Young Adult Books

I have 26 more pg. to read, & I don't want this book to end. I am enjoying seeing parts of Mrs. Cleary's life in her fiction books. I now want to re-read all my Ramona books.

After devouring Beverly Cleary's first memoir "A Girl From Yamhill" I couldn't wait to read My Own Two Feet. The only thing to complain about is that there isn't a sequel to this one! Picking up where Yamhill left off, we share in Beverly Cleary's journey through college and into her adult years and the writing of her first book, Henry Huggins. Reading Cleary's Memoirs, I was taken back to my own childhood and my love for Ramona & Beezus. Cleary has a unique gift of simple writing that readers of all ages can enjoy, whether you are 8 or 80. I lover her writing as much today as I did when I was in the 3rd grade.

A must-read for all Beverly Cleary fans. Picks up the story where "A Girl from Yamhill" left off and takes us through her college years and her career as a librarian. A book that will inspire you to become a librarian or a children's book author. As well writen and accessible as all of her children's books about the gang on Klikitat Street.

I loved Beverly Cleary's fictional books when I was a boy. More recently, I enjoyed reading her first memoir "A Girl from Yamhill." Therefore, I just had to read her second memoir, "My Own Two Feet" which chronicles her life through college, her work as a librarian, her marriage, and the beginning of her life as a children's author. I loved it! It not only provides a wonderful insight into the mindset and character of its author; but also presents a vivid, sometimes very nostalgic, look at life in the 30's and 40's. It describes an America that has disappeared. A college social life that revolved around a seemingly endless number of dances and a strict code of decorum on how young women should dress and act. A small town opposed to the idea of having two married librarians since jobs were so scarce during the Depression that it was considered fair enough for just the husband to have a job. Also as a Catholic, I was amused by Beverly's parents' opposition to her marriage to Clarence Cleary simply because he was Catholic.

There's also some fun information for the fans of her fictional books. Readers will learn how Ribsy and Ramona got their names and what was Mrs. Cleary's original ending to "Henry Huggins." It's also interesting to note that the character of Ramona Quimby, which is arguably Mrs. Cleary's most beloved, was created simply as an afterthought to keep all her characters from being only children. I absolutely loved this book, and was disappointed it was so short!

This is a terrific book. I particularly liked that so much of the story took place in places I am very familiar with, like Chaffee College in Ontario and UCBerkeley. The photos are fascinating too. This a wonderful book for anybody who has been a college student, or who wants to write, or who has had a difficult relationship with a parent. I thoroughly recommend it!

This book is amazing in its ability to both amaze and terrify a potential candidate. It's a must have for any candidate trying to get in. It makes sure to give advice on the mental preparation you must make and the physical riger that is to be endured. As a female candidate this book has helped me answer my questions, end my doubts, and showed me how to prepare. If you're looking into any of the academys get the candidate book!

I just met my Blue and Gold Officer, and I think hes cool. We talked, but my dad was in a hurry so we couldnt really get into a conversation, since we were busy. Anyways, this book told me how to act in front of him. I saw a lot of guys trying to act tough to a guy who could break them in half. A lot of them werent even showing respect. But I knew what to do, even if I am a little younger than most of the guys there. I think I made a good impression on him, and am going to try to get to know him better soon, but so far, I have'nt had time to contact him. Oh well, this is still a very good and valuble book.

I'm entering as a member of the Class of 2007. This book helped me stay on track and know what to expect from the Admissions process. My admissions counselor was extremely helpful. This book gets 2 thumbs up!

This book is amazing!!! It helped me a lot to prepare for USNA, but I didn't get an appointment due to a medical disqualification. However, I followed the advise in this book and it helped me get into THREE other federal service academies. I got into the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and the U.S. Air Force Academy. So even if you don't plan on going to the Naval Academy, it sure helps to read the book on how the application process works esspecially with the congressional nominations.

Currently Im a PO3 in the Navy who will be attending the Naval Academy Preparatory School this year with subsequent attendance to the Naval Academy proper. While this book only had a rather small mention of how enlisted applicants gained admission, and an even smaller section on NAPS, its still THE BEST resource out there for an aspiring applicant. After all its not the NAPS or Prior candidate handbook. As an Air Force brat I lived on USAFA for 3 years and I can tell you that the atmosphere that they portrayed in this book is pretty realistic. Just remember that nothing about any academy is going to be perfect. If you aspire to be a Mid or are the parent of the fore mentioned this book is an absolute necessity.
Keep this in mind. If you REALLY REALLY want to get in there is nothing that can stop you. I almost failed out of high school my junior year and then went to a military school (NMMI) for my senior year. Even though I excelled there I still only had a 2.57 GPA. Just goes to prove that if you REALLY REALLY want to get in all you have to do is go all out and focus on that one singular goal. Success is a measure of sacrifice.

