had a very honest and sincere tone throughout the whole book, and the characters, especially Frankie’s was very well developed. The honesty of this book really kept my attention and made The Brothers Torres an extremely realistic and captivating read. The Brother Torres reminded me that books don’t need to have some fantastically stunning supernatural element or shock you and grab your attention—a well written story with a honest and believable tone can hold your attention just as well as any fantasy book!
Unfortunately, I do not take Spanish and so the some of the little phrases in this book were lost on me, but other than that, I recommend The Brother Torres to all readers, Spanish student or not, looking for a meaningful and honest book.

Death by Latte by Linda Gerber

(This is the sequel to mystery novel Death by Bikini and if you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend it! Death by Latte will be much more enjoyable & understandable if you’ve read Death by Bikini first)

Although Aphra’s been missing Seth ever since his family was forced to move once again, Aphra’s determined to find the mother that left her years ago. And since Seth’s mother gave Aphra her mother’s address as thanks for helping her family out, Aphra will do just that. Heading to Seattle, Aphra is looking for her mother, Natalie and some answers, but what she gets is a lot more than that.

After arriving and finding her mother, Aphra gets a less than warm welcome and is hurt that her mother wants nothing more than to send her back to her father. She learns that her mother still has ties to the CIA and now works with and shares a flat with fellow CIA contact Joe and Stuart. But Natalie’s hasty plans to get Aphra back to her father and his remote resort island is foiled when Joe dies suddenly after being poisoned and Seth shows up, demanding Aphra give back the ring he had given her before their parting at the island. Seth’s ring, which seemed like a sentimental gift, may just hold a secret that many would kill for… Things are just getting more complicated, especially with some returning mysterious characters that Aphra had hoped that she had lost during her last adventure.

But Aphra won’t have much time to ponder her feelings for Seth as the both of them are on the run again with Natalie and Stuart. They’ll have to come down to the bottom of this mystery or they might just meet a sticky end! Who are their allies and who are their foes? Can Aphra and her mother work this out together? And as tides turn and more twists and turns and thrown into this treacherous journey, can they figure out who the trust and what to do?

This excellent sequel to Death by Bikini was just as thrilling as the first book! Aphra’s struggle to figure out her relationship with her mother and her attempts to understand and get closer to her mother was realistic, as was her struggles over her relationship with Seth. Her feelings are especially well expressed, which made this story all the more believable and characters easier to connect to. Death by Latte is filled with plenty of twists that’ll keep you at the edge of your seat and will leave you thirsty for more (sorry for the bad pun)!

How to Be Bad by E. Lockhart, Sarah Mlynowski, & Lauren Myracle

Three girls, whose seemingly only similarity is that they all work their local Waffle House, are about to embark on no ordinary road trip. Jesse and Vicks are friends, but lately that friendship has been under some strain with Jesse’s uptight ways and Vicks’ more relaxed style and her missing her college-bound boyfriend. The third girl in this unusual trio is Mel, a privileged girl who for some reason works at the Waffle House as well—and surprisingly doesn’t flaunt her wealth much. Vicks is unhappy with Jesse’s unbending Christian ways and Jesse is rather disdainful of Mel and her wealth so how on earth will these three last the long drive to Miami and survive this excursion?

When Jesse wants to get away for a bit from the troubles at home and her mother’s embarrassing activities, she offers to drive Vicks to Miami so she can see her boyfriend, who hasn’t been calling her and has only sent a text message or two at unearthly hours of the night. Their Waffle House coworker, Mel, who was standing next to Jesse and Vicks when they discussed their possible road trip, invites herself along, with Jesse only agreeing when Mel offers to cover their trip’s expenses.

Before long, these three take off in Jesse’s mom’s old car, stopping to visit unusual sites like the smallest police station and a large stuffed gator named Old Joe. Not long after they exit the museum where Old Joe was (having broken in to see the old gator since the museum was closed), they encounter a cutie guy named Marco, whom they eventually end up giving a ride to. Marco, much to Jesse’s dismay, invites them to a party where Vicks and Mel get extremely drunk and have to stay over for a night. Being a Christian, Jesse does not drink and cannot wait to leave the next morning, but Mel and Marco have begun to warm up to each other, showing some real chemistry.

