Young Adult Books

Don't let the title of the review throw you off. When I say "unusual," it usually means it in a good way. In the case of Varjak Paw, it is unusual because the story line is very cool, and the drawings are very, very weird and crazy. I loved this book, and if you liked the Warriors series, then Varjak Paw is a must-have for you.

This is a very good book, about Varjak Paw, a Mesopotamian Blue kitten who never has fit in with his snobby, self-centered family. One day a strange Gentleman with two black cats arrives and he seems to be dangerous. Varjak Paw is sent on a quest to find a dog to save his family. On the way he meets several other cats, some good, some bad, and he learns about the struggle to fend for yourself. He also learns the Way-a secret martial art for cats-from his ancestor Jalal in his dreams. The book is well written, with lively, detailed characters (Holly is my favorite :D) and an exciting plot. The only bad thing is that (spoiler! spoiler!) I don't understand what the Gentleman does to the cats that Vanish. Does he turn them into robots or stuff them or what? If you have read Warriors (my favorite book series-I love cats) I recommend this book, even though personally I like Warriors better. But Varjak Paw is great. Read it. And when you're done - read The Outlaw Varjak Paw!

When my grandaughter, Robyn, purchased this book for *me* with her own money, I had visions of creating a cassette for a virtual, long distance, bed-time read Unfortunately, after reading it, I think it is a bit too "dark" where it refers to the "vanishings" and the [mini-spoiler alert follows] taxiderm-esque feel to it.

Being sensitive, and a cat-lover herself, she still cries about her "lost" cat, Mork, and I think this would give her other scary thoughts about his fate.

It is a well-written, a "coming of age" adventure, and an easy read, which earns it 4 stars -- but the caution is what I wanted to speak to, and I hope it is taken with an appropriate grain of salt, among these raves. Thank you for including my .02 for free.

Varjak paw is a good book. It is good because it has a lot of emotion and action also all the charicters are cats! It is a good book if you like cats. It is kind of like the warriors series because it has a whole lot of action. I think it is a 5 star book.

One thing in the book that I liked was when Varjak had to catch the pidgeons it showed bravery because Varjak could have died.

This book was wonderful to read it was so cool, I liked it because the writter added a lot of details in this book. My best part was when varjak saved the other cats! I would love to read this book again, I thought this book was interesting to me because varjak has to save his family! I liked reading this book and I hope you will to!

This is a great book. It is full of real and usefull information while keeping your attention and not going dry.this is the first book on paganism that I have been able to read all the way trough without getting bored. Lauren Manoy doesn't really put any spells into the book, she leaves her readers to do that for themselves which I really admire. There are tons of resipies. Everything from banishing poverty to getting rid of pimples. The only thing that I didn't like about this book was that it didn't really explain the book of shadows very much, only 3 pages for the entire subject. But all in all this is a wonderful book and I would encourage any beginner (or even experienced) witch read. you will not be sorry.

Hello,
I am 13 year old, new found Wiccan and this was the first book I read on the subject. I have just finished reading it and it an absolute pleasure to read with hints and tips through the book. The book contains ideas on her spells and rituals for if you dont have access to some of the tools and herbs etc. that you may not hav access to. Lauren makes it easy to read and not too technical without having to dumb it down.
An amazing book that i recomend for anyone wishing to learn about wicca.
I wish to read more of her work.
Merry Meet, Merry Part and Merry Meet Again.
Blessed be~

The one thing that disappointed me about this book was although it started off strong, acknowledging openly that the form of witchcraft known as Wicca was largely a twentieth century creation and addressing well in a section of related spiritual paths the aspects of the various schools of modern Wicca which were borrowed from other religions, the author later slides back into the practice of using phrases like "in Wiccan tradition/mythology..." By the end of the book, I didn't feel the author had done an adequate job of making clear that there isn't just one "old religion" stretching back in an unbroken line to the beginning of humanity.