Have you read any of R.L Stines books before? Such as Baby Sitter Two, Lights Out, the New Girl, & The Step Sister and more? If you haven't, you need to. I did, it was called The New Boy it is a scary book about a couple of murders. The reason I picked this book is because it is so mysterious. Such as in different paragraphs it leaves you in suspense until the next paragraph ends. Picture at: www.amazon.com
When I read this book I could picture the Characters in my mind.
Also I would not go outside of my house because I live near the woods so now you know that it takes place in the woods.
Over all it was good because it is one of my favorite books. I love to read but mostly R.L
Stine's books.
Mostly girls would like it more than boys would because the main character is a. Even though a boy in my class named Lucas said "It was splendid". So boy's if you like scary, passionate books read this. In the story there is a girl, and the new boy likes her. He came from a school where there were a lot of murders. Its rating is 5 stars.

Book: The New Boy
Author: R.L Stine
# of pages:
Publisher: parachute press Inc.
Ibsn: 0-671-73869-0
Price: $3.99




Have you read any of R.L Stines books before? Such as Baby Sitter Two, Lights Out, The New Girl, & The Step Sister and more? If you haven't you need to. I did it was called The New Boy it is a scary book about a couple of murders.
The reason I picked this book is because it is so mysterious. Such as in different paragraphs it leaves you in suspense until the next paragraph ends.

When I read this book I could picture the characters in my mind. Also I would not go out side of my house because I live near the woods so now you now that it takes place in the woods.

Over all it was good because it is one of my favorite books. I love to read but mostly R.L Stine's books.

Mostly girls would like it more than boys would because the main character is a girl. Even though a boy in my class named Lucas said "It was awesome". So boy's if you like scary, romantic books read this. Its rating is 5 stars.

I thought this was an excellent book! when all 3 girls all fall for the new guy in town they soon regret their feelings for him. Are there lives really in danger... to find out read this book!

Book title: New Boy
Author: R.L.STINE
Number of pages: 150
Price: 3.99softback
Publication date and publisher: 1994, rainbow arts
ISBN: 0671738690
What would you do if your best friend got murdered? Would you solve the mystery? Would you hide? Because in this book Janie's best friend gets murdered! So solve the mystery of the new boy!

It's a perfect mystery book for you to read! My proof is that it has murders in it and no body knows who it is till the very end of the book! Janie's best friend gets murdered and she doesn't know any thing about the first one till she gets a phone call!
Don't let little kids read it! It will scare them to death because they will probably think there best friends will get murdered! They will get night mares! So don't let kids read this book if they are under the age of 9 and don't read it to them either!
Don't always trust your best friend! They might just betray you right when you turn around! They probably will act like your best friend still! Because one of Janies best friends murders her other best friends! So don't tell your secrets to them unless there good things about you!

So now what would you do if your friends get murdered? Not talk to your best friend for a while? Blame it on your friend? I know I wouldn't id just be a little afraid when I'm around them!

The New Boy by R.L.Stine is one of the best books I have ever read. I would definetly recomend this book to anyone who loves mystery books. This book is filled with thrills and suspense. The book starts of talking about a mysterious boy named Ross coming to ShadyHigh. But when he catches the eye of Jannie and her friends the soon try to go out with him. When Jannie hears about an incident that happened with Ross and his ex-girlfriend Jannie decides to do some investigating.

What can I say? Max Lucado is a gifted writer who takes spiritual concepts and puts them into understandable and easy-to-grasp stories illustrations.

Max Lucado is a premier story teller. The message that Christ knows how we humans feel and that he is close enough to call on whenever we need him is uplifting and comforting.

i haven't read max lucado books in awhile and I have read quite some of them. I have to say that this is one of his best written. The chapters are short but they are meaningful, each one of them that applies to different people.

This a great book. I love the way Max writes. It's very unique and refreshing. He really brings the stories to life.

This is my first Max Lucado book and I loved it! It took me a while to read it because I don't read that often but something made me keep coming back to try and finish it. He made everything so simple and easy to understand. The real life examples were great! I would recommend it to anyone!

Kathryn Mackel invites us into a post-modern future where the future of mankind is bleak at best. The land has been ravaged by nuclear war and deadly toxins have made much of Earth uninhabitable. Evil men hold seats of power and they have perverted God's creation through DNA manipulation, a process known as transmogrification. Innocent men, women, and children are continually taken captive and subjected to these horrific tests and experiments. Man has forsaken his Creator, and evil ravishes the land. However, there is hope.

