Young Adult Books

This novel is great in the realistic and honest narrative of Lauren who isn't beautiful or perfect no matter what people see.

Bloom is a wonderful book that grows on you. I have an ARC of Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott and I have to say, this author has the ability to write a book that you can't put down. With Bloom (and Stealing Heaven) I raced to the last page, only to find out that I didn't want to finish the book. I wanted it to last forever.

I'd suggest this book to someone who is okay with disagreeing with the MC for a portion of the book. Like another reviewer said, Lauren had some very irritating traits that I don't think were fully explained. Even though she knew that she no longer had feelings for Dave she continued to be with him. She lies to her best friend and ultimately has to be confronted by Katie in order for the truth to come out. If this were to happen in real life I'm not sure Katie would have stayed with Lauren in the end.

Bloom shows us that perfection and happiness is in the eye of the beholder.

I finished this book last weekend and still haven't been able to get it out of my mind. Bloom features realistic, empathetic characters, and the emotion resonates off every page. A simple story, but what keeps it exciting are the very real, very touching characterizations. Deeply moving story--a must-read!!

Lauren has the perfect boyfriend who thinks that she's perfect, but Lauren knows she's far from it. She just doesn't fit in and she doesn't confide in anyone. But then Evan shows up, and Lauren instantly becomes confused and scared. Lauren knows Evan from way back when their parents were living together, but this time she's feeling things that she's never felt before. And now she has the chance to become who she wants to be, but only if she's willing to give up the picture of perfection and take a chance.

Lauren's a great character. She's completely realistic, and her actions are completely understandable. The supporting characters are also believable, though honestly the character of Lauren's dad is not overly surprising. Scott's also a great writer; Lauren's voice is distinct and entertaining. Although Bloom is at its simplest a typical enough story, the main characters don't fall into stereotypes too often, which makes this one stand out. This is definitely worth reading, and I can't wait for Scott's next books to come out.

BLOOM follows the life of a seemingly average high school junior named Lauren, who seems to have stumbled upon the perfect life. The most popular boy in school is totally smitten with her, she's doing well at school, she just got her first jazz band solo, and she and her best friend Katie have finally claimed seats at the popular table at lunch. But she's distinctly unhappy, and the novel follows her journey away from perfection and toward happiness. And who can't relate to the feeling of getting everything you thought you wanted and still being completely unsatisfied with it?

Lauren's happiness comes in the form of Evan Kirkland, who happens to also be the son of her father's ex-girlfriend. And that's where things start to unravel. Lauren becomes distinctly unlikeable in her continual pursuit of this new boy while still being inexplicably unable to break up with her perfect boyfriend, even after she realizes she has no feelings for him. What made me want to strangle Lauren most, however, was how she started lying to everyone around her and being a completely terrible friend to Katie for no apparent reason. It made me want to hug Katie, or find her a new friend.

That said, despite the fact that I couldn't stand the main character, I still really enjoyed the book, which is an impressive feat for this author. In contrast to the majority of books in this genre, every character in this book felt like they could be a real person, flaws and all. The novel tells a really good story, and particularly notable are Lauren's relationship with her father and with Katie.

Blue, by Joyce Hostetter is a magnificent book that made me think about life and its challenges in the 1940's. This piece of historical fiction, copyright and published in 2006, is inspiring and factual. It tells a great story while illustrating life during WW2 including the polio epidemic, segregation, and life for families whose fathers were in combat. Main character, Ann Fay lives in North Carolina where a polio epidemic has just hit. Her father is away fighting Hitler and she is home being "the man of the house." When the epidemic scoops up her younger brother her life becomes a whirlwind of emotion. Ann Fay's bravery and maturity are never ending when the polio forbids her from being near family friends. I would give this novel four out of five stars, because it attracts the reader and bestows upon them empathy for the characters. Anyone who is interested in polio or its effects would enjoy this excellent book. Also, many who enjoyed Small Steps: The Year I got Polio, by Peg Kehret would fancy this book. They both inform the reader about polio and paint a picture of the characters and their life.