Not a bad introduction for beginners by any means, especially since it does explain well the difference between various schools of Wicca and which practices come from which school, and the list of recommended works is also quite comprehensive, but I felt it could have been clearer about the origins of the beliefs.

When I started concidering the craft, I came to amazon and tried to find some good books to read on the subject. It was a little overwhelming, there were so many! I went to the local library and checked out my top thirty. After reading each and every book, this was the first one I bought. Why? Because it gave you the whole picture. There were lots of books on different types of witchcraft, history, spell casting,candle magic, tarrot readings... This was the only book that gave brief in-depth overviews of each part, in language that recognizes teens as real people that can think for themselves. She stresses that the power of the craft is not how you cast, but what you are thinking, way down in the depths of your soul. She conciders (sorry about the spelling) all possibilities, and her writing is open to everyone. If she wrote this whole book about the weather, I would still read it just because of the way she writes. I don't know how to describe it, her writing made me feel like my thoughts and emotions were being aknowleged to their full extent. Whether you are new to the craft or have been practicing for a while, defintetly read this book for the insight and unique comprehension. Read the book! You'll be glad you did!

This book was the first book that I bought about wicca. That was over two years ago and I am still a practicing pagan. I definitely recommend this book to anyone new to the path. It is also very helpful as a basic guide. It explains that Wicca is a healthy religion and what some warning signs might be if anyone is sceptical. I still refer to this book on occasion and find it pleasant when I do compared to all of the others that I own (and there are many).

Definitely a great buy. I would recommend it first and foremost, no questions asked.

The book is AWESOME.It's a must have 4 all BtVS fans.It is from Xander's point of view and has his thoughts and feelings about what's going on. It's divided into chapters/sections-here is how it goes starting after the Acknowledgments: Tonight,Part1;Teacher's Pet(6 chapters); Tonight,Part2;Inca Mummy Girl(7 chapters); Tonight,Part3;Bewitched,Bothered,And Bewildered (7 chapters);Tonight,Part4.There are also great pictures in the center of the book.I hope I haved helped you out!

Just like on the TV show Xander delivers scarcasm and humor that only he can do. He tells 3 tales of his strange supernatural romance (Teachers Pet, Inca Mummy Girl, and Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered)and proves that Buffy isn't the only one with a twisted life. I liked reading about Xander becasue he's pretty much the typical male, except a whole lot wittier, and the occasional vampire slaying. I reccomend this to any Buffy the Vampire Slayer and/or Xander fan!

Only recently have I become a buffy fan (but boy, when I fall I fall hard) This was the first buffy book I read, but it was definately worth it! Especially the last story Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered made me laugh so much I have the stiches to prove it. This book made me stop thinking Xander was boring. Definately a must to read for any buffy fan!

In order to understand the entire buffy novels,one needs to understand Xander.This book details probably the most intimate things anyone will be able to get with the character.From his feelings for his best friend Willow to chrush unfulfilled Buffy,dating and romance in Sunnydale is truly humerous.....for Xander it's the most harzardous thing to do. Full of laughs and deep thought,to understand buffy,you need to understand why she does'nt just crumple from the pressure of slaying. Because Xander will always be there...laughing at the world.

This book is a novelization of three episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The first Teacher's Pet is a homage to the big bug movies of the late fifties. Inca Mummy Girl revives the curse of the mummy and Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered explores the magic of love. In each story Xander falls in love with dire consequences. His heart is pure and his intentions good but the results are both frightening and humorous. I recommend this to all Xander fans. It could be a dating manual for the new century.

I found this book to be exceptionally funny and have read several times over. I recommend this to any looking for a good laugh to cheer up a dreary afternoon.

As I read Zits, I am always stopping amid my chuckles to think that if this is how it is and boys have it this rough, then maybe we of the other half should consider we got through our teen years relatively unscathed.