A remnant of believers has built a modern day ark that is hides beneath the polar ice caps. They teach and train their children in the ways of the Lord, with the hope that they can impact the world above. As the children mature they are sent to the surface to live as Outriders and Trackers. Their mission is to scout the land and teach a lost world a message of hope it so desperately needs. Can they make a difference before mankind is truly lost?

This is a wonderful fantasy series that is chocked full of action, suspense, and heart. Mackel gives us a frightening glimpse into the future of mankind that is both original and eye-opening. The story seems to wander a bit at times, but overall the plot development is cohesive and effective. Mackel's strength is in the action sequences which are thrilling and full of excitement. Violence and gore are effectively used to draw readers into the heart of the battles. The heroes of this story are teens and young adults who have nothing to rely on but their training and a deep faith in God. Their faith is inspiring and encouraging as time and time again they trust in God, no matter how difficult the task.

This series is highly recommended for fans of fantasy and science fiction. Much of this material is intense and intended for mature readers, but it is appropriate for older teens. The lessons of strong faith and discipleship found in this series are worthwhile for adults and teenagers alike. (From Christian Library Journal)

This is the first of Kathryn Mackel's books I have read, and I am impressed with her imagination. She creates a world that is intriguing and shows definite parallels with a creation fallen from its original beauty due to the curse of sin. She also shows the hope of restoration of the creation by the valiant acts of Christians.

In Outriders, the world has been devastated by a war in which most technology has been destroyed. Bands of warriors called Traxx roam the countryside. To populate their army, they capture the few remaining humans, and through genetic engineering, they turn the humans into grotesque monsters. However, a remnant of humans escaped and has been kept safe in an underwater ark. Little by little, these people, called birthrighters, are released back onto the earth and commissioned to help establish an outpost of humane civilization in this barren world. These birthrighters must battle the warriors of Traxx while they rely in their faith in God. There are clear spiritual overtones in this battle of good and evil, and the use of genetic engineering is ripped from today's headlines. The Birthrighter characters are developed well, and they are shown to have their own internal struggles in fighting against their own selfish desires, while they are fighting the Traxx. There is quite a bit of striking imagery, including an archway of thorns that protects the stronghold of the Traxx warriors.

I am looking forward to reading the second book in this series, Trackers

Awesome read I can't wait to read the next one!!!

You're going to be disappointed if you read the first 2 books in this series. You might notice that I gave both of these books 5 star ratings and wonder why I'd say this. Well, WestBow Press, at the time I write this, has elected to not publish the 3rd and final book in this series. You're going to be disappointed in the light that Outriders and Trackers are so good that you'll feel a certain emptiness knowing that book 3 is unlikely (not impossible) to be forthcoming.

I love the post apocalyptic sub-genre of mainstream science fiction as well as Christian science fiction in general and this series falls into both of those categories. It exceeded my expectations in terms of plot and character development to the extent that I've actually caught myself daydreaming about the story. Off hand I can only recall a couple of stories that have had that effect on me, "The Stand" by Steven King, and "The Time Machine" by H. G. Wells. "Outriders" and "Trackers" are definitely well worth reading even knowing that the story may never be finished.

This was overall a very enjoyable read, but there were a few points that keep me from fully enjoying the story despite several interesting characters and an interesting world.

First, much of this 'new' world revolves around genetic manipulation and mutation, but the author seems to know very little about the subject even though it's foundational to her version of the future. In the story, _adult_ humans are routinely made into monstrous beings by unknowledgeable men using a seemingly inexhaustible supply of 'potions.' These potions were found in destroyed labs long ago and are really ancient cell-lines. Somehow, despite storage in primitive conditions and at least a hundred years passing, they still work perfectly. Not only that, but they can conveniently be administered by drinking the potion or by putting it under the skin with needles. If you don't give a fig about the scientific impossibility of that premise, you should have no problem.

Second, a big deal is made about how dangerous this world is and how the rooks wouldn't stand a chance on their own for several days (which brings up the question of how all of the first-evers survived for so long). The rooks are saved from death several times by Niki, they are shown as initially overwhelmed by this wide expanse of world, and they supposedly think highly of Niki and the other first-evers. These rooks are supposedly the top of their class and devoted to God, though only Cooper shows a hint of this being true. With all that being true, I had a hard time understanding why all three rooks totally disobeyed Niki's orders right from the start. Yes, Niki was a bit harsh at times, but they deserved worse for their constant disobedience since it was risking all their lives.

