Young Adult Books

Young Adult Novel by Daniel Pinkwater is an amazingly witty story about five young dadaists, who are attempting to revolutionize the dull, strict, hyper-ordinary Himmler High School. One day, the main character (Kevin Shapiro) from a story they were writing is discovered to have the same name as a kid in their school. And that's when things really start to change at Himmler. One page of this hilarious short novel will make you want to finish the whole story. This book is for older children, but anyone will get a kick out of Pinkwater's ingenuous writing style!

by Clark

If you haven't read Pinkwater before, this is a good place to start. If you are familiar with his work then rejoice for here are five books in one. And not just any five books... oh no. This collection contains not only Alan Mendelsohn, the Boy from Mars and Young Adult Novel but the first and best of the Snarkout Boy books. Buy it, read it, and know that you and your children will never be the same.

I Loved these books. Daniel pinkwater is an old favorite from my adolescance. I fondly remember my older brother reading aloud from the "Snarkout Boys..." and "Young Adult Novel" on family car trips. More than holding up well with time, I found that now, at 32, I can finally grasp the great comic surrealism that is Daniel Pinkwater. This is a great compilation of old favorites and un-appreciated gems. This book is somehow bound with paper so light, I carried it on the subway daily until I finnished all 5 books and wasn't bothered by the size or weight. I highly reccomend this book to anyone who can appreciate inter-dimensional shopping mall parking lots, gourmets from space, enlightenment brought on by silly hats, socio-political revenge via soggy grape nuts and/or Psycho-kinetic guacamole. Yum...

The five novels in this book are genius. Alan Mendelson, boy from mars, takes youn through a boy going through being the new kid, goofing off with another weirdo, the wacky Klugarsh Mind Control, and... well I just can't give away the rest! I have to say i have a soft spot for The Last Guru, its so just... cool what happens to the boy :). This is an EXELLENT book for anyone to buy, I've read it so many times i tore off both covers and three pages. A great book to love and read again, again, again, and again.

This is an amazing, funny, incredibly random book with five comical masterpeices. Though I agree with the other reveiwers that alan medelsohn, boy from Mars is very good, my personel favorite is the last Guru. the idea of a self-made kid millionare is VERY intertaning. These books are, as I said earlier, random, and A Young Adult Novel is possibly the most random of them all. an example; the Dada's(the main character) beleive dishwashers should rule the world. Weird, isn't it? Any way, no matter wich story you read first, you'll laugh and have a great time reading it.

The Three Investigators was an AMAZING series of books,
which for some odd reason has gone out of print. It
featured three boys named, Jupiter Jones, Pete Crenshaw,
and Bob Andrews. Jupe was the brains, Pete the brawn,
and Bob the bookish one. Bob Andrews handled research,
Crenshaw was the muscle, and Jupiter was their leader,
the strategist. One day, there was a contest to guess
the number of jelly beans in a jar. Jupiter gave the
best answer, after thinking about volume and space,
and using math, to give what turned out to be the most
accurate estimate of how many jelly beans were in the
jar. The prize was the use of a Rolls Royce (Silver
Ghost), and the services of a chauffer, for what turns
out to be an idefinite time. Over the course of the
series, the chauffer tells the boys that they have been
his most interesting clients. These books basically
taught boys the importance of networking and self-esteem.
For example, Jupiter was "over-weight", some might say
"fat", but Jupiter always insisted on being called,
"stocky".

Do you see "jocks" hanging out with "nerds"? Pete Crenshaw
was the athletic one, capable of throwing a punch. Bob
Andrews handled research, and Jupiter Jones was their leader,
the "stocky" strategist.


But there is more to these books than that. For example, there
is the secret code, the triple question marks, ???, drawn in
three different colours. It was an identifying mark Jupiter
thought of, in case one of them should get lost, or worse, be
abducted. And the "ghost-to-ghost hook-up", an algorithm
Jupiter came up with to aid them in surveillance, or in "lost
and found" cases. They were on good terms with boys from lower
grade levels, who had heard of their fame as investigators.
And so the three would man the phones with a description of who
they were looking for. Each of the Investigators would call
five boys, who would in turn call another five, and so on.
The adults the Investigators were interested in, would not
be expecting children as spies. The kids would then call back
to HQ with details. Their headquarters (HQ) was hidden under
a pile of rubble, in a junkyard, and could only be entered by
secret doors and tunnels) with details. The "ghost-to-ghost
hook-up" made me think of the way girls gossip and share
information, through a "grapevine".

