Young Adult Books

"Never Ceese" is the tale of a vampire and a werewolf who seek what we all seek deep down in our souls...redemption. Both were cursed unwillingly, and both have fought all their VERY long lives to never pass on that curse to another, but to cling to their beliefs that were ingrained in them as children.

Ceese finds herself lured to the castle of Penelope and Richard against her will, not certain what she will find once she arrives there. Richard isn't fond of visitors of any kind, and especially not visitors of Ceese's nature.

But Penelope persuades them both to accept one another and that they can help the other break the curse that binds them, thus giving them the ability to choose their own final destiny.

I know it sounds so far fetched that two of the most unimaginable creatures and most make-believe beings could have such strong desire for the things of God...but believe me, IT WORKS! And it makes the lure of God's redemption all the more powerful to see it played out in a work such as "Never Ceese".

This book will stretch your imagination to its farthest reaches, and almost make you believe...but not quite, because believing in something Sue writes so well is just, well, not something I find myself wanting to do!!

I'm giving "Never Ceese" five out of five bookmarks, with a tiny cross as a charm...because that is where our destiny changes, no matter who we are or where we're from. It all starts and ends at Calvary.

Happy Reading!

Deena

I recently finished reading "Never Ceese" and I LOVED it! I must admit, that at first I was a bit wary, as I've never been into werewolves and vampires much, but Sue Dent does an awesome job making them seem completely human. I loved the story of redemption and sacrifice, and I can't wait for the next book, "Forever Richard."

Richard has been cursed so long he can't even remember his life before he became a vampire. He spends his days with his long time friend, Penny, in his luxurious castle in Britain. Richard's world is forever changed when a young werewolf named Ceese arrives at his door claiming to be old friends with Penny. Ceese has also carried her curse for ages and she wants nothing more to be rid of it once and for all. Richard has long ago given up hope of ever being free from his curse and Ceese must convince him to hope again. Now vampire and werewolf must work together to discover a cure for the immortal curse that binds them both.

Sue Dent has done what few have dared to try, mixing elements of vampire and werewolf lore with themes of faith and spirituality. The result is an intriguing and exciting piece of fiction that is obsessively readable and entertaining on every level. Richard and Ceese are cleverly crafted characters who face insurmountable odds in their quest for redemption. Dent adds to the richness of the story by giving equal balance to both werewolf and vampire mythology. Many of these elements were familiar to me, with a few surprises that only added to the mystique of each character. The incorporation of faith is never forced and fits seamlessly into the storyline, making the messages of sacrifice and redemption that much more powerful in the end.

Never Ceese was a pleasant surprise to me and if it wasn't for Eric Wilson's Amazon review, I never would have picked it up. It's a shame that major CBA publishers aren't willing to pursue more "outside the box" fiction like Never Ceese. I'm glad to know there are publishers out there (like Writers' Cafe Press) who are willing to give these types of stories the recognition they deserve. I can't wait to sink my teeth into the sequel, Forever Richard.

I just finished reading Sue Dent's tale of Never Ceese. I think the other reviews have already covered just about everything that can be revealed without giving too much away, so I will have to be satisfied in saying I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Normally, I am not one to read about vampires and werewolves; not my cup of tea. Other people, however, gave rave reviews that had me very curious. I was suspicious, but Ms. Dent has successfully blended the creatures of horror stories with sound Biblical principles. It teaches about faith and love without being preachy. Much of the subject matter is dead serious (forgive the pun), but Ms. Dent has included plenty of comic relief. Really, I love her offbeat sense of humor. I read it rather quickly since I couldn't put it down for long.

Sue Dent has done the unthinkable. She's pushed the boundaries of Christian fiction, circling the camp with a small publisher, howling for someone to take notice. And it's working.

"Never Ceese" is a blend of traditional vampire themes and modern smart-mouthed characters. Ceese is a werewolf on her way to a British castle, where she will rendezvous with Richard the vampire. Ceese is in a constant struggle with "the wolf" inside, while Richard is trying to maintain a modicum of control over his fang-toothed desires. This unlikely pair, united by an old woman named Penny, discover they have mutual childhood links. As they travel to meet a young college-age researcher, their pasts come to light. Romance flits about in unexpected places. And a self-seeking professor angles to take their immortality for himself.

