Young Adult Books

I've read this book at least 4 times already...and I'm not sick of it at all. I first read it when I was about 14 and now I'm 19 and the book STILL interests me. The character development was good but not GREAT; there were some people who he could've expanded more on, but overall an excellent novel for not only teens, but adults as well.

I read many Christopher Pike books when i was a kid and loved them all. Remember me is one that has stayed in my head forever. I'm finally getting it for my oldest. I know she's going to love it as well!

Shari Cooper is dead. She's a ghost who's trying to figure out who killed her and why. It's a murder mystery, filled with a handful of great characters. No one can see her, but she does have help.

I've been a Christopher Pike fan since I was ~11 yrs. old, and now being 26, I would read it again. Actually, I had lost the book several years back, so I bought it off an online auction recently. I had read this book about 5 times literally. From cover to cover, the story is PERFECTION. I could not put the book down. It keeps you from the edge of your seat, and the characters are so well put together and are unique in their own way. The story is entertaining, yet at the same time, meaningful... profound. You can tell Pike put good work and thought to the character's personalities as well as how they interrelate with each other. Shari Cooper, the main character who is a ghost - has a likeable personality. I liked her as I read along. Other than it being suspenseful, it goes beyond our realm and ties in with science fiction, black holes, space, teleportation... wow-- AND I guarantee it is NOT AT ALL CORNY whatsoever. The book is also rather deep as Pike entails love, sacrifice, mystery, twists, and spirituality. I remember there are a few funny moments and it will make you laugh out loud. I love this book so much!! I swear they can make a movie out of it, and would do very well! Remember me part II and III are not as great - as sequels are sometimes. I thought Remember Me III was just mm.. OK. This is a suspenseful, fun, meaningful, happy, sad, intriguing, deep, funny book. You get everything wrapped into one. You will not be disappointed. From loving it since I was 11, and writing a review about it 15 yrs later really made a lasting impression on me. Go read it, you'll like it.

I read this book fifteen years ago when I was 13 years old. I couldn't stop reading it. I loved it so much that I read it too many times to remember. "Remember Me" was the first Christopher Pike book that I read, and I immediately became hooked on his work. I ended up reading most of his books, and this is the best one.

I read this book about 17 years ago when I was 12, and it was my first Christopher Pike book. After that, I was hooked. For the next six years, I read every book of his I could get my hands on, many two or three times. Pike has such a sophisticated style unmatched by other young adult authors, such as R.L. Stine. Pike knows what teens want to read about: mystery, murder, romance and sex. His books all have that, along with great and innovative story lines. I think I will dig through my parent's basement for my collection and read them over! I am sure I would still enjoy them.

I got this book for Christmas and i finished it that day. It's a book you just can't put down. It's about Jemima(Jem)Emmerson, who's 15 when the story starts. The war becomes reality when her brother joins the millitia and her mother starts writing letters under a psudonym to a local newspaper asking for supplies for the army. These letters end up making something very bad happen to the family. When her father employs a tutor for her that is a tory she hates him nd treats her very badly. Then Jemima finds a coded message that tells her that John Reid(her tutor)is a spy for Washington then she gets to know him and falls in love with him. Then her younger brother goes away to the army too, and she and her mother are left home and worrying. This is a really good book. I don't really like that Jemima sort of looses the spirit she has at the begining; sassy, fun, and willed. But it's still really good.

Jem is probably my favorite character out of all the Ann Rinaldi books!! She's stubborn and high spirited , I reread this book every chance I get and never tire of it. I don't know which Ann Rinaldi books are my favorite the Revoultionary or the Civil War? But I do know that I Love them all!!!

Romance, tragedy, and life lessons are all wonderfully displayed in this novel, set during the period of the Revolutionary War. TIME ENOUGH FOR DRUMS, by Ann Rinaldi, is the story of Jem, a rebellious Patriot teenage girl, whose family is torn apart by the war. Her father is persecuted for not selling tea, her mother has a war "secret" of her own, the war beckons both of her brothers, and on top of all that, she clashes with her Tory tutor. Through the ups and downs of her life, Jem learns some important life lessons the hard way but comes out on top, and learns that people are not always what they seem. The reader learns that there is always, "time enough for drums." This novel keeps you wanting to know more and more about Jem and what is going to happen next in her life. It is also an additional bonus, how Ann Rinaldi uses accurate historical events, to base her book upon. If you love to be entertained while you read, than this book is definitely for you!