Ann Fay is the man of the family since her father has gone off to the war in Europe. Mama's hands are full with the twins and little brother Bobby. Then Bobby comes down with polio and is sent to the hospital where Mama stays with him. After Bobby dies Mama is not herself and Ann Fay takes on the role of mother to the twins and Mama. With help from her neighbor, Junior, she is able to cope. When she comes down with polio, Mama snaps out of her grief. There is so much packed into the pages but nothing seems to want for it. This is a poignant look at a difficult time but so very well written. A fifth grade student of mine said it best, "This is the best book I've ever read." For those who have read Peg Kehret's Small Steps, try this one.

Ann Fay Honeycutt is only thirteen, but she's already the man of the house. This is thanks to her daddy leaving to fight in the war against Hitler and leaving his blue overalls for Ann Fay to fill.

Trying to keep the wisteria she loves from choking the vegetable garden she's been charged to tend is nearly a full-time job, and that's without counting the extra work of taking care of her baby brother and twin sisters.

Ann Fay thinks these will be her greatest challenges while her daddy is off at war. But then a polio epidemic hits their hometown of Hickory, North Carolina, and Ann Fay learns what real challenge is.

This is a remarkable story of courage and of a spirit that cannot be broken. The flowing language this author uses is just gorgeous, and the voice of Ann Fay is as unique as they come. I stayed up late to read the next chapter and then the next -- one of the highest compliments I can give a book.

Reviewed by: Julie M. Prince

I don't know if this book has won any of the children's literature prizes.But it should!
The tough,funny,true-to-the-South characters, make this a heart tangling story of a young girl's toughness in the face of her father's absence in World War II, the terrifying polio epidemic that sweeps over her home town and her first heart-to-heart sense of what segregation has done to girls just like her, except that they are black.
The story is beautifully written giving a sense of the red clay, the wisteria and the natural environment. Research notes look extensive, but this story reads to the heart.

Ah, historical fiction. Though it was the bane of my youth, in my old age I'm finding the subject infinitely more interesting that I ever did as an actual kid. I was always the child who'd rather eyeball the latest Anne McCaffery rather than choke down an Elizabeth George Speare. Now I almost look forward to delights like "Blue". Especially when they have covers as engaging as this one. Evoking more than a few "To Kill a Mockingbird" feelings through its cover art, Joyce Moyer Hostetter brings us a tale of racism, polio, and war. It's also a story of love, sheer will, and small acts of heroism. And though I'd some problems with Hostetter's methods, this is one of the best-researched thoroughly engaging tales of 1944-45 you'll find this year.

Ann Fay Honeycutt's father's going to war. It's 1944 and American troops are constantly shipping out. Before he leaves, Ann Fay's daddy hands her a pair of overalls and informs his eldest daughter that she's going to have to be the man of the house while he's gone. Ann Fay feels up to the job, taking care of her siblings and tending the family's garden in her dad's absence. Unfortunately, there's a polio epidemic in this part of North Carolina and before anyone knows it the dread disease grabs ahold of Ann Fay's little brother Bobby. Now Ann Fay has to deal with a horribly depressed mother and twin little sisters all in the midst of remaining under a quarantine. When Ann Fay herself comes down with polio, however, she makes the acquaintance of a colored girl and begins to accept what has happened to her with a kind of grace.

Now I have a low down-home-folksy-goodness-mixed-with-hopeful-wisdom tolerance. It's why I'll never be able to join in with my children's librarian brethren in loving books like, "Ida B" by Katherine Hannigan or anything by Joan Bauer. And for a minute there, "Blue", had me seriously worried. There are occasional moments that gave me real pause. Imogene, the African-American girl Ann Fay befriends, has a section on "God's bottle collection" that teeters on the edge of preciousness. And I never could quite get used to Hostetter's choice of having Ann Fay's narration written in a kind of southern dialogue. Sometimes she'll be talking in the past tense but put a word in the present (ex: "... ever since his daddy's heart give out a few years ago"). But by and large the book's emotional impact is true and packs a wallop. I won't give anything away plotwise, but there's a moment on Ann Fay's porch when she's watching a fly land and take off that positively wrings the stuffing out of you. For a moment I wondered if this book would be classified by some kids as "depressing". But for all the sad moments in the tale there are just as many cheery or upbeat ones. Of course, this isn't a happy-go-lucky tale of how great it was to be alive in 1944. There were problems and "Blue" takes them all into account. As for North Carolina 1940s colloquialism, it's hard to find phrases any more authentic than, "Your momma always said I spit you right out of my mouth".