Already unhappy at the pervious night’s events, Jesse is furious at Vicks the next morning, and her opinion of Mel hasn’t improved either. But Jesse isn’t the only unhappy one. Arguments break out between Vicks and Jesse as Vicks is struggling with a drunken decision that she is starting to regret and Jesse struggles with what is going on with her mother. Things only get worse when a vicious storm breaks out and the trio is forced to look for somewhere to stay near DisneyLand. With their bickering almost as bad as the weather, the rest of this road trip does not look promising…

With three distinct characters and a road trip that you’ll never forget, Mel, Jesse, and Vicks have a lot to learn, not only about each other, but about themselves as well. And if only they could learn to be more forgiving, understanding and open-minded, their trip may prove to be a lot more enjoyable and fulfilling for all three of them!

Sisters of Misery by Megan Kelley Hall

Maddie Crane lives in a small town, Hawthorne, though not as famous as Salem for its witch trials, brutally persecuted females that were different, all the same. Despite living in a town with such a haunting past, Maddie goes to her local school where she is among the Sisters of Misery, headed by Kate, a powerful and spiteful girl who will stop at nothing to keep herself at the top of the food chain. So far, the Sisters of Misery haven’t caused life-threatening havoc, but they have spread some nasty rumors and played some mean practical jokes that have driven a fair share of people to tears. Even though Maddie is part of this elite club filled with the most powerful and popular girls at school, Maddie has not always felt comfortable with them; they’ve played some cruel jokes on unsuspecting people that have left Maddie assailed by guilt many times, and their midnight excursions to Misery Islands and hard partying isn’t quite what Maddie would like to be doing, but she always tags along anyway.

When Cordelia LeClaire, Maddie’s cousin, comes to town, Kate is furious. Cordelia has an ethereal air and charisma about her that quickly steals some of Kate’s popularity, not to mention Kate’s on-and-off boyfriend’s attention! But with the arrival of her cousin and aunt as they move in with Maddie and her family, Maddie can’t help but feel drawn to them. With Cordelia and her aunt she begins to have fun and learn more about things like ruins, herbs, and fortune telling.

But Kate is less than thrilled at this new arrival and is out to get revenge on Cordelia to protect her popularity. But with Kate on one side and Cordelia on the other of this struggle, whose side will Maddie take?

When things escalate and a trip to Misery Islands ends in a disaster with Maddie unable to remember anything and Cordelia missing, will Maddie find her cousin? Or will she side with Kate and forget about Cordelia? Can she even find out what happened to her cousin, or have Kate and the Sisters of Misery really done something unspeakable this time? Has Kate and the Sisters of Misery gone past their usual pranks and shown their true twisted violent side?

Sisters of Misery was undoubtedly a chilling read. Well written and suspenseful, Sisters of Misery keeps you guessing as Maddie tries to solve the mystery behind Cordelia’s disappearance. With old superstitions woven in extremely well, Sisters of Misery makes for a haunting tale like no other. Although this is a well written book that I’m sure many will enjoy, I cannot say that I loved it, only because I was really unnerved and rather sickened by some of the things Kate and the Sisters did. This, of course, is not to say that Sisters of Misery is not a good book; it is extremely well written and Maddie’s character was especially well developed and realistic, but I’ve just not been a huge fan of such thrilling and chilling books since they tend to leave me with such eerie and haunted feelings!

Violet in Private by Melissa Walker

Violet’s back! Violet Greenfield, the high school wall-paper-girl-turned-supermodel, is thinking about leaving the modeling world again so she can concentrate on college. She’s finally going to Vassar after deferring her admission, and once she gets there—she loves it! She’s enjoying herself in class and has some fantastic room and suite-mates, including the bold Fan and the outspoken Kurt.

Violet’s discomfort with the modeling world has only been increasing since her Mirabella campaign where the designer claims she wishes to promote a healthy body image, but told Violet to lose five pounds before the shoots. Unhappy with the hypocrisy, and remembering that she has already been getting some mixed press over her myspace blog posts and other comments, Violet resolves to leave the modeling world for good.

But the one thing Violet is forgetting is that she still has a contract with Tryst models. Can she somehow find some campaigns to do that won’t make her feel so hypocritical?

At least Violet lands an internship with Teen Fashionista, a fashion magazine that once did a profile on her! But it doesn’t help that her BFF Roger’s girlfriend, Chloe, works at Teen Fashionista as well. And speaking of Roger, Violet can’t help but think back to their Barcelona adventure…could it be that she likes Roger? It doesn’t seem that fate is being too kind to Violet. Why is Roger being so difficult? Why did Violet have to finally realize she was in love with Roger after he got himself a girlfriend?!