Romance, tragedy, and life lessons are all wonderfully displayed in this novel, set during the period of the Revolutionary War. TIME ENOUGH FOR DRUMS, by Ann Rinaldi, is the story of Jem, a rebellious Patriot teenage girl, whose family is torn apart by the war. Her father is persecuted for not selling tea, her mother has a war "secret" of her own, the war beckons both of her brothers, and on top of all that, she clashes with her Tory tutor. Through the ups and downs of her life, Jem learns some important life lessons the hard way but comes out on top, and learns that people are not always what they seem. The reader learns that there is always, "time enough for drums." This novel keeps you wanting to know more and more about Jem and what is going to happen next in her life. It is also an additional bonus, how Ann Rinaldi uses accurate historical events, to base her book upon. If you love to be entertained while you read, than this book is definitely for you!

This is the best of all Ann Rinaldis books (I have read all of them). This book has the most interesting characters and a great plot. Everyone will enjoy Jem and her tutor and what happens between them. I have read this book probably 15 times and never get tired of it. The hints of romance and interest to this book. It teaches you about history without making you ever feel like you were in history class.

Daughters of Darkness
L.J. Smith
1996

I continue to be surprised by how overally well-written the "Night World" books are, collectively. For young people in particular, they are quality fiction.

Three young female vampires come to tiny Briar Creek, Oregon, to live with their also-vampire elderly aunt, but homicide is the word of the day, and curious neighbors Mark and Mary-Lynette quickly find themselves ensconced in the dangerous waters of the Night World -- and the even more unpredictable currents of love.

I didn't quite like "Daughters" as much as "Secret Vampire", the first book in the series. The tale had a bit less... urgency... than its predecessor, and while I did like the redemption of Ash, bad-boy blonde from the first novel, the character development was again a little underexplored. But the world-building is pleasant and well-done, without info-dumping on young readers with potentially short attention spans.

Again I can't help but wonder what a greater length could have done for the series -- "Daughters' "plot is a bit simplistic. The ending felt... unsatisfying.

But without doubt worth a read, as I will wager the entire series will be.

6.8/10

Mary-Lynnette's wants seem simple enough. She likes her quiet life, stargazes as a hobby, bases her life around becoming an astronomer, and hopes the three new girls moving in next door with the kindly, if eccentric, Mrs. Burdock will help to bring her shy brother, Mark, out of his shell.

Unfortunately, what she ends up with is a murder mystery, romance she doesn't want, and oh, yeah, those three new girls are vampires with a dangerous older brother coming to drag them back home.

There are a LOT of characters to focus on, as per usual with a murder mystery. We have Mary-Lynnette, Mark, the three sisters Rowan, Kestrel, and Jade, their brother Ash, and the local werewolf, Jeremy. And those aren't even the suspects. The endless supply of characters in such a short amount of pages is a little overwhelming, with so many aspects of so many characters not fully explored. But what really gets the reader, even the fans of over ten years, is the star-crossed attraction between Mary-Lynnette and Ash.

It's a bumpy road, to put it lightly. Mary-Lynnette is a simple, if nosy, human girl, while Ash is a dangerous, well-known vampire--and not well-known in the good sense, in Mary-Lynnette's book. Understandable; in Secret Vampire and Daughters of Darkness it's implied he's killed human girls and worse. There are very subtle hints at sexual abuse toward human females that younger readers may miss, but the words are enough to paint a picture that Ash is Very Bad.

Many fans complain at the ending, but it is the ending that keeps them so captivated with these two. Mary-Lynnette wants to finish high school. She can't see herself with Ash as he is now, knowing his past. Ash is sorry and wants to repent, by the end of the novel, but wanting isn't enough. Mary-Lynnette is dealing with a soulmate who is potentially mentally unstable, definitely cruel, and by all human means, a classified felon (if he could be traced, that is).

