I won a copy of this novel from Goodreads First Reads in the middle of March, 2011.   

Synopsis from Goodreads: “Secrets and mysteries are locked within an ancient tower that the wizard’s apprentice must guard with his life. One simple slip-up puts the fate of the world in the power of a desperate King’s Mage, threatening to destroy peace and harmony throughout the world. Time is running out, and Galax Hanz is the only one with the magical arts to lead a collection of unlikely allies to retrieve the precious Keys of Fate. But when Galax is pursued by the evil Mage’s Bloodwyns—the half-man, half-bird shadowy creatures of darkness—he soon realizes he has been drawn into a monumental struggle that challenges the foundations of his tradition. Galax will be forced to test his faith and training, which will guide him into the unknown regions on the road to the discovery of the alchemistic formula of life, death, and destiny.”

________________________________

I’m sorry to say that I am not a fan of Randolph’s book.  I really had a hard time finishing it.  The cover is beautiful, and the synopsis sounds intriguing, but the writing style seems hard-pressed and is not for me in the least.  There is very little character development and the storyline jumps from scene to scene with sparse explanations, making it difficult for me to follow.  Galax is the main character, but little information about him is presented, so I never felt drawn to him, or to any of the characters for that matter.  Galax actually comes across as a chauvinistic narcissistic male; he believes he is wonderful, and conceited characters really don’t win my affection.  Had more time been spent developing each character and telling their story, I feel like I would have enjoyed the novel much more.

I am still not sure what period this novel is supposed to take place within.  Originally, I thought it was set in the “olden days” in an alternate universe based on the dialogue, but then the dialogue began to shift back and forth between modern slang and older proper language.  This was disheartening because the change was so vast, and it continued throughout the entire novel, making it very difficult to read.  The dialogue became trite as the characters spoke to one another, and I really just didn’t enjoy it. 

The names used throughout the book were interesting as they were mostly exotic, but I again came across disunity within the plot, as one of the characters was names Keith.  Having such a commonplace name in the midst of exotic ones, such as Galax and Silvica turned me off from the novel and makes me feel like Randolph was unsure of the presence she wanted her novel to have.

Although I did not enjoy the novel, I feel like this might be something middle grade students may like, especially since they may not notice all the errors and inconsistencies within the novel, but I can’t be certain.  One star.

From Orca Soundings:

The cop pulled something out of his pocket.
“You recognize this, Josh?”

I stared at it. It couldn’t be.

Andrew looked at it too. After a moment he said, “That looks like the fish club Dad gave you.”

“Those are your initials, aren’t they, Josh?” the woman cop said.

I nodded.

“It’s what Scott was hit with. We have it down at the police station, Josh. Besides your initials, it has your fingerprints on it.”

Josh struggles to control his temper.  Josh had been living in a group home after being ratted out by Scott, his one-time best friend. Now he has moved in with his brother and overbearing sister-in-law and has been sent to a class designed to teach him to deal with his anger. When an old enemy continues to push his buttons and Scott appears to be up to his old tricks, Josh struggles to control his temper. Framed for a crime he didn’t commit, it will take all of his new-found strength to keep his cool—and his freedom.

____________________________

Orca Book Publishers is an organization that produces fiction for reluctant readers, especially readers on the lower spectrum, with a reading level between second grade and fourth grade.  Snitch comes from the Orca Soundings series, which is for those ages 12+, and is written in a way that the reader, especially a reluctant reader, can easily understand.  

I was really surprised that this novel dealt with dog training.  I really wasn’t ready for that, but I think McClintock uses a great literary device comparing rage and anger in humans to untrained dogs.  It was a really interesting look at anger management, and I enjoyed reading it, even though dogs aren’t my specialty.

I think this novel has a great overall message that our society needs to adhere too.  Being considered a snitch is one of the worst labels one can have, according to my students, and I think it is interesting that they hold such a strong belief.  I hope that reading this short novel will help them see that snitching is not always a bad thing, especially when it deals with crimes and life and death situations.  Three stars.

Check out my Orca Book Publishers page for more information, titles, and reviews for reluctant readers!

Synopsis from Goodreads: “Two years ago I did a terrible thing. I accused my best friend of being a killer after seeing him kneeling over a girl’s body. That moment and that outcast boy still haunt me.  Now my mom is forcing me back to Oklahoma and I can’t get White Bird out of my mind. But when I find out he’s not in juvie—that he’s in a mental hospital, locked in his tormented brain at the worst moment of his life—I can’t turn my back on him again.  No one wants me to see him. My mom doesn’t trust me. The town sheriff still thinks I was involved in the murder. And the other kids who knew the dead girl are after me. I’m as trapped as White Bird. And when I touch him, I get sucked into his living hell, a vision quest of horrifying demons and illusions of that night. Everything about him scares me now, but I have to do something. This time I can’t be a coward. This time I have to be his friend.  Even if I get lost, as well…”

_________________________

This was a really great read!  Now, I’ll admit that I was bored in the beginning.  I wasn’t sure where the story was going, and I didn’t know the characters well enough to care about their plights.  My first impression of Brenna was that she was a selfish brat, but as the story and the characters developed and I began to understand them, I soon changed my mentality and became hooked; I read this novel in one sitting, whereas I had planned on just perusing it before bed.  In other words, don’t write this novel off it you aren’t drawn in right away; it won’t take long for the story to take hold of you!