The modeling side certainly has its hypocrisies, lies, betrayals, and darker side, but can Violet somehow be true to herself and promote a healthier body image that’s real? Or will she become another too-thin model that will stop at nothing to come out on top? And can she figure things out with Roger, or will she have to watch him and Chloe from the sidelines? College life and her new found friends may just help Violet learn more about herself and stand up for her values!

I loved this latest installment in the Violet series! Melissa Walker’s writing is wonderful and enjoyable to read, as always! It’s nice to see that Violet has matured so much; we may all have our insecurities, but Violet is finally learning how to deal with hers and make the best of her fame to promote a better body image. Melissa Walker has really created some fantastic, 3-D, completely believable and realistic characters that make her Violet series such a pleasure to read! Ms. Walker captures the emotions, thoughts, and actions of her characters brilliantly, which makes her series so much more realistic and amazing! Violet in Private is a must-read for all Violet fans and I would definitely recommend the Violet series to readers who haven’t picked it up yet!

Choices By Katrina L. Burchett

Choices deals with an important topic that affects many teens: sexuality. Several teenage girls, Shauntice, Angel, LaKeeta, Bridgette, and Hope are dealing with the consequences resulting from their choices concerning sexuality. While Shauntice is a faithful Christian and believes in abstinence, Angel does not believe in God and has multiple partners because she feels neglected by her mother who is always working, and she has never known her father. Despite being a Christian, LaKeeta became purposefully pregnant before getting married, which is the complete opposite of Hope, a shy girl whose mother has controlled every aspect of her life. Bridgette is a strong Christian and firmly believes in abstinence. She looks down on other non-believers and those who do not have the same morals as her.

Although she has been abstinent, Shauntice has not been without temptation and the fight against it might be harder than she thought. Angel is with someone who doesn’t treat her right and while her friends tell her leave him, she can’t seem to pull away even when he keeps hurting her over and over again. LaKeeta has found out just how difficult it can be when one is pregnant. She and her parents have gotten into disagreements and she even loss a friend or two over the pregnancy—will she be able to make it through this tough time and take care of her child? Bridgette is losing more than a few good opinions with her unbending morals and inability to accept and tolerate those who do not share her beliefs and has been less than friendly to others that do not agree with her entirely. Hope is one of those girls that Bridgette has been cold to; Hope has been finding herself restricted and unhappy with her harsh mother, because it has made her unable to connect and talk to others. Each girl has her own struggles and everyone has something to learn, but can any of them be open-minded enough to succeed?

Life is rarely black and white, and most people do not see all the possible consequences for the decisions they make. To have morals and to stick to them is a good thing, but acceptance is also important. As some characters learn in this book, you shouldn’t deal in absolutes; you should be more open-minded and realize that your point of view isn’t 100% right and isn’t the only opinion out there—don’t shun others just because they don’t see things exactly the way you see it.

Choices deals with a subject that maybe touchy for some, but undoubtedly affects teens in some shape or fashion and may just get you to think your own choices over a little more. This novel also deals with religion, and readers who are religious themselves may find it easier to connect to and understand this novel, but Choices is an undoubtedly a thought-provoking book, as we all have our own struggles and choices to make.

Because of the mature content of this book, I would recommend that only older readers read this book.

Undone by Brooke Taylor

Do you believe in fate? It would seem that dark angel Kori Kitzler and average-girl Serena Moore were destined to meet one day in eighth grade, in the bathroom. Ever since their meeting, the two become close friends, despite being seemingly opposites; Kori is the daring and mysterious one, while Serena more is not extraordinary, more cowardly and cautious.

Yet, Serena has followed Kori’s bold ideas; getting multiple piercings, sneaking out for midnight smokes, beers, and dare-devil tricks at the dam. But this pair is about to face something completely different that may just change their lives…

For one class, Serena and Kori have been instructed to “tempt fate” by writing 5 things down that they wish would happen, no matter how unlikely. Not a strong believer in fate, Serena blows off the assignment, not taking it seriously and believes that nothing will happen. She believes that Kori may have acted similarly with her own list, but when tragedy strikes, Serena finds herself with Kori’s list and finds herself the only person that could complete it. And the list wasn’t as ordinary and thoughtless as Serena had thought it would be. Can she complete this list and puzzle out her best friend’s last wishes, or will Kori’s deepest desires be left undone?