L.J. Smith did well in ending the story with no conclusion (which she has promised the fans would come at the end of the series for years; ten years later and still nothing). Ash needs room to grow in order to be someone Mary-Lynnette will not regret willingly falling in love with.

This is a good book, by no means the best, but excellent for the series. It was the second book I read (no, Secret Vampire was not the first) and ultimately the one that got me hooked.

Here's to hoping the Mary-Lynnette/Ash fans get closure in the near future. Publishers, don't keep faithful fans in suspense!

This book is probably, in my opinion, one of (if not THE) worst in the Night World Series. It is Ash's story this time, who's soulmate just happens to be a human. (which Ironically was shadowed upon in the first book, 'Secret Vampire'.) Ash's character was cool, charismatic....and totally wasted in this book. Mary Lynnette was too self riteous, too...I don't know. To me, she didn't come off as the strong female lead she was supposed to. Instead, I found myself annoyed at her several times throughout the book. She was presumptuous, she was always assuming things, and she was rather stereotypic if you ask me. I think someone like Maggy from 'Black Dawn', or even someone like Hanna or Gillian from 'Soulmate' and 'Dark Angel' would have been a better match for Ash, not this smart alec, holier than thou woman named Mary Lynnette.

The book itself was lacking as well. We pretty much learn nothing about the nightworld, it doesn't much progress the series except to mention a few characters that appear in future books. All in all, a disappointment. Ash's first appearance in 'Secret Vampire' stole the show, so when this book was released, I was ecstatic. 'Finally', I thought. 'Something that touches on Ash's past and personality. We will finally get to read his story.' Well, as it turned out, he was poorly underwritten. Or perhaps this particular book would have worked better if it had been a little later in the series, if Mary Lynnette wasn't so sharp tongued, if there weren't so many CHARACTERS to concentrate on. This wasn't so much Ash and M.L's story as it was all the sisters. Too many people to concentrate on. The three sisters should have been given their own book for character developement if that was the case. I would suggest this book only to those who wish to further their Night World series collection, or just their L.J Smith collection, in general. As for the enjoyment factor?

...Nadda.

I have read nearly all of the books in the Night-world series, and I have to say that this one is my favourite, without a doubt! It is Ash of course that just makes this book, he is irrestible, I became hooked on him from the very first, I guess it's the whole 'bad-boy' vampyre thing he's got going on that you become addicted to him! I started reading these books years ago, but they went out of print, I would love to get the last few if anyone has any idea how I can get them! I would recommend these books to anyone of any age, I mean I'm 21 now, and I still love them!

It was this book nearly 10 years ago that made me fall in love with L.J. Smith and her writing. I have read nearly everything by her in the years after my first encounter with Daughters of Darkness, yet this book remains dear to my heart. The characters pop out of the pages and you fall in love instantly with Rowan, Jade, and Kestrel...but you will especially fall in love with Ash. Look for Ash again in the 6th book of the series when he makes another appearance. This book is fantastic!

Jamin P. review of The High King by Lloyd Alexander, March 19, 2008

The book I read, The High King, was great. The time, setting and plot all fit together quite nicely. The story takes place in Medieval Times but it is a fantasy world. Taran, an assistant-pig-keeper, is now a great warrior and he is the leader of an army of horsemen against Arawn-Death-Lord. There is a catch though Arawn has stolen the sword of Dyrawyn- the most powerful weapon in the kingdom of Prydain. Taran and is companions have set out to claim the sword back for the diabolical Arawn. They have to go to Arawn's lair, which is at the top of Mount Dragon. After many bloody battles they are able to retrieve the sword for Arawns Lair. At the end they end of the book some of Taran's companions go to the Summer Country, while some stayed on the now peaceful and prosperous land of Prydain.

Pig boy gets over it, the sword, the girl, the knowledge and the administration job.


Taran finally gets organised as far as the princess is concerned, but, as these things goes, is rudely interrupted by the goings on caused by your usual dark lord of the underworld.

A fantasy hero has to deal with that first, befor eany nuptials, as well as all the nicking off of the supernatural types and a decision for the woman of the piece.