These books taught you communication theory, the importance
of social networks, mentoring, and friendship between boys
and men, of like attitude, if not mind. The chauffer for
example, thought the boys were cool. And they were.
Basically, this series of books teaches boys what feminists
have been teaching girls: self-esteem, networking, mentoring,
etc. These books taught co-operation skills, rather than
competitiveness.


How is it that books like these can go out of print, but
the yo-yo and hola-hoop manage to make their way back
into mass-production? A lot of books it seems, are
also being rewritten to conform to a feminist philosophy
or rather a femi-nazi agenda which promotes male hatred.
And so, the story of THREE boys working together to
solve mysteries may be "buried" just as old Warner Bros.
cartoons showing Bugs Bunny playing baseball against
the Gastown Gorrillas now seem impossible to find.


QUALITY READING MATERIAL FOR BOYS IS EITHER DISAPPEARING,
OR IS DIFFICULT TO FIND. 'Harry Potter' is a distraction.
People who have never heard of 'Harry Potter' are being
told it is evil by others who have never read it. 'Harry
Potter' may be satanic, but why protest 'Harry Potter'
when you could be demanding, "Where's the good stuff?"


Male illiteracy is being encouraged. Femi-nazis want a
relatively small percentage of the male population to
receive a "higher education" - in contrast to a much
higher percentage of the female population. These
"educated" males are the "beta" males: Femi-nazis want
beta males to specialize, doing "mental work", as
doctors, programmers, artisans, etc. In contrast,
"alpha" males are to be used for physical labour such
as "required" in construction work, landscaping, mining,
etc. Alpha males are also used to police (abuse) other
males. Males, both alpha and beta, are being "programmed"
to serve females in specialized roles, for "skilled
labour" requires that they be taught.


Feminazis encourage males to compete with each other, while
encouraging female co-operation. Males are being prevented
from NETWORKING, or protesting against feminazism. (Males
who network may be accused of belonging to "gangs" or
"terrorist organizations", and males who protest against
femi-nazism may be accused of being mentally ill.)


'The Three Investigators' stood for everything femi-nazis
are against. Femi-nazis are for male hatred, and that may
explain why these books are no longer being printed.

The Three Investigators have their first case: to find an authentic haunted house. Jupiter Jones, the intelligent leader, and Pete Crenshaw and Bob Andrews set out to see if an old castle nearby is truly haunted or not. Built by a silent film star, Stephen Terrell, no one has been able to spend the night in the castle since his untimely death many years earlier.

I first read this book about 30 years ago when I was a kid, and loved reading all the adventures of the Three Investigators, and they quickly became a favorite of mine. Now my 10 year old son and I have just finished "The Secret of Terror Castle," and he loved it, too. We especially noticed how the adventure and excitement was kept up throughout the story. We both agreed that the Three Investigators were much more exciting than the Hardy Boys, having tried to read one of that series without sucess. Instead, we found Jupiter Jones to be far more intelligent and we enjoyed the cleverness of the plot and story. We read the version with Alfred Hitchcock, which I'm sad to see has been changed in most of the books now available.

This is a good series we can recommend for kids who are sometimes reluctant to read, but who enjoy an intelligent mystery.

I remember reading this book when I was young and loved it. Great plotline with great characters and humorous dialogue at times. I started my 7 year old son on it. The first two chapters were slow going for him, but he slogged through it. The fourth chapter hooked him. He wouldn't put the book down for another 6 chapters. Recommended for ages 7 and older.

This book is so much more than a kids book. It was my first introduction to the Three Investigators, and quite possibly the best book in the entire series. The plot is quite intricate, and very intelligent. Adults can read this story and be thrilled and caught up as well, and to be honest, I get out my copy every now and then and visit with Jupiter, Bob, and Pete. The setting in California in the fifties, with Alfred Hitchcock as their mentor, is just perfect. I've read the later updated versions, with all refences to Alfred Hitchcock removed and rewritten, and I just think the original stories worked so much better. There was more of an air of mystery to them, although the stories themselves didn't change. In this book, the setting of an old movie star castle is just right. The writing is sharp, the characters already developed. Everybody at time in their life has encountered a super-smart kid, the one who knew everything. Sadly, the ones I met weren't as likeable as Jupiter Jones. This series is always clever, with strong plots, strong characters. Get these books and enjoy them. Many books aren't this well-written nowadays, especially for the teen-to-adult age range.

