BookReviews

=Book Reviews =

Have you read a book that you want to let others know about? Add it here!
__Alex Rider: Eagle Strike__ by Toby Chin

Alex is resting and in some tropical island with his girlfrield, then he discovers one of his most hated and feared enemy's, and not to mention his grandfathers killer. He then stumbles on a small man that he does not know but could find out. What will happen in this exiting spy book like no other? Shall he this time find the truth about his grandfathers assasin? Could this be another catastrophic time where the world is in need of his help? Read this book, and find an adventure book that will draw you in into it's dark secrets, of Eagle Strike.

__The Cabinet of Wonders: The Kronos Chronicles: Book 1__ by Marie Rutoski

Rutoski cleverly mixes historical facts with fantastic elements as she weaves a tale of magic and intrigue into Bohemian legend to craft an excellent first book. When Petra’s father returns from building an enchanted clock for the prince of Bohemia, she discovers that her father has been mutilated by the prince. She sets off for the palace to get back what the prince took, and meets up with a Roma sister and brother duo that helps her on her way. Astrophil, her talkative tin spider, offers witty commentary and asides throughout the tale. While this story could, unlike many series’ first installments, stand alone, readers will clamor for the next release in the Kronos chronicles.  __Centsibility: The Planet Girl Guide to Money__ __Centsibility__ is a guide for preteen and teenage girls on money management. The book covers jobs, savings, debt, spending, budgeting, entrepreneurship, value, and charitable fundraising. This book also includes checklists, quizzes, and journal pages to copy. This book will appeal to girls who are interested in money – earning it, saving it, and spending it. It uses hip, funny art to illustrate points and sustain interest. Topics include jobs, saving, spending, budgeting, starting a business, finding value while shopping, and charitable giving. Quizzes, crafts, checklists, and journal pages to copy round out the activities in this irresistible book.

__Cheater__ by Michael Laser When boy genius Karl Petrofsky is tapped to become the newest member of the Confederacy, he discovers that cheating has rewards, but also serious consequences. When Karl is confronted about his activities, he must make a choice that could change his life… It seems almost as if Laser lives in a high school. This extremely realistic novel explores the epidemic of cheating in school from the viewpoint of a main character who feels extreme pressure, much like real kids today. The fast-paced, exciting story moves quickly and unpredictably to a surprise ending, which is very satisfying.

__The Comeback Season__ by Jennifer E. Smith Years after losing her father to an accident, teenage Ryan skips school to attend opening day at the Chicago Cubs’ Wrigley field, where she meets a schoolmate. Ryan, an outsider at her school, finally feels a sense of belonging with her new boyfriend, Nick,  until she learns something about him that will change their lives forever, and will force Ryan to deal with her grief. This is a powerful first novel from Smith that combines the unlikely topics of baseball, love, grief, and acceptance in a unique and stirring way. Sports fans will appreciate the frequent references to the Cubs and baseball in general, while those who appreciate romance and realistic fiction will enjoy the main story, the relationship of Ryan and Nick, who start out as friends. Ryan is a well-constructed main character, who must deal with many contemporary issues: death of a parent, the other parent’s subsequent remarriage, loss of friends, and feelings of isolation and helplessness.

__The Seems: The Glitch in Sleep__ by John Hulme and Michael Wexler Becker Drane has been recruited as a Fixer in the Seems, a behind-the-scenes world that controls everything on Earth, from weather to luck. Becker faces his biggest challenge yet – something is wrong with sleep, and only he can fix it. Using specialized tools and his training, can Becker fix the Glitch in sleep before it’s too late? If you ever wonder why we dream, or what causes the rotten luck you’ve been having this week, the Seems offers an explanation, sort of. This novel uses a variety of cleverly crafted terms that link impossible tools to impossible functions.




 * //Dinosaurs//** by John Long

An illustrated guide to dinosaurs. The “Introducing” chapters include: The Age of Dinosaurs, The Life of Dinosaurs, and Discovering Dinosaurs. The “Infocus” chapters include: Meat Eaters and Plant Eaters. A timeline, family tree, and index are included.

Full of eye-catching illustrations, each 2-page spread covers different aspects of dinosaurs from dinosaur eras to dinosaur anatomy, survival, and how they raised their young. Cut-away illustrations are sprinkled throughout to show the workings of dinosaur bodies and maps and information boxes provide additional clarification of each topic. A must have for dinosaur fans both for research and recreational reading.




 * //May Bird: Warrior Princess//** by Jodi Lynn Anderson

In the third and final installment of the series, May Bird once again finds herself in the Ever After, where nothing is as it was when she left 3 years earlier. Evil Bo Cleevil is taking over and has imprisoned the spirits that used to inhabit the land. Now he plans to move on to Earth. With the help of her friends, May will try to live up to the prophecy in //The Book of the Dead// and save Ever After.

May feels like she just doesn’t fit in anywhere and she worries that when she left Ever After three years earlier, she failed her spirit friends there. When she and Somber Kitty fall off the widow’s walk on her house, she finds herself once again in Ever After, but this time as a spirit herself. Ever After has changed as well and she must find her old friends and decide if they should run and hide or make a stand against Evil Bo Cleevil. May, though unsure of herself, is a gutsy and loyal friend and the story is both creepy and exciting. Readers will want to read the previous books before reading this one.




 * //What I Meant...//** by Marie Lamba

Fifteen-year-old Sang, daughter of an Indian father and an American mother, has always tried to be perfect. But when her parents refuse to let her date until she is sixteen and her aunt from India begins to steal things and then blame it on Sang, she decides to take action. As things spin out of control, she loses her best friend, misinterprets the attention of the boy she likes, and is accused of being bulimic.

Sure to be a winner with fans of chick lit, //What I meant…// has lots of action and multiple plot lines. Sang is struggling with the familiar problem of asserting her independence while her parents try to protect her. Complicating matters is her devious aunt from India, who is living with them. Her lying and stealing are causing a lot of tension within the family and when Sang’s parents don’t believe her when she tries to tell them what is going on, she resorts to trying to trap her aunt so her parents will see the truth. Meanwhile, she plots to secretly attend a concert with the boy she likes and her best friend suddenly shuts her out. In the end, she learns the value of family and friendship and there is also a lesson about being trustworthy if you want to be trusted. The cultural differences are handled well. The ending is a little too neat and her aunt and her best friend are not well developed, but the story and interesting characters will keep readers engrossed.