Serena cannot help but feel slightly clueless as to how and where to begin to tempt fate for Kori—and feel that she has just discovered a new and hidden side of Kori. But as Serena tries to complete Kori’s list, she will go on an unforgettable journey that will teach her not only more about Kori and her past, but more about her own past as well. Serena has some growing to do, some things to learn, and some believing to do, and her dark but fulfilling journey may do just that so she can learn to understand Kori’s views.

Undone was a bit of a dark novel, but very refreshing and thoughtful as well! It was undoubtedly well written and thought-provoking! A nice change from the more chick-lit type and drama filled books, I really enjoyed reading Undone and could hardly put it down until I had finished the whole book! I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a darker and more thought-stimulating novel that may just get you thinking a bit more about your own life and your ways of tempting fate.

A very striking cover, don't you think? Melissa Walker did a cover story on Undone! Personally, I'm loving these cover stories--they really interesting behind-the-scenes look on how these covers came about! Check out Melissa Walker's cover story for Undone here!

Severed Ties by Kevin Krohn

All her life, Nyne has been training in the martial arts and dealing with weapons. Ever since her mother died when Nyne was two when their house went up in flames, she and her father have moved around a lot to avoid the reason why their peaceful life was shattered in the first place—the Stanfield’s. The reason why Nyne believes the Stanfield’s are after her and her father is that her father had blown a huge corporate cover-up, and that Roger Stanfield, the VP of Rytax Pharmaceuticals, did not want this potentially reputation-destroying information to get out, so he tried to get rid of Nyne and her family.

That was years ago, and Nyne is now a freshman in college and she’s out for revenge. Her father has sent her on mission after mission to go pick off the Stanfield’s, one at a time. Fueled by her thirst for revenge, Nyne becomes a skilled killer. But even as she getting her vengeance, Nyne cannot help but wonder what a regular life with family and friends instead of constant fight and flight would have been like. Nyne and her father constantly move around and lay low for the most part, unable to put down roots and constantly making up lies to keep their cover. But with most of the Stanfield’s eliminated, Nyne is hoping that she can start her life over and try to live a normal life with her father once she finishes the job. After all, there will be no more power-hungry corporate workers to run from, but can Nyne really live a normal life? Can she deal with all those deaths on her conscience? How normal can her life really be, after knowing nothing but lies, death, and violence all her life?

On the final stretch before she can attempt to live a normal life, Nyne starts to question why she is doing all this, and if it is the right thing to do. Is there more to her past than her father has told her?—Is it actually more complex and deep than the simple story her father has had her believe? Will she falter, or can she get the job done and eliminate all the Stanfield’s once and for all? Is revenge really the right path to be taking? But she’s already gone to far to turn back—but what if she was taking the wrong path in the first place? One move could blow her cover, but one move could also change all her beliefs, and jeopardize everything she’s ever known and believed in…

Author Kevin Krohn does a fantastic job of hooking readers in. The action-packed start will compel readers to continue to read this thrilling novel! Although some of seemed a little far-fetched (or at least it seemed that some things came too easily for Nyne), Severed Ties is and undoubtedly an action-packed, suspenseful novel that will keep you guessing and hungry for more! Surprises and twists and turns will keep you reading until the very end of this well-paced adventure!
A job well done for the cover as well—it’s thought-provoking, leaves a lot to the imagination, and it really drew me in, wondering what the book would be about!
Overall, Severed Ties was a great novel dealing with revenge, decisions and consequences, the meaning of family, and growth. I can’t wait for Volume II!

The Red Queen's Daughter by Jacqueline Kolosov

Henry VIII’s last wife and queen, Katherine Parr, passed away not long after the infamous king of England, but her legacy did not die out. The late queen who was greatly respected for her intelligence and compassion and is still revered has left behind her daughter, Mary. Mary was Katherine’s only child with Thomas Seymour, the man Katherine married after Henry died—because Katherine died shortly after giving birth to Mary. With her father accused of treason and executed, Mary raised by another member of British nobility.

However, after a few years, Mary came under the guardianship of Lady Strange. Mary would learn that her new guardian was not any ordinary lady—she is a white magician—and Mary is fated to be one as well. Mary has a great destiny in store for her and will become a white magician to protect Queen Elizabeth’s, the Virgin Queen’s, reign. With that said, Mary begins to study magic, spells, different gem properties, how to detect people’s auras, as well as understanding magic—and understanding the fact that magic comes with a price. White magicians are selfless and use their powers to help others, unlike their counterparts, black magicians.