Quite a few children's mystery book series have become classics. Most people are familiar with Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, and Tom Swift. Even the Boxcar Children are relatively well-known. However, Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators were well-written books that offered an intelligent, interesting and more contemporary alternative to many of the earlier classic series. Many people recall the earlier series well, but the Three Investigators series, which Robert Arthur wrote and debuted in 1964, has, for now, largely been overshadowed by the other series and generally forgotten. Fortunately, all of these books are available either from Amazon or from other internet sources.

In this book, the first book in the series, we meet Jupiter Jones, Pete Crenshaw and Bob Andrews. Jupiter is the intelligent, often arrogant member of the group who has a tendency to be condescending. Pete Crenshaw is typically the muscle of the group. Pete is usually quite fearless. Bob Andrews, who begins the series with a broken leg, works at the library is handles records and research for the group.

In this debut story, Jupiter Jones has won the use of a Rolls Royce for 30 days of 24 hours each. Jupiter has also created business cards for the trio with the auspicious title "The Three Investigators," "We Investigate Anything," and three question marks. Jupiter Jones learns that Alfred Hitchcock is seeking a haunted house for use in his next film. The boys offer to find a house for Mr. Hitchcock if he will introduce their first story; thus the reason the title includes Mr. Hitchcock's name.

Soon Jupiter Jones is on the trail of a home owned by silent movie star Stephen Terrill. When the boys visit the late Mr. Terrill's home, strange phenomena in the house causes the boys to go running from the home, scared to their very bones! The mystery continues to deepen as the boys investigate Mr. Terrill's past the history of the strange house that appears to be haunted for real.

I wondered whether I would like these books as much as an adult as I did when I was a child. My answer is yes. Robert Arthur wrote these stories in a way that treated these three young boys as young adults rather than children. The three boys approach their mysteries with creativity, logic and more than a little bravery. The result is stories that continue to captivate readers.

If you are looking for mystery books for children and you are looking for an alternative to the stories I listed earlier, I highly recommend the Three Investigator series, and the best starting place for this series is absolutely with this book.

Enjoy!

This story is the best I, ve read in all the series.It shows Stanton's pointo of view.You get to know him a little better and understand all the problems he faces as a follower because of his love for Serena.Stantons a dream guy.He's cute,mysterious, and has really cool powers.
I think the author should write more books on him and stop writing Sons of the Dark!!
-TLATKD

This was the book that made me keep reading after I read the first in the series. I wanted to get to the book that I knew would be focused on Stanton and his point of view. It wasn't as fufilling as I had hoped, however, it was not as dissapointing as the book told from Serena's P.O.V. What is great about this book of this series as all of the background information we are getting, Stanton's past, that of some of his fellow followers and more of the technicalities of following the Atrox. The book also does a nice job of leaving you wondering what is going to happen next. It doesn't necessarily leave you with a burning desire to find out what happened next, but a mild curiousity that could lead to me reading it, or not.
And I still don't get the attraction between him and Serena. I almost want him to hook up with Cassandra, she seems more interesting in many ways.

I read this book along with the Secret Scroll this week-end. I love Stanton. I can't believe what he did to save Serena. I liked seeing into his life and knowing what he thinks. The book held me captive and I couldn't stop reading until I had finished it.

The Lost One by Lynne Ewing is one book of a fantastic series. The book tells about a 5 girls who become close friends by finding out that they are all special in one way or another. Catty can time travel, Vanessa can become invisible, Serena can read minds, Jimena can tell the future,
and Tianna can move things with her mind. These 5 girls make up the Daughters of the Moon. "Tu es dea, filia lunar. You are a goddess, a Daughter of the Moon"(Ewing 271). These girls come together to try to help Catty who has gone missing. If they dont find her they will all be destoyed forever. Will they ever get Catty back in time? Will the Atrox finally destroy The Daughters of the Moon? To find that out you'll have to read the
book. I absolutely love this book. It is the kind of book that always keeps you on your toes. When you start reading this book you will never want to put it down. The Author mixes mystery, danger and love into this book. I would recommend this book to people who love mystery and adventures because that's all what the book is, a great big adventure.

...I really enjoyed the book. My 18 year old daughter brought the book home last year, and she can't get enough of it or the series of books under the Daughter's of the Moon series.

