Young Adult Books

Dense writing, with a good plot that deepens along the way. The title does not describe the book, as it is more about the relationships that Meg forges with people, rather than about actually questing for Marie. Note for people that do not like historical fiction in general: the historical notes and flavors do not intrude on the story. Ever read a historical fiction novel that continually interrupts the story line with mini-lectures on history? Doesn't happen in "Quest for a Maid." Note 2 for other folks that read poetry... it is delightful to see Sir Patrick Spens come alive.

I just finished reading this book although it has been on my shelf for several years. I'm really sorry now that I waited so long to read it! I loved the characters and the language, although younger children might have a little trouble with it.

It is told from the point of view of Meg, daughter of a scottish shipwright. She grows up very close to her oldest sister, Inge, who everyone believes is a witch. Then, when she is about ten, she saves a little boy from drowning. He is actually the son of her father's friend, Patrick Spens (the boy's name is Davie) and she becomes engaged to him and goes to live at his house to learn how to manage it. Soon they become close friends.

One day, in town she sees the boy who pulled her and Davie out of the water that day being chased through the town as a runaway serf. She quickly comes up with a lie to save him and he becomes her friend and servant. His name is Peem.

The next part of the book is devoted to how they grow up together. Then Master Spens is called to take his ship to bring the Maid of Norroway to England so she can wed the ship. Meg comes along to be the Maid's attendant, and Davie and Peem follow in their own boat. On their return voyage, they encounter a ferocious storm which tears the boat to shreds and drowns many people on board including Master Spens. Davie, Peem, and Meg save the Maid and take her on board their own boat.

However, their problems are not over, many people are pursuing them and they may have to leave the country to be safe. The ending is excellent, a few good plot twists and some feel-good moments. I loved it. :)

I first read this book back in gradeschool but it is one that has always stuck with me and I have looked forward to sharing this with my younger cousins.
The tale of Meg pulls you in as you watch her grow up with all these huge events happening and discovering what it means to idolize someone who may not be worth that kind of respect. Meg's innocent love of her family and friends is what sticks out to me and their love and loyalty in return.
It's a great book for young girls to read, I wish there were more out there like this.

I loved this book! its great it has hard vocabulary but i really enjoyed it!

Quest for a Maid is about Meg Wright, who lives in Scotland. She lives a normal life, except that her oldest sister, Inge, is a witch. Then one day when Meg is nine years old, she hides under a table and hears Inge kill a king. Nothing will ever be the same again. There is a fight for the throne going on in the country. Then Meg gets betrothed to Davie Spens, and is sent to live with his family to prepare. (The wedding will be in seven years.) When Meg is chosen to journey to Norway to bring the rightful eight-year-old queen back to Scotland to claim the throne, she goes, but with doubts. What will happen when they get to Norway? Will the little queen even want to go back to Scotland?

Years ago, I decided to purchase the first volume of Shaman King after hearing it from an unknown source. I really had no clue what it was about, or though I think. After purchasing it, I read it, but after three and a half years, I re-read it since I forgot what it was about. Now, I plan to purchase volume two. This volume was heart-racing and exciting. Each chapter had an amazing plot involving ghosts, and the last one was great.

Yoh is a Shaman King. Manta is.. some kid who can see ghosts but can't do a thing about it. They are both friends. Yoh fights ghosts and he helps them.

This whole volume was great. I wonder what is to be stored in the future for this Manga, since I haven't even taken a peak at the next volume as far as I know. This volume was excellent, and I am begging for more.

Great manga, but stay away from the 4kids TV show. That's a waste of time.

over all this magna is very good but with 9 swear words.it is not a good choice for a kid. but over all this magna is a great comedy and fantasy.i reccemend it to be read by 13-30 years of age but i think yo is the way to go.