And boy, oh boy, you have NEVER seen polio better represented than it is here. I've always had a vague sense of what the disease did to you. I knew you could lose the use of your legs, just as FDR did. What I never considered was how painful that process could be. It's just awful. And Hostetter's well-researched encapsulation of the treatments for it are enough to make your blood run cold. Having recently read Gary Paulsen's fictional biography, "The Legend of Bass Reeves", which didn't have any bibliographic information whatsoever, you can imagine my delight when I came to the end of "Blue" and found all kinds of fascinating facts. There's an Author's Note that separates the truth in this story from the fiction. There's a list of books about polio, books about FDR, books about WWII, videos on the subjects, and novels for kids that's so in-depth and pleasant, I've little doubt that teachers everywhere will be creating luscious lesson plans out of Hostetter's hard work.

And Hostetter isn't just talented at factual information. She knows how to write a good scene and pull together a host of thematic ideas. In many ways this book is about how unpleasant it is to have to make the cross from childhood into adulthood. Between her mother's incapacitating depression, her brother's illness, having to look after her sisters, her father overseas fighting a war, and the quarantine placed on her by her neighbors, Ann Fay has to be the resident adult. It sounds fun when your dad, leaving, hands you a pair of overalls and tells you to be the man of the house. It's not so fun having to do adult chores and having adult worries when you're only thirteen. This thought really coalesces when Ann Fay is facing a patch of particularly gruesome wisteria head on. Until now wisteria has always been her friend. She has a little hideaway in the midst of its roots she calls Wisteria Mansion. Now it's threatening her victory garden and she has to fight it as hard as her father did. "Wisteria used to make me feel nothing but happy. But suddenly I saw why it put my daddy in such a blue mood. I hadn't wanted to see it his way. I wanted to think of it only as the beautiful wall to my mansion. I wanted to hang on to sunny days with sweet purple petals raining down on me and Peggy Sue". This, better than anything, is the tragedy of what happens to Ann Fay. She hits adulthood head-on and can't afford to look back.

To be blunt, I think Hostetter was doing just fine without bringing the issue of racism into the forefront of her story on page 121. When Imogene suddenly pops into the tale, her presence is fine, but it felt like the story was suddenly switching gears. Now the growing up too fast tale was turning into a tale of Southern racism... sorta. I mean, let's examine the facts here. Ann Fay is a lower income resident of North Carolina in 1944 and she has absolutely no opinions on the African-Americans she's seen all her life? Her parents have never expressed any opinions one way or another? It took a bit of stretching of my credulity to get around that particular thought. Not that Hostetter doesn't cover her bases well. Ann Fay's father isn't exactly receptive to the idea of his daughter hanging out with a colored girl when they're both well again. I'm not saying she doesn't do a fine job with that particular storyline. It just seems extraneous. Like a sudden feeling of "Oh! I should be talking about racism too!", kinda deal. It was a tale that didn't fit in with Ann Fay's previous struggles.

Well, there's strength and weakness to "Blue", but I'm just pointing out the small things that bugged me because the good things were so strong. Hostetter's got a mess of talent at her disposal, and I certainly hope that alongside her previous book, "Best Friends Forever", she continues to write up a storm. This is one of the finer titles of the year, no question. Well-researched, well-written, and certainly bound to be well-loved. Problematic in the best possible ways.

I had read many of Cameron Dokey's books since I was 16. I'm 20 now and am still hooked. I had read Eternally Yours, Blue Moon, The Talisman and Heart's Desire all in the month of my 16th birthday. I have been trying to remember the author for a while now- I can't be more happy I found these books again! Now all I have to find is an elusive (for me) book by Norma Mazer, and I'm good! ahh, yay Amazon.com! I have my friends back!(books)

I first heard of Ms. Dokey when I got "Love Me, Love Me Not" and loved it. I just now found Blue Moon and I liked it as well. It's shorter then the first and I found the pacing to be a bit too fast, but I still enjoyed it and finished it in a day. I look forward to the next in the series.

I honestly can't remember when I had read this novel, perhaps back in 8th or 9th Grade, but I do remember the story ever so clearly and the fact I stayed up reading it all night! From 10 PM to 6 AM in the morning, I read the entire novel and didn't feel bored at all! I also clearly remember the fact that I had a song stuck in my head throughout the read... The Cranberries - Promises, but it suited it well at the time...

