Young Adult Books

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!

There are some sequels that are poorly written and badly thought out.I am extremely happy to say that that is NOT the case with this book! Clan Ground is even better and more thought provoking than Ratha's Creature was. The suspense never let up,and I had to be almost literally torn away from it because I couldn't put it down! This book,although short in comparison to other stories,is very deep. It is a harshly realistic example of how power corrupts even those with the purest intentions,and one of the best books I have ever read.It teaches important lessons.Read this book-you will love it,and you will learn from it.

I don't know what age this book was written for but let me say I am well over 40. I ordered this book because of its cover and knew nothing about the author or the story. When it arrived I noticed it was the second in a series so I ordered the first book (Ratha's Creature)and put this one aside. I have been hooked for several years on the Warrior serices by Erin Hunter, and this is equal to it with a lot less neames to remember. It is just a great story that keeps you turning the pages until you are finished. I have the next two books already and have pre-ordered the fifth one. I just hope the author keeps them coming like the Warrior series.

I read this book when I was a kid, but had almost forgotten it. When I saw it was going to be re-released I was very excited. It's a great book for all ages.

"Ratha's Creature" is a marvelous piece of genre writing. It certainly was wonderful to find that author Clare Bell keeps the saga flowing so smoothly with the follow-up publication of "Clan Ground." I find CG to be as engrossing, exciting, and as well-written as the original. I couldn't wait to crack the 3rd book in 'Tne Named' series after reading "Clan Ground."

Clan Ground is the second book in Clare Bell's Named series. It is a fantastic sequel to Ratha's Creature. At the time this series was written, I had never read anything of its like. Since then, I've noticed some other series in the Young Adult section that seem to have the same sort of premise, but Clare Bell did if first and she did it best!

I highly recommend this series, as it tops my list of best Young Adult books ever written. Luckily for potential new readers, they are now back in print!

I bought about ten of these because they are so easy to carry around and are printed with easy to read type and sell at a very good price. I have many other editions of Shakespeare's plays but these are perfect for what I wanted. I have lots of other editions with introductions, evaluations, etc. and I don't really need that in my bag. These editions are a great way to read the plays without carrying around five pounds of book!

this is shakespeare's most accessible comedy. it's a farce about mistaken identities among identical twins. nothing complicated here. the play has it's funny moments. it's not the bard's best comedy; that's 'much ado about nothing', imho. but this is not a bad place to start.

Shakespeare's vision grew tremendously over the course of his writing career. However, this play demonstrates that his uncanny power as an artist grew quickly and was present in some form from the very begining. It is exceedingly hard to buy the common notion that this was his first comedy when it is so much better than "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" in nearly every way. The dialogue is fast paced and screamingly funny. The characters interesting if broad and there are some surprising touches that, aside from being interesting in and of themselves, point down the road to later, darker comedies. Chief among these is the amazing opening, perhaps still unequaled in all comedy for the level of grimness. These are the first words uttered in a play long seen as a kind of sitcom of Shakespeare's plays: "Proceed, Solinus, to procure my fall, and by the doom of death end woes and all." The speaker is Egeon, a merchant about to be put to death for simply coming from the wrong country. The whole first scene feels like a cloud is hanging over it and there is a sense of fear-infused urgency that catches the mind off guard and makes the joyous, lunatic story all the more welcome while at the same time coloring it with real drama, making it all the more exciting. To be sure, there is little real depth and much of the play is like a sitcom but only the best of sitcoms and perhaps "Monty Python" at their most absurd is a better comparison. The plot is well chosen (from the Roman comic dramatist Plautus) and well handled. For some reason the play is not well known even among the early comedies which is a shame. It is probably the best of them, even surpassing the wonderful "The Taming of the Shrew". Aside from being an easy read, keep in mind the play is good to perform as it holds up well and doesn't suffer from being tinkered with. I've seen one production that was mostly straightforward but did a few weird things that worked like magic. They would've sunk almost any other Shakespeare comedy. I must also mention the last moment between the two clowns. It is as heart-warming and humane as it is funny. The master is already present AND growing. Do yourself a favor and pick up this play, you'll laugh your head off!