The order came in a few days which was great. The person I orded this for was happy with the book and enjoyed reading it. All in all the order was fast and I was a satisied costomer. Cyndi

The high king by Lioyd Alexa is a wearied book that I wouldn't recommend if you are younger than a 5th grader. There is a guy that is going somewhere. Then there was a ogre and it was green. The guy went somewhere to get someone. He traveled a long way. He was on a horse back. It took him a few days to get there.
The guy was a worer and he was trying to beat someone. The person that he was going to defeat was a ogre. The ogre was as mean as a vicious dog. The guy had a sword and the ogre diden't but it had muscle, and it had friends and the guy diden't. The guy had to fight them off with one sword. It took him like 40min to fight them. After he did that he started going again to where he was going. It took him two more days to get where he was going.
He finally got there and the person wasen't there when he got there.

It is NOT my intent to be inflammatory or insulting with this review. However, as humans, we live and die by comparing and contrasting, so I can't help it if I do so. Please don't shoot the messenger because I rate Alexander's series according to personal standards.

Second, I am not merely reviewing The High King here; this is the best place to review the entire Chronicles of Prydain, and so I shall.

I have also heard a little rumor recently that Alexander's books have been recommended in reference to Harry Potter, and I have nothing against Harry Potter other than it is a lukewarm, morally tepid tale in which the characters, magic and plot are only occasionally consistent; however, the likeness between Harry and Taran are, in short, the difference between heroism by circumstance and heroism by choice.

Now to the review and to more (unintentional) offense: The Chronicles of Prydain slightly resemble (especially in the first part, The Book of Three) The Lord of the Rings because they are both drawn from the same Welsh roots. The Chronicles of Prydain are better, hands down, no questions asked. I have always regarded Tolkien as the untouchable master of Fantasy, until now. Here is why Alexander tops the unbeatable:

1. His characters are closer, more human, and more real. They are all easily accessible. They are all ingeniously well-defined. I am not as well-read as I should be, but I have never read a more likeable, fleshed-out and consistent, large cast of characters. His genius shines through.

2. Where Tolkien is mythology, Alexander is what mythologies are made of. The Chronicles of Prydain cut right to the core of the greatest human stories and their humanity--their sacrifice. The individual acts of sacrifice in each of the books are heartrending, and somehow, almost in an act of divinely-inspired propitiation, heart-mending. Frodo's act of sacrifice at the end of Return of the King pales in comparison to the multitude of sacrificial acts that culminate with Taran's decision at the end of The High King. It is awe-ful.

3. The female characters are superb. Eilonwy is a likeable, strong and strong-willed female who is consistently Eilonwy, the perfect foil to Taran, and perfectly balanced. Alexander did not make her a shrew, a feminist, or anything overboard to the point of ruining the character, the story or the consistency. She is wonderfully written and no less a hero than Taran, though the spotlight is not always on her. Alexander was truly ahead of his time in making a female hero so real, so approachable, so likeable, and truly heroic.

4. The plot is seamless. Books one through five fit together as in a panoramic puzzle, with each thing building on the other. Granted, Tolkien wrote in the style of the medieval, and he did so without flaw, but with Alexander, every scene serves the plot. There is not one wasted word, and few unanswered questions, if any.

5. The plot is character-driven. Unlike Harry Potter, where the deus-ex-machina is unbelievably heavy, the plot in the Chronicles of Prydain is character-driven, and hinges on the characters making the right decision without regard to their personal desires. I have only seen one other author in whose books this trait is so pronounced (see Nicole of Prie Mer: Book One of the Latter Annals of Lystra, to start) and so perfectly wielded. However, it makes for the most satisfying plot resolution possible.

6. The characters are hopefully complex and dynamic. I have never read of so many characters that are redeemable--and indeed, we see many of them redeemed. I can only hope to look on life with the optimism that Alexander must have had. His characters, even many of his bad ones, are so lovingly handled, I must hope that my Author chooses to deal with me so mercifully. The Mercy offered in these books goes beyond the pity offered to Gollum and into the redemptive work of One who can transform lives. It is extremely powerful, and the same reason so many of the minor characters are beautifully real and dance off of the pages.

I could go on and on, and fortunately for you, I won't. I am so lucky to have found these books. I hope many receptive hearts will continue to find them for several generations. May Alexander rest peacefully, and I hope that somehow, somewhere, he knows that his Taliesin is smiling.