I wouldn't personally reccommend the book for the younger teen audience, as it deals with some more grown up situations than a 13 or 14 year old may really understand, and with the fantasy elements and the supernatural aspects of the book, a slightly older audience would probably be better able to read the books for what they are.

In all, the book has a great story, interesting characters, and seeing things from a point of view that is not what one would normally find in books of this nature really makes the book compelling.

I would recommend it for the young adult crowd.

This book is the BEST format for learning the constellations with your kids, and getting a good feel for the "summer sky", "winter sky", etc... Even my six year old can pick out obscure groupings by using the charts. We spend evenings after dinner finding as many as we can and we can hardly wait for camping this summer!

When I was a kid, my father had a clever response to my "Why?" He threw books at me. Once I asked about the stars, and this book was what I got. And what a book it was! It taught me the mechanics of the nights sky, about the Moon and planets, what the constellations looked like and how to find them in the sky... Everything I needed to go outside and start finding things.

The book didn't stop there. It teaches about the seasons, the difference between 'star time' and 'sun time', why the stars and constellations precess as they do, and MUCH more.

All this was about 1957. For whatever reason, my interest in all this got rekindled around 1997. But my old friend - the book my father gave me - had been lost many years before. So, I went to a local book shop, looking for a some kind of substitute, and to my astonishment, there it was! A copy of HA Rey's book, my long lost friend! So I was off again, looking at the easy-to-use diagrams, finding the constellations in the sky.

You may go to astronomy forums on the net, and you'll find this book mentioned all too seldom. The one most mentioned (to my observation) is "Turn Left At Orion", which is a fine publication, but it is NOT a beginner's book. Rey's is, and there isn't one better, and never has been. (The net forums seem to be for folks that are beyond the beginning stage, and I've found none designed for kids just starting. So, for absolute beginners, these forums can mislead, though, I'm sure, not intentionally.)

For absolute-beginner backyard astronomy, if you're looking for a book for your kid (or you're a kid looking for something to pester your parents to buy), you've found it. And at a rediculously low price to boot.

If I were king, this book would be in every library that calls itself a library. No praise can be too high, for this book does, exactly and completely, what it purports to do. Mr. Rey passed in 1977 (Wikipedia, "HA Rey"), and his work has long outlived both him and his wife. But, as long as a publisher with a heart and brain exists, his masterpiece will continue to show kids (of any age) the way to the stars.

This book is full of info for the casual observer of the night sky. Its easy to use and got loads of pics/diagrams to make viewing the heavens so easy. Great for kids...maybe to use with a scout troop. Buy this book and you will be hooked on the sky.

While H.A. Rey may be known best for his children's book series, Curious George, this book--The Stars--is by far my favorite book he has written. It is informative and interesting, and gives you a great basis on which to build as you go forward in astronomy.

My wife helped my daughters select this book for me for Father's Day when they were young, and it led me to develop a great interest in the many wonders found in the night sky. I went on to build my own 10" reflective telescope and to make star gazing a hobby for our whole family--and neighborhood for that matter. Great little book.

I use this book when I go camping with my Girl Scouts. It is very easy to use, and even the youngest girls can locate various constellations using this text. There is enough additional information to make the text interesting to my older girls as well. The volume is slim and fits well into a backpack. I definitely recommend it.

Charmed Life is about some kids who go to study magic with one of the official guys in charge of magic. He has a couple of kids of his own, and they are the usual school age to have the school age disagreements and fights and not being nice to each other that goes along with that.

The eldest also gets a bit peeved at being thrown in with the young brats, too.

A young boy, Cat, must deal with his crazy and selfish older sister Gwendolyn who is obsessed with her own magical powers. Certainly much slower and less exciting than Jones' Howl books (read: more for children), but still has her enchanting and seemingly effortless style that captures a world where "magic is like music". Jones is always a good read. The characters are mysterious and thoroughly enjoyable. Gwendolyn is ambiguous and silly and selfish and delightful. Cat is an innocent; Chestomanci is Jones' typical ambiguous and passive wizard. The imagery of magic, particularly Cat's matchstick nine lives, is absolutely delicious. Grade: B

I am constantly on the lookout for new fantasy reads, because not only is it difficult to find a truly lasting (and by "lasting" I mean you think about it all the time, read it again and again, and gulp down every one of the author's other books) fantasy story, but if you do that author is usually what they call A Lofty One-Piece Wonder who writes one astonishingly beautiful story, gives it to the world...then settles into retirement and ignores all letters posted to them begging for a sequel.