I recently re-read THE COMEDY OF ERRORS prior to attending The Colorado Shakespeare Festival's performance of this farce-like play under the summer stars here in Boulder. Based on Menaechmi by Plautus, William Shakespeare (1564-1616) produced this romantic comedy between the years 1592-93 and published it in the First Folio in 1623. While on its surface this early play may seem superficial and frivolous when measured against KING LEAR or HAMLET, it is not without its own unique depths. It also shows that the Bard had a sense of humor. It tells the hilarious story of two, identical twin brothers (Antipholus of Syracuse and Antipholus of Ephesus) and their identical twin servants (both named Dromio), all of whom were separated at sea during their infancy until redisdovering each other through a series of madcap mix-ups, mayhem, and mistaken identities in the apparently insane town of Epheseus. Meanwhile, Egeon (the father of the Antipholus twins), has been granted a day to raise local ransom for illegally entering Ephesus. In that day, the separated twins are reunited, Antipholus of Ephesus pays his father's ransom, and Egeon discovers his long-lost wife (Aemilia) living in the local priory. In the end, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS is as much about the power of family as the search for completing oneself. It is a play that reminds me that it is perhaps better to re-read and understand Shakespeare than to devour one bestseller after the next.

G. Merritt

One of the problems that great artists present to us is where to begin in getting to know their works. Their masterworks are often so full of what they have spent a lifetime developing that most of it is lost on those who have not yet put in a significant amount of effort becoming familiar with that artist's style and means of expression. Yet, if one begins with their apprentice works one may become discouraged because they lack the miracles of the masterworks. So, where does one begin?

Shakespeare offers the reader an additional challenge of an English that is removed in style and idiom from us by 400 years. It is not an insurmountable challenge. In fact, it is quite easy to overcome with a bit of time reading it and getting into the flow. It just seems strange in the beginning, but it really does become easy to read once you spend some time with it. However, getting over that small hill has kept many from enjoying the glories of Shakespeare.

This play, "The Comedy of Errors", is clearly an early work. It has many virtues, but despite them it does not offer much of what we really value in Shakespeare. It is a very fine play and is constructed very well. It is a wonderful first work to read of Shakespeare because it is short and has a very simple plot. The new reader does not have to spend much effort contemplating characters or the immense subtlety of language of the great works. Its charms are direct and what it has to offer is pretty much on the surface of the words.

The plot is, like all farces, ridiculous. It involves twin brothers who are served by twin slaves. They are separated early in life and when the play opens one set does not know the other exists. One set (the Antipholus and Dromio from Syracuse) visits Ephesus where the other set (the Antipholus and Dromio of Ephesus) lives. The play involves people confusing the two sets to the bewilderment of those suffering from the confusion. It really is quite funny. Of course, eventually, all is resolved to everyone's delight.

This edition, like all of the individual editions Arden offers of these plays, has a wonderful opening essay that offers a great deal of background on the play including a discussion of its performance history, sources, and discussion of the play itself. The appendices in the back offer excerpts from the sources and some brief information on the Gray's Inn performance of 1594.

If you desire to study Shakespeare and are willing to spend time reading many of his plays, "The Comedy of Errors" is a good work to start with just to ease into the language and get a feel for some of the conventions of Elizabethan theater. Just don't stop here. Shakespeare has so much more to offer that you owe it to yourself to continue your exploration of this supreme artist.

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."

I read this book with a few of my friends, and we had such a good time! 'Ever After' is witty, cute, and fun to read! Every teen and pre-teen should read this story about friendship and how sometimes things aren't perfect! Definately worth reading from one of the best YA authors, Rachel Vail!

this book really opened my eyes. Rachel Vail yet again captures the exact feelings of a teenage girl. The main character, Molly, is growing up and starting to learn how to deal with more serious problems like friends, boys, parents, and life in general. The ending is sad, as Molly's best friend lets her down but she grows stronger from this let down. All teenage girls can relate with Molly and what she goes through.

I thought that this book was definitly worth a read. Rachel Vail really seemed to know what it is like to be 13 or 14 years old. It was a great book and I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because I have read books that are similar to this book but were better. However, Ever After is a book that deserves some sort of recognition. Often adults attempt to "relate" to teens and tehy fail miserably, but this book was well-written in that respect.