I love the subchapters Dane included that tell the reader the place and time.  Knowing how much time has passed, and the location of the story, really helped me follow the plot and stay interested.  I didn’t have to guess, and I wasn’t confused, even when two stories were going on at once, since each section had its label.  I think more authors should follow Dane’s example and include this information within their novels.  I just want to enjoy what I read, not try to decipher a timeframe, and Dane did a superb job with this.  I also loved that the story jumped between the past and present, giving the reader snippets of information to further peak interest in the mystery that revolves around Heather’s death.  Just enough information is given to spur the reader on without giving away too much detail. 

There are major plot twists throughout the novel and Dane kept me guessing as the plot unfolded.  I had many theories about the murderer as I read, constantly changing my opinion, but Dane still surprised me in the end.  I do think the murderer’s identity was given away too soon, but this is just personal preference.  I like the major twist to be at the very end of a novel, leaving the reader whirling and trying to grasp the new information after the book is complete.  While Dane doesn’t reveal the truth until very close to the end, there were a few chapters left, in which Dane concluded the love portion of the story, and the reader has time to grasp and digest what they’ve read.

As far as the characters go, it pains me to say that Dane created a very real cast of characters.  The sheer evil within some of the characters is not overdone; neither is the racism within the novel.  I found myself livid at times as I read, and the evil characters within this novel have no redeeming qualities, but that is a high note because I feel justified in hating them.  I wish that the actions of the characters were far-fetched, but they really aren’t, and Dane does a beautiful job portraying the evils that encompass racism and hatred for others.  The extreme hatred that permeates this novel is a wakeup call to all who read it, and it will leave you questioning society’s views what is acceptable and what is not.  Four stars.

Synopsis from Orca Books:  “In the photograph, Aunt Donna is very, very pregnant. My mother is not. I look up at my mom and she is crying—silently, with her hand over her mouth. I just make it to the bathroom before I lose my breakfast, my lunch and my mind.  Emily’s life is turned upside-down by a visit from the UPS man.  After Emily’s aunt dies, Emily learns that everything she has always believed is a lie, and her world crumbles. Forced to face the fact that her mother is not who she thought she was, Emily tries to find the truth about her past and make sense of her future. Turning to graffiti and vandalism as a way to deal with her anger, she comes to realize that there is more to a family than shared DNA.”

_______________________________

Orca Book Publishers is an organization that produces fiction for reluctant readers, especially readers on the lower spectrum, with a reading level between second grade and fourth grade.  Bull’s Eye comes from the Orca Soundings series, which is for those ages 12+, and is written in a way that the reader, especially a reluctant reader, can easily understand.  

I had a really hard time getting into this story, and I think that is all based on personal preferences.  They story is very well written, and I think it will appeal to the young adult crowd, but for me, it just didn’t click.

Emily is a very selfish young woman who believes the world revolves around her, and I have trouble with characters like that.  Yes, her world is knocked upside down when she finds out her “mother,” Saundra, is really her aunt, and her recently deceased “aunt” is really her mother.  Yet, I don’t think that justifies the reactions of Emily or Saundra within the novel, especially because Emily states in the very beginning that her deceased aunt meant nothing to her, and she only met her once.  However, Emily flies off the deep end, as does Saundra, and their reactions were just not real to me.  Saundra seems like a loving, caring parent, but the fact that she doesn’t even blink when Emily runs off makes me question the validity of the story line.

I also had a difficulty following the timeframe within this story.  What I thought happened over the course of a day actually took place over eight days, and then the story continues to speed up as Emily returns and takes part in destructive decisions, landing her in some trouble.  The next segment is even harder for me to follow as Emily meets and young girl and must make the right decision in regards of helping her.  For me, this was all very quick and I feel like, as the reader, I was left behind.  The story begins at one point, and ends somewhere completely different, and I feel like the two points have no connection.  While the writing is fluid and very well done; I just had a lot of trouble with the storyline itself.  Two stars.

Check out my Orca Book Publishers page for more information, titles, and reviews for reluctant readers!

From the dust jacket: “Lisabeth Lewis has a black steed, a set of scales, and a new job: she’s been appointed Famine. How will an anorexic seventeen-year-old girl from the suburbs fare as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?  Traveling the world on her steed gives Lisa freedom from her troubles at home—her constant battle with hunger, and her struggle to hide it from the people who care about her. But being Famine forces her to go places where hunger is a painful part of everyday life, and to face the horrifying effects of her phenomenal power. Can Lisa find a way to harness that power—and the courage to fight her own inner demons?”