This is an amazing story, and simply sweet and loving all at the same time. Recommended for all ages if anyone is looking for a romance story with a bit of a magical quality to it.

I fell in love with the characters! Everything they went through I went through. I lost the book and it's been years since I've read it but my love for the characters and the writers words haven't faded from my mind, or my heart! I would recomend this book to any one with a romantic heart and a love for happy endings!

Chance Davies wanted to marry Sarah Anderson for just one reason: she was the sole heir to her father's vast estate, an estate that would provide Chance with the wealth and prestige he never had because he was the son of a Yankee in South Carolina on the eve of the Civil War. But a jealous former lover, angry over Chance's abandonment of her, curses him, turning him to stone. Not even Sarah's love for him can stop the curse. In the present day, seventeen-year-old Kathleen leaves her Seattle home to move with her family to the Anderson estate. Although suspicious of the oddly human statue in the garden and the mysertious secret admirer who sends her letters and gifts, Kathleen dismisses rumors that the houes is cursed as little more than fairly tales. Little does Kathleen know that she is the only one who can break the curse and save Chance from eternal torment. But the one who cursed him, given eternal youth and beauty because of her worship of darkness, will do anything to stop Kathleen from freeing Chance, and time is running out. I thought this was a very good romantic suspense novel, and I really enjoyed the ending, which certainly proved that what goes around comes around!

Its Jess's first day back at school, and he is ready to run. He had practiced every day all summer for this, races every recess between all the boys in his grade. Every thing seems to be going well, until a new girl at school out-runs all the boys. After this, running just wasn't fun anymore. Although Leslie (the new girl) and Jess are almost completely different, and Jess has "disliked" Leslie for ruining the fun of racing, the two of them seem to become good friends, best friends. And then there was Terabithia. A magical land that Jess and Leslie created, with good and bad creatures. When tragics occur, Jess remembers what Leslie has taught him about imagination.

The Newberry Award winning Bridge to Terabithia touches the heart as only a story influenced by real life experience can. The book is dedicated to the author's son David Paterson and his childhood friend Lisa Hill who was killed by a lightning strike. The book was written while the author was coming to terms with this tragic loss.

Jesse Aarons is boy growing up in the 70's in a rural area outside of Washington D.C. that time forgot. He is the middle child of five, the other four children being girls who his mother appears to favor. He has an artistic nature which his father attempts to discourage as not fitting to a boy. Mr. Aarons is gone from dawn to dusk working in the city, leaving little time for his son who gets stuck doing all the farm work.

About to enter the 5th grade, Jess is determined to be the fastest runner at Lark Creek Elementary School this year. Winning has become symbolic for everything he feels everyone expects from him. This dream is shattered when a new family moves in to the place next door.

The new neighbors are city folk, the parents both writers who have decided that the city is no place to raise their child, Leslie. Leslie is just plain different. Disdained by the girls because she wears pants to school, Leslie enters the recess races traditionally designated for boys only and wins. When a classroom assignment forces Leslie to reveal the fact that her family has no television, Jess finds it in his heart to forgive her transgression and the two misfits become fast friends.

With Leslie, Jess can be himself and he reveals his love of drawing to her. Leslie has a fertile imagination, no doubt inherited from her parents and tells stories that Jess just itches to draw. When Leslie decides that the woods need exploring, Jess swallows his fear of the place and together the pair creates the magical kingdom of Terabithia where they are King and Queen.

Aside for his time with Leslie and recess, the only other thing Jess enjoys is their Friday music class. He has a crush on his teacher who is unique as well. The parents have labeled Ms. Edmunds a hippy because her appearance is different and the songs she teaches are often political in nature. Ms. Edmunds was the only other person besides Leslie that Jesse could show his drawings. She'd understood his need to draw and had even been complimentary.

Days of rain has swollen the dry creek bed between their homes and their imaginary kingdom. Jesse who is unable to swim is consumed by fear of crossing the creek. The excuse he needs to avoid the situation comes when Ms. Edmunds offers him the chance to visit the National Gallery with her. The invitation makes Jess feel important and even though a little guilty about missing his playtime with Leslie and for not thinking to invite her along, he enjoys the day immensely.