It is also established that everyone at Horesh is fairly used to following Brady's crazy battle plans and that they always work. Yet, at the end, suddenly _everybody_ from Horesh starts to disobey his commands during a rather lopsided battle. I kept wondering why everyone started disobeying him now (much to their harm) when they had been obedient for years and knew how important it was for them to do so in order to succeed. It is never explained, nor is punishment ever handed out.

All that said, the book is better than I just made it sound. The above are really minor points, though the story would have been stronger if it had addressed them.

At the beginning Kathleen the main character is working in the library when she hears a sound that surprises her. It was the book drop-off. She goes to get the books and sees the titles there all about death and torture. In one of the books all of the pictures are cut out. She also finds a book mark that reads "Horrors Awaite You, Beware". After that all the people close to her start falling fatal to tragic accidents. Who or what is doing this? Kathleen can count on only one thing, the killer will strike again. Her death is overdue...
I liked this book because it was very scary and kept me thinking. All the characters were very believable.

Kathleen works in a creepy moldy library in a bad part of town.The only company she has is Robin a mute and Miss Finch her
boss.Nobody likes cranky old Miss Finch including kathleen.Miss
Finch has to attend a siminar and leaves Kathleen and Robin in charge of the library.On a rainy long night of working someone
returns 5 grisly books.Then the usual scary things happen.Scary phone calls,Shadows in the night,the feeling of being followed,
people dying.The only reason I gave this book a 3 was because of the ending and who the killer turned out to be.

Okay I really enjoyed this book, I've had it for years and hadn't read it in a long time so when I found it with all the garbage in my garage, I was psyched to read it. I think I was 14 when I first read Overdue, I'm 22 now so I pretty much forgot everything so it was like reading a new book I just bought. Anyway I liked all the characters, I thought they were believable. Unlike R.L. Stine's Fear Street books, though he has written some good ones, Cusick writes much more detailed and gives a lot more story to her characters. I loved Robin, it's so sad what happens to him. My only complaint is that while I liked Kathleen, she was a moron at times. She knows someone is after her but she contuines to walk by herself in the dark on the streets. That just makes no sense to me. If I knew someone was stalking me, I sure as hell wouldn't walk alone. Let alone at night in a deserted neighborhood. I also didn't like how she strung Alexander along, it's obvious he likes her and she makes him believe she does as well but in the end she ditches him for Bran. Other than that, I was suprised at who the stalker was and the ending is good and action packed. A great book overall, not Cusick's best, Someone at the Door has that honor, but it's up there.

A review by Darcy
Kathleen is a senior in high school and works in the city library. She has one real true friend named Robin. The kids in school make fun of Robin because he is slow and mute. She has one life long friend named Bran. Most of the girls in school are jealous of Kathleen because of that. When the head librarian Ms. Finch leaves town for a seminar strange things start to happen. People start disappearing and end up being found dead. Kathleen tries to tell Bran and Robin what's happening and they start to think that she is crazy. It all started when Ms. Finch left and a stranger came in. His name is Alexander and he uses the library to do research for a project for his classes in the college he goes too. Kathleen finds books with torn out pictures and mutilated pages. She finds more books that are actually clues of what happened to the missing people.

The characters are pretty believable. The character that I can mostly relate to is Robin. He seemed to be the most believable of all. Kathleen I thought was a little strange. I wouldn't have jumped to conclusions so quickly but I would be a little freaked out. Bran I didn't really like because he seemed to be flirting all the time and didn't really seem to care or pay attention to Kathleen's warnings or about the books being clues to the missing people. Ms. Finch I thought was a little crazy because if she killed people just to get the one she loves attention then she should be put in a mental institution. I really enjoyed this book and I recommend that everyone read it at least once. I was hanging on the edge of my seat with suspense. If you like horror books then you'll love this one.

Here is the description on the back of the book:
"It was after hours. Kathleen was preparing to close the library when somebody returned five grisly books about death. One was slashed. All were overdue. Then Kathleen found the bookmark with the deadly warning. Now people close to her are falling victim to tragic accidents. Someone is out for blood. Is it Robin, silent, shy, withdrawn? Is it Alexander, the dark, handsome stranger who haunts the library stacks and says he wants to help? Kathleen can count on only one thing: the killer WILL strike again--her death is overdue...."