The standbys are in play--garlic, crucifixes, wolfsbane, etc--but Dent adds a few of her own elements to this classic battle between the old ways and new. There are few surprises, but the story moves at a quick pace, leavened with humorous dialogue and clever insights. Dent's characters struggle with their cursed sinful natures, seeking release--if such a thing is possible.

In the end, all is resolved--if not a bit suddenly on some levels--and possibilities are left open for the sequel, "Forever Richard." I guess I know what book to add to my Christmas list. With Dent circling the camp, someone's bound to wake up to this genre's possibilities.

Even though this book is geared for the 6th-8th grade student, it offers sound advice in a clear, easy-to-understand style. Who needs a grammar book that's full of long, linguistical answer that no one can understand. If I'm stumped by a grammar question, I don't hesitate to pick up this fun reference tool.
Karen Reddick, author of Grammar Done Right!

Before ordering this book I've read many reviews. Those reviews helped me a lot to make the right decision. This book is just amazing for sharping your English grammar skill. You polish your English by learning little details. I'm a Junior in High School. I thought that my level of English grammar is pretty high, but till I started reading ''Painless Grammar" with all these small, tiny detail. My dad, is educated 52 years old teacher, who is a bookworm! Even he found this book very exciting. So right now, when I start to read this book he is always next to me. The book is written with good humor and explanations to every aspect of the grammar. I read 10-15 min. per day, that's enough.

I think this book should be a "hand book" for every single person, no matter how old you are. Folks, don't even hesitate! Just go for it, buy it, and have pleaser by reading "Painless Grammar."

This is a wonderful book for anyone with questions regarding grammar. It explains the rules of grammar with humor and illustrations. This will definitely be an asset to most any classroom!!

Lisa

This book has given me such confidence in my writing. As a 40-something college student, it has helped me a lot!

If you told me that at the age of 72,I would be buying a book on Grammar,I would have thought you were kidding.My old,long since departed teacher would be flabbergasted.However; not more so, than that I would be writing Book Reviews;and voluntarily at that.He had convinced himself that my only interests were playing pool,chasing girls,eating and sleeping;though not necessarily in that order;but more likely all at the same time.
I can't say that the proper use of grammar and punctuation were the high points on my lists of things to perfect. I did know the difference between "principal" and "principle"(I remind myself that the Principal was my "pal").I remember to use "but also" when I use "not only" and a few other things. So,when I saw this book,I wondered if it could help me with sorting out the difference between "lie" and "lay". Sure enough; it was explained;and now I can see why it is so difficult. A half hour later,I was still thumbing through the book and finding all kinds of interesting stuff;so I bought it.I plan to keep it right beside my Dictionary and Thesaurus and expect I'll turn to it often.I suspect I will continue my loose ways with commas,semicolons,colons,dashes,hyphens dots(I didn't know they were called Ellipses) etc. ;but at least I'll have something to turn to when I want to find out what is "correct.
Each subject is followed with "Brain Ticklers" to help you see if you really understand the points.If you run out of exercises;you can alwys use my review for practice---the only problem is that you're on your own for answers.Feel free to e-mail me it corrected.
A great resource,or is that resourse,and long overdue,or is that over due.(or is this a question?)
It's not easy teaching old dogs new tricks!!
Don't forget ,English is a living language,and the rules keep changing all the time.Some live in the past,some are way ahead of the times;and then there are the rest of us---God knows where!!

Before ordering this book I've read many reviews. Those reviews helped me a lot to make the right decision. This book is just amazing for sharping your English grammar skill. You polish your English by learning little details. I'm a Junior in High School. I thought that my level of English grammar is pretty high, but till I started reading ''Painless Grammar" with all these small, tiny detail. My dad, is educated 52 years old teacher, who is a bookworm! Even he found this book very exciting. So right now, when I start to read this book he is always next to me. The book is written with good humor and explanations to every aspect of the grammar. I read 10-15 min. per day, that's enough.