The Cincinnati Enquirer's living treasure, Jim Borgman, has teamed up with writer Jerry Scott to create a funny, intelligent daily comic strip that rivals For Better Or For Worse in sheer insightful understanding of its subject matter. The four-panel stories of Jeremy, a perpetually fifteen-year-old high school freshman, and his daily misadventures on the rugged uphill climb of adolescence, tell an honest, sometimes rule-bending tale of growing up in modern America. Experiencing life through the eyes (ears, nose, emotions and wandering mind) of Jeremy as he deals with love, school, parents, friends, we are treated to some pretty good laughs. Zits has been around for most of the last decade but I only discovered it this summer, and I'm in the process of buying collections to see what I've been missing. "Sketchbook" was the first one I got and it's a jewel!

- this is a WONDERFUL, witty, funny, very true to life and very sweet representation of a teenager's day-to-day struggles. I have a teenage son who, while in high school, lived 'Zits'! I had saved many of my newspaper's strips to bring home and show him because of the similarity to what we were talking about at breakfast. I finally bought this book (I opened the first page and laughed out loud in the store!) and read it in one sitting cover to cover! I love it! It makes fun of all the teenage tragedies, parents, girlfiends, music, tests, all of it, and it does it with such wonderful sense of humor! I highly recommend it!

"Zits: Sketchbook 1" is simply wonderful! "Zits" is one of the best comic strips, full of teenager facts, personality traits, and humor! If you missed the first year of "Zits" or just want to refresh your memory, you must get this book! I recommend!

So, Calvin and Hobbes are gone.

Micheal and Elizabeth Patterson are no longer teenagers.

Where does one find the humor of teenagers and children? With this marvelous strip, we can be calmed in this world of headphones, Playstation 2's and constant self questioning. Teenagers are given the opportunity to laugh at themselves, with an excuse; they are SUPPOSED to! No one has to reveal that they are laughing at their best friend, or their boyfriend or girlfriend...because it is a comic strip! In the absense of a little boy and his tiger, of two siblings growing up together in Canada, Zits is a new addition to the childhood classics, which will come to be loved by all.

Naylor's style of writing is much like Judy Blume, in which it draws you in and you ache, laugh and sympthasize with the character. With every "Alice" book, it feels like you get to know a friend. I'm sure every girl can relate to the everyday things she has to go to. Because the Alice series is so realistic, each time a new installment is realeased, you get the feeling that you're just learning new stuff about an old friend.

This insallment of the series is a little less chirpy, like past might have been. Gone are the silly 6th grade "what will I wear?!" chrisis that everyone can probably relate to. Now, it's about becoming woman of the house, and dealing with deeper problems. For example, Alice encounters a loner. She invites her to her dad's party and they start a bond. Well, just a few days later [I haven't read the book in 2+ years so forgive me!], the friend commits suicide, and in comes the feelings of "I could've done this...It's my fault".

A solid book for kids of most ages.

This book is about how Alice gets used to being the woman of the house. When she finds out that a man docter is going to examin her she starts to freak out but then reilizes that it isn't so bad. The boys are naming girls after states according to how big their breasts are.

About to turn 13, Alice McKinley is preoccupied with her aunt's statement about needing to be the "Woman of the House" for her widowed father and older brother Lester. Her best efforts, however, usually turn to disaster...

To make matters worse, the seventh-grade boys are naming the girls after various states...depending on the size of their chests! Alice lives in terror, uncertain which would be worse: getting dubbed the name of a flat state, or being overlooked altogether.

Readers will enjoy hearing about Alice, who is just an ordinary girl going through ordinary things, but in such a humorous and interesting way, they can't help wanting things to turn out okay...

Alice in April is about a girl who is having trouble with boys giving the girls at school nicknames of a state by it's geography, in other words ,"hills or no hills". If you like books that are funny, maybe even true life, Alice in April is the book for you.