I loved this book. I read it in two days. Its about this teenager named Yoh and he is a shaman (someone who sees and can talk to ghosts and spirts) and he meets someone named Mantana (something like that) and he can also see these spirts (but he's not a Shaman) and so since they both can see spirts they become freinds. And near the end of the book they meet another shaman named Ren and he is a mean shaman and thinks that spirts are tools and not freinds and so Yoh diden't like that and they fought. Also Yoh units with this 100 year old (or I think more then 100 years) samuri or spirt named Amedimaru and Ren can unit with Bason a Chinese Worlock or spirt.And so thats pretty much what this first book is about. Also after Yoh and Morty become freinds they go on a little adventure. This book is T for Teens and I agree because this book has swears in it. Just to let parents know.

I've read this manga by downloading it on the internet. The rating is unacceptable, why is it rated 13+, it doesn't look that bad. As for my rating, 11+ for blood, swearing, and violence. Oh yeah, I am 12 years old.

The trapper Link and his snow dog Chiri are my favorite characters in books by Jim Kjelgaard. Link and Chiri are both natural loners who are steadfast and competent in the far northern wilderness. Chiri's mother is a big pack dog that Link had just bought. Her first litter of puppies had been killed on the trail by a cruel master. With a new litter on the way, she cleverly runs away and bears her three puppies in a windfall in the territory of a fierce black wolf that hates man and dog alike, having been shot early in life. Chiri is the biggest and most promising of her pups, and the only one who escapes from the black wolf. His mother and siblings dead, the lonely pup learns survival by necessity, and being a superior animal, becomes a strong and able hunter. The trapper Link is also strong and competent, but like the orphaned dog, he is lonely. He has dreamed of having a special dog who can be his companion in the wilderness. How he tames the great dog and together they live in nature, experiencing beauty and danger, and hunger and plenty, should make dog lovers and nature lovers of any young person who reads the book. There is a sequel that is just as good, maybe better, entitled "Wild Trek". If you liked these two books of adventure in the north, you would also like "Lost in the Barrens" and "Curse of the Viking Grave" by Farley Mowat.

This story has delicate explainations of many things for instance, the beautiful nature, the sign of each season, and the animals behaviors especially the humorous doing of the mask face puppy, Chiri. Moreover, The story has shown the relationship between dogs and men that is very impressive.

This book was one of my favorite childhood reads when I was growing up. I loved dogs, and I loved it when dogs bit back and had their own little adventures. Years later, and now a young adult, I still cherish this book, however, I now love wolves as well as dogs, and although I love how Kjelgaard describes the harsh wilds style a la Jack London, it is clear that Jack London has come first, and did something a bit better when it came to wild wolves.

Meet Queen, a Husky/Irish Wolfhound mix that is supposedly The Dog to get and a lucky trapper Link Stevens had gotten her from a good bargain. However, Queen is weary of man after being mistreated by past owners, and even more so when she is due with pups. So fleeing Stevens' cabin and his dogs, she goes off into the wild to raise her puppies in peace. Of course, as the summary already supplied, we already know Queen and two of her pups will die to a vicious black wolf with a grudge against mankind and the beasts who are slaves to men. The black wolf is the main villain in the story, the leader among a great pack of bloodthirsty wolves who follow their leader in the joyful act of killing for the sake of killing. Of course, the strongest, darkest, and bold pup survives the black wolf's vicious killing of his family by hiding deep in a hole and fighting back as the black wolf tried to dig him out. After that, the gray pup grows into a strong, wild dog who is soon captured by Link Stevens. Link names the dog Chiri and despite his many tries to break the dog in, Chiri proves to be too wild for the man to handle. After Chiri runs away from Link, the man gives up and tries to leave his cabin along with his other dogs when the weather proved too harsh to stay. However, the black wolf and his bloodthirsty pack await in the next corner, and after tense moments, Chiri comes out of nowhere, slays the bad wolf and saves the day.