Kathleen is working at the creepy old library in town during spring break while the librarian, Miss Finch, attends a seminar. Working with Kathleen is her good friend Robin, a shy, mute young man who always listens to what Kathleen has to say. Then one night someone drops off several long overdue books on murders and torture, with pictures cut out of them, and Kathleen begins to feel uneasy when she finds a bookmark in one of them that reads, "Horrors Await You. Beware." Soon Kathleen's friends begin to get fatally injured, and at every accident site, she finds a book that has to do with the way her friends are being hurt. Who is doing this? Is it Alexander, a college guy who has started hanging around the library? Is it Bran, Kathleen's hot lifelong best friend? Or is it Robin, silent and withdrawn?

The ending was really great, and I never guessed who the killer was. I'm so glad I read this; I almost didn't, because I thought the title was pretty stupid, but I was wrong! Definitely worth anyone's money!

In this alternate reality Slider-like adventure, once again the underdog finds that he isn't a total loser after all. This is a fantasy that teen and junior high boys can enjoy as well as girls, filled with themes that appeal to Young Adult readers. Just about everyone can identify with the characters, even though Tonya comes from a world where magic is a commonplace commodity and they study it in school. Simon, an orphan who knows nothing of his mother, is a really sad case who is seriously bullied by some nasty classmates. It seems like he is always running away from them. Then Tonya suddenly pops in and blows the bullies away with her magic skills. Unfotunately, she also demolishes some buildings and cars in the process. Somehow Tonya had gotten separated from her classmates, who were going on their first field trip. Everything she does makes matters worse until they finally manage to get into the jet stream, if you will, the superhighway between alternative worlds. But Butch, the worst of the bullies plaguing Simon, manages to get in with them and even steal the paratransmitter that is used to pass from one world to another. They end up in a world neither knows anything about, Simon nearly dying in the process.

From that point, everything is foreign to Simon, and Tonya finds herself frustrated by things she is no longer able to do. They are taken in by a family and go to school, where Tonya is embarrassed because the younger Simon is faring better than she is. She hates the world they are stuck on.

I will say that they eventually leave this world of Pudo, but there are some major changes in both characters before that happens. In the meanwhile there are some spies, assassins, traitors, rulers of various worlds, and Tonya's parents that enter into the story. More than once demons are summoned by the bad guys. These guys are a lot meaner than I expected at the beginning, and it was soon obvious that no one was safe from their evil deeds and murders. Simon and Tonya are pulled into the intrigues in some unsuspecting ways, leading to a rather tense and exciting tale.

Matthew Peterson has a sense of humor that teen and pre-teen guys will really appreciate. I like the detail that Tonya's hair changes color depending on her mood. Some scenes are a bit reminiscent of Harry Potter, like the car that flies (by magic) up the side of a high building when they are escaping the police on earth. A lot of the dialog between Tonya, Simon, and their Pudan friend Thornapple is full of kid sarcasm.

This book is quite moral, built on high values and a definite God-view of the universe. The magic is not of 'real' magic, but has to do with electro-magical waves that are in the air. God is constantly brought into the story, quite naturally, although not everyone believes or gives him control of their lives.

I definitely recommend this as a good read for Young Adults, both girls and boys. Full of action, humor, moral values, suspense, and some mystery.

After reading Paraworld Zero, by Matthew Peterson, I am impressed. Matthew Peterson resides in Arizona with his wife and five sons. He has a degree in Business Management, an Eagle Scout award, and a second degree black belt in karate. Paraworld Zero is his first title.
Simon Kent thought he was just an ordinary twelve year old. He may be a bit of a weakling, have asthma, chased by bullies, and live in a foster home- but he does have his video games. That is, until he stumbles upon Tonya, a girl who can perform magic and whose hair can change colors with her passing moods. Somehow he is swept into a futuristic world where nothing is as he knows it. Together, with Tonya, they unravel an ancient mystery, brawl with mystical creatures, and attempt to save the universe from impending doom.
On the cover of this book it has this listed as Book One in Parallel Worlds. I am not entirely sure if this implies this is a series, or if there will be more, but Matthew Peterson sure leaves it open to do so.
Now, if I'm being perfectly honest, the sci-fi genre is completely out of my element and I have very little to compare this to. Typically I find myself bored with this genre. I found a few grammatical errors with commas, but there were very few and it was not distracting nor did it deter me from reading.
After saying that, I found this to be an original, creative, and engaging story. This young-adult sci-fi book is filled with demonic dumpsters, cat-like women, hideous villains, magic, wild chases, dragons, gigantic spiders and worms, ravenous creature devouring trees, giants, dwarves... you name it! It packs you with one adventure after another. This is a cross between Harry Potter and Star Trek, with characters right out of Lord of the Rings! I am utterly amazed at how engrossed I was by this book. The characters, from the Puds, to the royalty, to Marmasuelian, to Simon and Tonya are believable and endearing. It made me want to jump to a parallel dimension, too! This book makes you feel the magic and imagination of childhood all over again. Something I think we all lose after we grow up, and what a shame. To experience the prospect that anything is possible again was a real delight, even if only cover to cover. I would very much like to see this adapted on screen. Matthew Peterson will be edging his way through the writing community with this one, no doubt about that! I hope to see more from these characters in the future.