Ah, not so with Diana Wynne Jones.

Hearing about her was actually an accident. I had picked up the book "Inkspell", the sequel to a book I'd enjoyed very much (Inkheart) and saw, on the back, that there was a quote on the back from "Diana Wynne Jones, author". For fun, I wandered over to the J's. Only a few Diana books were there -- THE MERLIN CONSPIRACY, ARCHER'S GOON, and -- the book that forever endeared me to this amazingly talented author -- EIGHT DAYS OF LUKE.

Having five dollars just aching to be spent and about that many minutes left till we had to go, I bought it on a whim.

And inhaled it that night.

I was going through withdrawls. NEED -- MORE -- DIANA -- WYNNE -- JONES -- BOOKS!!!

I got back to Borders and began to scrounge the shelves. Hmmm. "Chronicles of Chrestomanci". Looked okay -- not as good as I'd thought "Eight Days of Luke" was, but -- what was?

I read a little, put it down. Read a little more, and -- couldn't stop.

I am now on Book II, "The Lives of Christopher Chant".

I think you understand what I'm trying to say. Buy this book -- and while you're at it get "Eight days of Luke", too.



Rating: Very Good

"Charmed Life" is my first Diana Wynne Jones book (I know, I know ... I'm a little late) and I'll openly admit I came to her work through Miyazaki's amazing film "Howl's Moving Castle". Imagine how stupid I felt when I realized that I had been missing out on one of the best writers of our age. While it starts off slowly, Jones's first Chrestomanci book is still a grand, magical, yet simple adventure that sweeps the reader off their feet into a quirky yet solid world that readers will enjoy again and again.

Eric, a.k.a., Cat Chant, is a small and passive boy who thinks that he has no magical powers unlike his sister Gwendolen. Gwendolen is an ambitious, spoiled, and powerful girl who dreams of controlling the world. One day, when their parents die in a tragic boat accident, Gwendolen's powers attract the attention of the dapper and eccentric Chrestomanci. Chrestomanci is an enchanter, and a nine lived one at that, so that means he controls and governs all magic in the twelve related worlds. Chrestomanci seems to take an interest in Gwendolen, so he invites her and Cat to live in his castle.

When they arrive at the castle, both children dislike it at first. But Cat, being the passive boy that he is, quickly makes friends with Chrestomanci's two children even though he's absolutely frightened to death of their father. But Gwendolen has other ideas. She hates the fact that she has to learn maths and history instead of magic in school, and she is absolutely appaled that Chrestomanci doesn't take notice in her powers. Soon, Gwendolen sets out on a war of wills and magic against Chrestomanci and his castle, and Cat is unbeknowingly caught up in the whirlwinds of his sister's dangerous ambitions.

Jones is brilliant in her prose and writing. She easily writes with a sense of whimsy, while at the same time fleshing out realistic characters and villains. Cat is passive at first, but he soon grows a spine and stands up against the one thing that holds him back (I won't ruin the surprise). Jones' magic is an everyday and casual part of life for the characters, but it comes in second to their emotions and the overall story. The story takes so many surprising twists that shocked and surprised me, I was literally biting my nails towards the end wondering what would happen next.

"Charmed Life" is a delightful and charming surprise. While not a grand and sweeping epic, it will still sweep readers off their feet with the simple and quiet humor, magic, and sheer enjoyment that Jones so evidently finds and puts into her work. This book is not to be missed, and I can only end with saying how foolish I feel now that I didn't find Diana sooner.

This story and the next ("The Lives of Christopher Chant") are easily the most complex and interesting stories in the Chrestomanci series, and really the ones that the rest hang upon, because they really explain who and what the "Chrestomanci" is, and the role he plays in the fascinating universe Diana Wynne Jones has created. This is fantasy at its best, well written and very inventive, with characters that seem both familiar and bizarrely unique. It is, I suppose, not life-changing fiction but it keeps you there and makes you care and gives an opportunity to wonder. (It is no accident that Hayao Miyazaki based his latest film - Howl's Moving Castle -- on one of Jones' novels: they seem to have imaginations that operate on the same wavelength; like him, she is endlessly inventive and capable of a sublime blending of the supernatural and the ordinary, and loves finding magic in machines, and has an obsession with cats.)