After years of training, Mary’s call to duty has finally come; she is to become a lady-in-waiting to the queen. Tearfully, she leaves her beloved guardian’s side on a journey that will test everything she has learned, as well as her own character. White magicians are not supposed to reveal themselves and Mary will have to work hard to protect Queen Elizabeth and her hold on the English throne. But is she prepared for the treachery of court life?

Court life is plagued with backstabbing courtiers who will stoop to nothing to get rid of their competition and gain favor in the queen’s court. And it is not better that there is something sinister afoot that leaves Mary wondering if there’s another magician—a black one—hiding among Queen Elizabeth’s court as well.

But not all problems are related to black magic. There are other plots and misdeeds occurring, including another of Queen Elizabeth’s lady-in-waiting getting pregnant. Understanding all the trouble and reputation-ruining that could occur because of this fact, Mary is grateful that she is a white magician and has sworn not to fall in love, but she attempts to help the lady-in-waiting with her new skills. Yet even though she spurns the advances of men, Mary cannot help but feel drawn to her dark and possibly sinister cousin—Edmund Seymour. Why does her dark cousin keep popping up and glancing her way? And why isn’t Mary able to fend him off? Is he behind some of the treachery at court? And why on earth can’t Mary detect his aura? It is rather frustrating, since Mary often gets a glimpse at a person’s character through their auras—could Edmund also know magic? Possibly black magic?

Mary may have years of training, but court life will prove to be another matter that Mary must master if she is to protect Queen Elizabeth’s rule. Mary has a long and arduous journey ahead of her to fulfill the destiny set out for her—a destiny fit for the daughter of a revered queen and of a lady who is intelligent and wise in her own right. Your mind is not always the only thing you can trust; sometimes it is your heart that you must listen to and follow to make the better decision.

Although not too much is known of the real Mary Seymour, daughter of Queen Katherine, this version of Mary would have undoubtedly made her loving and intelligent mother proud. Mary matured beautifully in this novel, and her story was full of other memorable characters that will take readers on a journey back to England during the Tudor era that they won’t be forgetting anytime soon!
There were some errors here and there and the author took some creative liberties (which is fine of course—it’s what made this story possible & what it is!) but overall was quite an excellent read.

9.458 (out of 10)

The Tygrine Cat by Inbali Iserles

The last Tygrine queen is in trouble when another great cat clan, the Sa, wish to establish their rule over all felines and rid themselves of the other great cat clan and competition—the Tygrine cats. Knowing that her son must survive and preserve the Tygrine line, the Tygrine queen diverts the Sa’s attention as she tells her son, Mati, to escape onto a ship. Although successful, the queen dies at the paws of her enemies, leaving her son to make his own way into the world.

Mati gets off the ship after a long journey and stumbles into the marketplace and territory of the Cressida Cats. There he meets Domino, Binjax, and Ria. They take him to see Sparrow, and elderly cat, who agrees to introduce Mati to the rest of the Cressida Cats and their chief, Pangur, to see if they will accept him. While Domino and Sparrow may be friendly, Binjax, and the other cats are wary around him, and are not very receptive to newcomers. After awhile, Mati has begun to settle in and learn the way of clan life, including their superstitions and traditions.

But when trouble starts brewing and Mati’s past seems to be catching up to him, Mati realizes that his new life in the marketplace will not last long. Can he run forever, or will his past catch up with him? When Mati is the apparent perpetrator for a crime he did not commit, he is forced to flee and finally confront his past.

With Mati out in the wild, trying to fend for himself, there may be more danger than it seems. The dark servants of the Sa have powers beyond any normal feline, and they are out to finish the job once and for all. But being a descendant of the line that balances the Sa’s, Mati has a great destiny and also posses powers—powers that he had best discover and learn to utilize before the power-hungry Sa reach their ultimate goal and destroy the balance. Mati must grow up and leave the comforts and safety of the past if he is to learn about his heritage and follow his destiny. He must learn that no cat is perfect, and must choose carefully whom he can and cannot trust. Will this heavy burden and harrowing journey to destiny prove too much for an exiled cat?

An absolutely fantastic book! Author Inbali Iserles weaves a captivating and beautiful adventure in The Tygrine Cat! Creative and refreshing, this book will appeal to adventure and animal-lovers! This reminded me a bit of the Warriors series by Erin Hunter—a feline adventure with many different well-thought out and well developed characters that make the journey all the more interesting!