__________________________

I’ve been reading this series backwards, seeing as I read Rage first.  I really enjoyed that novel, though it is the second installment in the “Horsemen of the Apocalypse” series.  Hunger is the first installment, and I’m sorry to say I was not enamored by it like I was with Rage.  I can’t put my finger on the reason behind this, but I just wasn’t very interested in the novel.  Kessler is a great writer, using wonderful imagery to capture the story, and I think she takes on a very difficult topic (eating disorders) and does it justice through the character of Famine.  I love the tie in with the Apocalypse riders and a real social issue, but this book just wasn’t as enthralling a read for me.  That doesn’t mean, in any way, that you won’t enjoy it.  I do recommend reading it, and regardless of my personal response to the novel, I believe that Kessler writes a great book for young adults, and the message of self-image is loud and clear.  I will be putting this on my outside reading list for my students because I believe the overall message of the novel is phenomenal, and I think it may hit home with my students more so than it did with me.  Let me give you fair warning: some of the descriptions of regurgitating food are extremely graphic, and they may gross you out (but I think that is the point!).  Three stars.

Synopsis from Goodreads: Chris Massi has been running from his world his entire life. The son of a Mafia assassin and the former son-in-law of a mob kingpin, Massi has tried to stay on the right side of the law, building a prestigious career as an attorney, and insulating his children as much as possible. But now a series of tragedies have left him without a law license and without several of his loved ones. And at the same time, his teenaged son is beginning to gravitate toward the gangster world Chris has tried so hard to protect him from. 

Michele Mathias has been running away from her life for more than a decade. Once a promising young woman with a future, she’s now a drug addicted street player living with the knowledge that her daughter – the only bright thing in her life – was taken away from her. When her roommate is murdered in a mob-related hit, her life intersects with Chris’s life – and their worlds change forever.  For Chris, a showdown is coming. The only way for him to save his son and regain his future is to face – and maybe even embrace – the demon he’s always avoided. For Michele, her last chance at redemption has arrived. How their journeys collide with the dark New York underworld is the stuff of the kind of suspenseful, passionate drama we’ve come to expect from James LePore.

______________________________________

I love a good crime story, and I was not disappointed by LePore’s newest novel, Sons and Princes, which hits bookstores today.  You know the story is going to be good when it opens with a dismembered body of a hit man.  LePore is a wonderful storyteller, captivating the reader through his prose.  Just enough background information is given to entice the reader as the plot thickens, making it an impossible novel to put down.

I really enjoyed the different sections of the novel, zoning in on particular characters to help solidify and explain their actions throughout the story.  As the crimes unfold and the main character, Chris Massi, deals with his internal and external struggles, he must find balance between the Mafia’s world and his own life.  In reality, the synopsis of the novel doesn’t do it justice as it’s about so much more:

• A priest trying to make amends.
• A father trying to save his only son. 
• A son trying to avenge his father.
• A Mafia don looking to secure his family name with a successor.
• A junkie attempting to make things right.
• A prosecutor with a vendetta.
• A mother trying to protect what is hers.

LePore paints a very intricately woven story as he connects all the characters through the past and present.  As the twists and turns develop and the story begins to solidify, you will be shocked by the choices and actions that take place within the novel.  A twenty-five year veteran of the law, LePore has vast knowledge that he brings to his book as it analyzes the underground Mafia life in this gripping tale.  I truly hope there will be a sequel to the novel, and I am excited to read LePore’s other novels, Blood of My Brother, and A World I Never Made.  Four stars!

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

From Goodreads: “Jason has a problem. He doesn’t remember anything before waking up in a bus full of kids on a field trip. Apparently he has a girlfriend named Piper and a best friend named Leo. They’re all students at a boarding school for “bad kids.” What did Jason do to end up here? And where is here, exactly?  
Piper has a secret. Her father has been missing for three days, ever since she had that terrifying nightmare. Piper doesn’t understand her dream, or why her boyfriend suddenly doesn’t recognize her. When a freak storm hits, unleashing strange creatures and whisking her, Jason, and Leo away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood, she has a feeling she’s going to find out.
Leo has a way with tools. When he sees his cabin at Camp Half-Blood, filled with power tools and machine parts, he feels right at home. But there’s weird stuff, too—like the curse everyone keeps talking about. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist that each of them—including Leo—is related to a god.”

_______________________________

Riordan has really outdone himself with this novel!  I was highly impressed by the “Percy Jackson” series, and am even more so with this newest endeavor.  I am so glad Riordan chose to continue the saga of Percy Jackson through Greek mythology, and I love the new twist added as Riordan takes on Roman mythology as well, twisting personalities of the gods and adding suspense to the series as they go.  I was in love with this novel from page one, and, although the intended reader age range is from 9-11, according to Barnes and Nobel, I beg to differ!  Riordan’s writing is so captivating that his books, especially The Lost Hero, appeal to all ages.  My high school students love these books, and so do I and a lot of my co-workers in the English department, even though we’re much older than the “intended” age group.  I believe that is a testament to Riordan’s sheer writing genius.    

While I believe that this series, “Heroes of Olympus,” could stand alone, I highly suggest reading the complete Percy Jackson series prior to picking up this up.  You won’t be disappointed, and it will help you understand a few of the statements made within this novel, as well as understand Percy Jackson.  While Percy is not necessarily in this novel, he still plays a huge part, and he will again be a central character in the next installment of this series, Son of Neptune.  I wish book two was releasing soon, but it won’t be out until October of this year. 