I just read this a few days ago, and I started reading it at 9:30 p.m. that night and it was done the next day at about 1:30 p.m.!! I love this book, it is so believeable I think Alice IS ME!!(except for my mom didn't die). I love this book and all the other books in the series!!

the entire series is awesome, and not just for kids. i liked the first one and the third one the best. went to see Eoin Colfer at a book signing and he is awesome too. i read all his works. try the Supernaturalist.

This series are a joy to read and pass on to the grandchildren. The storyline keeps ones interest to the very end. When a new book arrives it is a joy to both myself and grandchildren.

The Artemis Fowl series are indeed great, showing a wonderful scheming and wit in order to conclude each adventure. Fowl is certainly a criminal mastermind, but i like the way his character develops thoughout the series, as well as the development of cap. Short.The first 3 books are necessary to enjoy the whole series.

This is an excellent book. I like since it has a good detailed story line but is not so detailed it is 700 pages long. It is also is a more interesting read then Harry Potter,ETC... since he (Artemis) relys on a plan instead of magic. It is also a good book since it makes for intersting series.

This collection is books 1-3. All are action filled and wonderful. Both adults and children love them. I can't wait for the last AF book!

Wonderful book if you like vintage stories, especially of large innovative families.

There are a number of books related to this one, as well as movies connected as remakes of the books.

Belles on Their Toes, Cheaper by the Dozen, etc. are refreshing insights of life in the early 1900's.

especially for a sequel!

I found this book a couple years after I came across the first one as a teenager. It's a good continuation of the story and lets you know what happened, and how this amazing family all chipped in to make things work after their terrible tragedy.

This book continues the true story of the Gilbreth children or the sequel to Cheaper by the Dozen.
The story continues after the father died. The mother is now the soul supporter of her family. There is a graet saying in the book that says,"Mother wasn't afraid anymore because the worst had happend."
The mother carried on her husbands works. She held conferences and taught the scince of time saving. She became a very strong woman.
It was a long hard haul but ahe successfully continued her husbands work. The children successfully ran the household.
This story is humorus and very touching. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

I can't believe I didn't know this book existed till very recently; I would have bought and read it a whole lot sooner had I known, having read the first book about five or six times. It's in the same funny spirit as the first, though the focus has shifted from the antics of the entire family to the mother's struggle to take care of her eleven children after her husband died. And the funny moments aren't as frequent as in the first book, since the children are older. It also seems like the younger children got the short end of the stick--less time was given to writing about their own humourous childhood anecdotes and stories, since time passes really quickly after Anne gets married. The only other thing in this book I wasn't keen on was how some of it was dated. Some of it, like Mrs. Gilbreth trying to find reasons for the oldest two not to smoke and then instantly retracting each reason, or the youngest boys teaching Jane how to be popular and get dates by not being her true self, is to be expected, given not only the era in which that happened but also when the book was published, but there are a few slang words and references that the modern reader might not understand or find as funny or relevant as someone who was a contemporary of the family might. We all know what a sheik is, but who uses the term "wet smack" anymore, for example? Still, overall it's a sweet fun way to wrap up the story of this funny family.

This the best cartooning book around. A classic. A must for entry level cartoonist or professional.

I'm always looking for the perfect book of whatever variety, & speaking as a former library employee, a cartoonist & art teacher, Jack Hamm has written THE book on cartooning. It is so packed with examples & not so much text, as it should be, it has tips & then TONS of examples. The style ranges from early American cartooning style to 50s/60s modern style. Fantastic examples of different expressions, hand positions, walking positions, drawing women, all of it. All good. If you want a great guide for old fashioned American cartooning, this is the one to get. Then get the Preston Blair book from Walter Foster.