I think this book should be a "hand book" for every single person, no matter how old you are. Folks, don't even hesitate! Just go for it, buy it, and have pleaser by reading "Painless Grammar."

This is a wonderful book for anyone with questions regarding grammar. It explains the rules of grammar with humor and illustrations. This will definitely be an asset to most any classroom!!

Lisa

This book has given me such confidence in my writing. As a 40-something college student, it has helped me a lot!

For any aspiring writers, this guide nails every technique possible in writing. Although it is about mechanics only - not storytelling - it is an essential guide for any writer-to-be and for professional too (for refresher tips!)

If you told me that at the age of 72,I would be buying a book on Grammar,I would have thought you were kidding.My old,long since departed teacher would be flabbergasted.However; not more so, than that I would be writing Book Reviews;and voluntarily at that.He had convinced himself that my only interests were playing pool,chasing girls,eating and sleeping;though not necessarily in that order;but more likely all at the same time.
I can't say that the proper use of grammar and punctuation were the high points on my lists of things to perfect. I did know the difference between "principal" and "principle"(I remind myself that the Principal was my "pal").I remember to use "but also" when I use "not only" and a few other things. So,when I saw this book,I wondered if it could help me with sorting out the difference between "lie" and "lay". Sure enough; it was explained;and now I can see why it is so difficult. A half hour later,I was still thumbing through the book and finding all kinds of interesting stuff;so I bought it.I plan to keep it right beside my Dictionary and Thesaurus and expect I'll turn to it often.I suspect I will continue my loose ways with commas,semicolons,colons,dashes,hyphens dots(I didn't know they were called Ellipses) etc. ;but at least I'll have something to turn to when I want to find out what is "correct.
Each subject is followed with "Brain Ticklers" to help you see if you really understand the points.If you run out of exercises;you can alwys use my review for practice---the only problem is that you're on your own for answers.Feel free to e-mail me it corrected.
A great resource,or is that resourse,and long overdue,or is that over due.(or is this a question?)
It's not easy teaching old dogs new tricks!!
Don't forget ,English is a living language,and the rules keep changing all the time.Some live in the past,some are way ahead of the times;and then there are the rest of us---God knows where!!

This is a fabulous story, magnificently-written, wonderful characters, and absolutely unforgettable. One of the best YA books I've ever read....and I've read a lot now. My daughter (13) also loved it.

I THINK THIS BOOK WAS INTERESTING . ONCE I READ IT I DIDN'T WANT TO STOP. EVERYTIME IT GOT TO A SUSPENSE PART I GOT SO EXCITIED. IF I WERE ALL YOU BOOK READER'S I WOULD SUGGEST YOU BUY IT AND READ IT!!!

I thought that the book was great because there was a lot of funny,sad,and exciting parts in the book that I really liked about Playing Solitaire. No one in my class wanted to put the book down because Ellie is a girl who doesn't have a mother and her father cut off some of her fingers.But the only people in her life is Dex,Joy,and grandpa that loved her.

I FELT HAPPY ABOUT THIS BOOK BECAUSE I LIKE THE PART
WHEN ELLIE WAS ABOUT TO SHOOT HER FATHER AT THE END
OF IT. AND AT THE BEGINNING OF THE STORY HER MOTHER
DIED AND HER FATHER CUT OFF HER FINGERS. AND SHE LIVES
WITH HER GRANDFATHER. AND SHE HAD A DOG NAMED BIRDIE.

I Felt Happy About This book because I Like the part when Ellie was About to shoot her father at the end and she didn't and it turned out a very good ending.

I greatly enjoyed the start of what can surely only be a great novel. It is a story that many will relate to.

It doesn't take long for you to empathize with Sara. Campisi's descriptions of Sara's world, both physical and psychological, brings her to life. After reading glimpses into Sara's past and present you are left wanting to know about her future. Teenage years are difficult for many reasons and Campisi captures those trials and tribulations. I look forward to more PRETENDING NORMAL.