9.950 (out of 10)

Far World: Water Keep By J. Scott Savage

All his life, Marcus has been an orphan and an outcast because of his unexplained injuries which leave him confined to a wheelchair. Not to mention the weird symbol on Marcus’ arm. What does it symbolize? Why is it there? Despite these injuries and the inexplicable mark, Marcus has been able to fend for himself, and even seems to possess some kind of unexplained gift. For some reason, Marcus is able to slip by, undetected, if he concentrates enough. It’s quite handy when he’s trying to escape bullies, but how long can his deception hold up?

When things get really bad, Marcus likes to escape to a place he’s created—Far World. Things are much more peaceful there and more welcoming, until one day when a man whom had disturbed Marcus’ Far World with his sinister aura and piercing eyes shows up on Earth at the school Marcus is attending, and tells Marcus that he is there to take Marcus back to his parents. Torn between the wish to find his parents and the dark feeling that the man could be evil, Marcus is hardly given a choice as he is shoved along by the principle who is all to happy to get rid of Marcus.

In Earth’s sister world, a girl also lives with an ailment that makes her an outcast in her world. Kyja lives in a world where everyone can do magic—everyone but her. Oh sure, it’s handy sometimes when nasty spells and potions don’t work on her, but she’s longed to do magic since the others think she has some kind of disease that prevents her from performing magic. And it doesn’t help that, like Marcus, she is an orphan. She is under the tutelage of Master Therapass who believes that she must have some ounce of magic in her. But try as they might, she has yet to produce magic.

Marcus tires to evade the eerie man who claims he will take him to Marcus’ parents, but his little trick does not work and the man takes him captive. Deprived of his wheelchair, Marcus isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, and the man laughs in triumph, telling Marcus that he has found him at last and will finally destroy him. And with that, the man begins to morph into a snake-like creature, completely bent on destroying Marcus.

Somehow, Marcus is saved by Kyja, who pulls him into Far World. Marcus is astounded that Far World exists, and quickly connects to Kyja, who is like him in many ways. However, they do not have time to dwell on the joy of new found friendship since Master Therapass tells them they must flee the city for the Dark Circle who wish to overtake Far World wants to find and get rid of the two of them.

The pair flee and meet up with the wizard again, and the trio tries to figure out the how Kyja got Marcus to Far World as well as how they can stop the Dark Circle. Marcus and Kyja learn that they are connected several astounding ways, and they could be the ones destined to save Far World. But can two teenagers really save the fate of a whole world? Will the dark forces prove to be too much for them? They learn that an elusive group of elementals, the Fontasians, may hold some answers and could provide some invaluable help—if they can even find this hidden group and persuade them to aid them. Kyja and Marcus are well aware that this will be only a small step in their quest, and many hardships are to come, but they are determined to help Far World. But the question is, strong determination or not, will these two be able to do enough to stop such determined and powerful foes?

Join Marcus, Kyja, and Riph Raph (Kyja’s rather annoying talking skyte) on an adventure that’ll keep you hooked from beginning to end as they set out on an arduous journey in an attempt to find more information about their heritage and save Earth’s sister world from falling to the Dark Circle!
I found Far World: Water Keep to be an extremely exciting and enjoyable read! I loved the characters and their bravery and cleverness! All readers looking for an excellent start to a promising adventure should definitely read this book when it hits bookstores in September! I’m glad I got the chance to read Far World and eagerly anticipate its sequels!

P.S. Don’t you just love the cover? I know I do!

Oh and keep your eyes out for a giveaway for a signed ARC of Farworld & an interview with the author, J. Scott Savage very soon!

9.800 (out of 10)

La Petite Four by Regina Scott

Lady Emily, Priscilla, Ariadne, and Daphne are the closest of friends, and refer to themselves as "La Petite Four." They’ve done everything together, including going through Barnsley School for Young Ladies and planning their coming out ball together. They’ve been planning, perfecting, and looking forward to this grand ball for sometime, and want their coming out to be an event to remember.

However, the happiness of these girls is threatened when Lord Robert wishes to marry Lady Emily right after she graduates from Barnsley. Why does he wish to marry so quickly? And why does he wish to wed Emily? He has not seen her for years and does not even know her anymore! Something fishy is going on… Not to mention their Season/debut into society will be ruined if Emily is married off right away! She must find out what Lord Robert is up to and she simply must go to the ball! She cannot have her life ruined and her dreams of studying at the Royal Society for the Beaux Arts dashed by having the marry Lord Robert! Oh why, oh why does her father favor this match as well? How can he not see that Lord Robert is up to no good?

