From Goodreads: Charlotte Silver has been through hell.

Her mom’s in a coma. She may have caused the death of a young man. And now her friend Avery wants her to tackle going to Prom? Not going to happen, even if she is dying to spend some alone time with her boyfriend, Noah. Instead, Charlotte needs to find some answers to a few nagging questions—why was her family attacked? Will her mother survive? And is there a creature from the Other Side coming for her? Soon enough, Charlotte’s search for the truth becomes a race against time. But she may just find the sign she’s been looking for all along…

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I love the Past Midnight series!  Of course, I went about it all wrong and read the second novel, One Hundred Candles, first.  Yet, I thought it was so good that I went back and read the first novel, Past Midnight (my favorite so far), and then the short novella, Raising the Dead.  I do love Purnhagen’s writing, but I am finding a trend with these novellas.  Although slightly removed from the main storyline and being too short for a complete novel, I’ve found that I don’t care for these novellas as much as I do the actual books in the series.  While these short novellas, especially Haunting the Night, give the reader more insider information pertaining to the characters, I feel like they are a little forced and not as well written as the actual novels. 

I would love to see Purnhagen flesh out these novellas into full novels, focusing on more details and adding more to the storyline, because there is so much she could do with it all.  However, I also like having these novellas because they give me something to sink my teeth into while I wait for the next novel in the series, so I guess I’m a little torn. 

Haunting the Night is a great story directly connected to events from One Hundred Candles.  I suggest everyone read it, and the other books in the series, but be forewarned, you do need to read the whole series in order to understand what is happening in Haunting the Night.  Three stars.

From Goodreads: Darci is a popular sixteen-year-old girl who plays basketball and lives in an ordinary country town. But her life is changed forever when she is accidentally transported to the land of Nahaba by a young apprentice wizard called Taslessian.

Within hours of her unexpected arrival, both teens are thrust into a dangerous journey to the cave of Grisham the Great in the hope that he would be able to send her home.

Upon reaching the cave, however, Darci quickly discovers that there is no such thing as accidents, and that their journey is only just beginning.

The Quest of the Demon has begun.

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Sawyer has created a non-stop action piece in which Darci, accidentally transported to Nahaba, must go on a quest in order to get back home.  What I really enjoyed about this novel was the immense characterization.  All the characters are extremely in-depth and well rounded, giving the reader the feeling of personally knowing them all.  I also enjoyed that this is not a traditional good versus evil story.  I’m not going to give away the ending, but I will say that I was surprised by what transpired.  This novel is refreshing and original, leaving the ending open for both interpretation and a sequel.  Although lengthy at times, overall, I enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it for MG and YA readers alike.  Three stars.

I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: Magic. Mystery. Mayhem. The MUMBO JUMBO CIRCUS…

When the enigmatic Ringmaster asks 15-year-old Evanja (Evan) Leane to run away and join the circus, she says yes. Anywhere’s got to be better than foster home Number Eight. Evan learns that this ragtag circus, a haven for throwaway teens, relies on more than spectacle and illusion. This circus is built on magic. Each of the teens possesses a donvrai, a true gift, that manifests only in the presence of the Ringmaster’s mysterious Ju-Ju. Unlike many of the other teens who must wait for their donvrai to emerge, Evan’s gift surfaces on her first night: she can read horses’ minds. This would be totally awesome except she has been deathly afraid of horses since foster home Number Three. But circus is a dying art. If Evan wants to save her beloved new-found home, she must concoct a brilliant horse act that will bring in the crowds. And she’d better get over herself and get on with it fast; there’s a traitor close to the Ringmaster who will stop at nothing to make sure she doesn’t succeed.

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I was pleased to find that this is a really great debut novel by Jane George, complete with love, betrayal, action, and a very interesting, original storyline!  George has created a world in which the reader quickly becomes immersed, a world in which the tastes and smells of the circus become palpable as Evan is whisked away on an adventure after running away from foster home number eight.  I highly enjoyed this novel and found myself glued to the pages from the very beginning.  The magic and paranormal activity within the novel was extremely fascinating, and George’s characterization left me feeling as if I truly knew the characters, having experienced their troubles and triumphs alongside of them.  While Evan does make mistakes that caused me to cringe in anger, her heart is always in the right place, and watching her come-of-age as the novel unfolded really made me love her as a character, connecting with her on a deeper level, which isn’t always possible in books.  This is a wonderful novel that I recommend for YA and above—it’s truly amazing!  Four and a half stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads:  Destiny brought them into this world to save mankind and malevolent forces will stop at nothing in order to annihilate them.

