Science Fiction Books

got a couple of these for moms with small kids in our family... they will read them to their little ones and all of them will have a good time! that was an easy one!

A friend of mine received this book on Mother's Day. Her daughter had glued pages in the front submitted by every child and grandchild she had, with drawings, photos, and testimonials of what she meant to them. I was crying even before I read the book. When I actually got to the book itself, the tears turned to sobbing, but GOOD sobs, if you know what I mean.

Don't get me wrong -- it's not sappy, just a plain and simple realization of what moms are to kids. I LOVED IT!!

I love Berkeley Breathed, not only for his illustrations but for his witt. This is a great book for children, the story line starts as mom being somewhat a tyrant ,the terrible things we must make our children do! eating broccoli and such. But ends with the ultimate sacrifice we would all make for our children, don't worry no one dies. I think children learn that eventhough we seem to be "the bad guy" as a parent there is no sacrifice too great we would make for them. I hope he writes more! I would buy his books just for myself.

Very clever story that open kids' eyes to how amzing moms really are. Terrific illustrations. I discovered it as a gift to my 5-yr-old daughter, but I now buy it for all my favorite moms.

My son loves this book. We read it quite often. The author is talented and the pictures are great. One of my favorites also.

This is a copy for our 3 year old because our 10 year old wants to keep his forever!
What a fun story to read to any child!

My two nieces and I read this one all the time.

Gritch the Witch needs piggies to make the piggy pie she craves. But pigs are very clever animals (trufax!), and they quickly disguise themselves.

Every time Gritch asks one of the (disguised) animals where the pigs are, they hilariously quack quack, moo moo, and cluck cluck her all over the farm! Eventually she stops before the Old MacDonald, the man himself, for him to look look here, look look there, etc. and tell her the same as everybody else - no piggies!

All her tantrums don't help. She can't have piggy pie :(

Even the Big Bad Wolf sympathizes, while both of them plot, at the end, to eat the other.

Very funny book. Every page, every word and illustration. My nieces (5 and 2.5) even act this one out!

Only thing is that sometimes they get scared of it, occasionally for a week or two at a time. Other times they bring it out to me and request it, but sometimes they're scared and won't have anything to do with it. Kinda like a roller coaster, maybe?

Check this one out at the library, see if it suits your child's temperment, and consider that it might be better meant for an older child.

Also, be aware that Gritch, being a Wicked Witch, isn't a very nice person. Aside from her tantrums, she insults nearly everybody in the book when they give her the bad news - dumb duck, lousy seed spreader, walking milk machine - and threatens them as well. If this sort of thing concerns you, please be aware of it.

This fractured folktale is about a witch that is craving some `Piggie Pie.' She goes through her pantry and finds she has everything she needs except for that all important ingredient--PIGGIES! At first she is outraged but eventually composes herself and devises a plan. Where can she find a piggy? The zoo? The circus? She finally decides that the best place to secure some pigs would be on a farm. After looking through the yellow pages, she travels to Old MacDonald's farm to grab the missing ingredient. She gives her victims a warning as she writes in the clouds, "Surrender Piggies!" The pigs devise their own plan; they plot to outsmart the witch by dressing up as other farm animals. They fool her by disguising themselves as ducks, cows, chickens, and even old MacDonald. When the big bad wolf happens to come along, he offers advice to the witch and tells her to give up--after all, he remembers those 3 pig brothers! Now, her taste changes from piggie to wolf and she graciously invites him over for `lunch'...
Piggie Pie is a delightful story that incorporates several classic folktales including The Three Little Pigs, Old MacDonald nursery rhyme, the traditional evil witch as the villain, and the famous three little pigs. Due to the structure of this book, students will improve their understanding of the different subcategories of traditional literature. The author includes descriptive language such as repetition, alliteration, expressive language, and affective adjectives that highlight the text and bring the story to life. Such examples include the witch describing her tasty meal options with phrases like "boiled, black, buzzed feet" and "plump, juicy, pink piggies." This whimsical, witty story will capture student's attention and can be used as a model to enhance their understanding of what it means to read like a writer.
Throughout the book, Palatini's text enhances student's vocabulary and contains repetitive phonemes that enrich their growth as a reader. As Cunningham describes, tongue twisters, like ones found in the text, play a crucial role in developing students' phonemic awareness. For example, "eight plump piggies for piggie pie" is a silly and fun phrase that the students will enjoy saying and simultaneously will develop their oral language. Students will be exposed to new vocabulary words, such as curdle, passel, and muttered. Encourage students to use elements of Palatini's writing and transfer her techniques over when creating their own literature.