What a wonderful story this was. I love to watch skating and have not missed watching an Olympics since I was a kid. I am familiar with a lot of the skaters mentioned in this book. I thought this story was so touching and full of emotion. Katia considers her life with Sergei almost too perfect. They were so in love and their life together was indeed a fairy tale. I commend Katia for being able to pick herself and go on with her life no matter how difficult after Sergei's unexpected death in 1995. I thought the comparison between Russian and American customs was very interesting. This was an enjoyable and heartwarming read.

I remember watching this pair when they were competing. I wasn't an ice dancing fan, but they were so incredible to watch, I started watching any competition they were in. When Sergei died, I was devastated for Ekaterina. When her book came out, I read it, and cried all the way through. But really, it isn't a sad ending. I find it to be very inspirational to see how Ekaterina faced the worst that could happen, and came out on the other side with a wonderful attitude and will to go on. It is now 12 years later, and this book STILL makes me cry, and still inspires me.

I read this book lastyear in the Hardcover edition and I cried. It is such a moving, loving, tragic, and heartwarming story full of love that a young widow had for her husband and skating partner and the child Daria that they had together. It told of their skating years, marriage, how they met, and came to america along with the tragic death of her young husband Sergei. I couldn't put this book down. A great story that you will love. Well written.

First of all, this is a great book. The story is written beautifully, and pictures were added in all the right places. I don't tear up easily, so the book didn't make me cry, but it was touching nonetheless. However, I was surprised to find that this book was also useful in that it gave me some great insights into Russian culture, specifically how it differs from life here in America. This is a great book for a plethora of reasons; I'd definitely recommend it!

I'm really glad I found this book at a library book sale last year. Though this story is no longer current news, I hadn't forgotten about the tragic death of Sergey Grinkov or watching him perform with his wife Katya in the 1994 Winter Olympics. And even though the world has long since moved onto other headlines and stories of interest in the figure skating world, the love story told in this book is truly timeless. As a Russophile and a historian whose field of expertise is Russian history, it was a double joy to read because of all of the descriptions of Russian culture, the differences between Russian and American customs, and what life was like in the late Soviet period and the early post-Soviet period. (Although I have to say that the transliteration style wasn't completely pleasing to me; for example, I don't think I've ever read any other book where a double O is used in place of the letter U, as in Ligooshina or Katoosha, and I'm still trying to figure out how the nicknames Serioque and Katuuh are supposed to be written in Russian characters.)

Though the book begins and ends sadly, in between there's a lot of happiness and love, making this into a beautiful heartfelt love letter to a wonderful person, skating partner, friend, lover, husband, and father. The love between Katya and Seryozha is so pure and genuine, nothing like the type of superficial and problem-plagued celebrity relationships we're used to hearing about. It even made me a little jealous of their storybook love story! All throughout, Katya is very honest and open, about their relationship, the world of young skaters in the Soviet Union, what goes on behind the scenes at the Olympics, the hectic life on the road of skaters, and how difficult it was to constantly have to leave their daughter Darya behind while they skated. While I'm sure there are some things she chose not to write about, overall a very detailed and honest life and love story emerges. She was so lucky to have this wonderful man, who was so much more than just an athletic partner, for (what was then) half of her life.

Because the love story is so beautiful and like a dream come true, the reader can really feel her deep grief and sorrow expressed at the beginning and end of the book. It's a terrible thing to lose the love of your life, the father of your child, the only person you've ever skated with for the past 13 years, when you're only 24 years old. This beautiful love story isn't diminished for me by knowing that Katya has since moved on with her life and found love again. She had a child with Ilya Kulik six years after Sergey died, and married him a year later; it's not like she jumped into his bed soon after this book was published! (And since Kulik is six years younger, he would have been a bit too young for her then anyway.) When you're widowed at such a young age, you should hardly be expected to be in mourning forever, and it may help the more current reader to not feel quite so sad at the end, knowing that this intense pain and sorrow isn't such an overpowering force in Katya's life anymore. And new husband or not, there's no denying that her first husband, her first love, was indeed the greatest love of her life.

This is an excellent book, but some may be put off by the cover. The story is great and it is not a "romance" novel as the cover may imply. Very good selection for a book club or just to enjoy on your own.