Unfortunately, La Petite Four’s investigation of the shadowy Lord Robert might just have them picking up their skirts and running all over town, even into the dirtier areas, to figure out what he’s up to. Speaking of what people are up to, why does another handsome but mysterious figure keep popping up all over town as well? La Petite Four have run into James Cropper too many times for it to be a coincidence all over town as they’ve trailed Lord Robert.

When these four girls find out that Lord Robert may be up to something even more sinister than they had previously thought, they have to expose him before he marries Emily! Who are they to trust? Can these four girls get to the bottom of Lord Robert’s meddling, save Emily from marry the man, and save the ball as well? And just who is this mysterious Mr. Cropper? This Season may just turn out to be an extremely memorable one…just not in the way they had hoped!

La Petite Four is a highly enjoyable book! I loved the mystery and romance in this novel! I was hooked from the first page to the last, and the best part was, this book was not overly obvious, so I was right there with Emily and her friends as they tried to solve the mystery surrounding Lord Robert! A wonderful book with a simple, but sweet cover! A great historical fiction novel that even those who aren’t fans of historical fiction will surely enjoy! I look forward to reading more from author Regina Scott!

9.920 (out of 10)

The Mystery of the Fool and the Vanisher by David Ellwand

Do you believe in faeries? Do you believe in pixies or little beings that most deem only alive in fairytales? Join David Ellwand, a photographer, on his journey through the eerie English Downs where he encounters a pix stone (a.k.a. hagstone, among other names) and an old, forgotten archaeological dig site. Through the pix stone, David gets a glimpse of the hidden world of pixies, at a site where, a century ago, men were digging for an old flint stone, but another photographer found something else.

David happens upon a chest that takes him on a journey of a life time. Within the ancient box is the account and evidence gathered by a photographer 100 years ago, Isaac Wilde, that pixies do exist. He was ridiculed for this belief, but as he got to learn more about these elusive creatures that he could only see through pix stones, and other seeing glasses, he knew he had to somehow get others to believe him and preserve the little folks’ home.

But what happened to this Isaac Wilde? Can David decipher his journey and learn more about the site, or will his journey prove to be in vain and have its own abrupt, dark ending like that of Isaac’s story? Discover the secrets that the English Downs has with David Ellwand through the accounts, photographs, and other artifacts in The Mystery of the Fool and the Vanisher!

Kandide and the Secret of the Mists By Diana S. Zimmerman

Meet Kandide, the faery princess who is heir to the throne of Calabiyau—and also a completely self-centered, vain girl. She’d really rather be admiring her reflection and perfecting her looks in front of a mirror than anything else—except for a quick game or archery practice. Her sister, Tara, is the complete opposite—a bit boyish but an exceptional healer, she is caring and patient, unlike her selfish older sister. Their younger brother, Teren, is a mischievous faery aspiring to be a magi, or one who wields magic.

Her father is one of the most beloved kings of Calabiyau, with a council to help him make decisions. He was the one to unite the different faery clans of Calabiyau and each clan has a seat on his council. But now he has fallen ill, and he must pass on the Gift to Kandide so she can bring the Frost and preserve nature’s cycle of birth and rebirth, as well as rule the people of Calabiyau well.

But for one who was spoiled and is utterly self-centered, can Kandide rule her future people well? Or will she be too caught up in herself? Not one to listen to advice, Kandide decides to go to the meadows instead of performing her coronation and queenly duties to go have fun and pick pomegranates with her sister. Ignoring her sister’s advice to return home since the weather is taking a turn for the worse, Kandide ends up crushed under a tree branch struck by lightning, barely clinging onto life. Her sister rushes her home, but the healers cannot manage to heal her damaged wing completely, even though the save her life.

Heartbroken and enraged, Kandide feels less than perfect and vows to hide her imperfection, since crumplewinged and other imperfect faeries are cast out in her society. But when she is accidentally exposed, the council is shocked and her mother sends her away, and lets Tara be crowned queen.

Lost and afraid, Kandide wanders around in a dark forest as Tara is a rather unhappy and unprepared queen back in Calabiyau. But Kandide happens upon a place beyond the mysterious Mists her father was rumored to have created, and meets new people that dispel her old prejudices. Her life changes forever as she goes on a journey to learn acceptance of others, to learn to be more selfless, and to learn that outer beauty is far from everything, and that physical perfection does not guarantee inner perfection.