This is one of my favorite children's book and I love to give it as a gift.
As a Kindergarten teacher it is my pick!

My family loves this book. My husband reads it to my children, ages 13, 5, and 1. They love it, he does the voices of the characters, which is great fun for everyone. My oldest says this is her favorite book from when she was little. I'm buying copies for my toddler aged neice and nephew.

A family favorite. We love this book. Had to make sure our girls got the pleasure of reading it.

We really like this book. It makes kids really think about doing the right thing and being honest. It's great!

"The Empty Pot" is a nice Chinese fable that teaches an important lesson about honesty.

The Emperor was getting old and wanted to choose one child in the kingdom to succeed him. He posed a challenge for the children. He gave each child a flower seed. Whoever grew the most beautiful flower within one year would become the new emperor.

For one year, all of the children spent their time growing the most beautiful flower. Everyone was doing good, except for this one child named Ping who could not seem to get his flower seed to sprout a flower.

When the time comes to present each child's flower to the Emperor, Ping brings the empty pot with his flower seed and is declared the new Emperor. To find out how Ping becomes the Emperor, just read the book. It will surprise you.

As expected from Demi a beautifully illustrated (clean colored and detailed) book, a simple, sweet story with a gentle message. Ages 3 1/2 +

A great introductory book to different cultures. Can also be used as a jump start to many conversations (doing your best, being brave, honesty, growing seeds, seed viability etc)

This is such a wonderful book about honesty and humility. I saw it on Between the Lions one day and fell in love with the story. Not much else to say but to make sure you get this book!!

I loved this book when it came out when I was young. I thought it was a great story for the tween age group... even younger if you're the type of parent to read a chapter a night for those little ones who love hearing stories. The book was in better condition than I expected and I can't wait to read it to my little guy(who loves books!)when he can sit still for more than 5 minutes.

I am an adult and have just discovered this jewel. I have to say, I loved it. Of course, it's not like Koontz's adult books, but it's not designed to be. The tale held my attention and I loved the characters, especially Amos.

This is a good book for younger children who want to be a little scared, but not too much and the message is timeless.

Highly recommended.

It is a nice story, with a definite "good" advise for kids. I think it would make a good introductory book for youngsters into the "suspense/horror" genre.

I have been looking for a copy of this book for years. It was the 2nd book I read by Koontz and fell in love with it. I had read it over several times and fell into the story and art work everytime. Even though it's been over 10 years since I've last seen or read the story, I remember it as if I read it last week. I only wish it was more available for others to enjoy as well. This is definately a story for those who are still a child at heart.

I remember reading this book when I was 10, it's stuck with me ever since. Now with kids of my own I can only appricate the story's plot more. I love this story and am only sadden to know that it is no longer in print for other adults and children to enjoy cheaply.

This is perhaps my favorite book of all from my childhood. Periodically I reread it as an adult and my appreciation grows every time. It is so unassuming, like the character of Martha, but the themes are big: the meaning of friendship, the art of finding beauty in life, the winding paths of growing up. The characters could step out of the page, the emotions are deep and true, and the end is so simple and quietly heartbreaking, but at the same time the kind of sorrow that is full of life and joy and passion. ZKS was truly inspired when she wrote this. In my opinion it is perfect.

Those that are positive that this book is a fantasy and therefore will not be read by them really needs to think straight. No, this is not a fantasy, which did surprise me considering Ms. Snyder's passion for the weird. Instead, it is a book about those oh-so-classic themes of family, friendship, and growing up.

Snyder makes a wondrous world between two small-town friends who are as different as different can be. One becomes enchanted by the passion and creativity of the other, and this is a friendship that leads them through the changes of life.

It's touching and inspiring. A great girl book.