This made me think back to my teenage days- and I could totally relate! It describes, in great detail, things a girl feels when she's growing up; how we have the ability to obsess over the silliest things, even though they don't seem so silly at the time.
I found the book amongst one of my friends' stuff, picked it up, and literally couldn't put it down. It hooked me from the beginning. Reading this makes you feel like you're not the only [odd one] in the world, and that other people have problems, too.
I also like the fact that it wasn't "sugar-coated." The conversation between the friends sounded like how my friends and I have talked. All in all...GREAT BOOK!

This is definitly one of my favorite books I have ever read. No other author writes about teen girls as well as Rachael Vail does. This book is so true, it was like I was reading about myself. It is about a girl named Molly who is struggling with feelings, friendships, weight, family, boys, her identity, and life in general. I definetly hope you read this book (you will love it if you are anything like me!) and every other book by Rachael Vail as well. This is one of the few books I truly loved reading.

I really enjoyed Eye of the Oracle!
The story starts from the day's of Noah to modern day.
After only a couple of days, I had finished this book!
Any fantasy lover will love this book!

-Lindsay W.

This is the best of the series, but I suggest that you read the "Dragons in our Midst" books first. This book ties all of the lose threads together. As you read things click. It keeps you reading, a great page turner. I recommend this book to everyone who likes young adult books. Very well done and hooks well into the bible and doesn't sound cheesy like the others. Great for most ages. A definite read!

Bryan Davis has created a masterpiece that readers of all ages can enjoy. The book is very unique in the fact that it combines fantasy and Biblical events. Everything fits together so neatly that you wonder 'Is this actually real?' The intriguing plot is so lovely in its complexity. I love the spirituality in this book...I actually learned new things about the Bible that I had never known before! I have read this book countless times, it never gets old. Every time I read it again I catch something in the plot that I had not noticed during previous readings. This book is flawless, it should be read by everyone.

This book is great for both newcomers and old fans. If DioM was a movie, Eye of the Oracle would be the behind-the-scenes documentary. It's great for all those wishing to know more about such characters as Merlin, Morgan, King Arthur, Palin and all the dragons, as well as introducing wonderful new characters. You'll get a whole new perspective on the original books

A friend of mine lent me this book after he finished it. Truthfully, I was skeptical. I'm a fantasy novel/game type of person, but it seems that a lot of fantasy novels are like sci-fi, a good book is one in a thousand.

Heres the one in the thousand. Bryan Davis masterfully wrote this book, with a strong storyline, that follows multiple plots, and still keeping interest, and not getting jumbled together.

I couldn't put this down. It was almost the same as when "Deathly Hallows" came out after a 3 year wait.

I look forward to reading more Bryan Davis novels, and I doubt he will let me down, with his writing prowess.

If you have always wanted to get the Drizzt stories but can't stand Salvatore's writing style this is the way to go. Great art, great story, fun dialogue. All in one quick to read package. Put it on your summer reading list, or if your a comic geek that is tired of the Fantasy genre being ignored by the big two.

R.A. Salvatore himself claims that this graphic rendition of his famous book is as faithful as it could get. Coupled with Tim Seeley's clean yet evocative illustrations, this book gives old and new fans something for keeps. Kudos to the team at Devil's Due publishing. One could only hope that they extend their work to other Forgotten Realms literature.

The writers and artists that created this book did an excellent job of capturing the essence of Salvatore's first Drizzt book. I had high hopes for this work and was not disappointed in the least. The whole story is told here in an abbreviated but thorough way that, together with the art, tells the story of Drizzt's childhood in a powerful way. The strict and wicked society of the drow is nicely captured. I'd even go so far as to say that the art adds more depth to the original story. This is no substitute for Salvatore's novel, but as a supplement it can bring the story to a whole new level.

One thing I hadn't realized about the drow was that all of their women are so very well-endowed. Either drow plastic surgeons are kept very busy, or female drow just naturally have extremely voluptuous bodies. Personally, I thought it added to the story. Very enjoyable. But seriously, the Underdark (particularly Menzoberanzen) was brought to life by the beautifully detailed art in this book. Some of the artistic representations of various monsters was somewhat different than I had pictured in my head while reading the books (such as the handmaiden of Lloth and the earth elemental), but I'm sure Salvatore approved everything so this must be pretty much how he envisions it. Regardless, this is a beautifully done book that captures the magic of the original Homeland and even adds some depth to the story.