This story not only gave each and every character a face and a personality, it put you in their time and place. Whether it was Sara taking comfort from the roses her mother once tended, or evading the embarassment of buying personal products for her sister, it put you, the reader, inside their heads, feeling their viewpoints.

What a strong, sturdy, smart little girl. How sad it was she is locked into the life she leads.

I would love to read the rest and discover the challenges that lie ahead for Sara and how she deals with them.

As usual, Mary Campisi writes with flair and grace, creating a story that will hold your interest. I can only echo the very positive things the others say and urge you to read these pages, then read all the Mary Campis novels you can get your hands on!!

I like this one. One of the odd things about capturing a young narrative voice with some authenticity is that, well, there's always a sort of wink at the audience that, hey, you the reader know some things my narrator doesn't know, because you're grown up and she's not. In most examples of this situation, what can be dampened is the soulfulness, the cry of the spirit that, when it is heard forcefully (like that Hemingway quote admonishing young writers to write with blood) it makes for that human connection which is among the powers almost unique to the intimate form of fiction. In this case, we get the nod and the wink and even the laughs but we get the cry as well. Hopefully this is structured to deliver a much louder and more resonant cry as the piece goes on, but the first notes are definitely here. To the writer: good luck! Oh, but then, why not a 5? Because, while you have both tones here, they are still showing the seams little, not really fused to be two sides of the same coin.

Ahhh Marie Antoinette. By now most people know she really did not utter the phrase "let them eat cake" in response to the raising bread shortage. During her and her husband's reign, the country was very unstable. There was a famine, a huge deficit, and finally, the Bastille and Reign of Terror.

The book begins with her at 14, and just about to be married to the Dauphin of France. With get a look at what it must have been like to be her, a child bride, and completely unaware of what is in store for her. the famous line when they became the reigning king and queen" we are too young to govern" was probably true.

We see her slowly mature and see through her eyes the country falling apart. What noone realized at the time was it really wasn't all her doing.

Written as though she herself wrote it while awaiting exeuction, we feel sorry for her and that is truly the mark of a great book and a great writer.

I read the whole book on a flight from Houston to Sacramento! I love this book! This is my favorite Holt book ever!

I read this book in 1973!? It was so wonderful that I planned my trip to Paris around Marie Antoinette's homes - the Grand and Petit Trianon at Versailles for one stop. The author writes historical fiction so beautifully that you can't help wishing to run to Europe and experience the lives of the queens you've read about!! I'll never orget this book - and others by Victoria Holt!

This was my first book by Victoria Holt, and also my first book on Marie Antoinette. I knew a little about her from my college history class, but that was all. This story provided more information than class, and moved along quickly. It was very exciting at times, and written in a way that was very believable. The book contained real quotations from various sources, which was also interesting. It would be helpful for the reader to have *some* background information on the time period and/or Marie Antoinette in order to make reading the story a little smoother. There are a TON of names and places mentioned, which can make it confusing... but not enough dates. Dates are mentioned only here and then. My one complaint is that several times all French sentences were used with no translation... so since I don't speak French, they detracted from the story. I would have liked to have known the translations to those.

This book actually should be under one of Victoria Holt's other pen names, Jean Plaidy. Plaidy writes about actual historical figures.

The Queen's Confession is told by Marie Antoinette herself. Well, not actually, but how she would have written it. She grows up in the Austrian court under the guidance of her mother, the Empress Maria Therese. She marries the Dauphin of France and deals with the "uncrowned queen", Madame du Barry. Finally, she becomes queen and started the beginning of the end of the French monarchy. Scandal, intrigue, and flamboyancy were never as great, and the consequences are even greater.

This book was wonderful! I actually learned a lot about her (I thought I knew everything!). Also, it is a good book to read if you are in for a good cry.