Fairy tale is the best description for this novel. The drab, old-maidish heroine with the horrible family who blossoms in a new setting and finds the man of her dreams is the most trite of plots. But LM Montgomery has pulled it off by not taking herself or the story too seriously. It's the kind of novel a young girl can adore, and an older, more sophisticated reader can still enjoy. I loved it years ago, and still do!

If you already love The Blue Castle then this is a great addition to your L.M Montgomery collection. However, the introduction contains a couple of errors about the storyline and, most problematically, gives away the ending. Think of it as an academic, analytical essay and read it only after you've read the book.

This book has no chapter which is less delightful than another. Just good reading from start to finish!

I read this book first when I was 14 and loved it. I ordered it recently on Amazon and was amazed at how at age 28 I easily entered the world of Valancy and fell in love with the characters all over again. Excellent writing, excellent imagery, excellent story line. Loved it. I'm so glad I own it now.

I love this book. I read it years ago and wanted to read it again, so I bought it.

The Last Silk Dress is one of the Best Ann Rinaldi books I have read ( and I have read many). The way Ms Rinaldi discribes the occurances takes you back and makes you feel like you were there. This was actualy the first Rinaldi book I read and now I own at least 7 of her books. The author and the book are wonderful and I suggest anyone who is into historical fiction or just needs a good book to bye this one or check it out of the library.

I thought that this book was well writen and I could really relate to Susen the main character. She is the old version of a todays rebels. It is a very good book and I recomend it to anyone who loves history and fiction.

The Last Silk Dress was an excellent book. The author, Ms. Ann Rinaldi, wrote the story in first person format. The story truly showed what the main character, Susan Chilmark was thinking and feeling. Ann Rinaldi wrote with so much detail that one could picture each and every scene that she described. I felt present in each part of the story.
The book is not part of series. This book is not a journal, but it shows how Susan thought and felt when she was overcoming the challenges her brother, Lucien, set for her. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially people who like historical fiction.

I've read many of Ann Rinaldi's books, and I think this and Time Enough for Drums are my favorites.
In this book, fourteen-year-old Susan Chilmark collects silk dresses to make a balloon. In doing this she meets her brother, Lucien, and discovers secrets her family has been hiding from her, and falls in love.
This is a really good historical fiction book, not just really good facts about the civil war but a good story too. If your into historical ficiton like me, you won't want to miss this book.

Me and my sister have read this book over and over since we were quite small, I still adore it, it seems like every time I read it I discover something new. Wonderful book to read aloud! I hope you enjoy it as I have!

This is an amazing fantasy/mystery/romance. It is about a girl who is slowly unravelling the mystery of her mother's past and her future, after they move to a beautiful and mysterious country estate in England. The story is very original and filled with symbolism.
I definitely recommend reading it. I gave it 4.5 stars, rather than 5 because I am extremely picky about what I consider a 5 star book. The only qualm I had with this book was that the romance seemed a bit shallow. It was based almost entirely on a fate they seemed unable to escape, and instantaneous sexual attraction. The sexual content is a bit mature for teens too.
Aside from that, I really liked it.

ISBN 0380732289 - With teens the target audience, and with teens largely able to pick their own reading material without mom and dad nosing in, let me at least note that the sex scenes aren't as bad as romance novels for the grown-up audience, but they're there.

Clare and her mother, Frances, have some trouble getting along lately, partly because of the boy Clare's been dating. Once somewhat idealistic, Clare has taken up Adrian's opinions, which tend toward the "every man for himself", greedy sort. This is a little thing compared to what's coming next - Frances has taken a job as a private nurse and tells Clare, basically, that she ought to stay behind in London. Clare, however, makes up her own mind (for once) and decides to go along to Ravensmere, where her mother will be caring for 87 year old Mr. Aylward. Slowly, long-hidden truths begin to come to light.

So many things Clare thought she knew - from where her mother was born, to her own name - turn out to be half-truths or outright lies. Frances had spent Clare's entire life protecting her from Ravensmere and the legacy that will be hers, no matter what she does. With a history that might well go back tens of thousands of years, Ravensmere and the families tied to it protect a secret so powerful that the head of the Aylward family and his bride, always a Kenward daughter, must protect it with their lives.