Kelly Moran,
Author and Reviewer

The chases - gripping; the characters - well developed; the plot - compelling and seamless with the action; the cliffhanger - first rate! What else could you ask for? There is even a first kiss! Oh, and did I mention the humor? This book was FUNNY!

It wasn't a flawless book (it was a little heavy handed sometimes and maybe could have used a better editor), but I was really surprised at how much the author was able to bring me into this world (or should I say "paraworld"). When I finished the book, all I could think of is, "I don't want to wait until the next one comes out... I want to read it now!"

Wonderful read. Sci Fi and Harry Potter all in one. Great book that held my interest from beginning to end. Waiting for book two. Love the characters, including HAR. Great reading for any age....Thanks for such a surprize.

Living in Mrs. Trimble's orphanage after having been left alone at birth, Simon Kent still has a life filled with love. However, it's also filled with lots of medication, older bullies, and an aversion to math. One afternoon, a strange girl named Tonya seemingly comes out of nowhere, but in fact, she's from a parallel universe. This starts Simon's race against time to help save magic being eliminated from the paraworlds.

This sci-fi/fantasy adventure pulls the reader in from the first sentence and keeps the pages turning. Filled with humor, cool new gadgets and spells, and an extremely original premise, this is one book you do not want to miss out on. As the start to a six-book series, the narration is fast-paced and already filled with well-drawn characters. Two thumbs up (and perhaps I'll throw in a set of jazz hands- that's how good this book is!)!!

My favorite book is Peak by Roland Smith. Peak is the main character. Peak has not seen his long lost father because he got a divorce with Peak's mom. His dad asks him if he wants to climb Mt. Everest. Peak says yes. But the reason that he is going is because he has to. First he was climbing a NY skyscraper and people found out. So they told the Police. So then he has two decisions, 1-go to Juvey or go climb Everest with his long lost father for a couple of months. His dad owns a climbing company in Thailand. When they are climbing Mt Control stops them and says they can't climb Mt. Everest. So Peak, his father, and other climbers go with Peak on the other side of the mountain. When they reach the top this is what they see- an unbelievable view and lots of Os tanks and lots of snow. Lots of it. I like this book because it is very exciting. None of the pages are boring and none of Roland Smith's books are. I would recommend it to 10 yrs to young adults.

My favorite book was Peak by Roland Smith.
Peak is about peak Marcello, who gets arrested for scaling a skyscraper with an understanding from the judge to live with his dad in Tibet, China not knowing his dad wants him to break a record for the first person
ever to reach Mt.Everest. The book is classified as an adventure. Smith's writing style is fast-paced, never boring, and a page-turner. I recommend this book for people ages 10-16. I love this book because it keeps going, never gets boring, and there is a little comedy thrown into it. My favorite character is Peak because he is brave, funny, and considerate. In the end Peak is ten feet away from Everest and he lets another boy named Sun-Jo reach the top and lets him break the record. This is because he thought Sun-Jo wanted it more than him.
That is why Peak is my favorite book.

After 14 year-old Peak Marcello is arrested for (illegally) climbing a skyscraper, he is sent to court and is about to go to jail for three years when his father, that he hasn't seen for seven years, offers to take custody of him. His father lives in Thailand, but instead of taking him to Chiang Mai, Thailand, he takes Peak to Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world. As Peak explains it, "to a climber, stopping by to see Everest is like stopping by to see God." When Peak hears this offer, he doesn't even consider saying no! Peak is a nonstop thriller to read and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves books that surprise you on every page. It's very hard to put down and will grab your attention several times.

it is an awesome book. Peak is a 14 year old kidwho scales skyscrapers (illegally). Both his parents are pro climbers. One day he is climbing and he gets caught. He needs to spend 3 years in juvinille facility or he can go to china and live with his dad. His Dad takes him to China with him. What peak doesn't know is his dad is taking him to climb mt. Everest. I thought the book was good. It was exciting when peak was climbing the skyscrapers and mt. Everest. If you want to find out more read the book. I would definitly read other books from this author. I would recomend the book to other people.