There are some typical "teen novel" elements but overall this is a great story of friendship. Shy, awkward, overweight and sensitive Martha Abbott is a misfit in her own shallow and constrained upper-middle-class family, who take her for granted. Martha befriends the vibrant, imaginative, and outgoing Ivy Carson, herself a misfit in her own poor, wrong-side-of-the-tracks, criminal fringe family. Their sometimes-misunderstood friendship nurtures and sustains them over the years, and their imaginary games help inspire their own inner talents. Even through separation and quarrels, their bond remains strong, and the reader can see how much each owes the other as they grow. A touching tribute to both the power and joys of friendship and the imagination. A blessing to see it's back in print.

This book gave me new ways of looking at the world, at myself and at my neighbors when I was 11 years old and read it for the first time. And the second. And the third... I don't think there are many American girls who could not identify both with Martha and with Ivy, in turns, as these tender characters vividly represent the dichotomy of female adolescence.

I have sought out, purchased and given away a number of copies of this book in recent years, and now that it is in print again I have just ordered two copies. One is for my friend's 14 year old daughter who lives overseas and has few options for books in English, and the other I will save for my granddaughter, who was just born. Her mother will re-read the book in the meantime (after I do) and we will both relive a wonderful experience which helped us cope with a most difficult time of life.

Recently, was at the book store helping my 10y son look for a book to read, I ran across a copy of "The Headless Cupid" I bought it and asked to order "The changeling" but they couldn't get it for me, So I turn to the internet (Got to love eBay) and found it. I read it as soon as I received it. I've ordered several more of Snyder's books as well. Maybe my kids will enjoy them as much as I have.

I was 12y. at the time I first read it. I wasn't a "reader" this was one of the first I had ever read that I didn't force myself to finish. I lost myself in the pages. I felt a huge connection to Ivy our life's were so similar, she had a better outlook on life one I longed to have. Since then I have read a fair amount of books but none ever touched me the same way.

As a fan of the game, I was delighted to discover a book. Mr. Telep is a new author for me, and I was not disappointed.
His main characters could have used a little more developing, but they still became real as the book progressed.
The ethereal "Programmers" desire to understand humans by "afflicting" the drones with personality was a surprise. I am eager to see how this develops.
All in all, a very enjoyable few hours. I will be searching for more of Mr. Telep's books.

Peter Telep does a great job portraying detail in this book. The characters are believable, there are many very suspenseful parts in the book, it never gets tedious or boring, and the overall plot, though based on a game, stands alone as one of the best I have ever read. I highly recommend this book to any and all who enjoy thrilling science fiction. It's also good for all the DescentHeads out there!

When I started reading this book, I had absolutely no idea how a person could turn the immersive but sometimes confusing world of mines, robots, and destruction into an immersive novel as well. I soon found out how as Telep not only manages to create an addicting world of nonstop action and adventure, but succeeds in creating a gripping storyline where an ex-marine named Benjamin St. John must race against the clock and his senior employer, Saumel Dravis, to save scientists and a prototype targeting system stranded in the robot driven, virus-infected PTMC, or Post Terran Mining Corporation, flagship mine on the Earth's moon. Many deadly suprises await the intrepid rescuer, however...

This is one of my favorite books! I would definatley reccomend it to just about anybody. This book took me about two weeks to read. Most average readers would consider this a long time, but for me, who reads most books in about 3 months because I keep putting them down, two weeks is a very small time. I absolutley loved the suspense scenes with the Pyro-GX ships. It was absolutley outstanding!
If you're bored with other books or just bored with life itself, check this one out. You'll love it.

To be honest, I must say that I expected DESCENT to be worse than the game, as it was released after. I was horribly wrong. Every time I read this book (which is several dozen times a year), I feel like i'm really in the cockpit of an illegally modified Pyro-GX, blasting mechs apart with a vengeance. This is the best book I have read in a long time, save for the other two books, DESCENT : Stealing Thunder and DESCENT : Equinox. I only hope there is a fourth.

Outstanding look at new palaeontology and dinosaur work. Taking the various papers that Bakker wrote for scientific journals and converting them to a book that is slightly more understandable to the public. The basic premise is that dinosaurs were not cold-blooded lizards, but warmer blooded and quite fast at times. See Jurassic Park for an example of the theories in action. Really great work.

Bob Bakker book describes so brilliantly why Dinosaurs were so successful and ruled the Earth for 150 million years. The Dinosaurs were so successful that mammals throughout this time never grew larger than 1 meter long and many were rat sized. If it wasn't for a giant asteroid that hit 65 million years ago, they would be still around and we would not.