The only complaint I had with this adaptation was the omission of Drizzt's letters before each section. Drizzt's writings add feeling to the novels and I would have hoped that they would have included them in these graphic novels. Maybe they'll consider it for some of the later editions.

Overall, I was very impressed with this book. It does an excellent job of representing the original and is fun to read. Excellent art enhances the story.

The dark elves of the Forgotten Realms live deep underground, in the Underdark, where they plot their revenge against the light elves of the surface, and wage interminable inter-clan wars against each other. On the very night when his clan annihilates another clan, Drizzt Do'Urden is born. He is destined to be special, unbeatable with two swords, and yet separated from his people by a conscience. This is the story of Drizzt, his birth, his coming of age, and his discover of what he is and what he can be.

R.A. Salvatore's Drizzt Do'Urden stories have been a perennial favorite with fantasy story readers, well known for their action and for their gripping storylines. Now, Devil's Due Publishing has brought out the first Drizzt Do'Urden story in graphic novel format, and I must say that it is fantastic! They did a terrific job of capturing Mr. Salvatore's characters, and I thought that the illustration work was excellent.

So, if you are a fan of R.A. Salvatore, or are just a fan of great fantasy, then get this book. You will not be disappointed!

Dark Elf Trilogy Volume 1 is a compilation of a series of comics about the elven ranger Drizzt. I was not disappointed by the book. The art style is attractive and fresh, particularly the eyes, and I thought the characers were well-drawn. The artist really captured the essence of the dark elves, a troubled race.

Peeves? I was a bit annoyed that every female drow seemed to dress as though she shopped at Victoria Secret of the Underdark. Surely in a society where women rule and men are chattel skimpy clothing would be the norm for men? Also, while I love Drizzt, this graphic novel only underscored what a Mary Sue the character actually is. Drizzt is a little too perfect, and his views a bit too modern. I think anyone raised in a society as perverse as the drows would've gotten a bit more accustomed to violence early on. Drizzt is constantly shocked, appalled and amazed at the violence surrounding him.

Still, this was a fast, exciting read. I'd recommend it for older teens and adults. Some subject matter (such as sacrifice), nudity, and demon worship are not suitable subjects for small kiddies.

I was drawn to this book by the author's own description of the book's message. In the past few years we have witnessed such incredible horrors in our schools, on our streets, and most recently, in New York and Washington. It is easy to blame, to feel helpless, and to feel that life is unfair. GIDEON promised to awaken a sense of hope in this confusing time. To this goal, the book was true. The message was clear and welcome. However, the writing in this book was distracting. Mr. Marshall relied too heavily on the use of simile and metaphor, and it became tiresome when every sentence included some form of a "like or as" statement. Further, the effort to create symbolism was forced, and this too became off-putting. I wished that Mr. Marshall would simple tell his tale, without trying to create a literary "masterpiece". The book was worth reading, but it took me several sittings to get through this relatively short text simply because of the annoying efforts to impose "deep meaning" on every phrase.

Gideon McGee's Dream is full of good direction for a meaningful, joyful and peaceful life. This book may be rated for young adults but many of us actually missed youg adulthood and I feel this book is excellent reading for anyone. Gideon McGee's Dream is a well told story of the things that keep us in our "box" -- fear,distrust and a lack of knowledge. The book is fiction but the "lessons" that the author is presenting are not. Please take the time [short] to read it and make it a must for your young adult to read.

I'm eighteen and graduated from highschool in June. I was on a fast track to nowhere when a friend suggested I read this book. I'm not much for reading, but I trusted this friend. Get this book if you think there's no reason for why things happen! It made me realize that all my misery was self made. Things that made no sense before, suddenly made sense. I've read it through three times now and at first I didn't think the story really took off until about page forty. But each time I read it I find that every page has something to say. If you think life isn't fair, read this book. It could save your life. It did mine.