Born with extraordinary powers, fraternal twins Gage and Talon Thorn learn how to control their mystical abilities. Tragedy strikes the family and their ordinary father Gable is forced to raise them on his own. Pain and loss encompass the Thorns as they persevere to live a normal life in a place determined to destroy their happiness.

Soon their incredible gifts need proper nurturing and Gable recruits a special group of people to help in their upbringing. A sassy, tenacious nanny named Leia and an eccentric unorthodox warrior named Maui complete the dream team of mentors to aid in the complexity of their lives.

The brothers are determined to protect the family that has sacrificed so much for their sake. Evil, wicked forces lurk in the shadows and the boys are in danger if they don’t learn how to control their unique talents. Humanity rests in the hands of the young brothers as they embark on an epic adventure to save mankind from the dark Emperor.

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Fuentes has created an epic tale of adventure in her debut novel, Elements: The Beginning.  Born to a “gifted” mother and human father, Gage and Talon must learn to tailor their powers as an age old war between humanity and the underworld begins to threaten their very existence.  I found this novel very interesting and really enjoyed the many different characters Fuentes brings to the novel.  Watching Gage and Talon grow throughout the story was exceptionally interesting, especially as most novels gloss over these developmental stages, yet Fuentes follows the young boys from childhood all the way to their teens as they find new abilities and learn to overcome new challenges.  I really enjoyed this first book in the series and am interested to know what happens next for the Thorn twins, especially as this novel concludes in medias res.  Three stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: Sam is horrified to find herself kidnapped by a bunch of strangers – People stranger than anyone she ever met before. She doesn’t care that they claim to have saved her from death. Or that they call themselves angels. Guardian angels. All that matters to her is that they won’t let her go but insist she stays with them. Forever.
And then it gets even worse.

As time passes, Sam is faced with decisions and choices full of hurt and anguish and she is sure of only one thing… That nothing will ever be the same again.

A story about friendship and love, about commitment and happiness, and a girl who never thought anything out of the ordinary would ever happen to her.

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This was a very interesting novel with a completely original storyline concerning angels.  What I really like about it is that there are no references to the Bible or the downfall of angels, but rather angels that live in the human world, with extraordinary powers, such as flying, levitating objects, and conjuring food.  Their job is to guard people from harm—like a true guardian angel, and I really enjoyed learning about them. 

The novel begins right in the middle of the action and moves very quickly throughout the entirety of this story, jumping from scene to scene, which occasionally makes the timeframe of the novel hazy, but overall gives the reader a feeling that ample time has passed in order for the next element in the story to be revealed.  I liked Sam and many of the angels, though there were a few angels that rubbed me the wrong way.  Luckily, those angels were not meant to be “liked” per se, so I think Larsen did a great job with that aspect of the characterization.  I would have liked to have the relationships within the novel slowed down a touch, but overall I did enjoy the romance within the story.  For a debut novel, Larsen has created a truly unique, interesting piece that I believe many will highly enjoy.  Three stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: A terrible truth has been revealed to one man: the entire human race has been drained of every emotion except one— fear. To bring life back to the world, Rom must embark on a journey that will end either in his own demise or a reawakening of humanity. But to bring love and passion back into existence will also threaten the powers of the world with the revolution and anarchy that had nearly destroyed them previously.

After happening upon a journal through strange circumstance, Rom’s world is shattered. He learns that humanity long ago ceased to “live,” that it exists today in a living death of emotions. In a terrible risk, Rom exposes himself to the vial of blood folded into the old leather of the journal. His change is fearful and fraught with mind-bending emotion. A once-pious observer of the Order’s passionless statues, he is filled with uncontrollable impulses. He is filled with love.

He is undone, terrified, and alone in the desolate world.