Torie and her sis, Sara have to go visit their grandparents for the whole summer. Niether of them are jumpping for joy. They go and meet two cosins. One whom they haven't seen for five years. Elija is tall, quiet, and shy. They meet Reenie for the first time. He is a highschool drop-out, mean, and a JD (Juvinile Deliquent) Torie befriends these two boys, yet they shut Sara out because she is stuck up, snoby, rude, and a sissie. The four kids soon discover an old secret in an old house. Torie, Elija, and Reenie come closer together suffering though fights, bother verbal and physical, yet these very fights make these cousins as close as PB&J. A tragic accident causes them to almost loose Sara. This part is sad because they had just yelled at her. She pulls though. Then the secret to the old house is revieled. In the end, someone dies. I won't tell you who, you'll just have to read it for yourself, but personally, he was my favorite character. This book shows how family relationships can effect eveyone, including a dead boy who haunts the house nextdoor. This book should be made into a movie. I can just picture the characters and how they would look and act. I bought this book out of desperation today. I went to the 75% off Bookstore and got it just because I would have to do a report on a book and just gravved Rimwalkers. I finished it about ten minutes ago and cried at the end. If you love romance, mystery, science fiction, family reationships, and death as well as life, THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU!!! I loved it and I highly recomend that you read it. It is very fast-pace and can easily be read in a day or two. Next time you are at the library, pick up RIMWALKERS BY VICKY GROVE. I KNOW THAT YOU'LL LIKE IT. I laughed, I cried, and I was a little scared. BELIEVE ME, YOU'LL LOVE EVERY FAST PACED PAGE OF RIMWALKERS

The book Rimwalkers by Vicki Grove is about two boys and a girl finding out who they are over the summer, which has its ups and downs, its goods its bads, they bond and figure out a mystery that has been haunting the farm for years.
I would recommend this book to fifth or sixth graders. It has just what kids this age are looking for: adventure, mystery, friendship, and danger. I am a sixth grader and I really enjoyed Rimwalkers. It has two hundred and twenty-three pages. It teaches an important lesson to never judge somebody by the way they act or the way they dress. One should take risks, and not always stand on the sidelines, but jump in the game.
The book Rimwalkers by Vicki Grove is an all around good book. Even though it might be aimed more for fifth or sixth graders, readers of any age would probobly enjoy it. So go ahead, get your copy of Rimwalkers, I promise you will enjoy it.

Rimwalkers was an awesome book. I would give it five stars.
Tory was older than Sara, her younger sister, yet she was always walking one step behind her. Until one summer vacation at her grandparents' farm and unexpected cousin named Rennie showed up. He was a daredevil and he helped Tory and Elijah, another cousin just as shy and quiet as Tory, to be more outspoken and to try new things. Tory, Elijah, and Rennie became really good friends, but they always left out the snobby little sister, Sara. Then on the last day of their summer vacation at their grandparents' farm tragedy struck and the tables turned.

I thought that it was a touching story made with realistic characters. The details were amazingly beautiful. Every thing about it was either dramatic or excitingly *daredevilish. I would definitly let a lot of my friends read this. I think most of them would really enjoy it. My favorite part was when Tory and Sara was on the bus and Tory was day dreaming about her and Elijah's past times together.

I thought that it was a touching story made with realistic characters. The details were amazingly beautiful. Every thing about it was either dramatic or excitingly *daredevilish. I would definitly let a lot of my friends read this. I think most of them would really enjoy it. My favorite part was when Tory and Sara was on the bus and Tory was day dreaming about her and Elijah's past times together.

Aidan's summer is over and it's time for him to start a new school year in a new school, where he meets head strong Antoinette. After he finds out that she is having weird dreams. Aidan realizes that Antoinette is being called to the Realm and tells her how to get there.
This begins Antoinette's journey but before she leaves Aidan's asked her that is she saw his friend's glimpes, the people of the Realm, to try to get him to follow the ture King.
This request poses a problem for to fufill it Antoinette will have to disobey directs orders.
This book shows how one mistake can harm many people. It is also a book that is hard to put down after you start reading it even if its your fifth time through.