The action is very well-written, the suspense there, however, the author does not seem to know anything about wolves. Given the time period that it was written in, I can't be too rigid about it, but let it be known that wolves do not travel in such a large pack, even if food is scarce. If an outside wolf ventures into their territory, they will do their best to chase it out, but they will not go out of their way into territories to make sure that tresspassing wolf is dead. They also do not kill their young if they prove to be too weak or worthless to hunt down game. Wolves also do not blunder into the snow when chasing prey. Their paws are flat, large, and they are able to walk across snow. Reading this when I am now a lot older was a bit painful because there were so many false facts about wolves in this story. Although the author had tried to give the reader that it was only the black wolf's pack who killed for the sake of killing, I couldn't help but think that he was also labeling all other wild wolves. Despite these mistakes, I'm sure you can stomach down this helping of a wild dog facing the harsh wilderness in one sitting, unless you're a rabid wolf lover, to which I think you should avoid this book like the plague.

This boook was and is still my favorite book in my collection. This is a thrilling story about a trapper named link stevens who traps in the "Black Devil's" territory.The black devil is a black woulf who was shot by a Chirikov as a puppy and in time the black wolf has killed him.
Link lost ha dog named Queen who was about to give birth to a litter of puppies.She dose and is killed by the black wolf protecting her puppies . Only the masked face puppy or Chiri survives .
This story is one of the best

I am a 50ish woman and Jim Kjelgaard was my favorite writer when I was a young reader. I found I could get his books and ordered Snow Dog and Wild Trek. As an adult I still find the writing to be better than average compared to many current best selling authors. I enjoyed reading Snow Dog and am looking forward to reading Wild Trek (which was my favorite book).

Reading Kjelgaards books, and other books about the outdoors and wilderness adventures, probably contributed to my life long love of the outdoors and my interest in the environment and conservation.

I am glad to see young readers are still enjoying his books

After reading all the positive reviews on this book I was looking forward to getting it, but didn't care for the style, the characters, or the go-nowhere plot and abandoned it about halfway through.

I love this book!
I first read it when I was about 12 years of age. Now I have a daughter that age & was so delighted to find this book online!Hopefully she'll enjoy it a much as I did.

This book is amazing. I first read it several years ago when I was thirteen. I honestly cannot tell you how many times I have reread it since then. I loved the characters, knew the characters, and loved the story. I cried - and still cry - every single time I read it. Oh, Martitia! I shall never forget you!

They Loved to Laugh is my favorite book! I think the title is one of the best things about it. It really got me excited. Why do they love to laugh? Who loves to laugh? It aroused my curiosity and made me want to read it. I began it and couldn't put it down. I finished it that very day.
Martitia is an orphan girl who is taken to live with a Quaker family when her parents die of typhoid fever. She plans to go live with her aunt and uncle in the city, but her heart is drawn to this Quaker family with their six children and their unique family bond. Throughout the story she learns to laugh and also learns a lesson of love.

Like so many others who've commented, this book was one of my all-time favorite books when I was a teenager in the 60's. The other was another book by Worth, "Sea Change." It was an entirely different setting, but equally charming and moving. The gentle, inspiring depth of both books helped shape my life. I am thrilled that "They Loved to Laugh" has been reprinted and I hope "Sea Change" will be also. (I'd love to know more about the author and whether or not writing these books changed her life as they changed so many of ours.)

i think that trapped is a wonderful book.i absolutley LOVE rl stine books and trapped is probly one of my faveorites!

this was a very good book very graphic though because of their bodies were torn apart by the mist. very suspenseful.

Elaine Butler has always been a good student, so she's not happy about being stuck in Saturday detention at Shadyside High. Along with her in detention are nerdy Jerry; bad-guy Bo; Bo's best friend, Max; and Darlene, the only other girl. Bo decides to blow detention, and explore the school. He convinces the others to come with him...and the five discover a secret tunnel below the school.

At first, the teens think that it's school. But they realize that exploring the tunnels is no fun--it's terror. A mysterious glowing red light has been released and it's out to kill the kids. The five can't find any way out of the tunnels, and they know that the red light can be anywhere. Who will escape from the tunnels...and whose spirit will remain there forever?

TRAPPED is one of the best Fear Street books, if not the best. The beginning was a little boring, but around the middle the suspense grew and the terror increased. After a while, I couldn't stop turning the pages to find out what happens and the ending is a complete shock. Also, this was the only Fear Street book that truly scared me. Even though this is very unlike the other Fear Street books, I would recommend it to anyone.