He expects to face the music when he gets home, but instead returns to unthinkable tragedy. Jess goes through all the stages of a person who has experienced a horrible loss, guilt, anger, and crushing grief and comes out on the other side a richer person for his experience. He has new insight when it comes to others and views his teacher, his family, and even the school bully with new eyes. He also realizes that in order for Terabithia to retain its magic it must be shared with others.

This story reflects the joy and pain that all humans experience while growing up, finding our own identity and coping with those who would keep us from it. While the tragic aspect of the plot is painful to read, it brings home the fact that every friendship is precious and that even if short lived can profoundly affect the person we become. Jess and Leslie are every child, filled with imagination and living in a world of their own creation, one which can't be crushed by the mundane aspects of everyday life or even the tragic ones. They live in all of us.

Note: the movie for the most part stays true to the book (David Paterson the author's son was one of the producers), some of the nuances are lost because the story is told as if it occurs in 2007 instead of the late 1970's, and some of the scenes have been changed but overall there was little poetic liscense take with the original text. I will admit that I cried more reading the book even though I knew what was going to happen. The movie though slow paced at times moved fairly quickly through Jesse's grief to the scene where he recreates Terabithia for his little sister. The imagery was beautiful. Nice touch making putting the school bully's face on the Terabithian giant!

Reviewed by Leslie Tramposch for PNR Reviews

Thirty years after its initial publication, Walt Disney Pictures spat out a sanitized version of Paterson's powerful novel, stripping it of almost everything that made Bridge to Terabithia one of the defining childhood experiences of my generation. Issues of class, gender nonconformity, religious blasphemy, and defiance of American patriotism (all made deftly pint-sized by Paterson's incisive pen) are scrubbed from the Disney film, transforming it from a story about the social upheaval of the `60s reaching rural America into a smarmy tale of kiddie friendship and removing the significance of the fantasy world the children create as an empowering sanctuary from their real-world fears.

Katherine Paterson, with vividly beautiful prose, tells a story about the friendship between a young boy and a young girl, and how that friendship transforms the life of that boy from something dull and normal to something as spectacular as a imaginary fantasy land. The book itself is short and an easy read, but what the book really says to the reader is quite a bit bigger than its page count. Much like growing up, this book is both sweet and painful, and Paterson truly has a great handle on what its like to be a ten year old, fifth grade boy. So for all those readers who aren't afraid of a book that will make them cry (for both sad and warmer reasons) than I recommend this book. It doesn't matter if you're a child or an adult, "Bridge to Terabithia" is universal.

10/10 Classic.

This is not a book I would read over and over agian. It is a well written story but sad, very sad. My husband read it in 4th grade and didn't care for it and I just recently at the age of 29 read it, I cried. I couldn't believe the ending, I wish I had stopped in the middle of the book. If you want a true touching tear jerker, you've got it in this book. Do not read if you want a happy childrens book.

This is a good book to just sit back and enjoy. It tells a unique story of adult and teenage interaction. Well written. Well worth the cost.

I originally purchased Chestas Way because my daughter is a teen in 4-H. As a mother of teens myself I can identify with the teenage angst and the way this book is written you just get right into it. I figured my daughter would appreciate this book not only because she raises animals for her 4-H project but because of the ages of the girls in the story. She is still reading it (I have finished),my daughter has read books in the past that spring to mind when reading Chestas Way.It has a "Sarah Plain and Tall" quality to it and though it is set in a different time the values remind me of "The Little House" series of books.I believe if Michael Landon were alive today he would be able to do justice to this wonderful story in the form of a mini-series. I hope Disney gets wind of it and makes a movie out of it,I think teens need all the good role models they can get and this book was so good it just left you hoping for a sequel (hint, hint).Please consider writing another book to give us fans of Chestas Way an update.God Bless you Mary Jacobson,and thank you again for a beautifully written story that tugged at these heartstrings.I would highly recommend this book to anyone with teens, anyone who loves animals or anyone who works with teens. Chesta can teach a lot and it really helps you to understand and have compassion for troubled teens.There is a wealth of knowledge in this book.

I sat down to skim Chesta's Way one night, being too tired to really read it. Well, much later, wiping tears from my eyes I was thankful I'd taken the time while my family slept and the phone didn't ring to complete the book. As a Registered Nurse who has often dealt with obnoxious teen patients I was enchanted with Chesta's determination and her approach. It made me reflect on my own sense of compassion ( or occasional lack thereof!). Thanks, Ms. Jacobson.