Really well done, with a nice build up (that others found too slow) that leaves you wondering where everything is headed. As the secrets are revealed to the reader, and to Clare, understanding begins to dawn - but the real secret is beyond your guessing. You're going to have to read it to find out!

On the negative side, there's not much. At one point Clare snaps "Cat fleas don't live on humans." at Roger Fletcher, which is just stupid, since there's no such thing as "cat fleas" and fleas DO live on humans. And I hate to say it, but the ending wasn't as well done as the rest of the book. If Clare and Mark hadn't actually SAID what it was that they were sworn to protect, I'd still have no idea. Don't let that scare you off, though, because this one is one you'll be sorry to miss out on!

This is my favorite book ever. Mystery, intrigue, incredible plot and character development, romance, it's got it all! Liz Berry is a great author.

An intricate web of lore, romance, and mystery, this novel raises some interesting thoughts about the pressure of inheritance and the suffocating nature of responsibility. The plot is well thought out and mysterious, and as a reader you can feel yourself being slowly sucked into the story, lured by the many cryptic clues that lead up to the climax.

Ravensmere, the old country estate that is the setting of the story, is so deeply saturated with history and emotion that it is almost like a character, too alive and potent to be merely a part of the scenery. It creates a mysterious, intoxicating mood for the book simply through its presence, and provides the perfect location for a subtle mystery story.

In much the same way, Clare Meredith provides the perfect heroine for such a story. She is sharp, level-headed and sensible, believable and realistic, just like any ordinary person until she comes to Ravensmere and discovers her seer-like powers and bizarre connection to the estate and its puzzling past.

The only major flaw that I discovered upon reading the novel was that it took a while to get into. Nothing really happened within the first hundred pages to capture my interest. The plot only really starts speeding up after Clare meets Mark, and even then it could be quite slow-moving at times. Rather then hauling the reader in with explosive action or suspense, the author relies on her elaborate plot with its many mysterious references to draw your attention.

Timid, scrawny, Willie Beech is the abused child of a single mother. She sends him to Mr. Tom, who lives in the English countryside, because London is being bombed by the Nazis.

The two main adults in this story, the mother and Mr. Tom, seem very similar in the beginning. Yet, by the end, we see that they are completely different. What really hit home was this: hard times can make hard people, but one's true colors shine through when faced with others in need.

Mr. Tom's gruff exterior is only his exterior. He's really got a warm heart, which he opens up to Willie and shows him the love that's supposed to be in a family.

The mother's quiet, strict exterior masks her bitter, mean nature. She has no love for her children, and abuses them in subtle, neglectful ways.

We don't actually see the abuse, we see the end result...which, in my opinion, is far more powerful. I cried for Willie at the end of this book, and cheered Mr. Tom for doing everything he could to save this poor boy. When children are old enough to understand the results of abuse, every family should read this book.

This book is very intense but a good read. It is about evacuees from the London area because WWII was beginning. This particular town is painted different than most during this era. The people are nice and giving. If anyone does misuse the children they are put out for it! The major characters meet each other and both are not too sure of the other. It tells the story of a lost soul bringing healing to another lost soul. There are some intense and disgusting scenes but when you come out on the other side it is worth it! I don't recommend this book for anyone under the age of 12 or 13.

I decided to read this book for seventh grade accellerated reader. This great piece of literature has quickly become one of my all time favorite books. I'm very hard to please when it comes to books. When you read this, you become so attached to every last character. It is truly amazing.

I thought that this book was a very good book to read. I thought that it gave a lot of details and it was very interesting and exciting. This book was sort of hard to understand because Mr. Tom said different words funny. I really liked the part where Mr. Tom went over to London to try to find Will at his house. I also liked the part where Will was taken from his hospital bed and brought back to Mr. Tom's home. The ending left me hanging because at the end he said Dad I'm growing. I would give this book about five stars.

"Good Night, Mr. Tom" puzzles me. When I read it objectively, looking only at the writing, it's not so impressive. The flow isn't particularly good and at times the book clunks along. The dialogue is engaging, though, and thoroughly real.