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Hachette Book Group has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read a copy of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its publication today, so it pains me to say that this novel wasn’t my forte. This is my first Dekker novel, and while I’ve heard many glorious things about his writing, this particular story just didn’t reach out and grab me. Although the underlying concept of the novel is quite superb, I never personally connected with the characters, which is a must for me. I understood the character’s plights, and I disliked the bad guys and cheered on the good guys, but that was the extent of my connection with them. Now, I was quite upset with the ending and what Dekker and Lee decided to do with some of the characters, but that aside, the novel didn’t really peak my interest like I had hoped, and I will probably not be continuing this series. Some books just aren’t for everyone, and this dystopian novel wasn’t for me. Two stars.

From Goodreads: Tony Johnson is a studious young man planning to soon graduate from much more than high school. Although his zip code places him in a Bronx tenement pre “rise of Obama,” his sights are set far beyond the trappings of his humble upbringing. Collegiate dreams combined with falling in love with a white classmate put him strongly at odds with his father. Although his brother C.J.’s rebellious ways place him directly in the path of danger on gang ruled streets, and the virginal innocence of their sister Tanya is clearly approaching its demise, it is Tony who incurs the majority of Lionel Johnson’s wrath for the sins of ambition, daring to be with Janet Mitchell, and refusing to bend to his father’s will. Seeing unrealized goals reincarnated in the eyes of his eldest son harshly remind Lionel of what once could have been, and of what went wrong. His own childhood in a segregated southern town established a bitter, prejudiced outlook that is the only legacy he has to pass down to his children. When his job and role as primary breadwinner are lost, Lionel’s authority quickly erodes and he drowns his disappointment one drink at a time. This affords Tony, who lacks the seemingly servile patience of his mother, an opportunity to assert independence rather than allowing his fate to be set by chance and circumstance. But throughout the course of a tumultuous year, Tony comes to learn that the world is not as black and white as he and his father’s opposing mindsets would suggest.

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Pickering has created a phenomenal book concerning life and relationships.  Focusing on a family in the Bronx, Pickering’s characters and relationships paint a vivid portrait of the struggles many young men and women currently face in the United States, be it racism, gang violence, family disagreements, or poverty.  Tony, the main character, struggles throughout the entire novel trying to make a place for himself in the world, all the while his father berates him for attempting to pull himself up by his bootstraps.  Tony’s father is a man scorned, harboring a grudge against the White man and all others who have money, including his brother, a doctor.  C.J. is a lost young man finding solace in his hatred of others through his gang violence, and Tanya is experience love/infatuation for the first time.  Together, this family lives a rocky existence and they struggle to make ends meet and deal with disappointment after disappointment.

I was blown away by the vivid depictions within this novel.  Pickering’s writing is beautiful and poignant, causing the reader to become one with the characters, feeling their pain, their anger, and their hurt.  I loved the set up of the novel; even though the main focus is on Tony, the novel follows each family member throughout the course of the year, creating in-depth characterization.  This is a touching novel of relationships and realizations as a family must ultimately band together, or completely fall apart, in these hard times.  I am extremely impressed by this novel and highly recommend it to all YA and above—the overall message rings true to everyone, regardless of race or economic station in life, and I think it’s a wonderful read.  Four and a half stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: When Lucy Leary turned 18, her life fell apart.  She crashed her car, her best friend abandoned her, her parents divorced, and her grandfather passed away, leaving her a single possession: A vampire slaying kit with a note that said, “THEY’RE REAL.  FIGHT THEM.”

Now Lucy must stop the oldest, most dangerous vampire in history, before it can kill her family.

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Patterson doesn’t disappoint with his latest novel, Blood Calling, a new take on vampires and vampire hunters, one that is so unique and different that it had my attention from the very beginning.  Lucy’s life is spiraling out of control and the last thing she needs is to find out vampires really exist, or to meet one in “the flesh.”  Yet, these vampires aren’t exactly what she expected, and Lucy finds herself  in over her head, in more than one way.

