Review: Gabriel's Clock by Hilton Pashley

Gabriel's Clock by Hilton Pashley.

Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publication Date: October 2014
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780544301764

Review: Watch out for demons! In Gabriel's Clock by Hilton Pashley, Jonathan and his new friends must stop Belial and his minions from the destroying the village of Hobbes End. Read this adventure novel and join Jonathan in saving both the village and his family.

In Gabriel's Clock, Jonathan, who all his life believed he was normal, and his family are assaulted by faceless demons. Jonathan's mother brings him to Hobbes End, a village that is highly secured, and abandons him there to seek help as his dad fights off the monsters. Jonathan soon discovers that he is half angel, half demon, and the arch demon Belial desires to use him as a powerful weapon to demolish Heaven. Teamed up with new friends from the community, Jonathan has to defeat Belial to save the small town-and his family. Will the forces of Belial and his Corvidae servants wreck Hobbes End and Jonathan's family? Or can Jonathan gather the power inside him to rescue those he loves? Find out by reading this action-packed book.

Gabriel's Clock is a thrilling book and there is so much that make it interesting. For example, the setting, a village, has unusual features, such as a lake with glass and a crater at the bottom and a dark forest. These aspects set up the perfect hiding place for the Corvidae. Also, the characters make the novel amusing because they are special-Jonathan is half angel, half demon, Cay's dad is a werewolf, and Elgar is a talking cat. Because the characters are unique, they create suspense, which makes the book more enjoyable. In addition, the author, Hilton Pashley's, style of writing keeps the story fascinating because he switches between from the townsfolk's' point of view and the devils' point of view. He also wrote in third person omniscient. These characteristics produce excitement throughout the story by letting the reader know what both the villagers are doing and thinking and what Belial is doing to shatter their plans. I recommend this book to everyone who is 8-11 years old because there are both boy and girl characters in the story and Gabriel's Clock. is an easy read.

In conclusion, Gabriel's Clock by Hilton Pashley is a compelling read filled with dramatic events. Wait a minute-is that a demon? AH!

Review written by Madison (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of Gabriel's Clock for this review.

Have you read Gabriel's Clock? How would you rate it?

Review: The Monster's Ring by Bruce Coville

The Monster's Ring by Bruce Coville. A Magic Shop Book.

Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publication Date: October 2008
List Price: $6.99
ISBN-13: 9780152064426

Review: If you're looking for a book that middle school kids would enjoy then The Monster's Ring by Bruce Conville is the perfect book. This book has suspense, action, and mystery. This one of the books in the Magic Shop Book series. There are four books in this series.

In The Monster's Ring there is a fifth grade boy named Russell who gets bullied a lot by another fifth grader named Eddie. Russell finds this magic shop and is given a magic ring with a monster engraved into the stone. He reads the directions but not carefully and gets himself into a lot of trouble. Then he does the same thing again but something worse happens. He does it a third time and thinks he can't go back to normal. With the ring rats told him to go back to the magic shop and he told him to stay over night and when he woke up it was gone. And with the bullying he scared the bully and he did not bully him again.

I liked a lot of things in this book like how it was about a boy changing into three different monsters, and that how tried to resolve his problems on his own if he didn't need help. The thing I didn't like was that they portrayed the principal as a very bad man yet he wasn't that bad he was just doing his job. People should read this book because it has a lot of mystery and that people that are into mythical creatures would like how he changes from creature to creature with each twist of the ring. A boy or a girl would like this book because it is not really about one or the other it is basically just about how he resolves all of his problems and how he changes back into normal Russell. So if you like mythical creatures this book is the perfect fit.

Review written by Kerstin (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of The Monster's Ring for this review.

Have you read The Monster's Ring? How would you rate it?

Review: The Trouble With Magic by Ruth Chew

The Trouble With Magic by Ruth Chew. A Matter-of-Fact Magic Book.

Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: January 2014
List Price: $15.99
ISBN-13: 9780449813799

Review: Have you ever wondered what would happen if you opened a bottle, a wizard would come out instead of a genie? Could there be bad wizards that can't get rid of roses in your room or even a forest. Well, in The Trouble With Magic by Ruth Chew, a wizard named Harrison Peabody is a bad wizard. Not evil, but cannot undo things that he has created. Harry has an umbrella that gives him the magic. The kids Barbara and Rick are on a mission to find out how to undo the magic by finding his umbrella.

In The Trouble With Magic, Barbara and Rick need to find Harry's umbrella to make him happy again. Harry has lost his umbrella that gives him the magic when they all had gone to the park to have a picnic. While they were there they saw something in the water. That something was Harry's friend George that was a sea serpent. This story was fun and filled with adventure. Barbara and Rick go on the mission and find that umbrella. They make Harry happy again. Harry finally gets the umbrella and fixes the made with the magic that he created.

The Trouble With Magic is very entertaining. It is a fantasy book with wizards and sea serpents. This book has adventurous characters (Barbara and Rick) that will do anything to help someone in need (Harrison Peabody the wizard). The story focuses on the need to help. The author wants the people reading this book to imagine themselves in the book and play the role of the main character. This is a good book for kids 8-10 years of age because the book has mostly easy vocabulary and it's not that long. Trouble with magic would be perfect for kids to teach them to never give up. Barbara and Rick don't give up on finding the umbrella and finally do. The plot is original It was fun to read. The Trouble With Magic has strong details and very descriptive writing. This is one of the many books that Ruth Chew has written. So, do you want to know if Rick and Barbara find Harry's umbrella and make him happy again? Then read The Trouble With Magic By Ruth Chew.

Review written by Devanshi (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of The Trouble With Magic for this review.

Have you read The Trouble With Magic? How would you rate it?

Review: The Skull of Truth by Bruce Coville

The Skull of Truth by Bruce Coville. A Magic Shop Book.

Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publication Date: May 2007
List Price: $6.99
ISBN-13: 9780152060848

Review: Are you looking for the creepiest, yet most interesting book in town? If you are interested in reading a book that will take you on an adventure, you will love The Skull of Truth by Coville. In The Skull of Truth, Charlie has taken something that he will never forget. This is one of several books in the series.

In The Skull of Truth, Charlie is forced to take the skull of the truth. Now that he has stolen it, he has to keep it until Mr. Elives, the shopkeeper, returns to give it back. Everyone knows that Charlie lies a lot, but now that the skull is here, things have changed. Now that he possesses the skull, he must always tell the truth. In the process Charlie loses some friends, but in the end he regains them and even makes more! I've said too much; if you want more, you'll just have to read the book.

The Skull of Truth is really fun, and it is an adventurous book to read. It is exciting and mysterious at the same time. The book kept me on my toes too. Whenever I had free time, I wanted to read that book. I was anxiously waiting to find out what would next. The author ends the chapters very nicely just in the right place. For example, at the end of the book, when Charlie has to return the skull to Mr. Elives, the chapter ends right before he decides what he is going to do. I recommend this book to third-sixth graders. This is because the concept might be too hard to grasp for a younger age group, and might be too easy for an older age group. This book is wonderful, adventurous, and eerie in all the best ways!

Review written by Annika (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of The Skull of Truth for this review.

Have you read The Skull of Truth? How would you rate it?

Review: How to Slay a Werewolf: And Definitely Live to Tell the Tale by Martin Howard

How to Slay a Werewolf: And Definitely Live to Tell the Tale by Martin Howard. A Professor Van Helsing Guide.

Ticktock Publishing
Publication Date: November 2014
List Price: $6.99
ISBN-13: 9781783251131

Review: Have you ever wondered what it takes to slay a werewolf? If you have, then the book How to Slay a Werewolf is the book for you. It goes beyond the basics of slaying a werewolf. In How to Slay a Werewolf Professor Van Helsing doesn't just teach readers how to slay a werewolf, you'll also learn amazing tips and tricks of how to spot a werewolf, what their weaknesses are, what exactly is a werewolf, the transformation of a human to a werewolf, and much more! Get prepared to face the dangers of coming face to face with a werewolf. Learn the do's and don'ts of slaying a werewolf for the first time. Know what weapons do the most damage when slaying a werewolf.