"This is it, I told myself. Fifteen more handholds and I've topped it.
"I reached up for the next seam and encountered a little snag. Well, a big snag really...
"My right ear and cheek were frozen to the terra cotta wall.
"To reach the top you must have resolve, muscles, skill, and...
"A FACE!"

This quote from the book Peak by Roland Smith shows how much detail there is in the book and almost makes it feel like you could be there. This story has many quotes that show the realistic side of this fiction book. For a fiction book I don't think I have ever read anything that seemed so real, and tell so much about climbing. This is a great book for people that want a good story.

Peak's professional-climbing father had not seen him in seven years but hears of Peak's crazy climbs and summating huge skyscrapers in Manhattan, New York. Peak is then going around the world to Kathmandu trying for the world youngest person to ever climb Mount Everest. Thinking about climbing Mount Everest doesn't even bother Peak because he doesn't even think about the dangers but he is excited to be the youngest climber to climb Mount Everest. The story has many twists and turns and lots of detail to make you feel like your there. This book was AWESOME and I recommend it to all people.

I love it! David Levithan does it again. This book just puts your mind in a different world. It really is the Realm of Possibility. There are gay couples and struggling souls. All of this in the form of some wonderful poems. The church choir girl can fall for the goth guy, the beautiful song writer can fall in love with a girl of her own, and sooo much more. After I read this book I was shocked at how much of an effect it had on me. If I bought it I would read dozens of times. You'll love it. This author really knows what he is doing. I hope you enjoy it!!

I've gotten recommendations for David Levithan's books before, but I'd never read any. I picked this up at the bookstore and was hooked. Although I enjoyed basically every part of this book, my favorite was Charlotte's narrative. I cannot express how much I loved it, how much I wanted to be like her and do that. "The Realm of Possibility" is definitely worth reading; it won't take you long. It is amazing.

Though this book drags in a few of the poems, it's mostly very readable, as free-verse poetry tends to be if you read it quickly. Sexuality and sentimentality - or, if you like, adolescent angst - are heavily featured, but Levithan is so good at rendering them that the book hardly ever feels trite or emotionally abusive. However, the standout entry is clearly "The Patron Saint of Stoners," which deals with a far more serious issue than most of the others, in far less dramatic terms. The narrator of the poem, Clara, is an excellent student who has trouble trying to find some pot; but the important question for the reader is not the how, but the why. "Gospel," told from the perspective of Gail, a fervently Christian and compassionate girl who befriends an outcast, and "Writing," in which a Goth girl, Charlotte, literally puts "the writing on the wall" in a surprisingly uplifting way, are also very good.

Like "Boy Meets Boy" and "Are We There Yet?" the tone of the book is - not relentlessly, but insidiously positive. No one is worse off at the end of their poem or the book than at the beginning; even the 'bitchy' character who gets her comeuppance also has a personal insight.

One thing Levithan never addresses is why the twenty characters are writing these poems, or if they even are writing them down. Interesting, because he could have written it off with a throwaway line - for example, "Mr. So-and-so is making everyone write a free-verse poem for English class" - but instead he leaves it unclear whether they are simply internal monologues or poems the characters actually write.

I love everything about this book! Even the length was just right. Every line was so insightful and we can all relate to each character in the short stories and poems. The form of all the poems was really creative and I respect the writer for putting on paper the feeling of so many different human beings. This book is simply amazing- you just have to expirience it for yourself.

I admit it: this book totally sucked me in. The characters are realistic, and I was able to find something about a number of them that I could relate to. And I found a number of them that I simply fell in love with, for all sorts of reasons. My favorite sections were the ones written by Anton, Charlotte, Lily, and Jed.

I found the book somewhat confusing at times, because I kept coming onto names I'd seen before. So i actually went back and made a little list of characters and their relationships, which I shall put up here for anyone that's intested. So *spoiler alert* for the next section of this review (just in case you want to pick up this book knowing NOTHING whatsoever about anything in it... I'm not giving away anything really important):