I really enjoyed this novel.  Not only does the reader get to step into the world of vampires, but Patterson also gives the reader insight into their past lives, in small increments, spurring the reader on until the end.  Ranging as far back as Jesus’ times to those of slavery, the back stories for both Wash and Emma are extremely well thought out and written in such a way that the reader can’t help but feel sorry for them.  It causes the reader to connect with these vampires on a much deeper level once s/he realizes their “turning” wasn’t a glorious event, that they didn’t choose this lifestyle, but that their turning was one full of pain.  I also loved that Patterson takes history and intertwines it with vampire folklore in order to create these back stories, creating an interesting “historical” aspect for the novel that will make the reader want to go back to their history books and reread certain sections.  Of course, as the story unfolds and both Lucy and the reader learn more about the world of vampires, both good and bad, the characters begin to come alive right off the page, further making this a must read novel.

Told through the snarky voice of Lucy as she relates her story, the reader is sure to fall in love with everything about his novel, and  I highly recommend it to all ages, especially for any vampire lovers out there. Four stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: The best way to get even is to get Odd.

Thirteen-year-old Ander Cartwright is an expert on two subjects: fortune cookies and payback.

Especially payback.

When he’s not struggling with algebra, Ander is the leader of an anonymous revenge club that operates within the walls of Marina Middle School. Got a beef with a classmate? Email Ander’s crew and, if your case if legit, they’ll get even on your behalf.

It’s not easy to right wrongs and stay under the radar at the same time. That’s why Ander developed three simple rules designed to help him and his friends from blowing their cover.

But when Ander spots the opportunity to settle an old score of his own, he ignores his own rules, setting off a chain of events that threatens to blow his cover, and it’ll take all the butt-kicking, detention-dodging skill the guys can muster to keep a lid on their secret.

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I love this novel!  Fields has created a wonderful book for all ages, both young and old, which will captivate the reader from the very beginning.  Ander, the leader of The Odd Job Squad, specializes in payback, and his ingenious plans are both witty and fascinating.  I love to see the underdog succeed and get back at those who treated them badly, and that is exactly what Ander does for those unable to do it for themselves.  However, one of Ander’s antics goes terribly wrong, and Ander must ultimately decide between right and wrong.  This is a true coming-of-age story and I loved every moment of it!  Ander and his friends are hilarious, as are their antics and dialogue throughout the entire novel.  I must commend Fields on his ability to capture the dialogue perfectly in the MG novel—it sounds just like my students, and I know they’ll love this novel just as much as I did.  Although this novel is technically for younger students, it reads on an adult level and the moral of the story is one for all.  At no point was I reminded that this is a novel for kids, although it technically is, and I highly recommend everyone read it!  Four and a half stars. 

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: A girl lies by the canal, her face turned upwards like a stargazer. But she will never see the stars again. Her eyes have been torn out. The rain fills the empty sockets until they brim over, spilling bloody tears down her cold, white cheeks. Once every century, the boundary between the demon Netherworld and the human world weakens. Legions of creatures gather, preparing to cross over, to bring death and destruction. This time is called The Shadowing. Callum has always known that there is something beyond the mortal world – he can see ghosts. Lately, he’s started to have horrific visions of children murdered by some terrible, unseen creature. And then the visions start to come true – and Callum realises he is being hunted too. But Callum must stay alive. He is bound by a dark destiny, and must stand against the demon forces that threaten our world forever. For it is nearly time. The Shadowing is coming…

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Egmont USA has been extremely gracious to allow me to read an ARC on this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its US release on September 13, 2011, and I am ecstatic to say I love this book!

I decided to start reading this book the night before school started.  That, dear readers, was a big mistake!  Not only could I not put the book down because it was so fascinating, but I was also scared out of my mind!  I have not been this creeped out in a long time, and while I absolutely LOVE this novel, I do not recommend reading it right before bed.  I ended up “sleeping” with the lights on, but didn’t find much sleep at all, which, of course, made for an interesting school day the next morning…

But aside from choosing the wrong time of day to read this novel, it is a fantastic piece!  I was captivated from page one.  It’s a very creepy tale, and it definitely made my skin crawl on more than one occasion.  I haven’t read such a great ghost story in such a long time, and it was both refreshing and shocking.  While there is a little bit of blood and gore, I personally think it’s minimal and adds to the overall creep factor of the novel.  I might not give this novel to any MG readers, but I think it is suitable for YA and above. 