Bakker in this book describes how the Dinosaur's warm blooded metabolism was integral to their success and how cold blooded animals like reptiles back then as now were limited. He also goes to show us how Dinosaurs were fast growing, dynamic animals that were constantly changing, how bird evolved from dinosauts and how dinosaurs were key the spread of flowering plants.

A book you must read before you die.

In the second half of the twentieth century the current thinking about dinosaurs completely changed, so that they are now accepted as warm blooded, vigorous alternatives to the mammals, and in fact the ancestors of birds (though not all that bright, whereas birds can be). Bakker was a major player in this change of views, and offers some fascinating anecdotes on how various experiences led to insights which permitted proper interpretation of the fossil evidence. The reader comes away not only with an understanding of the dinosaurs, but with many insights into evolution in general, and all the types of reasoning and analysis necessary to glean the truth from fossil evidence. Bakker has a lively style, giving detail without getting bogged down (well, I occasionally skimmed a bit, but that is because I have little interest in anatomy). There are many illustrations, but I was not always happy with them. Some illustrations serve as hand drawn alternatives to Power Point slides, and are very good. However, the drawings to illustrate anatomy were often not simplified enough for me to better understand the point. I do wish Bakker had speculated why, in the world of the dinosaurs, it was the mammals who apparently occupied all the really small ecological niches, comparable to current day mice and squirrels. Also, his final chapter on the demise of the dinosaurs was stimulating, but not as well thought out as the rest of the book. He points to the development of land bridges (as water levels dropped) which permitted worldwide migration of larger animals, and the consequent extinction of many species which could not compete, and also the spread of pathogens and parasites. Interesting, but competition would not eliminate all species, and no arguments are presented as to why small animals, e.g. mammals, would be more likely to survive than large animals (great numbers?). While this book was published in 1986, I read it based on Richard Dawkin's recent recommendation, and I do not believe it is outdated.

This book talks about new theories(at the time) of dinosaurs and their extinction, ranging from warm-bloodedness all the way to dinosaurs evolving into birds. There are five parts to this story.

Part I:The Conquering Cold-Bloods: A Conondum
Basically this part describes reptiles and their advantages/disadvantages when it comes to either cold blooded or warm blooded animals. It even compares mammals to reptiles. It talks about how cold blooded and warm blooded reptiles/mammals how active and how their eating habits are different. Also talks about dinosaurs if they were warm or cold blooded. Here is a short excerpt from this part. "Ornitholestes was an impressive little dinosaur, and even the diehard defenders of orthodoxy yield a little to admit that perhaps Ornitholestes and its kin might have had high metabolism. Such a concession, however, would lead to yet another incosistency in the theory of mass homeothermy. Big dinosaurs, all of them, evolved from small-dinosaur ancestors. The idea that little ancestors had high metabolism and their bigger descendants didn't, would be tantamount to arguing that evolution reversed itself"(Bakker 98).

Part II:The Habitat of the Dinosaurs
This section discusses dinosaurs with their habitat and how their diet/body features adapt to their environment. It discusses dinosaurs who helped use gastroliths for digestion. Also talks about the evolution of plants in relation to dinosaurs. Here is a short excerpt from this part. "Brontosaur teeth, moreover, confirm the heretical idea that they ate a tough vegetable diet. If the brontosaurs dined only on soft water plants, then very little wear would appear on their teeth. But infact the teeth of Camarasaurus, Brachiosaurus and their kin manifest very severe wear, which could only have been produced by tough or gritty food"(Bakker 136).

Part III:Defense, Locomotion, and the Case For Warm-Blooded Dinosaurs
The third section discusses the locomotion of dinosaurs in comparison to lizards,crocodiles,etc. Discusses dinosaur defense, like Triceratops' horns and the "boneheads" of the Pachycephalosaurs. Also talks about Pterosaurs. Discusses Archeaopteryx and it's feathers helping to support warm-bloodedness.
Here is a short excerpt from this part. "Anchisaurs' tails were stoutly muscled and they could easily have reared up, foreclaws at the ready, to face their enemies. Anchisaur hind claws, especially the one located on the large inner toe, could lash out with even more powerful blows than the foreclaws"(Bakker 256).