This is the first time I have read a Fear Street book and actually been afraid. This story is about Elaine, who has to go Saturday detention for missing three homework assignments. She ends up in detention with four other people, three of whom are trouble makers. Soon they end up deep underneath Shadyside High, fighting for their lives. I was glad to see that R. L. Stine broke away from the usual deranged/demented killers in this book. If you have never been scared while reading a Fear Street Book, then I definitely recommend this one.

This was a great book, I'm kinda bummed about the people lost in this book. It was very detailed, I could picture it like a movie. Most books you can try and picture them but it's hard. I had no problem following along in this story. Great Book! I just finished it today, now I'm off to search for more Fear Street books.

I'm like the rest of the reviews in that I too read the book in junior high. I came from a family of alcoholic, drug addicted parents, and was raised by my grandparents. This book has stuck in my memory for almost 2 decades, and now, in my 30's with a 12 year old daughter, I find myself longing to read it again. With my mother deceased and my father in prison, I want my daughter to read it when she's a little older to understand a lot of the feelings I had as a child. This book is amazing and I'm looking forward to owning it!

This fiction book by Charolette Culin is really good. Claire hates her mother because she won't let her go see her father. Claire loved her father, both of them had the same interests, to paint. I liked Claire because she was very determined.

I liked the paragraph on page #179. I liked it because it shows that Claire is very determined and it really shows that she really like to paint, and she really wanted to show that. Cages of Glass, Flowers of Time is a really great book and I am sure anyone would love it.

After reading this book my question is that, does Claire persue her dream in drawing? I really liked this book because it is very interesting.

I'm 26 years old now and I was in middle school when I read this book I moved away from the state I lived in but for some reason that book has haunted me ever since. I've gone everywhere Borders, Books A Million, you name it I've looked for it there and asked if they could order it. No one could ever locate it. Well I've finally found it and I feel like I've been reunited with an old friend! That book made such an influence on me as a young teen, my parents weren't even alcholic's. But now I have a son going on 9 and I will be sure he will read it when he gets alittle older. And any of my friends that love to read. It may be a youth teen book but I'm quite sure it will touch anyone that has a heart. Good luck finding it, but it is well worth the effort! Happy reading!!!

I guess I'm like alot of others in that I first read this book when I was about in the 7th grade...having come from an alcoholic parent....well let's just say this story has never left my mind.....I stuggled through many years of my own addictions and now after being 4 years sober....I still can't seem to get this story very far a way from my mind....my daughter is 12 and I have searched for the book to give to her with no luck yet...but I am far done from trying! Charlotte Culin did a genious job of putting into words the kind of horror that so many young children and teenagers live with, when living with an addicted parent........it's a hard pill to swallow.....but it does it's work once you get it down....

I was in JR. High school in upstate NY, when this book first touched me. And it did touch me so very deeply. I had been removed from my parents' care and placed in a private school mainly for abused girls. This book was like a lifeline to me. In it's pages, I found courage and a willingness to survive even the worst of my inner turmoil. Sadly, when I left the school, I was unable to take the book with me as I had only borrowed it from the school's library. The story, with all the characters, stayed with me in the years and hardships to come. Last year, for my brithday, a friend mailed me a package. When I opened my present, all I could do was cry and say a prayer of thanks that an old friend had been found. After one long night of reading in bed, I came to the last page of the book. As I turned that page to the back cover, I noticed something written, almost hidden by the inside of the spine. I noticed
M. N. 1988. These, of course, are my initials. As it turns out, this book was THE VERY SAME BOOK I had read as a lonely child. As odd as it sounds, I can remember writing my initials in the book fully believing that the book would be mine when I was ready to leave the school. Of course, I simply thought they would let me have it, since I was the only one who wanted to read it so much. Well, I guess that even the universe agreed that this was to be my book, whether the school liked it or not. The book holds a place of honour next to my Bible on my nightstand, and I still read it often. Thanks to Ms. Culin, who showed such a wealth of understanding into a broken girl's dream of becoming something more. I, too, had that dream. I'm now a mother, a social worker, and a happy woman. This will be a hard day for Americans to deal with. Today is our country's anniversary of Ground Zero. God bless the families of the victims. Please, remember, there is hope in the world. There is hapiness, and some of us find it in the most unlikely places. Like a book about a simple girl who only wanted to create art, find love, and finally find some peace. Don't we all?