I especially love that the chapters switched back and forth, showing the hunter at work, and then moving back to Callum as he tries to figure out what is happening around him.  And, while this novel does take place in the present, it has a very archaic feel to it.  Callum lives in the UK in a small town that, through the descriptions, sounds like a very small picturesque town set in its ways.  I loved the imagery and archaic feel of it all and think Slater has done a beautiful job creating the setting to go along perfectly with the story.

Another aspect that I really enjoyed, though I struggled with on occasion, was the slang used within the novel.  As it’s a British novel, some words and phrases were unfamiliar to me and I had to use context clues to figure out what the characters were talking about.  I thought this was really cool and I not only got to read a fantastic horror novel, but I also learned some interesting slang (not any bad words or anything like that).  Overall, I highly recommend this novel!  Five stars!

From Goodreads: Margaret Anne and Maxwell Sinclair have lost their only son and one another.“I shall love you forever.” Her prophetic last words to Maxwell haunt him for what seems like an eternity. Reunited by a miracle, they have little time for bliss as their idyllic existence is once again threatened. When an assortment of criminals and hunters come calling, the Sinclairs learn that home isn’t always a safe haven — even for a couple of vampires! Gone are the coffins that contain a handful of dirt from the homeland. Gone too are the crosses, wreathes of garlic flowers and all the things you thought would keep you safe. Night after night the Sinclairs prowl neighboring cities ridding them of their criminal element with style, humor and marital devotion reminiscent of Nick and Nora Charles. Amid plots and subplots, Margaret Anne leads Maxwell into a world of computers and cars, he recounts tales from an earlier era and they both lead an intrepid vampire hunter on a merry chase. What Luck! is a about greed, violence, unconditional loyalty and a love that refused to die. Not today’s typical vampire fare – these characters are seasoned with a pinch of humor and a dash of class.

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I’m sorry to say that this novel just isn’t for me.  I love vampires, but I honestly had a hard time following the storyline in What Luck!  For me, it seemed to jump around a lot, and while many readers are easily able to follow, and love, stories like this, I tend to struggle a bit comprehending everything that is happening.  I thought the novel started out very strong and I was pulled into the story almost immediately, but became confused around the time Margaret Anne transitioned.  From there, the story became a little too fast paced for me as the Sinclair’s worked to build their new lives together, ridding the world of evil.  While I do love the premise of this novel, and enjoyed having “grown-up” vampires as opposed to the young, angsty teenage vampires that make up so many books today, I can personally only give this novel one star.

From Goodreads: Rylie survived becoming a werewolf at great cost. She moves to her aunt’s ranch in the hopes she can enroll in a new high school and quietly continue her life… with a few distinct changes. She transforms into a beast every new and full moon and struggles to control her murderous urges.

Without many werewolves left, it’s hard to stay in hiding. A family of hunters — Eleanor, Abel, and Seth — recognize the signs and follow Rylie to her new home. They want to stop her before she murders someone, and the only way to do it is with a silver bullet. Seth soon realizes the werewolf is Rylie, the one monster he failed to kill. Worse yet, he’s still in love with her.

Torn between family and love, Rylie struggles to reconcile her feelings and control the wolf within while Seth fights to do what’s right. But what is right– obeying desire or duty?

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Wow!  And I do mean WOW!  This is a phenomenal sequel to Six Moon Summer, and while I enjoyed Six Moon Summer, I have to say that this sequel takes the cake.  Reine has created a truly amazing book that had me glued to the pages from the very beginning, and I’m still reeling after the conclusion. 

Rylie and Seth have both changed in this novel, endearing them further to my heart—especially Seth; I think I’m in love, and I’m so glad that he’s more of a part of the story in this sequel.  Reine’s characterization is superb and real, and I enjoyed every minute of this novel, especially as the constant suspense kept my heart beating through  my chest.  It’s rare that I find a novel that keeps me on my toes so much, but All Hallows Moon did just that.  I couldn’t put the book down; it is such an amazing story!  Reine is a beautiful writer and her writing just keeps getting better as she publishes more novels.

While All Hallows Moon has a very clear cut ending, giving the reader a respite without any cliffhangers, I do hope for another book in the series!  I LOVE this series so much!  Reine has definitely created a reader/fan for life out of me.  Five stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: When the original purchaser no longer needs their airline ticket, Cliff buys it for a bargain price. Upon boarding, he realizes he has nothing in common with the passengers. When his flying companions reveal a variety of destinations and arrival times, it means little. That is, until he discovers the flight is a Special Charter.