Chesta's Way is an inspiring and heartwarming true story that captured me from the beginning. Through smiles, tears and intense moments, this is an uplifting account of how one woman's compassion and perserverance helped fill the void in troubled city kids hearts. This book is a "must read" for anyone concerned about kids today, anyone who is called in their "own way" to make a difference in the lives of others, and for animal lovers everywhere who know and cherish the gifts animals bring to us through their need, companionship and love. City Kids and Calves...what a wonderful combination! Chesta's Way is beautifully written and it's story rekindles one's faith in the human spirit. It is the kind of book you will want to share with others. The perfect gift. I have given this book as gifts to others with the greatest of joy. Thank you, Mary, for sharing this story.

The author does a great job of catching the lives of the people in the book. From the troubled youth, the family with it's own internal relationships to the agency people working with the program. I enjoyed the book very much and would recommend it for all ages of readers. Additionally, it gives a perspective of 4-H that many people are not aware exisits. Maybe a screen play next for this story?

This was my favorite book as a little girl, so when my sister had her first boy, I was anxiously waiting to buy it for him at the right time. This is a great book that will give both the parent and the child the giggles. The small size is wonderful, too! The one I had was oversized and didn't fit in the overnight bag, but this one is perfect for car trips and diaper bags!

My 1st grade teacher read all of Fred Gwynn's books to my class and I adored them. The eye-catching pictures were strange and fun, incapuslating our inexperienced understanding of the phrases that Mommy and Daddy say. Mrs. L then let us guess what Mommy or Daddy REALLY meant--the guessing was almost as fun as reading the book.

Examples: Mommy says not to interrupt her when she's playing bridge (the family pets walk across her as she bridges the gap between a couch and a chair) while Daddy says next time he paints the house he's going to give it two coats (maybe a tweed and a heavy winter wool one?).

Before I had children, I went back to the children's section of the library to enjoy them again. Now that I have children, I share my copies with them. The large full color pictures show the ridiculous picture that could result from taking a phrase literally--some of them will make you laugh out loud! Meanwhile, you can discuss what it really means and help children develop their analytical skills.

See also The King Who Rained (Stories to Go!) and Fred Gwynne: The Sixteen Hand Horse; The King Who Rained; A Little Pigeon-Toed; A Chocolate Mousse for Dinner

I love this book. I am a kindergarten teacher. The students in my class wanted me to read this book over and over again. I recommend this book to classroom teachers and moms. It is a funny story and the illustrations are amazing! I found it funny that "Herman Munster", Fred Gwynne wrote this story.

I love all Fred Gwynne's books for kids. The drawings are exceptionally well done, and the expressions on some faces are priceless. The book shifts our adult perspective a bit to remember what it was like as a kid to hear grown-ups use certain phrases, and the pictures they conjured up in literalist-child minds-- putting a wing on the house, or playing the piano by ear.

Great book for kids. Some concepts a little difficult to grasp for younger audience.

I would really like to know when The Cold one II:Seedling is coming out ? I've read and adore everything this man has written but when is something new going to come from him? I think we all need to hit him up and demand a new book ! Nah , just kidding but I would like to read what happens in that book it's driving me crazy it's been years,come on A distressed fan .

This book is a great book and I encourage anyone to read it. I think it's one of Christopher Pike's best! He did a wonderful job on the first one because it was soo real. Pleeaaasseee read it!

Fan From Hell was an amazing short story that was a semi-sequel to Master of Murder. Marvin, a yung H/S student/writer is talked into terrible lies from a woman who claims to be his #1 fan. She soon seduces him. She later black mails him by saying he, Marvin raped her & beat her. Even though it was her who hit herself & she did allow Marvin to "make love" with her. She negousates by telling Marvin to basicially write a story for her that she'd started, but couldn't complete. She tries to trick Marvin with his on plots, but she makes a mistake, never interfer with a writer & his work.{hehehe} She'll try to get rid of Marvin, but who'll survive? Pike leads the reader in many twists & turns & even though Pike insists Marvin isn't suppose to be based on him, i still think a portion of Marvin has Pike's brilliance & personality. I hope he'll have another story involving Marvin & his writings. He's my favortie YA writer of all time!so far at least...?