Part IV:The Warm-Blooded Metronome of Evolution
Talks about dinosaur sex, with threat displays of intimidation. Discusses growth in dinosaurs who were probably warm blooded. Talks about dinosaur lungs, heart, and large brains. Here is a short excerpt from this part.
"How can the dinosaurs' growth be measured? An accurate estimate can be derived from the texture of the fossil bone. A thin slice can be cut from a fossil-bone chip and glued to a glass plate"(Bakker 350).

Part V:Dynastic Frailty and the Pulses of Animal History
This final section discusses the Kazanian Revolution. During the Kazanian Revolution, warm blooded animals exploded in population. Discusses the dinosaur extinction and the animals who died along with them. Talks about the evolution of the Dinosauria and that they should be in their own class. Here is a short excerpt from this part. "A truly scientific skeptic would start assuming neither cold-bloodedness nor warm-bloodedness, and then reevaluate the evidence without prior terminological bias. So long as the DInosauria remain stuck in the class Reptilia, this type of analysis is impossible. Let dinosaurs be dinosaurs. Let the Dinosauria stand proudly alone, a Class by itself. They merit it"(Bakker 462).

Overall, this book is excellent. Bakker did all his own illustrations(which are very artistic) and even assumed dinosaurs were feathered even before they were discovered. Even though some of his theories may be outdated now, I still recommend this book to anyone. I read it back in seventh grade and it took me a while, but reading this book is surely worth the time!

Incredibly compelling book about the possible evolution of velociraptors into birds.

Dinosaur Heresies goes beyond mere dinosaur evolution, however. As an enthusiastic gardener, I was bemused and delighted to learn of the powerful link between Cretaceous herbivorous dinosaurs and the rise of flowering plants, how it was BECAUSE of these saurian herbivores that we have flowering plants instead of a world of gymnosperms (aka pines, cycads, ginko, etc.).

It was a FUN read!

I would have to say that so far, this is my favorite book out of the Everworld series (I still have 8 more to go). April, Jalil, David and Christopher have escaped Loki only to be in a never ending forest with not much to eat or drink. They finally come to what looks like a town and the smell of baking bread drives them closer to it. They find that it is more a prison than a town. Mostly everyone in town in male and terrified of "she". Who is this she and why is everyone so scared of her?

I loved this book because of its extreme intesity. It made you excited and anxious to see what happens next. It is unpredictable and builds up tension while you read. I would reccomend this book for anyone between the ages of 12-and up.

WOAH, this book is the best book that you will ever read (unless the other books that you read are in the Everworld series). In this book you will be the character Jalil and will go through many different journeys and will encounter many different foes. Many people who you will think who and what they are, but really aren't. Overall this book will blow your mind with the amazing descriptions of friends and enemies. I hope that you will enjoy reading this book!!! :-)

Jalil, David, April, and Christopher have landed in one of the worst places yet. They are fed and well taken care, Until they find out about a cave that could take them home. But instead they have entered the realm of Hel. Loki's half dead daughter. She can get all mens attention (Mortal, Immortal, and Gods). She has a beauty to her that no one can resist. David, Christopher and Jalil do not have a will of their own. When Hel is about toss them to her snake, Jalil comes upon Senna. This reunion was not good at all. Better yet, all of them are about to fall to Hel's giant snake that is miles long! W.T.E

A Review by Jonathan

The group Jalil, April, David, and Christopher are still searching for the witch Senna. They stumble upon a village of men. The need for food and rest drove them to an inn. They cannot leave this village unless a dredded "She" of which people speak, lets them. They learn of Loki's daughter Hel, and that she plans to torture them for the end of eternity. If they can't escape her clutches, they will certainly die.

I liked the feel of the environment of this book. It envelopes and immerses the reader. It creates an atmosphere that helps the reader along. It also creates a sense of emotion such as fear. Another point of liking is that it is very easy to get into. The book has a clean, crisp plot that is easily readable, yet enjoyable. One more point of interest is the problems that the characters face. This adds to the intensity of the book. I like the fact that most of their problems are god related. This makes it interesting because they also have to survive. They don't know what will happen to them in the real world if they die in Everworld. Sometimes the concept of their consciousness traveling between universes can be confusing, but I get it. This is a semi- easy book.

I recommend this book to people that take a liking to thrills and adventure. Also, there is a lot of action in this book. I think this book is excellent, I think the same about the entire series. This is a semi-easy book to read.