The basic premise of the "Chrestomanci multiverse" is that every time there is a major event that "changes" the world, the world actually divides into two alternate realities, one in which the event occurs and one in which it doesn't. Somehow, though, while the possibilities might seem infinite there are a limited number of possibilities that resemble the one Chrestomanci inhabits enough to warrant his general attention and concern. Within each major world variation, there are nine alternates (don't ask why just nine) that are apparently unified because they have the "same" people doing different things in them. It sometimes happens, though, that an individual within one of those realities has no parallel in the others, and so the "lives" that would belong to the other realities actually belong to him or her. Such a nine-lived individual has powerful magic and becomes a likely candidate for taking over the position of the British-hired Chrestomanci (think a mixture of Rowling's Minister of Magic for an indication of his range of responsibilities, with Head of Hogwarts for his overall competency).

Speaking of Rowling, some have compared Jones to Rowling and there are some interesting parallels -- so many that it is hard not to think that Rowling had at least read some of Diane Wynne Jones' stories. Still, I don't agree with others who say Jones is a better writer than Rowling. There is a way in which she is: for her elegance of prose, her compactness of style, for the overall simplicity and completeness of her stories. Still, I think that Rowling is superior because what Jones doesn't try to do Rowling does very well. Jones creates another world whose basic features are similar to ours, but is different in specifiable ways. In that sense it is pure fantasy, a work of the imagination that she can tinker with and alter in various stories but is basically self-contained and organized in such a way that each story can be really complete. Rowling fits her story of another world into THIS world and sets herself with what seems to me a much more difficult task of accommodating her fantasy to the unknown and improbable and strange and unfinished character of any story set in this real world. The edges in any such story are unwieldy and it is a real tribute to Rowling (though in no way a criticism of Jones who has other aims) that she can wield them so well.

First... let me say that words cannot discribe how the first 5 books in this series have touched my life. They were amazing and even after all these years I think of Sita and the trials she went through.
When I began this book, I was excited to see how they would end it, yet the farther I got into the book, the more outlandish and silly it got.
Lets examine the plot: We first learn that Sita has eveolved as a vampire. She can now read minds and move objects with hers. A vampire with telekinisis! What? She is attacked by creatures with ray guns that can vaporize people by turning them into nothing but a cloud of smoke, like something out of a sci-fi flick. Cheesy much!
After this she goes onto a UFO and travels back in time to save the world from the abundance of negative energy, thus causing mankinds downfall. She spends a majority of the tale in the past, where she meets a Satan worshipping sorceror who trpas her in an invisible bubble with a flesh eating monster. Using her telekinisis she defeats him and returns to the spaceship.
I will say the book is good for checking out the last ten pages. It was actually really sad, and interesting to see how Mr.Pike wrapped up Sita's life.
All in all, I would reccomend only reading the last ten pages. The rest is so ridiculously stupid. This book is no where near as good as 1-5. If you ask me, this was an unnessesary installment to the series. I loved the way the first 5 parts were all tied together... yet this one stands alone and has nothing to do with the others. I just dont get how people can post that this is the best one in the series. Get some taste people.

Dis series is probably 1 of the best books i've read so far! its full of action but is also sad and happy :D... it has many twists and i was really suprised when i was reading it cos the story was not as i had thought!! but it was gr8 and i was full of tears when i finished reading it :'( (suprisingly)..lol.. i enjoyed reading this fantasic book~ ~ but beware cos this is a very addictive book... christopher pike rulzz!!

I love the last vampire series, they are the best books ive ever read. the ending was so good and it made me kind of sad and happy at the same time. the characters were so real and i love the unusual names... sita, lalita and kalika. i love these books and i could read them over and over :-)

I thought that Pike couldn't have written it better. The whole damn series was absolutley amazing. I loved the ending....even though it was sad. It just closed up the series even though I wished he would have made a 7th and 8th and so on......Thank you Pike for writing these books! I really wish I could hear more adventures of Sita though :(

I remember I first read this series in middle school at age 13. I am now finishing college and still am obsessed with this series. It was awesome writing and kept me on the edge of my seat to the very end. It had a great romance and stirred a fire in me. I couldn't put the books down. I recommend this series to any young readers and even the young at heart.