We bought this book for our four year old who always wants to know how things work. He, and his Daddy are both fascinated by this book. It is a work of art, and a historic fictional work in one. The pictures are all in black and white, but the line drawings are incredibly detailed. This book will be a favorite in our library for years, and I can see him reading it to his kids one day.

After reading this book, I gave it to my grandson for Christmas and he is enjoying it very much. It is interesting not only to him but to his father as well. It really makes history and social progress come alive.

I remember reading this book back when I was in Junior High and High School. I'm 30 now (ugh!) I have always been fascinated with history (especially why folks did what they did when they did it) and while characters are fictitious, the design and building practices as well as the situations involved in the story are truly as it happened. The pictures are highly detailed such that you almost feel like you leap into the pages of the story. I primarily purchased this for a bit of nostalgia but would highly recommend this product to anyone who might be interested.

Castle. The word's meaning is amazing. And David Macaulay has done it again! His book, Castle, shows how a castle is built in the Middle Ages. His illustrations show the castle (and the town around it) is built. Mortar and stone by stone, a castle is built. In the time this castle's construction is commencing, there is a war going on, and then it's under attack when it's finished. David shows how the castle withstands a siege from the Welsh prince and his army. This book's drawings are amazing! The book is quite detailed and well described. The book is the Eighth Wonder of the World says I, its one of the best books I've ever read! This book is for knights in shining armour! - February, 2007.

I read this book in first grade and never managed to put it down then, and I certainly can't do it now. The drawings are splended, the text is perfectly functional and the combination makes for a splendid book.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in castles, medieval life, and pictures with text.

This book was an exquisite read and anyone who loves action and suspence will absoulutly love this book. Darren Shan is a half vampire who helps his best friend harkat find out who he once was by entering a different dimension. The author Darren Shan was bornin London, Ireland. His favorite hobbies as a kid were wacthing horror dracula movies and reading spoky comics. Darren Shan wrote twelve books in this series. And is the author of a new series called; The Demonata series.

Cirque du Freak: The Lake of Souls is about Darren Shan and his friend Harkat Mulds. Desmond Tiny has sent them to an alternate world to find out who Harkat used to be in the Lake of Souls. First they must find and kill the black panther, steal the gelatinous globes, and cross an unnamed lake, but they get sidetracked by a dragon attack. They manage to escape. Then they meet Spitz Abrrams and travel across the land. They meet the kulashkas, see the grotesque, and manage to reach The Lake of Souls. I won't say anymore for it will ruin the story if I do.

I am 38 and I have to guiltily admit I have thoroughly enjoyed the entire series. Quick read, good characters, and just enough twists and connections to other books in the series to keep a series reader interested.

Holy cow! The Lake Of Souls, book ten of the Cirque Du Freak series, is like the others, wonderful! It is so captivating! I finished it in less then a few hours. I just couldn't put it down. Author, Darren Shan (or so he says) has an imagination we could only wish for. With all the twists, turns, and flips that go on in this book, you'll be so to get your hands on the next one! Hopefully, book eleven will be just as great. (of course it will, what am I saying?) Just read the book. Trust me on this one, you'll love it!

Holy cow! The Lake Of Souls, book ten of the Cirque Du Freak series, is like the others, wonderful! It is so captivating! I finished it in less then a few hours. I just couldn't put it down. Author, Darren Shan (or so he says) has an imagination we could only wish for. With all the twists, turns, and flips that go on in this book, you'll be so to get your hands on the next one! Hopefully, book eleven will be just as great. (of course it will, what am I saying?) Just read the book. Trust me on this one, you'll love it!

