Rave Reviews from Booksellers and Teens
The Ring of Five is a story of spying and betrayal. Danny Caulfield is a natural spy. He has been selected for a terrifying mission against the evil Ring of Five, individuals who are trying to take over the world. As he is preparing to leave on this mission, Danny finds out a terrible secret about one of the people who is sending him away. Is Danny on the right side? This exhilarating novel will be an instant hit.- Alex, age 13. Submitted to Boulder Bookstore, Boulder, CO
Vann writes a sweet love story when Livia leaves Britain to live with her brother in America. After years of sickness, Livia is finally ready to be normal and enjoy her time away from her friends who no longer seem to understand her. Then she meets Adam, who makes her feel like she was never sick. Filled with smiles and a few tears, Vann follows A Walk to Remember’s storyline, but with British jokes.- Savi, age 16. Submitted to Boulder Bookstore, Boulder, CO
An intriguing novella. This short story captured my attention with the story of a sandman falling in love with one of his charges which he is to put to sleep. Problems arise as her dead boyfriend is chosen to take the sandman Eron’s place and becomes jealous of Eron because of his old girlfriend Julia falling in love with him. The dead boyfriend begins taking his revenge… This story strongly reminds us to ask ourselves “Can you really know a person?” If you are looking for a suspenseful adventure then this is the one for you.- Hunter, age 15. Submitted to Boulder Bookstore, Boulder, CO
The Red Umbrella is a beautifully crafted story following the life of Lucía Álvarez, a fourteen-year-old girl who lives in Cuba. When Fidel takes over the country she believes that things will go back to how they were before the revolution. Instead, things get worse with school getting cancelled and the government having full control of the peoples’ money. For their own protection, Lucía and her brother are sent to the US for a safer life. Gonzalez writes a work of art that will capture anyone who reads it.- Savi, age 16. Submitted to Boulder Bookstore, Boulder, CO
I Was Jane Austen’s Best Friend by Cora Harrison is a cleverly written novel from the point of view of Jenny Cooper, Jane Austen’s cousin and best friend as they experience British society in 1791. Harrison portrays the characters brilliantly and makes them easy to relate to. The story has the perfect amounts of love, sickness, secrets, society, and heartbreak to make any reader enjoy it.- Caroline, age 13. Submitted to Boulder Bookstore, Boulder, CO
In his latest book for juvenile readers, Poblocki proves again to be a wonderful storyteller. Nightmares and strangers torment and follow Timothy and Abigail when they are partnered by their seventh grade history teacher to research a school project. Family and friends soon become the victims of stalkers and haunting experiences which send Timothy and Abigail in search of an old curse controlling fear that is targeting them. Can the curse be real or imaginary? This story will mesmerize readers ages 9-12 until the very end. Poblocki is also the author of The Stone Child now in paperback. Both highly recommended.- Carol Hicks, Bookshelf at Hooligan Rocks, Truckee, CA
This second book in the series is packed full of whirlwind action for middle-graders and a series that is becoming a favorite of mine. Since Ian and his sister Theo found the silver box containing the prophecy, many changes have occurred in their lives. The translated prophecy from the silver box contains riddles and a small magical sundial that won’t cast a shadow, which frustrates Ian as he hopes he and Theo can find the third Oracle, a child with extraordinary healing powers. However the prophecy also foretells Ian’s death if he pursues the search. Should Ian and Theo gamble a venture that could risk his life, or should they stay in Dover at the keep where all will be safe, but lost, if they don’t follow the prophecy? Then a curse enters the keep and their choice becomes clear. Readers must start with Oracles of Delphi Keep (Book 1) for an exciting journey into the beginning fantasy adventure. The author promises more to come.- Carol Hicks, Bookshelf at Hooligan Rocks, Truckee, CA
Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea (available October 12, 2010)
In this poignant first novel, new teacher Mr. Terupt surprises his fifth-graders with his offbeat and exuberant educational style. The point of view shifts between seven of his students, and author Rob Buyea portrays the characters’ adolescent emotions as they deal with friendship issues and bullying with great sensitivity. One fateful winter day, an accident changes everything, and the students must face the possibility of finishing fifth grade without their beloved teacher.
Following in the footsteps of Andrew Clements and Gordon Korman, this lovingly rendered portrait of an amazing teacher–not to mention seven memorable students–is both inspirational and compelling.
- Sarah Todd, Children’s Book World, Haverford, PA
Trash by Andy Mulligan (available October 12, 2010)
A word of warning: once you start Trash, there will not be any putting down of any kind. It has all the breakneck elements of a great heist film—”The Italian Job” comes to mind—and yet its setting is every bit as heartbreaking as “Slumdog Millionaire.” Set among the enormous trash heaps in an unnamed Third World country, three “dumpsite boys” spend their days hoping to find anything valuable to sell. Some days they get lucky, and some days they don’t. On this day, however, the ‘unlucky lucky day,’ Raphael finds a bag in the trash. Inside the bag is a wallet. Inside the wallet is money and a mysterious key. When the police come looking for the lost bag, Raphael makes a choice that will define the rest of his life, and that of his two friends, Gardo and Rat.
Trash is one of those books that you really don’t want to spoil for anyone, because the reading experience is so worthwhile, and the characters are so endearing. It’s a story about brotherhood and love, about how kindness is more precious than any amount of money. It’s about broken promises, and how the greed of powerful men can leave a country desperate and dying. It’s about truth, and how no matter how deep you bury it, it will find its way to the surface. Most of all, it’s about trash, the human kind, those born into such extreme poverty that they’re simply considered garbage. Andy Mulligan’s deft storytelling makes the pages fly, and his gift for characterization makes the point of view shifts seamless.
This is the kind of book that could rock a 7th, 8th, 9th, or 10th grade teacher’s world. It’s exactly the kind of book I wish they’d assign for summer reading instead of adult books like The Kite Runner or Persepolis. (It’s not that I don’t like those books; I just don’t think they were written for kids, and too often I see twelve-year-olds struggling through them.) There is a fair bit of PG-13 language, which is in keeping with the rough atmosphere of the story, and some physical violence. Trash is a powerful read, and I hope that it will find its way into middle and high-schoolers’ hands, because it is a story young people need to hear.
- Sarah Todd, Children’s Book World, Haverford, PA (written for www.kidliterate.com)
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