I am very impressed with Riordan as he is currently writing two series at a time, alternating between the two every six months.  So, if you’re looking for another book to bide your time while waiting for the next installment of “The Heroes of Olympus,” check out Riordan’s Egyptian series, “The Kane Chronicles.”  Red Pyramid came out last May, and the next installment, The Throne of Fire, comes out in a little over a month.  I will be picking up that novel as well.  Five stars for The Lost Hero.

Rage is officially in all bookstores today, though it’s been out and about since the beginning of the month.  Rage is the second book in the “Horsemen of the Apocalypse” series.  It’s a stand alone book, so if you haven’t read the first one, Hunger, that’s okay!

  Check it out!

Click the book for the review.

Synopsis from Orca Books:

I ran blindly into the store, sliding in my greasy shoes, knocking cans onto the floor, ramming into shelves. I fumbled for the phone. I picked up the receiver. I could feel Devin right behind me.

I dialed nine, one..

His hand slammed the phone down.

“I hoped it wouldn’t come to this,” he said.

“Frances works the night shift at a local convenience store, dividing her time between restocking shelves and working on her art. Her routine is broken one night when Devin comes into the store. He claims to be the son of a famous local artist and offers her advice on her drawings. Although he seems to know way too much about her, Frances decides, against the advice of her boyfriend, that he is odd but harmless. By the time she realizes the danger she is in, Devin is completely obsessed with her and convinced that if he can’t have her, no one will. Frances will be forced to use all her strength to escape from Devin.”

________________________

Orca Book Publishers is an organization that produces fiction for reluctant readers, especially readers on the lower spectrum, with a reading level between second grade and fourth grade.  Dead-End Job comes from the Orca Soundings series, which is for those ages 12+, and is written in a way that the reader, especially a reluctant reader, can easily understand.  

Wow!  Grant is an amazing writer!  I really love this short novel; it is filled with suspense and I couldn’t put it down.  I’ll admit the title didn’t grab my interest, but I’m glad I picked it up from the library, along with a cluster of other Orca Soundings novels.  It was INCREDIBLE!  This novel has so many great aspects, it’s hard to zone in on them all!  The writing style is to the point, giving reluctant readers a great basis of the story without overdoing it.  The characterization is perfect; as scary as it is, Devin fits the profile of a stalker to a tee!  Devin reminds me very much of a young man that stalked the females in my area, and I’m thankful everyone was vigilant enough to realize the potential danger and do something about it before tragedy struck—so this novel really hits home with me.  Frances reminds me of so many young women today, so sure of themselves and gullible.  I think this novel has a great message for everyone, young and old, and it will make your heart pound!  As I read, my stomach started tightening in anticipation; it was that scary!  I really love this novel!  Five stars!

Check out my Orca Book Publishers page for more information, titles, and reviews for reluctant readers!

Orca Book Publishers have been extremely gracious to allow me to review The Drop prior to its release date of May 1, 2011.  The synopsis is as follows: “Alex’s goal in life is simple: to snowboard all day, every day. His ultimate dream is to be part of the Backcountry Patrol, an elite group of snowboarders who patrol the ungroomed slopes of British Columbia. But first, he and three other young hopefuls (Dave, Bryce and Hope) must endure a series of tests, which takes them to remote and dangerous terrain. When Bryce disappears, the teens are left with Sam, their dubiously qualified instructor, and no links to the outside world. As Alex and Hope scramble to find out what happened to Bryce, they must confront their own fears of the whiteout conditions and the ominous, mysterious drop.”

______________________________

Orca Book Publishers is an organization that produces fiction for reluctant readers, especially readers on the lower spectrum, with a reading level between second grade and fourth grade.  The Drop comes from the Orca Sports series, which is for readers 10+.  This series encompasses short fictional books that combine “mystery and adventure with team sports,” in a way that the reader, especially a reluctant reader, can easily understand.

I really enjoyed this novel.  I used to be a snowboarder, before I busted my tailbone and my muscles atrophied, and in the winter I find myself still yearning to get back out there, although that will likely never happen.  Reading Ross’ book transported me to the slopes once again and I was able to live vicariously through the characters, something I can’t do simply watching snowboarding on the television.  Ross is a very talented writer and he knows his sport well.  Reading about the characters as they switch back and forth from toe side to heel side, crouching for more speed, etc., was phenomenal.  The imagery is beautiful, though I wonder if non-snowboarders will be able to appreciate the novel as I do.  Had I not been familiar with the terminology, some of the suspense and imagery may have been lost on me, but certainly not enough to ruin the book.  Ross does a great job creating suspense throughout the novel as one of the characters mysteriously disappears in the great mountains during a blizzard; this is a wonderful book and I highly recommend it, especially to snowboarders!  Four stars. 

Check out my Orca Book Publishers page for more information, titles, and reviews for reluctant readers!