This book is full of great ideas and tips. There's plenty for the beginner, like little tutorials on highly-stylized eyes or noses or mouths, or straightforward examples on common poses, but it's not just a book for beginners. There are a lot of highly-finished drawings as well, and examples of moving from simple to more complex drawings. Plus tips on various penciling and inking techniques, and various cartoon genres. All in all, there are literally thousands of examples and sketches, enough material to keep anybody busy for a long time. I've pulled this book down from the shelf more often than any of my other numerous drawing books, and I've filled page after page with exercises based on the material. A classic and worth far more than its price.

If you're a cartoonist this is a book you have to have. It has been in publication for quite a while but nothing better has been created in the way of a great, all-purpose reference book. I've gone through a couple copies of this book and no matter how many times I looked at it I was still able to come up with ideas. Whether you're just starting out or have been doing cartoons for years you should have a copy of this book.

"Cartooning the Head & Figure" --by Jack Hamm

Artist and Christian minister Jack Hamm passed from this world at the age of 81. He illustrated the notable cartoon strip characters "BUGS BUNNY" and "ALLEY OOP" early in his career as an artist. He wrote and illustrated over 25 books on drawing. He pioneered an early TV show on drawing instruction in the Dallas/Houston Texas area.

I admit I am not an expert on fine art, but after reviewing many books which teach beginners HOW-TO-DRAW, it is my sincere opinion that Jack Hamm is the finest instructor America ever produced. Hamm almost never composed text, or used wordy explanations about drawing something. Hamm drew you a picture or series of pictures and showed how it might be done. He did not do this ..."sometimes" in his books. Hamm did this ALL THE TIME, whether it was cartoon figures, seascapes, landscapes, or drawing the human figure.

That is why any effort to list all the contents of his book, "CARTOONING THE HEAD & FIGURE" staggers the human imagination. I might be sitting at the computer for several hours, just listing the contents. Hamm shows how to draw every possible human emotion. Pages 22 & 23 alone are specific instructions in how to draw particular parts of the face to yield a human feeling.

The amazing thing is, Hamm is offering a book not only that adults can use; rather, Hamm is offering a book that CHILDREN can use. This book is in a class by itself, just as is Hamm's classic on drawing the human figure. Hamm's books are one of the richest treasures ever produced on American soil.

the cirque du freak is the greatest seires of books i've ever read a must buy for any sci fi fan

I really loved reading the Cirque Du Freak books. Since I started reading them, I couldn't put the book down first one I could not put the book down even at dinner I was so interested in the book my mom actually got mad at me for reading to much!!!! I could not believe it because she was always on to me for not reading enough and it felt weird when she got on to me for reading to much!!!! After that I had read the first 3 books. I think I had read the first three books in one month because I couldn't put the book down so I read so much that I had finished the three books in one month the fastest I have ever read. I would recommend this book to people who like scary stories or who like books that u always want to know what is going to go on next. I loved this book and I hope you would read this book because I can guarantee that you won't want to put this book down.

Darian Crabbe

this malayalam book critically and phiscally hooks me to onions. It helps me when im eating and it helps me with my teeth so i dont end up like a dead onion. BUT OVERALL AND AMAZING BOOK THAT THE ONLY WAY I CN EXPRESS IT IS ONIONRIFIC.

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR MY LIBRARIAN IN MY SCHOOLS LIBRARY TO GET THE 3RD, 4TH, 11TH, AND 12TH BOOKS..... I AM SO EXCITED TO READ ON..... AFTER I READ THE FIRST TWO, I WAS SO SAD TO REALIZE THAT THE 3RD HAD NOT EVEN BEEN ORDERED!!!!! SO EVER SINCE THEN I HAVE READ NO BOOK, SO I WONT GET LOST IM THE STORY OF CIRQUE!!!!!! HA HA HA SO I AM WAITING (IVE BEEN WAITING FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW--10-16-06) FOR THE BOOKS TO COME IN AND I AM TRYING TO SEE IF I CAN FIND ONE FOR A CHEAP PRICE TO GO AHEAD AND START READING IT!!! LOL OKAY WELL AS TA LA VISTA!!!