THer is this one story about 4 teenagers from 20,000 in the future when they decide to visit present day humans of the 20th century. They are named 11, 33, 66, 99 and come into bodies of 4 teenagers. It talkes in teen language, like "getting laid" and "she got screwed" and "did you wear a condom" ...I can't describe in words, they are too funny to do so. It has a huge amount of humor in this story and its hard not to laugh. Along with this story is a whole lot of other interesting things too good to put down. I ain't kiddin' ya one whole bit.

This is a great book. There are several short stories so you won't get fed up with one story plot, and "The Fan from Hell" is amazing! It isn't terrifying, exactly, but it really made me think. This is C.Pike's best book!

I read these back in high school... well, up to book seven, I think. Anyway, I forgot all about them after graduation... but recently, I've been going back to the young adult novels I read from way back when.
I have to say, I do plan on buying this set. I love the characters, and the plot twists, and the story in general. I really do recommend this series!

Darren Shan (the author and main charater) is amazing!
Not only do I love the entire Cirque Du Freak series, but the other series he is currently writing, Demonata, as well!

These books catch your intrest immediately. They are full of twists! I've read the series more than once and I never get sick of it.
The aren't only for younger people, many of my family members have read them and they all love them just as much as I do.

He loves these books, takes them with him to read when ever he can!!!! We never thought that day would come ... and so they have now sparked a more general interest in reading ... a search for material he thinks he will like. He want to talk about them so I too am reading them ... OK not great adult entertainment but not bad either. Thank you, thank you thank you!!!

My thirteen year old son loves these books. He is already on the 3rd and only had them a short amount of time. He is not a reader at all. I was really happy that he found books he would read and is interested in.

I read them when i was only 12-13 and enjoyed them. Obviously not all of em but i read the first two or three when i was young. Then read them all last year and i have to say i enjoyed every minute. It's not the most depth books but there very enjoyable.

This set is only 25 bucks and you get three great books. Only problem is there to short. I love how the book starts off right away with some crazy ideas. Then book two is a great, even heartbroken, ending. Then you have book 3 and 4 which you must read together since there so good and must be read. Then when your done with book 4 ya'll want book 5. So lets go to that set of books!

Here is the story of a fourteen year old girl dealing with all the issues that many other fourteen year old girls go through. Zeises tells the story through Lara Doyle without any dead spots and lots of action. However, some of the characters seemed a little fake and unrealisitic to me. Even Lara (the main character) seemed to go overboard a few times. Even though it was cliche, I would suggest this book for any girl just now going into puberty or just now starting to read young adult fiction. It's a good starter book but for advanced readers, I wouldn't really suggest this book.

Lara I absolutly love your book i consider myself somewhat of an avid reader and have read around quite a bit and let me tell you, future readers of this book preprare to be delighted by the realistic charm and humor that lucy (biscuit) exudes. As much as i loved Contents Under Pressure I found myself wishing for more. Do Tobin and Lucy stay together? What happens to the baby. TELL ME!!! please help me by writing a much awaited sequel!

lara you should write a squel to it because it fun exicting a gives a view of things you tell the story like your are really her and take the book into a far away land that you can't put the book down you just keep on reading until the book is finish and we want more and want to see if another book is coming out.We love your book and you should write more for your fans out which is me and million and billion of people

Contents under pressure by Laura M. Zeises is a really good book for teenagers ages thirteen to seventeen.

This book is really good because it is really easy to relate to. This is a good book for teens going through adolescence because they can relate to what fourteen year old Lucy is going through. Like having an older boyfriend, wondering about dating, having your older brother's pregnant girlfriend move into your room, and having a dad who's always at work instead of with his family.

After reading this book I couldn't put it down I finished it only a few hours.

This is the first book I have read by Lara M. Zeises, and I was happily surprised.

The book follows fourteen-year-old Lucy Doyle as she falls in and out of friendships, battles home conflicts, and eventually gets a boyfriend. I found the story itself, quite readable and realistic.

One of the things I liked about this book was that it didn't seem to make any of the horrible and all-too-common mistakes that other books have. For instance, I hate it when main characters treat depression, mental illness, and other family problems with an almost bored tone as in "I'm so-and-so, I'm tall and skinny, have a dog, and have a mother who hasn't gotten out of bed in three weeks." Another thing I hate is when the girl/boy's situation is a my-dad-is-in-jail-my-brother-is-suicidal. "Contents Under Pressure" avoided both these problems. The situation at home was realistic and just as life-changing, and the Lucy had genuine reactions that changed over the course of the book.