Daniel: is Jed's boyfriend and is neighbors with Pete
Mary: suffers from anorexia, is Pete's girlfriend
Diana: is in love with with Elizabeth, writes love songs for her
Megan: is in love with Diana, watches her loving another girl while she plays the part of a devoted friend
Tyler: rants about his girlfriend's love of Holden Caulfield
Anton: a seemingly troubled youth- sits in the back wearing black and earphones and writing poetry
Gael: relgion is important in her life, hates injustice, stands up for Anton
Jill: possibly Tyler's boyfriend, stole Cara's boyfriend, feels she doesn't deserve him and regrets the person she is
Anne: nice poetry about random things
Jamie: has just suffered from a breakup, is zack's brother and jed's friend
Pete: Mary's boyfriend
Clara: perfect student lacking a positive homelife, interacts with Jed and Toby
Charlotte: writes haunting messages ("you are foolish in your unhappiness") around school, mesages deeply affect some people, intrigue others (Daniel)
Elizabeth: lives in sister's shadow, tormented by people who disliked sister (Cara), Andy's girlfriend
Cara: loses respect after an incident involving Elizabeth, has fake friends (Jill)
Lia: friend's with Clara, korean, in love with delivery boy
Zack: Anne's boyrfriend, Megan's friend
Karen: no obvious hints as to her relationships
Lily: is close to Jed, although they don't spend much time together, her poetry style is unlike any of the others presented in this book
Jed: is celebrating his one year anniversery with Daniel (it's so sweet!), also- title of book comes from his poem

Though I have often thought of the similarities between the noses of bears and my own labrador retriever, and been tempted to ascribe those labrador characteristics to bears, I knew better. My reading about bears has included many tales of bear maulings and their extreme medical consequences. This book, though, showed me that bears can equal our canine buddies in establishing full and rich relationships. This unique story of love among the Minnesota woods made me wish that I could pull up stakes and establish a home in the woods and wait for the bears to visit. It really makes one wonder what relationships with other animals we might have if given the opportunity.

I never understood black bears until reading Jack Becklund's book. I laughed and cried, feeling as if I was right there with Jack and his wife Patti. Afterward, I wanted to visit that area, see the house, see the yard where Little Bit and the other bears played. I now want to find out more about helping these wonderful creatures survive. I have never been more moved by a book. I would love to communicate with Jack and Patti some time and get a picture of "Conversation with a Bear". They are incredible people and so fortunate to have had such a gift in their lives as becoming intimately involved with God's beautiful wildlife.
I would HIGHLY recommend this book. I am reading it again now for the second time. It is hard to put down. Thank you Jack and Patti for sharing this beautiful experience with us.
Joanne Setlock
Wallace Ave.
Buffalo, New York 14216

If you love animals, nature, the great outdoors, and reading about people who love all those things too, please get this book, sit down with a box of tissues, and enjoy! You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll shake your head in wonderment. The author Jack Becklund and his wife Patti, move deep into the Minnesota forests. Their property is home to deer gamboling on the lawn, chipmunks and hand-fed squirrels munching seeds on the porch,wild mallard ducks swimming and splashing in the creek below, and a colorful array of native birds. But the real heart of the story is Little Bit, the black bear cub who toddles onto the back deck one day, and stays for the next six summers as a welcome, loving, and deeply loved guest of the couple. She is a magical spirit, a living, breathing gift from God, sent to bring great joy to their lives. We are honored to meet Little Bit's cubs, her mates, and numerous other black bears who live in the area, and come to trust the Becklunds. The story itself is incredible, but between the lines, we watch the couple come to love and appreciate the power of this sacred trust they've been given...the joy of the relationship they share with these magnificent animals.This is a book for all time...a classic in every sense of the word. The photos are magnificent, and bring the personalities of the animals into beautiful focus.

Summer with the bears is by far the best book I've ever read. If you don't have it or haven't read it do so now. It will change your life in some way I'm sure. I first read about it in the Reader's Digest and put my copy on order for the moment it came out. Little bit and all of the other bears touched my heart so much it's hard ot describe. I felt like I was there with them as events were happening. Jack and Patti you are so lucky to have had this special time in your lives and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your sharing it with us. Just goes to show that all animals are not as we always imagine them to be, yet we know at the same time they are not all created equal. There are those that possess a special trait and willingness to be different, that was little bit. Your book was written from your heart, and the pictures helped us to be there too. I laughed and I cried along with you. so few of us will experience what you did interacting with the bears on the level that you did. I attribute your book to helping me find a hidden talent I did not know existed in me. I started sketching, and yes mostly bears. I did one of you and Patti with little bit, if you'd ever like them all you need to do is ask and they are yours. You touched my life in such a special way that in turn I'd like to touch your lives too. Hope there will be more books and I wish you all the best in your lives. Thank You for sharing your special lives with the world.

Summer With The Bears is about a couple who decide to leave the city for an adventure in Minnesota to observe the bears. At first Jack & Patti started out just observing the bears for hours to learn their habits and earn their confidence. And they do earn their trust. There were many more animals that they befriended. They kept a journal on everything that happened concerning the bears and other animals. They even named the bears.

As a true animal lover, I really liked this book. The pictures added to the book. If you are looking for a short and sweet read this is the book for you.