The adventure continues in Rise of the Wyrm Lord. It is not often you find an author that can take you into the book, into the story and make you feel as one with the characters. That is just what Wayne Thomas Batson does. In Rise of the Wyrm Lord, as with TDW, you are taken away with the characters on the adventures to Alleble. However this time it is not Aidan, but his friend Antoinette that is fighting the battle. They must get to Robby before it is too late. Paragor has filled his head with lies and deceit. The battles they are fighting are eternal battles, they are fighting for life itself, in both realms. Another page turner by Mr. Batson.

Rise of the Wyrm Lord takes you on another adventure through the lands of Alleble, but this time from the point of view of young Antoinette, Gwenne's human counterpart. Just as before, King Eliam has a special mission that involves a seventh member, that being Antoinette. Readers will enjoy following Antoinette through her adventures and battles, and will rejoice with her as she leads a young glimpse to the love of her One True King! Beautiful! I can't wait to read The Final Storm!!

Very interesting and very fast reading. Couldn't wait to get through the second book and now I'm trying to slowly read the third. Not working so well :)

"The door was tall, hewn form gray stone and engraved intricately with castles, unicorns, warriors, and a long and winding road that led to two mountains. The sun rose between those peaks, and Antoinettes's heart rejoiced.
Seeing the silver ring, she reached down and pulled. Light, fiercer and startlingly pure, shone forth from behind the door. Antionette shielded her eyes with one arm and walked through The Door Within."
Aidan Thomas is a proud follower of King Elium. After his first trip to the other realm, Aidan was worried because he had a vision of his best friend, Robby Pierson. Each person in this world had his or hers glimpse twin. Robby's glimpse was following King Elium's enemy and traitor, Paragor.
Robby Pierson was Aidan's friend from Maine. Robby was very athletic, handsome, and cool. For some reason he wanted to be Aidan's friend. Aidan had to move from Maine to Colorado to take care his grandfather, Grampin, and had to leave Robby behind. After Aidan's vision, Aidan tried to call and email Robby, but he never responded. When Aidan finally contacted Robby, Robby acted strange and troubled. Aidan didn't know how to save Robby from the evil and from the lies of Paragory.
When the summer ended, Aidan met a girl named Antoinette Reed. She was an intelligent, artistic girl who was also a follower of King Elium. Antoinette discovered she was to be sent on a mission by King Elium to go to the other realm. Aidan told Antoinette about Robby and handed her a picture of him to try to find Robby's glimpse. Once in the Realm, Antionette had to abandon King Elium's mission in order to find Robby's glimpse. Robby's glimpse was a powerful Lord of Paragory. She needed to persuade him to turn against evil. Will she be captured, and did she make a big mistake by abandoning King Elium?
This Fantasy fiction book teaches you that even when you turn your back on God and do what you want to do rather than what God wants, He will still be with you forever. King Elium didn't abandon Antoinette even when she abandoned Him, just like God wont leave us. Wayne Thomas Batson adds suspense to the story by not telling you what will happen to Antoinette on her journey to find Robby's glimpse and also adds action to the story by the battles Antoinette faces while on her mission. I would recommend this book to all Christians who love fantasy about knights and dragons and also to people who like war and battles. Anyone who read the book "The Door Within" would love this book. I am exited to read the final book that conclude sthis trilogy, "The Final Storm."

Book Review
Shadow Club
By: Neal Shusterman

Jared and Cheryl always were second best, always living in someone else's shadow. Jared came in second at the races he was in and Cheryl's cousin would always upstage her. No one likes to lose especially all the time. Always being kicked into the dirt. They were sick of it so they decided to fight back. They gathered all the second-best people and went to their old hide out in the forest and formed a club, the Shadow Club was formed. At first it was just about pulling harmless pranks on their enemies and thinking of ways to hurt them but it went to far. Is someone trying to frame them? What will happen to the Shadow Club?
Shadow Club is a thrilling story that both boys and girls will love an maybe some adults. I wish it didn't have to end. It's filled with action, humor, suspense, and lots of mysteries. I recommend this book to any one who likes to get sucked into their book and forget about the world around them. Its so detailed that it feels like your really there in the story. It will have your eyes glued to it until the last pages have turned.