This book is wonderful reading for both adults and children, especially adolescents. And especially during these times when there seems to be so much focus on the dark side of what is happening around us. Gideon McGee's Dream takes us to the only place -- inside ourselves -- where we can find the key that will open the door and introduce light where the shadows threaten to deprive us of the hope and enthusiasm necessary to live life fully and with courage. Thank you Bill Marshall for such a jewel. :-)

Very good book. I really enjoyed it. Bill Marshall wrote ane-mail to me to let me know about this book. He had read my review ofHarry 3, and thought I'd also like his book. I would never have discovered this book otherwise. I've never heard of the publishing company, and the book hasn't been heard of at the local booksellers or libraries. The book had a couple mistakes in typing, but it didn't take away from the great storyline. I feel like Marshall would need to find a new publisher for this book to make it mainstream, or at least his agent needs to work a bit harder to get readers to know about Gideon McGee. I started and finished the book in one day, which added to the enjoyment of this book.

I love all of Maureen Johnson's books and this one is no exception. Her protagonists are all really easy to relate to and the settings are always imaginitive. The romantic plot line is always well written and combines well with other plot lines. Girl at Sea should not be missed!

Girl At Sea by Maureen Johnson would be a great summer time book because it kept me interested through out the entire book. There were some chapters that seemed to drag on and on. I did like this book better than 13 little blue envelopes because I felt like I connect more with the characters. Also, because the author was so descriptive in describing her characters, I could picture them and their personality with all the detail. I especially love the last few chapters because they make you so sure of what's going to happen but then all the sudden it would take a socking twist causing you to feel so dumb that you couldn't catch it before. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. This book is a must read for summer!

Clio Ford has lived an interesting life. She became famous at age 12. Her parents are divorced. And she has a tattoo, just to name a few things.

Now, forced to spend a summer with her insane father and his research team on a boat on the Mediterranean Sea, she just might go mad. Especially since she knows they're looking for something...something they refuse to tell Clio anything about.

GIRL AT SEA is simply fantastic. As usual with all of Maureen Johnson's books, the plot is unique and nothing like anything you'll find in most other teen books these days. Clio is lively, fun, adventurous, and witty.

So if you care to read about paper hats, crazy parents, big boats, weird tattoos, lost artifacts, romance, and LOTS of jellyfish, what are you waiting for? Join in on all the nautical fun! Maureen Johnson will leave you desperate for more.

Reviewed by: The Compulsive Reader

Clio Ford is a seventeen-year-old art store employee in Pennsylvania. Well, at least she was going to be until her mom went to Kansas for the summer and Clio was dragged along with her dad and his girlfriend, Julia, during their search for an ancient stone, which holds an enormous amount of knowledge, in the shores of Italy. Although reluctant to go at first, Clio uncovers some amazing secrets about the underwater Mediterranean. I think this book is adventurous because Clio finds adventure in this book, and I felt like I was in the middle of an adventure when I was reading it. I enjoyed Girl at Sea, and I especially liked the discovering aspect of it. The discoveries made by Clio over the summer include those of the lost stone, her dad, and herself. These defiantly add to the book. I would recommend Girl at Sea by Maureen Johnson to any girl in grades 7-11.

Landlubbers and sea lovers alike will enjoy taking a trip with this Girl At Sea. Maureen Johnson once again successfully blends comedy and drama to create an intriguing, realistic story.

The Girl in question is Clio, who wears her heart and her scars on her sleeve. When she was eleven years old, she and her father created a board game called Dive! that took off.

A few years later, so did her father.

Fast forward five years. Now a high school junior, Clio was gearing up to work at a cool art supply store when her father contacts her. He wants her to come with him on a ten-week trip to the Mediterranean, but he won't tell her exactly where or why they're going.

Reluctantly, she goes along, only to discover they aren't alone. She must bunk with a sassy Swedish-English girl named Elsa whose mother is assisting Clio's father with his research. Her father's best friend Martin and a college boy named Aidan are also on board. As Clio's travels take her farther from home, they may or may not bring her closer to her father - and to herself.

Clio is a remarkable character. She's artsy. She's feisty. She's cool, but she doesn't know it. (That may just make her cooler.) She knows what she likes but isn't quite sure what she wants. She has a boldness about her, yet she's not really impulsive. Clio has a backbone, and even when she's vulnerable, she fights to stand on her own two feet. Her unique streak is a mile wide and she's got a knack for witty comebacks. I absolutely love her voice. Johnson's distinctive writing style really makes Clio shine.

Undeniably entertaining, Girl at Sea will not only please Maureen Johnson's loyal readers but should also be appreciated by anyone searching for a witty narrative and a memorable journey.