Darren, Mr. Crepsley, and Eva Von go to the city where Mr. Crepsley grew up. As they enter the city they find a hotel and that is where they are going to stay. Mr. Crepsley has been acting weird ever since they got there. Darren is looking for some supplies the next day when he runs into a girl named Debbie. They become girlfriend and boyfriend. Debbie and Darren n go on their first date. Darren gets home and he sees Eva staring at the TV with his mouth wide open. There are people on TV with their bodies drained of blood. Daren thinks that it is Mr. Crepsley is the cause of it. They follow Mr. Crepsley and they find out it is Murunmund a crazy vampeze. If you want to find out what happens then you need to read the story! You need to read this book if you want to find out if Mr. Crepsley is a killer or not?
I enjoyed the book because it had a lot of action and wasn't boring. I think that it tries to make you think vampires are real and that they are not evil. This book also made me laugh and I think it was a good choice for me to read.
What I really disliked was how they made they made Darren chose between his girlfriend and Eva. I also thought that they made Mr. Crepsley sound evil and that made me dislike it a lot.
I would recommend this book to people who like vampire stories or they just need a good book to read. I would also think that girls and boys would like it. If you are looking for a book to keep you on reading this book is for you! I finish them in a day and I am a slow reader.

While I'm sure there are a few teens out there who are interested in cooking a turkey or baking bread, the book is doing itself a disservice by suggesting it is for teens. It's a very good book for the more adventurous of young cooks, but more probably for the 30-something set who loves spending time and money in the kitchen. Most teens and those leaving home for the first time more closely fit the profile illustrated in 50 Ways to Leave Your Mother, and are more likely to subsist on ramen noodles and popcorn. That said, this book is a wealth of information for the more adventurous cook of any age. The style is warm and a bit humorous, never a bad thing when tackling your first pot roast. So, while I do recommend this book, I have to add that I would not buy it for any inexperienced cooks, especially teens.

Everyone knows someone that can't cook or doesn't cook. This book is different from other cookbooks in that it explains much more than just recipes. Its rough to make time to cook a decent meal and many people have grown up on microwaves with the occasional homemade food. This book starts from scratch, explaining things your parents forgot to mention. Like how to defrost the freezer? You won't find that in an everyday cookbook. Its written for a teenager but I found it to be for all ages. It was a fun book to give to my nameless chef. I did look through it before wrapping it and found several recipes I would enjoy making myself. I might be borrowing it more than the chef will use it. I also purchased the baking book by the same author. Once again it gives a concise explanation on how to bake from scratch and keeping it simple. I only hope my nameless chef will use it well and maybe will invite me over for dinner. Its perfect for a new home/apartment gift, or that someone for christmas that always burns their food. And its enjoyable to read through.

This book is fantastic for anyone who has little or no experience in cooking. I have purchased four or five of these books because I keep giving them away. I first gave one to my teenage daughter, who set out to amaze her parents with her culinary skills! The Desperate for Cheesecake recipe is great. Most of these recipes are "basic" types of recipes which I often use as a springboard for my own cooking creativity. I finally bought a copy for myself!

This is a fabulous cookbook. I bought my first two at a library book fair and gave one away to the daughter of a friend. Since then I have bought more and recommended it a number of times.

My four boys don't like the way the author talks to teens, but ignore that, and what you have is a tremendous collection of from-scratch recipes that are very do-able. My favorite is the stuffed bell peppers. I had never before seen a recipe that called for simmering the stuffed peppers in a pot of tomato juice. They come out beautifully tender, and then the remaining liquid makes a terrific soup, with or without additions.

So, buy this book and you'll be glad you did.

This book is great for teenagers, and also for people like me: the ones that just never learned. It is simple and easy to use. My guests are so happy that I can now whip them up something for breakfast or dinner. Also, this is a really great gift for those people going off to college. It even includes a complete list of what to get for a starter kitchen.