book review

Tom Ward and the Spook have returned to the County to find it overcome with enemy troops and the Spook's home and library destroyed.  Fleeing to the nearby island of Mona, they must face an old enemy, who has grown incredibly powerful.  Certain death faces Tom at every turn - can he overcome the odds?

Why I picked it up: because it was sent to me.  I never start a series in the middle, and this is book seven in The Last Apprentice series

Why I finished it: The war with the old enemy takes the entire book - I wanted to see how/if Tom and the Spook would destroy her

I would recommend it to: fans of the series only.  Too much has happened for someone to pick it up in the middle.  Also, it was more gruesome than I anticipated (there's a scene where Alice's lips are literally sewn together to prevent her from casting a spell).

Blake’s life is pretty great – his parents are still married and love each other, his older brother isn’t too mean, and he’s got a really pretty girlfriend he’s crazy about, Shannon.  Blake is also getting into photography, thanks to his class, where he has a friend named Marissa.  Marissa has some serious problems, and Blake wants to help solve them.  But how far will he go to keep Marissa safe?

Why I picked it up: A lot of my teens are interested in photography as a way to experience the world, and I thought this would be a great way to see why they love it so much.

Why I finished it: I wanted to see what happened to Marissa

I would recommend it to: those interested in relationships, photography, and problems, and those who don't mind an ambiguous ending

Addy, fatherless and poor, lives in a small English village in 1913. When she is forced to leave school and take a place at a local man’s house, cooking and cleaning for him, she is distraught. She is not happy with her place in life, and when the opportunity to time travel reveals itself, she takes her chance with hardly a second thought and travels to 1340. She takes over the identity of Lady Matilda, engaged to Sir Hugh who lives in the local castle. Addy loves living the life of a grand lady, until she falls in love with the falconer, William,and  her fiancée comes home. She realizes that her life will have no more freedom than the one she left. With one last chance to return to 1913, will Addy take it? Or will she stay to be near her love William?

Why I picked it up: There is a young woman on the cover coming through a picture frame.  The background is dark and stormy, but she looks wistful

Why I finished it: I had to know how it ended.  Addy was a little annoying at first, but she grew into a better character fairly quickly and I wanted to know how she would choose to live her life.

I would recommend it to: those who love chaste romances, historical fiction, and those who don't mind a little historical inaccuracy for a good story

There are lots of fiction books about teens trying to get into college, but what happens once those teens attend college?  This is a look into the average life of fictional Harvard student Callie from California, who's just trying to fit in with her new roommates and their social scene.

Why I picked it up: I was interested to see what the authors considered an average life for a Harvard student (their bio says they both attended Harvard)

Why I finished it: Because I had to write this review.  Seriously, the book was awful.

I would recommend it to: no one.  There was poor characterization, changing POV when not intended, too many characters, varying levels of language and sophistication (I counted 7 f-words on one page, then 2 fake curse words on the next), and no mention of the academic side of college life.  There was also a 20 page (yes, I counted) scene of drug use that had no bearing on the story at all.  Pass on this one.

Upon hearing a whopper of a fish story, Jason and his grandfather embark upon an adventure to land the mythical giant bass that lives in Orange Lake. Along the way, Jason makes the acquaintance of an interesting cast of characters including a brother and sister in need of a new home, a young girl recovering from brain surgery, and a miniature horse obsessed with peppermints.

Why I picked it up: It was given to me at the local FLYP seminar.

Why I finished it: To find out if Jason caught Elihu, of course.

I’d give it to: boy readers, ages 8-12, especially fans of outdoor sports and enthusiasms