You can sympathize with Lucy and all of her friends at the same time, instead of hating one person one page, and hating another the next. The same thing goes for her brother, jack, and his girlfriend, Hannah. The way she meets her future boyfriend is quirky and unique.

Overall, I definitely recommend "Contents Under Pressure."

'A Curse Dark as Gold' is a retelling of Rumpelstiltskin. I'm not going to say anything else, plot-wise.

I loved this book so, so much. Retold fairy tales are my favorite book genre, so I expected to *like* it, but I flat-out adored 'Curse'. I'd never read a retelling of Rumplestiltskin before. I was chatting about the book with my friend Sarah, and we decided that one of the things we loved was how you're not sure if there's magic afoot at all. It's all just slightly vague enough to make you wonder. You think maybe there's really magic, yet you're not quite sure . . . which puts you in the same position as the main character! And when Jack Spinner first appeared . . . ooh what a powerful moment.

I like how the author mixed some good in with the bad. It could've easily been one of those books that are just plain depressing cause so many bad things happen. But it wasn't. I liked the character of the uncle, I thought he was really interesting/funny/3D. I mean, he was horrible; but I rather liked him as a character. Charlotte was such a wonderful character. Sometimes I just wanted to shake her! But I could understand where she was coming from at the same time. I also liked Rosie . . . I liked how she didn't stay the same the whole time; you know, the feisty little sister who is the sidekick. She grew and changed.

I wonder how many times the word "gold" or "golden" appears in the book!? Golden hair and golden fields and Gold Valley and gold gold gold . . . it was obviously a major theme in it. I love themes in books. :)

'Curse' was a lovely, incredible book . . . one of the best fairy tale retellings I've ever read.

This story transports us to a time of jackspinners weaving and a young girl's struggles. Well done.

From paragraph one, I completely trusted this author to tell me a good story. The layers of intrigue that kept unfolding, along with absolutely beautiful and specific writing had me hooked. It was altogether creepy and riveting to see how the characters came to be. I haven't read a whole lot of fantasy and I believe this is my first fairytale retelling and I couldn't have been more pleased.

Most of us know at least a little bit about the story of the greedy little man who spun straw into gold for a desperate miller's daughter, and while this book deviates largely from the classic tale I actually think it's an improvment.
Fairtale retellings abound in the fantasy genre, in fact they are sort of a genre in and of themselves. we read them in order to see the reflections of the ages old tales we love, but somtimes the offerings can get a little stale. To much dependence on the source meterial can lead to an unsatisfying read.

Not the case here, not only does Elizabeth Bunce give a story with a strong multi facited protagonist in Charlotte Miller, a richly detailed plot, and a tangible environment in which to immerse ourselves in. she also fills in gaps and succeeds in making the reader feel a part of the story, As if they too have a stake in the outcome. Ultimatly Bunce delivers not just a simple story of good vs evil but gives us a tale about the not so nice parts of regular people that can have far reaching consequences.
A Course as Dark as Gold is on my short list of the best Fairytale adeptations out there.

Anticipation is hard on a book. You wait and wait for publication, your impatience builds, and inevitably, you're more excited when the postman arrives than when the final page is turned. Anticipation considered, "A Curse Dark as Gold" held up pretty well.

Charlotte Miller is the last of a long line of Millers who have poured their sweat and blood into Stirwaters Mill. She's determined to continue providing for the townspeople who depend on the mill for their livelihood, no matter what it costs her personally. But Stirwaters Mill has a mind of its own, and when matters look their worst, Charlotte must turn to a stranger for help, and decide just where her treasure lies.

Bunce does a wonderful job keeping tension consistent throughout the story. From the very first page, there's conflict, and it never lags. The writing is fluid and expressive ... the villagers' dialogue is wonderfully reminiscent of Joan Aiken ... the story is deeper than it appears on the surface. It's what I might call an epic fairy tale--really fleshed out.

My partner in crime (14 y/o brother) who also read "Curse" says it's a good book, but you can tell it's a first novel. The implication of that statement is encouraging, however--so much more to look forward to from Elizabeth Bunce in the future.