And the story itself is incredible. "Good Night, Mr. Tom" tells of a young London boy who is sent out to live in the country during World War II for his safety. There, away from an abusive home, Willie is able to grow and learn what it means to be loved.

With a series of remarkably realistic and fun characters, Willie (renamed Will in his new home with "Mr. Tom") moves and grows. Aspects of the book will make the reader cry (quite a few), aspects will chill you, but on the whole you will smile through your tears, because this book is just... special. It's got a very special feel to it, through tears and sad moments.

So while at times the story gets dull, it's an excellent book. I would recommend this to young teens, mostly because it deals with serious issues and might be a bit much for younger kids.

Definitely recommended.

Best vampire story ever. Sure, some might argue that some of our blood-sucking heroine's feats are ridiculously far-fetched, but c'mon, it's fiction. I just like that the plot is really fast-paced, engaging, and has a solid foundation. Pike's interpretation of the vampire makes more sense than some other vampire characters. Plus, she could probably kick their butts. The Last Vampire rules!

Sita, the main character of the book is a 5,000-year-old vampire, who looks 20, and believes she is the last vampire. Sita goes by many names but chooses the name of Alisa Perne as she walks among the humans on Earth. She soon realizes that she is being hunted by someone who knows what she is. She thinks it might be the client of a detective she killed in self-defense. The detective had found out her secret and was a threat.

To figure out who is hunting her, she goes to high school and makes friends with the detective's shy son Ray and then falls in love with him.

She begins to think Ray is actually her old love Rama reincarnated.

Another person from her past, her old enemy Yaksha, is actually following her, trying to kill her to atone for his sins. Yaksha is her creator and the most powerful Vampire ever. Sita was led to believe that she had killed him long ago.

Then there's Seymore. Seymore is a student who wants to become a vampire, after he figures out Sita's secret.

Can Sita and Ray be together and be happy? What will happen when Sita meets up with Yaksha after all these years? Will Seymore become a vampire? Can Sita ever be free of her past? Read The Last Vampire to find out!




I especially liked...

The way Sita was made to be just a regular person with hopes and dreams and feelings just like us. Not All moody and dark like other vamp novels.

I didn't like...

There was nothing that I did not like about this book.

When I finished reading this Book I wanted to...

To write the author and tell him to make some more about this wonderful character

This Book made me feel...

Very upbeat and pumped up with adrenaline.

The author of this Book...

Christopher Pike: is one of my favorites even thought he writes books for teens I have tried to keep up with his books as an adult.

I recommend this Book because...

It is a good read with all the makings of a movie. The romance did not outwiegh the suspense and the action.

Further Comments...

I was so glad to find out that he made 5 more books in this series and the 2nd was just as good if not better than the 1st.

I read The Last Vampire series when i was 13, which i am now 22, and the story still affects me today. I have to say that this series is still a favorite of mine, and I remember that when i finished the last book I felt an emptyness for it being over, so I read it again. Sita goes through things that no vampire in any other story has gone through (I dont want to ruin it), and it is an emotional ride. Read this series and you will never forget it!

This book was really good i could hardly put it down. Sita or Alisa Perne is telling the story of her life. She also explaines her fears. When she falls in love with a boy named, Ray Riley, she finds out that he is in danger.Pat, Ray's girlfriend, is suspicious of Alisa. I could tell that Pat was very upset. I like this book because I love to read about vampires. I think others should read it. It's a good book! So drop what your doing and read it or Sita will get you! Beware of vampires.........

The Last Vampire is a good horror novel, but fails to draw you in completely. The main character, Alisa Perne, or Sita, is a stunning, petite blonde who has lived as a wandering vampire for five thousand years. It gets tiring hearing her talk about how beautiful she is, and how she knows men love to look at her body. It is also tiring as she lists endless super-human traits she owns that make her invincible. Pike seems like he just couldn't stop listing abilities. His writing is flawed in places.

What makes this story interesting is that Pike has removed the setting from Transylvania to a place no one associates with vampires - India. And he works in Krishna as a character. You know - the blue dude with the flute whom Hare Krishas worship.

I will read the rest of the series, but Pike has failed in creating a heroine that readers can relate to and root for. I get tired of all the men eating out of her hand.