If you're really interested in slaying werewolves then How to Slay a Werewolf by Ticktock is the best fit for you! I would recommend this book to reader's ages 8-10 because of the length, word choice, and low violence/gore used in this book. This book goes beyond standards to give you great details and facts on how to slay werewolves. Young readers will have a fun time reading this informational book on slaying werewolves. Check out How to Slay a Werewolf today!

Review written by Christian (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Ticktock for providing a copy of How to Slay a Werewolf: And Definitely Live to Tell the Tale for this review.

Have you read How to Slay a Werewolf: And Definitely Live to Tell the Tale? How would you rate it?

Review: Dead River by Cyn Balog

Dead River by Cyn Balog.

Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: April 2013
List Price: $17.99
ISBN-13: 9780385741583

Review: We were spending a weekend on the DeadÉThe Dead River, I thought it was going to be just usÉ I was wrong." This was the hook that brought me to this book. Once I read this short little sentence, no other book got in the way. Cyn Balog has written other books, however this book is not in a series. All though I personally wish it was; I just want more to happen to Kiandra, who used to be a normal 17-year-old girl.

The book takes us through what seemed like an ordinary 17-year-old New Jersey girl's life, a girl who wants to go to prom with her boyfriend Justin. The reader learns that she actually wanted to the Dead River with three of her friends. It all starts as a normal weekend, then her boyfriend drops a bomb shell on her---"I kissed her, I kissed Angela" (Kiandra's, "best" friend) "What" I say, "he doesn't repeat it, he doesn't have to." Well that sets her off, and she runs out of the door. When she finally comes back, it is very, very late; Justin and Angela start to worry. Kiandra steps into the room, but for some reason the two don't notice her. Kiandra screams and screams at them, but they don't hear her. Finally, Angela stands and walks toward her, walks right through her. "I was freaking out. What just happened to me!"

We break out the woods, near the service entry to the building. I'm about to say that this looks like a good place to dump the body when a voice calls, "Stop!"É I have one word for Cyn Balog's Dead River, AMAZING! It is exceptional! I am surprised how much I like this story, because, in my opinion, it is a little boring in the beginning, the reason being that it is just about prom. Then, on their vacation weekend, the action starts to pick up. Kids and ten and older, boys and girls should really read this book. I am thinking this way because, in the beginning of the book it's all about prom and girls would generally enjoy that part. I believe boys would I hope really enjoy the rest of the book, it would probably be way too scary for kids under that age group, but a thrilling book for people ten and older. Some reasons for my thinking are the book mentions evil sprits and ghosts. Now I am sure that is fine with the target audience, but for little kids that might be too scary. In my opinion this book deserves a five star rating for an excellent story line, plot, characters, and fright. Overall, this is an extraordinary book written by a talented author. Most importantly, readers will want to find out what happens on the Dead River!

Review written by Jake (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Dead River for this review.

Have you read Dead River? How would you rate it?

Review: Poison Tree by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Poison Tree by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes.

Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: July 2012
List Price: $15.99
ISBN-13: 9780385737548

Review: Do you love supernatural, blood curdling, suspenseful stories about vampires and shapeshifters? Then you have to read Poison Tree by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. Sarik, a normal girl who's dad wanted her to become someone she's not is living her own life in fear. A stranger, Alysia, who can't be the person she is trying to be, tries to tell herself that she has to put her job behind her. Alysia has always tried to call herself something more than a mortal.Both Sarik and Alysia must handle the situation and decide what price must be paid about what happened on a stormy night.