I am so picky when it comes to children's books, and this one is absolutely perfect. Fantastic illustrations, beautiful story. My almost two year old wanted me to just read it over and over, and she's clearly very enchanted by it, as am I.

This is a fabulous book that every family should have for their very little ones. I think it's the best "good-night-go-to-sleep" book ever written. The text is poetic; the pictures are beautiful. It's well worth what it costs. I must have bought a dozen of these by now as gifts for new parents.

Oh, let me please be like Grandfather Twilight when I am old! Another dreamy, mysterious, and magically poetic masterpiece from Barbara Berger. Ever wonder how the moon finds its way up into the sky at night? "Grandfather Twilight" reveals this secret. It is the perfect book to quiet the soul before bedtime. A childhood favorite.

There are a number of books in the childrens' book market that qualify as modern day classics and Berger's "Grandfather Twilight" is definitely among them. From the stunning artwork, to the magnificent prose, to the magical message, this is a winner. Right up there with the best. Together with a soft blanket, the perfect gift for the new arrival.

This was my favorite book to read to my daughter when she was little. It was also just MY FAVORITE BOOK to look at. The illustrations are beautiful. The story has few words, so you are also able to use your imagination while looking at the pictures and thinking about the story.

I highly recommend adding this book to your collection - whether or not you have children or grandchlidren.

In the County, being the seventh son of a seventh son is a two-edged sword. For the child Thomas Ward, being the seventh son means that his father, an aging farmer, had by now already used up all the favors owed him to set up his other sons with more lucrative trades and apprenticeships. And being the seventh son of a seventh son carries a less mundane implication. Tom had been born with the gift (or curse) for sensing the supernatural. When the old Spook, Old Gregory, arrives to take a look at Tom as a prospective apprentice, his parents are quite amenable.

A spook walks the breadth of the County, safeguarding its towns, villages and farmhouses from supernatural harm. But the disturbing and frightening nature of this profession renders the spook an unsavory character. To be a spook is to be shunned and feared and to experience uncommon horrors. Many of the current Spook's previous apprentices had died in service. No wonder, then, that young Tom Ward is very reluctant to take up the apprentice's mantle. Never mind that a passing prophecy projects Tom to be Old Gregory's best and final apprentice. The old Spook scoffs at this.

THE LAST APPRENTICE - REVENGE OF THE WITCH (in the U.K. titled THE SPOOK'S APPRENTICE) is British author Joseph Delaney's first book in what's turning out to be one of the scariest, most atmospheric young adult horror-fantasy series currently going. To conquer your fear of the dark, sometimes you just have to face the darkness. But what if you can see the monsters that steal out of that darkness? On their first day together, the Spook makes Tom stay at a haunted house by himself, as a test. Reading this passage is what really got me hooked but good with the book and the series. Delaney is very adept at laying down a forbidding, gothic mood and evoking that shuddery sense of something creeping around in the dark.

It's interesting to note that the Spook doesn't himself apply magic to combat the evil occult. Instead the tools of the trade are "common sense, courage, and the keeping of accurate records." A painstaking portion of Tom's training is alloted to his jotting down what he's learned into his journals and diary (he's a slow scribbler). The knowledge Tom picks up will serve him well, as a foolishly kept promise brings about the release of Mother Malkin, the most terrifying witch in the County. Circumstances would have responsibility of halting Mother Malkin fall on the new apprentice's shoulders.

Josephy Delaney injects welcome touches here and there, in detailing the minutiae of the Spook's line of work. One learns, for example, when a spook is out on a job, he fasts, gnawing on bits of cheese for sustenance (sated stomachs render one more vulnerable to the dark forces). The author explores Tom's feelings of isolation and growing sense of alienation from regular folks. But Tom never feels more like a pariah than when he visits home. Early on, we know Thomas Ward is well on his way to a life fraught with loneliness and ridiculous peril. As the book nears its end, the Spook remarks that the dark is growing ever stronger. Bad news for him and his apprentice. Good news for the readers.

The characters are absorbing enough that you long to find out what happens to them, so it's a good thing this is a series. There are secrets waiting to be dredged up regarding the strict old Spook and Tom's enigmatic but wise mother (or mam). Particularly intriguing is the odd and developing friendship between Tom and the strange, pointy-shoed young girl Alice. Alice in all likelihood will grow up a witch, but it's yet unknown whether she'll be a benign or malevolent one. This sub-plot ends up resonating throughout the series. Me, I like Alice. She's another reason I'll keep coming back.