Imagine that you are a regular household pet cat, but one day you meet another cat and it changes your kittypet life. Wouldn't that be great? This book is set in the country side of some modern nation. The main character is Fireheart, a ginger colored tom.
Fireheart is part of a society of cat tribes which are made up of four clans. Thunderclan, Windclan, Riverclan, and Shadowclan. There is also a Starclan, which is more of a religion than a clan. Fireheart is part of Thunderclan. Winter has finished blowing through the country side, and a thaw causes the river to overflow and drives Riverclan out of their camp. Graystripe, a good friend of Fireheart is traumatized by the death of his mate, Silverstream. With all of this to worry about, Fireheart has uncovered a sinister plot about Tigerclaw, the deputy of Thunderclan. He plans to kill Thunderclan's leader, Bluestar. The theme of this book is that sometimes you need to help others, even if others think its wrong. The meaning of the title is that the forest that the cats live in is full of secrets.
I thought the authors craft in this book was good, but it gets repetitive over time. I recommend this book to people who like cats, and are mystified by their ways.

Pre-teen and early teen girls love the series. It has my 10 year olds attention. She is reading like never before.

This is a geat book. This bbook is so action packed. I love it!

If the clan was attacked what would you do? When the ThunderClan is invaded by rouge cats Fireheart is fighting with his life to protect the leader,Bluestar from...tigerclaw?Why would he try to kill his own leader. Can he do it or will he be stopped find out when you read Warriors Forest of Secrets.

This is a must read item for WARRIORS fans.Fireheart is back,but so is his mortal enemy Tigerclaw.Tigerclaw is a traitor,that killed Redtail,the deputy befor Lionheart.Tigerclaw's thirst for power lead him to be deputy....but that isn't enough for him he wants to be leader.
Graystripe's mate Silverstream also has his kits,Stormkit and Featherkit,which forces Graystripe out of ThunderClan and into Silverstream's clan,RiverClan,because Silverstream is Graystripe's forbiden love.
Tigerclaw plots with the now blind former leader of ShadowClan.Tigerclaw sends almost every warrior and apprentice out of camp on patrols,and Fireheart and his nefew,Cloudpaw,find out about the other rogues and that they plan to attack camp.Fireheat sends Cloudpaw to look for the other patrols and bring them back while Fireheart runs back to camp to find out he is too late.Tigerclaw attacks Bluestar,ThunderClan's leader,in her den in atempt to kill her and become leader.Fireheart comes to Bluestar's rescue and reveals Tigerclaw's evil plot.Bluestar excils Tigerclaw and Tigerclaw asks Darkstripe,Longtail,and Dustpelt to go with him,they all refuse to go with him.Bluestar names a new deputy but only one problem.....she named deputy after moonhigh and acording to StarClan after a deputy dies,retires,or is exciled,a deputy must be named befor moonhigh.Bluestar names Fireheart the new deputy of ThunderClan.But this worries members of ThunderClan,the seasons old tradition,has been broken.

I would recomend this book to anyone who loves adventure,action,and romance books.
~Redclaw

You know it still surprised me when I run across a kid who hasn't read one of Stanek's Kingdoms or Dragons books yet. These books are so amazing and so descriptive, the comparisons to Lewis, Dahl and other great writers are right on. Kids is my classroom aren't exactly sheltered, but they often don't hear of all the wonderful new authors and each year I love introducing them to Stanek's books. I have five copies of his Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches #1 in my class library and after the first few weeks kids were already begging me for Book #2 and Book #3. They were thrilled when they found out there was a Book #4 and I saved the best surprise for last, this whole new series, In the Service of Dragons, with four more books for them to enjoy. The first in the Dragon series, Stanek raises the stakes, adds in a couple new heroes and villians, and basically ratchets up the tension while cutting down on the easygoing moments. We get to see the bigger scope of things through Noman, who's on a rescue mission to save nothing less than the entire world and all the magical realms. It's bound to make readers happy (and it does). "In the Service of Dragons," will satisfy its die-hard fans. A fine addition to a fun, fast-paced series.

If you've been following this fascinating series, you'll already know that it is based in a fantasy world called Ruin Mist. This first book of a completed four book sequel series to The Kingdoms and the Elves. It starts with a mighty titan watching a procession of giants. When the titan returns to his over world, his mystic companion is nearly swept away into a swirling gray abyss and thus starts a truly amazing story of men, elves, titans, royals, commoners and fair folk.

This well-written book is terrific reading for all ages. Cool monsters, shadow warriors and bad guys abound. This is one of those series where you just gotta get them all. Good thing all four books are available.