From Goodreads: “Her mom is dead.  Ghosts follow her around.  Her best friend is an elephant.  And she’s about to meet the biggest game changer of all: a boy.  With a secret.  When circus-dwelling Gemma Flannery learns she will be attending public school for the first time in her seventeen years, little does she know that fitting in with her 12th-grade classmates will be the least of her concerns.  A pro at hiding her knack for seeing the dead (“shades”), Gemma is grieving the recent suicide of her mentally ill mother, a process eased by the introduction of her first real love interest, the charming and painfully handsome Henry Dmitri, who is harboring his own collection of dangerous secrets.  Together, they will be presented with a frightening challenge: to assume their roles as heirs to a 3000-year-old magical text, the AVRAKEDAVRA, a book the über-rich, sleight-of-being master Lucian Dmitri would do anything to get his hands on.  As each terrifying layer in her new reality melts away, Gemma unearths truths that her quiet, nomadic life with the Cinzio Traveling Players is not at all what she’d always cherished.  Gemma and Henry must rely on each other to stop Lucian’s diabolical plotting that will bring the world to its tired, scab-riddled knees, and are sent on the flight of their young lives, to save themselves, their families, and the world from the darkest kind of destruction.  Let the chase begin.”

_________________________________________________________________________

Sommersby is a fabulous storyteller, roping in the reader in the very beginning through her pristine use of prose and characterization.  I was enamored by both the characters and the writing as I read.  Sommersby has a wonderful gift with words, and she captures the true nature of humanity as she creates life-like characters right on the page.  Each character in the novel was created with love and care and, as you read, they become extremely real.  Sommersby develops her characters so magnificently that you will fall in love with them and truly feel like you know them.  All the characters are given true attributes of human nature, making it hard to draw an exact line between good and evil, though it blatantly exists.

As the story progresses, Sommersby does a phenomenal job explaining all the intricate details within the novel and keeping the reading informed, leaving few questions unanswered.  A mastermind storyteller, Sommersby will have you on the edge of your seat as your turn through the pages.  I was hooked from page one as the mystery, deception, and tension took hold, and I was amazed by the touching love story that will have all female readers jealous; Henry is magnificent!

I really enjoyed the many different quotes Sommersby chose to begin each chapter.  Each one was selected with care, foreshadowing events to come.  Sommersby obviously put a lot of time and effort into picking the perfect quote to aid the reader, and it is a refreshing way to begin each chapter.  I also highly enjoyed the many references to Shakespeare hidden throughout the text.  Gemma professes to be a lover of Shakespeare, and while there are many blatant references to the literary genius throughout the work, there are just as many subtle references as well.  As an English teacher, the subtle references throughout the novel made it that much more enjoyable.

Sommersby is an up-and-coming author to watch!! Five stars for the beautiful story!

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

Hitting bookstores as of April 1, 2011:



Check them out!

Synopsis from the back of the book: “OLD SCORE, NEW CITY:  Following years of war and near-annihilation, the people of the great city of Gastar have thrived without a major threat in two centuries, since the departure of the demon lord Zermon.  Now, unknown to the people, dark forces from the past return to stake their claim.  The boy Goldeon seeks to topple the city leaders by use of a secret army.  Shevata, the teen assassin and the boy’s greatest enemy, unexpectedly returns to the city by unlikely allies.  The clash of the children sets off a series of events that place the people in the center.  Who is the greatest danger, the two teens from the past, or their own war with one another?  Can the city survive it?”

______________________________________

This sequel of Act of Redemption is another great story in the Gastar Series.  Cole creates a completely new cast of interesting characters, save Shevata and Goldeon, as the two children battle each other as good versus evil.  Two hundred years have passed since Shevata’s last battle in Gastar, from which she left the human world in search of her greatest foe, Goldeon.  Although the demon world from Act of Redemption now resides in hell, a new group of unexpected foes takes the light in this new novella, controlled by Goldeon as he pursues utter destruction of the city.

I especially liked the set up of this novella as it takes place over the course of a week, but the sequence is not necessarily in order.  This aspect creates suspense and interest, egging the reader on to find the answers to the questions that arise in each segment.  It reminds me of the Greek tragedy format, in which the beginning is the middle, and the middle is the beginning (the end is the end).  While the prologue of the novel begins in the middle of the story, the next segment rewinds to earlier in the week.  As the story plays out, and the sequence of events change, the chapters guide the reader, telling him/her where the next portion of the story lies in terms of sequence.  Thus, the novella jumps back and forth, taking the reader for a thrilling ride as the plot unfolds and answers arise.  Questions brought up in this newest novella, as well as those brought up in Act of Redemption, reveal themselves as the story progresses, giving the reader much satisfaction as it all comes together. 

Cole does a wonderful job entertaining the reader through this action packed novella.  I was mesmerized as the story quickly progressed, and I was constantly caught off guard by the multiple twists and turns Cole ingeniously adds to her writing.  The end of the novella sets itself up for the third installment, and I am very excited to read about Shevata’s newest quest, though there is little foreshadowing as to what will happen next for the heroine of the Gastar Series.  Four stars!