-Megan C.

Jared, a ninth-grader, is so sick of always being the second-best runner on his team. No matter how hard he pushes himself, he is always beaten by Austin. To make things worse, Austin loves to rub it in when he beats Jared.

Jared's best friend Cheryl knows how he feels. Her cousin Rebecca, who is a year younger than her, is a better singer than Cheryl and she seems to be constantly rubbing Cheryl's face in that fact. Jared and Cheryl are both fed up.

When they feel they can't take it anymore, Jared and Cheryl decide to start a secret club to vent their feelings--The Shadow Club. They invite Cheryl's little brother Randall, who is the number two swimmer on his team. They invite the second best trumpeter, the second prettiest girl in the class, the second best basketball player, and the second best student to join.

All of the members of the club get together and at first aren't sure what to do besides say bad things about those who are beating them all of the time. Then they decide that more needs to be done. Jared comes up with the idea of playing practical jokes on those students they detest. He thinks if no one knows about the club and no one plays a joke on his or her own enemy, all of the club members will escape being suspected of playing the jokes. So it starts.

Green slime shows up in a trumpet before a big solo. The best student's pet tarantula is put in the hood of the best runner's sweatshirt. The best swimmer has his toenails painted bright red while he's asleep.

The members of the Shadow Club are thrilled with their accomplishments. But then things start getting out of control. Jokes are being played that no one seems to know about, and they are getting meaner and more destructive by the day. Could someone be trying to frame the members of the club?

I thought this book captured the attitude of many junior high school students--it highlighted the feelings of competition and the petty nastiness that occurs in students of this age. I thought Jared should have been able to see when things were getting out of control, though, and should have been able to stop the club before anything bad happened.

There are the winners, the people who are first all the time, never losing. Then there are the second bests, almost coming in first. That is what the book 'The Shadow Club' is all about, beating the best.

Jared Mercer is the second best runner, second best to Austin Pace. This Austin teases him everyday, until one day, it's too much. That was the start of the Shadow Club.

Jared and Cheryl, best friends, decide on five other people to be in their club. Randall is the second best swimmer, Jason, the second best trumpet player, Abbie, second most popular girl, Karin "O.P." Han, second smartest, and Darren, the second best basketball player. They play small, seemingly harmless pranks - painting the swimmer's toenails, giving out pages of the most popular girl's diary - but then someone listens in on a meeting, Tyson McGaw. Tyson is a foster child with no friends. Then when someone starts to frame hime, things go spiralling out of control Tyson is all to blame. But are things really how they seem?

Shusterman is a great writer. You can really relate to the book which has a ton of detail. It keeps you on the edge and so does the following book, 'The Shadow Club Rising'.

~AD

The Shadow Club
By: Neal Shusterman

Review done by: A Mid-Prairie Teen Student

You would have no idea what you would be expecting if you got a book titled The Shadow Club, I sure didn't. The Shadow Club is a great book having middle school to high schooled aged students making mistakes and seeing the consequences in the end.
Jared, a middle school aged kid, is the main kid in this story. He is the second best runner in his school and hates being second best. He absolutely hates Eric, the best runner in school, and would do absolutely anything he could to be better than Eric. This is where the trouble started.
Jared's friend Cheryl, the second best singer, wanted to start a club called the Shadow Club. This means for people to come to this club if they're second best in something. Like second best singer, second smartest person in school, and even second prettiest girl in school. All these second best kids formed this club and got themselves into trouble without even knowing it.
This is quite a story and it is written by Neal Shusterman a fantastic author. He is an American author of books for young readers, and also a screenwriter. He has won and award called the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for The Schwa Was Here, and he was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He now lives in Orange County, California with his four children. So as you have seen he has a busy life but he has certainly used some of his time to write great books.
This is an amazing book but I'm not going to tell you what happened in the end. Once you read it, it will shock you incredibly as you will see. I will tell you though that it teaches great things like making friends, the trouble you can get yourself into with just starting little things, and how much hate can really hurt someone else's life.
I dare you to read this book even if you think you're the best person in your school. Just go and read this book so that you can see the secrets some second best people may be thinking right now.