In this first volume in Stanek's In the Service of Dragons series, magic splashes across virtually every page. First, a brief, cryptic prelude tells of "the Gathering" being formed and hints at great changes. Next, readers meet the mystic Noman, who also sense the coming changes. Stanek quickly thrusts the reader into the heart of the mystery and fantasy when Noman is nearly swallowed by the swirling gray. Here the fantastic story becomes even more mysterious and magical as the story races off in a new direction and the reader meets the Eagle Lord and the King of Gnomes. With likeable unlikely heroes in Vilmos and others, fast-paced plotting and a plethora of mystical oddities, this series is sure to garner a host of fans.

Kids, adults. The stirring of titans and dragons has begun. Monsters not seen for thousands of years have returned to the land, threatening to unleash death and destruction on an unprecedented scale and destroy the kingdoms and the reaches, and it's up to Vilmos and his friends to stop them. This fifth in the Keeper Martin's Tales and first In the Service of Dragons series makes ancient legends come alive. The titans and dragons of old walk the earth and so do monsters of myth and shadow. Although this can stand alone, you will race back to the first four volumes and eagerly go on to the next installments. Stanek's characters lovable and relateable. There is a character for every reader to identify with in some way and he brings readers on a journey on a grand scale. This series is great literature, and is compulsively page turningly entertaining. I give this and the rest my highest recommendation.

I loved the first series (The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches) and this new series is just as good. It's a book you won't want to put down until you're finished, and you'll be dying to get your hands on the next one! I would recommend these books to everyone who enjoys reading books about adventure, magic, and mystery and is over 9 years old.

All of the Erin Hunter books are great! I just love them and have read them many times over. I am not a reader, I hate to read!!! But give me a Warrior series book and leave me alone for a few days. They are the best. Thanks Erin for opening up a new world for me.

A good book. Really though if you are new to the series get one first! And Into the Wild book one not Midnight. I had a friend that did that and she didn't get it at all! Besides that spioles it!

Pre-teen and early teen girls love the series. It has my 10 year olds attention. She is reading like never before.

like i said before, it's a pretty good book. the only reasons I'm marking it down is because of Cloudpaw and Bluestar. Cloudpaw constantly gets in trouble and that gets very annoying, especially when Fireheart doesn't punish him enough. And Bluestar's frustrating, thinking that everyone is a traitor and not coming out at all. She has also given up belief of StarClan. Overall, a pretty good book

In this book, Fireheart can't help thinking that Tigerclaw will carry out his threat against Fireheart and Thunderclan. A storm is rising that might distroy the Clan and they don't even know about it.

After i read The Juniper Game i just had to find more by the author and this book is a gem. Im tempted to buy it again to see if it is as good as i remember it to be when i was yonger.

I adored this book. I continue to. I read it over and over before I lost it. Years later, I came across a used copy. I devoured it. Read it three times in a row. Couldn't keep my hands off of it.

I have honestly thought about the heroine of this story nearly every day since I first read it a decade ago. She is an inspiration, as is Sherryl Jordan.

And strangely, only upon my latest reading of the book (probably the 200+ reading in my lifetime) did I notice the creepy Jesus imagery. I feel a little violated. I don't know if I'd have liked the book as much if I originally had noticed the Christian bent. It's a real turn-off to me and I know it is to some other people, so I thought I'd offer the warning just in case it helps someone out. It is a *very* slight reference, hardly important, but still made me (Jewish) feel a little awkward. It's out of place.

So, you've already read over and over again what this book is about--I won't bore you with a summary, let me instead tell you that I first read this book in 9th grade and the story was soo rich and imaginative that I am now 24, still own the book and still read it from time to time. You will not be disappointed.

A slave woman sentenced to death (for slacking off) is rescued by the most powerful man in the world. Installed as his handmaiden (a highly covetted position normally reserved for the females of the most prestigious families), Elsa is granted the unique oppurtunity to see the world outside of mine where she was born. However she never forgets where she has come from or what she left behind.

Raw determination overcoming adversity is a common theme in books of all genres. What makes this book unique is that Sherryl Jordan was overcoming adversity of her own when she wrote Winter of Fire. Jordan's own determination gives her writing an edge that enhances the story quite a bit. Furthermore the plot is tightly woven and progresses in a way that is very believable.

This is a very good book. From the moment I picked it up, I was drawn into the plot, and empathised with Elsa, the main character, easily. It tells the story of her rebellion against her society's ways and discrimination, and is a wonderful book which leaves the reader with a sense of resolve. I recommend this book for anyone for even though it is thick, it is exciting and you just keep on turning the pages, something is always happening and it is NEVER boring. Read it!