Check of the book trailer:

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

Orca Book Publishers have been extremely gracious to allow me to review Gravity Check prior to its release date of May 1, 2011.  The synopsis is as follows: “Jamie is determined that nothing—not even his annoyingly popular younger brother Seth—is going to spoil his fun at a mountain biking camp in the backcountry.  Nothing but stumbling on a giant grow-op in the woods, that is.  And watching their fellow campers get captured by violent drug dealers.  And working with Seth to figure out a way to save them without getting caught themselves.”

______________________________

Orca Book Publishers is an organization that produces fiction for reluctant readers, especially readers on the lower spectrum, with a reading level between second grade and fourth grade.  Gravity Check comes from the Orca Sports series, which is for readers 10+.  This series encompasses short fictional books that combine “mystery and adventure with team sports,” in a way that the reader, especially a reluctant reader, can easily understand. 

Van Tol does it again with her newest novel, enticing the reader through mystery and suspense as the plot unfolds!  While the beginning of the novel explores the joys of mountain biking and enhances characterization, the novel quickly advances into a suspenseful thriller as Jamie and his friends’ camping trip becomes a life and death situation.  Jamie is a well thought out, quick thinking, teen that reacts to his situations with caution and gumption; all of the characters are balanced very well, adding to the chilling reality and believability of the story at hand.  Like Knifepoint, another one of Van Tol’s novels, I found myself breathless with my heart beat accelerating as I turned the pages.  Concern and trepidation for the characters seized me as I read, and I highly recommend this novel for all readers 10+, regardless of reading level or interest in mountain biking.  This phenomenal novel is a testament to Van Tol’s sheer writing genius.  Five stars!

Check out my Orca Book Publishers page for more information, titles, and reviews for reluctant readers!

The Random House Publishing Group, in conjunction with Goodreads First Reads, offered this book as a giveaway.  I was lucky enough to win one of the ARCs for review, prior to its release today, March 29, 2011.  

Synopsis from Goodreads:  “When Christina Haag was growing up on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, John F. Kennedy, Jr., was just one of the boys in her circle of prep school friends, a skinny kid who lived with his mother and sister on Fifth Avenue and who happened to have a Secret Service detail following him at a discreet distance at all times. A decade later, after they had both graduated from Brown University and were living in New York City, Christina and John were cast in an off-Broadway play together. It was then that John confessed his long-standing crush on her, and they embarked on a five-year love affair. Glamorous and often in the public eye, but also passionate and deeply intimate, their relationship was transformative for both of them. With exquisite prose, Haag paints a portrait of a young man with an enormous capacity for love, and an adventurous spirit that drove him to live life to its fullest.”

_____________________________

I am on the fence with this memoir.  I liked it, but I don’t think the  style of writing is  necessarily for me.  This is the very beautifully told story of Haag’s relationship with JFK Jr, and I learned a lot of information about the Kennedys.  Haag writes beautiful descriptions and creates breathtaking visuals.  However, as a lot of this story banks on description, I found myself having difficulty pressing on within the memoir.  I am more interested in the meat of a story, and a lot of time is spent denoting Haag’s background, which I personally find unnecessary to the novel.  Yet, this aspect provides much insight into the author, which I believe many readers will enjoy; it’s just not for me. 

I also had some difficulty with the sequence of events.  Haag tends to jump around from memory to memory and, while a majority of the time this was not an issue, at times I had to re-read sections because I was unable to follow along.  I believe many readers will have no difficulty following the sequence, but I need a little more structure to my novels.

The main story was wonderful, though I came away disliking JFK Jr. a tad, and I don’t think that was the intended purpose of the novel.  Most of the memoir was very interesting, and I highly suggest this memoir for history buffs and anyone looking for an insider’s view of the Kennedy family.  Three stars.

Synopsis from Goodreads: “Two thousand years after the Rapture, the world still sucks.  The talisman responsible for the Rapture has embedded itself in Doban’s chest, making him the most wanted rogue in history.  Pursued by a biblical prophet intent on ripping the talisman out, Doban must seek help from the only woman who ever loved him—a woman he once left to die in a tomb.  Can they let go of the past long enough to stop a second Rapture?”
______________________

This is a fantastic read.  I will admit that I began the book with trepidation, since it “contains graphic violence, off-kilter copulation, and nasty rogues.”  Therefore, I did a test.  Before I began reading, I read a short excerpt, to which my reaction was “Ewwwwwww!” along with much laughter.  Well, anything that can gross me out and keep me laughing at the same time is well worth a read, and I was right!  I found that the “graphic violence, off kilter copulation, and nasty rogues” were ingenious aspects providing much hilarity to the reader. 

Beymer’s novel is like nothing I have ever read before.  I really liked the setting, which combines the past with the future: castles still stand and kings still reign, but the rapture has already come and gone.  The unconventional characters were another aspect I highly enjoyed, as they are both witty and fascinating.  I enjoyed them all, which is a rarity for me.  The off kilter banter and escapades taking place between the characters really sold me on this novel.  For a short novel, the characters have a lot of depth and it is easy to connect with, and love, them.  The fact that I even love the huge man eating monsters is a testament to Beymer’s wonderful writing capabilities.   