Can Kandide learn how to accept her own ‘imperfections’ as well other’s? Or will she revert to the same selfish old Kandide before her accident? Can she solve the trouble and treachery brewing at home? Or will her own reflection hold more of her attention? Can she fulfill her father’s last instructions to unite her country and bring peace and understanding, or will she let it fall to the overly ambitious and sinister individuals?

Diana Zimmerman wove an enchanting tale that especially younger audiences will enjoy! The message that inner beauty is what truly matters rings true in this novel that will have young readers wanting to read more of Kandide’s adventures!

9.450 (out of 10)

P.S. Thanks for the feedback on my new rating system. I actually just finished watching the ladies' & men's US Olympics trials for gymnastics today and I think I'm going to continue this rating system a litle longer & see how it goes. Concerning gymnastics itself, I kind of still like the old rating system, even though the new one (out of 17, now) does make sense with the level of difficulty/starting value and the execution scores added together. Anyone watching the track trials that are coming up?? I'm not sure what other US Olympics trials are coming up, but I'll try to keep up with the actual Olympics when the come! I'm sure the Olympic Games will be very exciting :)

I Was a Teenage Popsicle by Bev Katz Rosenbaum

Imagine being vitrified for ten years, then coming back. What would the world be like? Would everyone you knew be there too?

Floe was one of the many teens affected by the incurable lympaticotosis. Or at least, incurable until now, ten years later. But no one knew how long it would take to find the cure, so Floe’s parents decided to have her vitrified, or frozen, until a cure could be found and she could be brought back. Unlike most of the teenage population affected by lympaticotosis, Floe was one of the only ones who was vitrified. So ten years later, a cure has been found and administered to Floe, so she can be thawed out and sent out on her merry way—easier said than done.

Ten years later, things have changed. Inline skates? What, those old things? It’s all about hoverblades now! Jeans and a snug fit t-shirt? Vintage! Welcome to Star-Trek-like unitards era now! Things have changed, and what’s weirdest is that her formerly younger sister, Sunny, is not the younger sibling any more. Floe’s parents were also vitified for other reasons, but Sunny never was, so she has grown up like normal, but is older than Floe now! So Floe has to move into Sunny’s house, along with her unemployed husband and child, Jake, where she will attend Cactus Hill Secondary School with Sunny as her legal guardian. Can it get any more awkward? Floe doesn’t even get to attend the school she grew up at—Venice Beach Alternative! Speaking of Venice Beach, are her friends all grown up now?!

Life is proving much more difficult that Floe had imagined—there’s so much to get used to, and her classmates are starting to think she’s a freak because she’s not up to date on the new technology and still likes things of the past. There is one perk, however, Taz, the boy Floe had a huge crush on back when they were still in Venice Beach was vitrified also! The two take their first steps back into the living world together, but the doctor warns Floe not to lean on him, since it won’t last—Taz’ll be going back to Venice Beach, and Floe to Cactus Hill. But how can she not lean on Taz? He’s the guy she was crushing on before she was vitrified, and he’s still as hot as ever!

Hot guys aside, Floe’s life is made even more difficult when she learns that a couple is suing her vitrification doctor’s clinic, because they do not believe that vitrification works, and believes that it was a scam that cost their mother/mother-in-law a lot of money and her life. Little do they know, their mother/mother-in-law is actually sitting in a vat of chemicals, still vitrified and awaiting a cure to her own disease. But the doctor had asked Taz and Floe not to tell anyone about their vitrification, since the doctor does not wish to go public yet—but if they aren’t going public, how on earth will Floe get her parents back? They’re still waiting to be thawed out, and if the lawsuit is successful for the couple, then Floe may never get her parents back? What’s a girl who’s still trying to get used to of a new age supposed to do? She’s not close to her sister (awkward!) nor does she many new friends because of her out-of-date weirdness!

I Was A Teenage Popsicle was a sweet, (sorry, bad pun!) quick read! A fresh twist spin on the whole "chronically preserved" topic! Floe and her companions were fresh, quick-thinking, and a great bunch. Being frozen and thawed out ten years later and trying to get used to it is no easy task—especially for teenagers, who can have so many trends and fads! Floe’s coming-of-age adventure of trying to fit into the new society, come to terms with what happens, find a way to save the clinic, and possibly find first love was a great read! I Was A Teenage Popsicle may have tied up its loose ends a little too neatly, but it would definitely make for a cool summer read!

9.700 (out of 10)