I took a group of middle and high school students to a convention where John was the guest speaker. They LOVED his ideas and what he had to say, and couldn't wait to read the book! I read his book to my students and use his techniques with my classes and student councils. It's a WONDERFUL, no excuses, get-it-done approach to life and is so easy for them to understand and relate to!! I would recommend it to anyone!!!

This book is awesome for any developing students, students striving to be at their best, or anyone looking for new ideas. This book combined with a presentation from John Beede will change your life now and forever. BUY THIS BOOK, YOU WON'T REGRET IT!

I got this book at the Future Business Leaders of America National Leadership Conference. It's packed with helpful strategies for planning your life so you get where you want to go. Highly Recommended! Marie

This is a great story to encourage teens to reach for their full potential, trust in the adults that love them most, and strive to help others in return. Leadership, teamwork, and self reliance are major themes throughout. Mr. Beede presents a compelling story, good reading for kids older than 12 years. At his motivational presentation he creates an atmosphere of excitement and positve participation from his audience. I have heard the thunderous applause and cheering from transfixed young audiences on several occasions. Only two questions...when will John Beede's next book be published and where can I hear him speak again? E. Manning, teacher

Climb On! Dynamic STrategies for Teen Success is a great book that tells you how to get everything you want out of life. By using the Climb On! philosophy, John Beede helps teens overcome any struggle that comes their way. It helps anyone set goals and achieve them. Every teen should read it!

I never wanted to 'get into' dancing or acting as a child, but this book makes the
world of a child theatrical performer (70 years ago) come alive. I read this so many times. It was just so entertaining. Great book!

"Ballet Shoes" is probably the most popular book in the "Shoes" series, but "Dancing Shoes" is also very good. It tells the story of two girls, Hilary and Rachel, who are training to become dancers on the stage. It is similar to "Ballet Shoes," but for anyone who enjoyed any of the other of the "Shoes" books it is worth reading.

I've been wanting these books for years now. I'm glad I finally got 2 of them. They came very fast and I love them. Thanks.

I received this book when I was about 8 years old. I took one look at it and thought, "I am NOT going to read this. It's a BABY book!" I never touched the book again until 3 years later, when I was 11 years old, and decided just to try out the book. OMG! Was I wrong! This was not a baby book! The story of Rachel and Hilary Lennox and their lovable (in a villainy way)conceited cousin, Dulcie Wintle, is a charming book that every one (and I mean EVERYONE) will love.

Rachel and Hilary come to live with their Aunt Cora, who runs a dancing (ballet, acrobatics, musical comedy, etc.) school, when their mother dies. Aunt Cora is set on making them both "little wonders" but Rachel finds that she disdains it, having no talent for those types of things. Hilary, however, finds that she loves it, and has a real talent for it, too! But Rachel doesn't want Hilary to be a "little wonder," let alone love it! Hilary was going to go to the Royal Ballet School of Dancing before their mother died, and Rachel is set on making her go after her mother's last words for her were to make sure Hilary went on with her dancing.
Misunderstandings will get in the way, as Hilary grows more and more with the "bad" type of dancing, becomes competition with Dulcie, and Rachel comes to find that dancing may not be her thing, but that doesn't mean that stage is not...

Dancing Shoes is a similar formula compared to Streatfeild's other books. After Rachel and Hilary's father dies, they are sent to live with their Aunt Cora, who owns a talent school and troupe. While Hilary is a very talented dancer, she wants nothing more than to have fun. Her sister, Rachel wants nothing to do with dancing, but she does want Hilary to go to the Royal Ballet School to study proper ballet, as her family and old dance teacher wished for, even though Hilary doesn't want to. So everyone, including their mean and selfish Aunt Cora, believe that Rachel is jealous of Hilary. Meanwhile, Aunt Cora's talented, and conceited, daughter now has competition with Hilary.

The book is full of the same charm as her others. While not as endearing as Ballet Shoes and Theater Shoes, maybe only due to the nastiness of Aunt Cora and how mean she is to Rachel, it is still a wonderful read. Any fans of Streatfeild's other books will surely love this book as well.