There is no lack of suspense in the novel either.  Each scene moves from one section to the next in a fast paced, thrilling manner, and I was always surprised by the twists and turns of the novel.  I found myself glued to the pages, staying up late into the evening to read.  Beymer has created a real gem of a novel for the adult population, and I truly enjoyed this story; I cannot wait for the rest of the novels in the series to hit bookshelves!  I love that it is fresh and completely different.  Since I have a very off kilter sense of humor to begin with, this book was a great fit for me, and I highly recommend it if you are anything like me.  Four stars!

I was given a copy of Rogue’s Curse from the author in exchange for an honest review. 

Synopsis from Goodreads: “Imagine waking up one day in total darkness, unsure of where you are and unable to remember anything about yourself except your first name. You’re in a bizarre place devoid of adults called the Glade. The Glade is an enclosed structure with a jail, a graveyard, a slaughterhouse, living quarters, and gardens. And no way out. Outside the Glade is the Maze, and every day some of the kids — the Runners — venture into the labyrinth, trying to map the ever-changing pattern of walls in an attempt to find an exit from this hellish place. So far, no one has figured it out. And not all of the Runners return from their daily exertions, victims of the maniacal Grievers, part animal, part mechanical killing machines.  Thomas is the newest arrival to the Glade in this Truman-meets-Lord of the Flies tale. A motley crew of half a dozen kids is all he has to guide him in this strange world. As soon as he arrives, unusual things begin to happen, and the others grow suspicious of him. Though the Maze seems somehow familiar to Thomas, he’s unable to make sense of the place, despite his extraordinary abilities as a Runner. What is this place, and does Thomas hold the key to finding a way out?”

____________________________

I highly enjoyed this novel!  I have been putting it off for a while as it’s a trilogy and only books one and two are out, so I was planning to wait until all three were published.  However, my school library just received a copy, so I swooped in and took it before it hit the shelves.  I’m glad I did!  I thought this novel was phenomenal!  It reminds me of The Hunger Games trilogy.  If you liked that series, then I highly recommend reading The Maze Runner, even though the series is not yet complete.

I will admit that I wasn’t hooked right away.  In the very beginning, I nearly closed the novel because of the slang words used.  Dashner has created a whole slew of made-up words, and nightmares of trying to decipher A Clockwork Orange started running through my mind.  I am not a fan of gibberish, so I was less than pleased.  However, while Dashner does use slang, he uses very few terms (though in the beginning it seems like a lot), and the meaning of each becomes fairly clear within a chapter or two: insert a bad word.  I’ve concluded that Dashner used slang for two reasons: to keep his integrity as a YA author, and to further the notion that this is a futuristic novel.  As language is one of the first aspects to change within a culture, it actually makes sense that slang is used, even if it only pertains to cusses. 

Once I figured out the language, I was glued to the pages.  Dashner does a phenomenal job creating suspense at the end of each chapter.  Though I started the novel right before I went to bed, and planned to read only the first chapter, I ended up reading 100 pages before forcing myself to turn off the light.  I kept telling myself, “I’ll go to bed at the end of this chapter,” but when I got to the end, it was impossible to put down, because I couldn’t just turn off the light and leave everything hanging!  Eventually I forced myself to quit, otherwise I believe I would have spent the entire night reading; it’s that addictive!

While the character development was not 100%, in my opinion, the characters were still likable, for the most part, and I think they will continue to develop throughout the series.  Afterall, isn’t that the point of a series—to further develop the characters as they go through mass amounts of change?  I’m extremely excited to read The Scorch Trials as soon as I get my hands on it!  Five stars for a phenomenal read.

Orca Book Publishers has been extremely gracious to allow me to review B Negative prior to its release date of April 1, 2011.  The synopsis is as follows: “Is blood really thicker than water?  Paddy loves his family, all except for his annoying stepfather Anthony.  When they have a discussion about his future, Paddy overreacts and threatens to join the army.  Unable to back down, he finds he is alienating everyone around him.  And when he takes the physical exam and learns his blood type, his world starts to crumble and he starts to question everything he thought he knew.”

_______________________

Orca Book Publishers is an organization that produces fiction for reluctant readers, especially readers on the lower spectrum, with a reading level between second grade and fourth grade.  B Negative comes from the Orca Soundings series, which is for those ages 12+, and is written in a way that the reader, especially a reluctant reader, can easily understand.  

Grant has written a superb novel that is sure to catch the interest of all who read it.  Written in simple prose, B Negative tells the story of Paddy, a seventeen-year-old boy ready to follow in his father’s footsteps, but who is his real father?  Filled with suspense and mounting tension, B Negative will keep the reader glued to the pages as the story unfolds. 

I especially enjoyed Paddy’s voice throughout the novel.  As he tells his story, it is easy to connect with him and obtain a real sense of his thoughts and feelings.  He sounds just like the average teen of our day, and Grant does a wonderful job capturing the essence of the story at hand.  Grant’s ingenious play on words concerning the title, B Negative, made the story that much more enjoyable, and shows her sheer talent as a writer.  I highly recommend this novel.  Five stars!

Check out my Orca Book Publishers page for more information, titles, and reviews for reluctant readers!