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This is a very interesting short story that ends nearly as soon as it begins, leaving the reader to piece together the truth of the tale.  If you like stories without full closure, leaving the truth up for speculation, then this is a good short story for you.  Personally, I need things spelled out for me.  And, while I thought the writing itself was good and I have a general idea in terms of what really happened on the Special Charter, I’m still a little bit in the dark and would have really liked a bit more closure.  I feel like lovers of Flannery O’Conner will really enjoy Bauer’s writing style as it is great piece for in-depth analysis and is a bit heavy for a short read.  Three and a half stars.

I received a copy of this short story from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads:  A humorous adventure story of an ant floating in a toilet.

What events will he see today?

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This is not a novel…  It’s not something I would give my kids.  But, this picture book is something for us jaded people out there interested in just what a day in the life of an ant might be, if he was hanging out in the toilet… Truth be told, I didn’t know what I was getting into when I decided to read this quick short story, and, truth be told, there were lots of times when my jaw dropped while reading, but, I think that’s what adds to the fun of this short picture book.  Yes, it’s a little gross.  Yes, it’s kind of funny.  No, it’s not vulgar and there aren’t pictures of anything bad… intrigued?  I know you are.  I mean, honestly, what is an ant going to see if he’s floating around in your toilet?  Ponder that. :D  Three stars.

I received a copy of this humorous short story from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads:  Who thought a poem would trigger World War Three?

Tristan Gunner—skateboard fanatic, junk food junkie, award-winning poet. But you’d think he just got detention instead of the school’s grand prize for poetry. And even though Chris won five Math and Science awards, the next Einstein is crying because he’s not the next Shakespeare. Astra wants them both to cut the drama, and caught between a mortified winner and a crybaby loser, she hopes Chris can get over his attitude before World War Three erupts in her kitchen.

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This is a very interesting coming-of-age short story entailing greed and selfishness.  Tristan has won an award he doesn’t want, Chris has won five awards except the one he really wants, and Astra is stuck in the middle of this war brought on by Chris, a greedy, selfish young man who can’t fathom how someone like Tristan, of all people, could have won The Next Shakespeare award. 

I thought this was a very well written short story, though I wasn’t able to connect with the characters as much as I’d have liked to.  I found them to be a little flat, but I think it’s near impossible to create round, enticing characters within twenty pages, so I commend Ernstberger on her ability to create a great story in such a short span of pages.  Ernstberger has created a wonderful tale of right and wrong for all ages, and I especially think the message would benefit both MG and YA as greed and selfishness is a problem I see in the classroom all the time.  Three stars.

From Goodreads: It could happen tomorrow…

A cataclysmic event. An army of “The Changed.”
Can one teen really survive on her own?

An electromagnetic pulse sweeps through the sky, destroying every electronic device and killing billions. For those spared, it’s a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human…

Desperate to find out what happened and to avoid the Changed, Alex meets up with Tom—a young army veteran—and Ellie, a young girl whose grandfather was killed by the electromagnetic pulse.

This improvised family will have to use every ounce of courage they have just to survive.

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Egmont USA has been extremely gracious to allow me to read a copy of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release today, and I have to say that this novel is fantastic!  The synopsis drew me in and the novel itself didn’t disappoint.  Bick is a very talented writer, creating a unique “zombieesque” novel that keeps readers extremely engaged.  I really enjoyed that Bick was able to keep me in the dark throughout most of the novel, creating events that caused me to constantly change my mind about characters and situations as the story progressed.  Even after the ending, which leaves the reader with a huge cliffhanger , my mind isn’t completely made up about certain characters, their motivations, or their reasoning.  I love books that cause me to really think about, and analyze, the characters, and yes, though some characters are extremely annoying, such as eight year old Ellie, rest assured that they’re not all like that, and Ellie does become less annoying as time goes on (remember, she’s only eight and she’s very scared).  So, don’t let her, or other situations within the novel, bog you down.  This is definitely a novel to read through to the end.  I’m dying to read the sequel already! Four stars.