I have been reading the Shadow Club to my 7th graders for more than 10 years. The humor, especially in the character of Ralphy Sherman, keeps the class listening. The suspense builds to the point that I have students begging me not to stop reading. Many students tried to buy the book because they just couldn't wait for me to finish reading. I was happy for a few years that it was out of print, so they couldn't find it to read ahead of me.
There are many lessons that apply directly to children of middle school age, and my favorite is looking at how the students laughed at Tyson McGaw at the beginning, but feel for him at the end of the book. Hopefully they will look closer at individuals and not make fun of them because they are different.
I have never had a student who didn't like this book and it is the only one that I have read that when I finish, the students applaud.

I read the book called A Time Of Angels by Karen Hesse. This is a historical fiction book.
This book is about this girl named Hannah that gets separated from her parents and has to move to her Aunts house in West Boston. After she got there she started working in a store to help her Aunt with food & clothes.
Weeks later she got the flu and got real sick. The flu had killed ten thousand people so far. After she gets her energy back. Tanta Rose and her went to try to get her family together. After month of hard work she got her family together.
I didn't like this book because it was boring. It barley had any action. If you are boring and like boring things you should you should read this book.

I got this book at a school event where we could choose one book (for free) to take home. I chose this one because I thought it sounded interesting, and although that was over a year ago I still read it. The author has a beautiful way of writing the story so that you can imagine what you would feel like in Hannah's shoes.

With all of the recent events our country has been through I believe this book should be read in classrooms everywhere. Taking place during WW2 you are drawn into the difficult, poor and often painful life of a young girl. As she loses loved ones to the plague, she herself is spared and she believes she may have seen an angel. Circumstances lead this young jewish girl to live with an old German man who the town shuns, but she learns to love. I learned that every war has two sides, and tolerance is the key. The young girl ends up happy in the end through small bits of fate in her favor, but I believe there were many different endings that would have worked for the girl - just like us.

I truly enjoyed this book by Karen Hesse. As a future teacher I will add this to my list of historical fiction in teaching social studies and language arts. I had no idea so many people died of the flu in 1918 - nearl two and one half times the number that died during WWI! Karen Hesse does an excellent job of placing ourselves into the life of a young Jewish girl named Hannah. She and her two sisters must live with her two aunts in a crowded Boston apartment because their father is fighting in the war, and their mother is trapped in Russia. She must eventually leave Boston alone because the flu is ravishing the city and her loved ones. She gets lost and is also stricken with the deadly flu. She is nursed back to health by a German farmer and a beautiful friendship develops. She eventually returns to Boston with the help of an angel to find the fate of her family. This is a must read book!

I was frankly shocked to read reviews that found this book boring. I've read all of Karen Hesse's works, and find this to be far and away the best. I am a fifth grade teacher, and can usually count on my 14-year-old daughter to let me take her cast-off books to supply my classroom; this was one that she won't part with, even after several years. "A Time of Angels" is high on my list of books to recommend for my higher-level readers.

The story line, taking place during the influenza pandemic of 1917-18, is grippingly realistic -- entire neighborhoods are nearly wiped out by the dreaded disease, and panic-stricken residents don't really know how to deal with the enormous problem. Meanwhile, Hannah and her two younger sisters are left in Boston with an aunt, since her mother is trapped in WWI Russia caring for relatives and her father is off fighting in the war -- and neither have been heard from.

When influenza tears Hannah's family apart, circumstances take her far away where she ends up in the care of a gruff old farmer who has been isolated from other townsfolk because of his German heritage. The relationship that forms between the two of them is sweet and tender, and Hesse crafts it beautifully.

Truly, Hesse's characterizations and descriptions make this book nearly magical to read. She weaves in bits and pieces of Jewish culture, American history, and wonderful mystical interludes with an angel who saves Hannah's life more than once.

Boring? Don't believe it. This is a book you shouldn't miss!