Synopsis from Goodreads: “The day the blizzard started, no one knew that it was going to keep snowing for a week. That for those in its path, it would become not just a matter of keeping warm, but of staying alive… Scotty and his friends Pete and Jason are among the last seven kids at their high school waiting to get picked up that day, and they soon realize that no one is coming for them. Still, it doesn’t seem so bad to spend the night at school, especially when distractingly hot Krista and Julie are sleeping just down the hall. But then the power goes out, then the heat. The pipes freeze, and the roof shudders. As the days add up, the snow piles higher, and the empty halls grow colder and darker, the mounting pressure forces a devastating decision…”

_______________________________

Wow!  This is a fantastic read!  While it reminded me a little of Lord of the Flies in that young adults are alone together trying to survive, this novel takes on a story of its own.  It is a truly scary look into the wrath of Mother Nature and the human ability to cope in unfathomable situations.  I am a teacher, and the entire time I read this, I kept trying to put myself in the students’ shoes.  What would I do?  Would I have tried to go for help, like Mr. Gossell, or would I have stayed and tried to protect the students to the best of my ability?  Would I risk a fire to keep everyone warm?  Is the food that easy to find in the café after hours? (I’m going to talk to the café staff about that last one). 

Last year we had a huge snowstorm, not a nor’easter, not even close, but it did shut down everything for a full week.  Luckily, I was at home when it started, and not at school, as the situation was quickly declared a statewide emergency.  Like the students in the book, we thought it would be a quick storm, and it would tapper off within a day or so.  While the really heavy snow only lasted two days, it took a full week to clean up the disasters that ensued.  No one was allowed out on the roads, not even to walk (though I don’t know how we could have been fined seeing as the police we’re even out).  As I read, I kept comparing last year’s situation to Trapped, and it is frightening to think about—I am truly grateful we did not have any situations like those in the book.

This novel is told from the viewpoint of one of the surviving seven students, Scotty Weams.  I’m not going to give anything else away, but Weam’s account of his five days locked in a school, while over 18 feet of snow falls around him, is breathtaking.  Northrop is a wonderful storyteller, really capturing the voice of the characters.  As the story unfolds, and the situation goes from bad to worse, Northrop continues to flesh out his characters, and although Weams is telling the story, he does not focus solely on himself, but adds in vital information about the other characters, allowing the reader to identify with them all, as they fight to survive through this dire situation.  This is a very powerful novel, and I highly recommend it!  Five stars. 

Check out the book trailer:

Synopsis from Goodreads: “The once-great city of Gastar now stands underpopulated and in ruins following centuries of war against an evil priesthood.  Now a demon lord arrives with plans for annihilation of the people and plans to create a half-demon, half-human son to stay and rule after Gastar becomes an extension of hell.  A trio of former soldiers arrive to help the people regain their battle skills and hope for victory.  An unexpected ally arrives, the teen assassin Shevata, who participated in a rescue mission in hell to rescue living hostages.  Upon her return to the human world, she was cursed by having her soul removed after killing an evil priest without a death order.  Her presence gets the attention of the demon lord, as he knows her from the experience in the underworld as a powerful adversary.  Shevata, the humans, a human traitor, the demon lord, his son, and Shevata’s dragon mentor ignite the spark that drives this fast paced action story to its dramatic end with more to come.”

______________________________________

This was a really interesting read; I have not come across anything like it before.  In a post-apocalyptic world, the human race is plagued by powerful demons trying to make the human world another realm of hell, through the decimation of all humans.  Each chapter intricately juxtaposes the human world with the demon world, keeping the reader up-to-date with the happenings in both realms as the story unfolds.  The prologue sets the stage for the novella, dropping the reader straight into the midst of an age-old war between good and evil.  From the very first page the action ensues, never waning until the completion of the novel.

The first chapter begins in medias res, 200 hundred years after the prologue, and 350 years after the end of the Great War.  Although the Great War may be over, the battle for the human world still ensues; hence, pure souls are released, along with Shevata, the protagonist, back into the world to combat evil.  While not all the background information is clear in the beginning, Cole intricately designs her novel to help the reader piece together all that has happened over the past 200 years.  As the novel picks up in the middle, it only makes sense that the reader will have questions as he/she reads; some of the answers will come quickly, while others will not be answered until the near end of the novel.  Utilizing this tactic, Cole creates suspense for the reader—nothing is necessarily what it seems.  Usually I am an instant gratification reader, but Cole did a phenomenal job filling in just enough gaps to keep me turning the pages, always wanting more.  While not all questions are answered in this first segment, fear not!  Act of Redemption is the first novella in a series of four, and like all series, some questions will be left unanswered until later segments.

Act of Redemption takes a deep look into the fine line between good and evil and the use of violence on both sides.  This dark teen fantasy novella is sure to be a hit with readers of all ages, though I would recommend it for 13+.  I am putting this on my outside reading project for my students, and I am excited to get their feedback about the novella as well.  The second installment of the series, Children of Discord, just recently released in January, and I cannot wait to read it!  Four stars.

Check out the book trailer:

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