I like it when a novel elicits the creepy crawlies and those tingles up and down the spine. Aimed at a young adult audience, the horror elements here aren't that graphic, but Delaney's storytelling does spawn a genuinely spooky and unsettling mood. Years and years ago, I stumbled onto John Bellairs' marvelously creepy The House With a Clock In Its Walls (Lewis Barnavelt), and I still remember that rush and the delicious scares so engendered. It's a wonderful feeling. REVENGE OF THE WITCH generates the same sense of tension and foreboding. So read the damn thing already.

Other books in the Last Apprentice series (published in the U.K. as The Wardstone Chronicles):
- THE SPOOK'S CURSE (Book 2, a.k.a. The Last Apprentice: Curse of the Bane (The Last Apprentice))
- THE SPOOK'S SECRET (Book 3, a.k.a. The Last Apprentice: Night of the Soul Stealer (The Last Apprentice))
- THE SPOOK'S BATTLE (Book 4, a.k.a. The Last Apprentice: Attack of the Fiend (The Last Apprentice))
- THE SPOOK'S MISTAKE (Book 5, a.k.a. THE The Last Apprentice: Wrath of the Bloodeye (The Last Apprentice))
- THE SPOOK'S SACRIFICE (Book 6)
- The Last Apprentice: The Spook's Tale (The Last Apprentice)
- THE SPOOK'S BESTIARY (this is supposed to be the book often referred to by Tom in the Spook's Chipenden library)

I've read 1-4 of the series and am thoroughly enjoying it. The main characters, the illustrations, the storyline. It's no so complex that you feel the need to take notes or keep a dictionary near by. The whole book is suspenseful, pulls you right along. I'm not sure what more you could ask for. Entertaining young adult reading!

A well-written, albeit gruesome, horror series, for kids who think it's great fun to be scared witless. The fourth and latest book (as of August 2008) is the darkest so far. There are a few too many creatures that want to suck human blood for my taste, but that quibble aside, all entries in the series so far are page-turners.

I didn't know what to expect as I opened this book for the first time, a part me thought it would just be another bland young adult book but its so much more than that. The book has a naturally dark mood being that the protagonist, Tom Ward is learning to fight witches, ghosts, and boggarts. However this book strikes a perfect middle ground, making it a great read for any age group. The characters are also interesting, Tom Ward is the apprentice who must face his fears and control them, The Spook is a tough yet intelligent teacher, and Alice is a mischievous witch who takes a liking to Tom. Don't hesitate getting this if you've been looking for a fantasy series filled with adventure, and interesting characters.

The Last Apprentice series (called the Wardstone series in England) presents the fearsome adventures of a young man who is destined for greatness, but on a lonely path. It should appeal to adolescents (roughly 10 or older) who like edgy fiction, who have grown beyond Goosebumps, and finished Harry Potter -- beyond the frightening and sometimes disturbing subject matter it is a story of a young boy who is learning to face ambiguities, learning to see that while there is bad and good in the world, most people cannot be categorized as either good or evil, that sometimes it is important to follow rules and sometimes one must trust one's instincts.

The Last Apprentice is set in an old world, somewhat like England, where the church is powerful, but not powerful enough to stop the things that go bump in the night. For that they need spooks -- seventh sons of seventh sons who devote themselves to the discovery of methods for controlling and eliminating creatures from the dark: ghosts, ghasts, witches, boggarts and more. The problem is there aren't very many willing or able to do what it takes, who can't take the loneliness, the long years of study, and the mistrust and fear they face from those who they serve.

Tom Ward doesn't know whether he has what it takes, but he has few options. When he becomes apprentice to the local Spook he doesn't know he will face witches and other dark things, sometimes armed only with his own wits and courage. The world depicted in the Last Apprentice series is a dark world and is getting darker -- but there are glimmers of hope and there are those who are sincere in their efforts to help others in need. The story, written in the first person, does a very good job of conveying his uncertainty and fear and leads in unexpected directions. I read this with my daughter, who is now eager to continue with the rest of the series. (I'm interested as well -- but a bit worried that the series will get scarier as it continues and that she may not be ready for the sequels.)