Throughout the whole book, Sarik and Alysia both face their own problems. For Sarik, being a shapeshifter can't be easy. She sees her own sister get killed right in front of her and then watches her dead human body just lay there hopelessly. A few other characters pop up throughout the book and tell their stories. Alysia even gets back in touch with an old friend, Christian, who tries to help her with her problems. At the end of the book Sarik also runs into someone familiar. You'll just have to read and find out what happens!

Poison Tree is not my favorite book, but I liked it. I thought the book was a little slow for me but it does keep the suspense flowing. If you are like me and read a lot of supernatural type books, then it may interest you. This book is appropriate for kids ages 11+ because It describes very graphic scenes and has mild language. Some people may be able to relate to this book because the main characters face their own personal problems. I give this book 3.5 stars out of 5, because like I said, I thought it was a little slow but still likeable. All in all, Poison Tree is an enjoyable book and I think many people will enjoy it. Go grab a copy today!

Review written by Morgan (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Poison Tree for this review.

Have you read Poison Tree? How would you rate it?

Review: Unforsaken by Sophie Littlefield

Unforsaken by Sophie Littlefield. The Companion Novel to Banished.

Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 2011
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780385738545

Review: A girl who can make zombies is not a person who you would think to be average. The book Unforsaken by Sophie Littlefield is a sequel to the book Banished. The author of this series is one of the best. She has the capability to stay on task while getting off task. Having characters in a book with a comedic dialogue always adds humor to the book, but they also help by giving supporting detail.

Hailey Tarbell is a typical sixteen year-old girl, if typical included healing powers to make zombies. Healing is one of the talents that Hailey had; she can heal anyone from damage as long as it wasn't too late. Hailey is one of those who were a descendant of the Banished, a group of ancients who had powers that weren't known to the world. Hailey, for once, can have a chance to actually have a normal life. She has gone through the worst and is now with her Aunt Prairie and her little brother, Chub. She also had a secret boyfriend, one who lived in Chicago named Kaz who is also among the Banished, pretty far away from Milwaukee. One day when Hailey went to go pick up Chub from his daycare, he was kidnapped. She goes to find her aunt and see if she knows where he is, but she is gone to. Will she ever find out what happened to her family? Is her family even alive? Thoughts are racing through her head; she knows she is running out of time. She looks at her comfortable house, and then to the open road which didn't put her mind at ease. Her mind is going to erupt with the thoughts going through her head. She knew there was only one way to find out if they were alive, and so, the clock started ticking.

I personally love Unforsaken. It is a book that can be described as a drama. This book involves a lot of critical events that when you are reading, has much suspense. This was a book that I picked up and never put it back down. The only part about these books is that it should be read in a series. I started with the second book and got slightly confused so I had to go back to the first book but once you know background detail, you can understand a lot more. This is a book I personally enjoy reading, and it is one that I keep on my bookshelf.

Review written by Max (7th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Unforsaken for this review.

Have you read Unforsaken? How would you rate it?

Review: The Girl Behind the Glass by Jane Kelley

The Girl Behind the Glass by Jane Kelley.

Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 2011
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780375862205

Review: Would you like to move out of your house? Your neighborhood? To a house that is haunted? This is what happened to 11 year old twins, Hannah and Anna in Jane Kelley's The Girl Behind the Glass. They have to move from Brooklyn, to a house on Hemlock Road because their older sister doesn't get into a decent private school. Now their life is going to go through some major changes that they are not ready for.

Hannah and Anna move to a house they are renting until the house they bought is ready. There are bats in the attic, mysterious winds, and a haunted closet. The twins want to use the houses' mysterious qualities against Selena, their older sister. But Selena and Anna start to adjust where Hannah does not. Hannah hears and sees strange things. Why is she the one that hears and sees all of these haunted and mysterious occurrences? Their mother considered them to be one person because they were so much alike and called them "HannahAnna." Hannah and Anna start to realize they are not one person, but two separate people. With all the noises and strange occurrences you start to try and figure out is someone or something trying to separate them and why.

While reading The Girl Behind the Glass by Jane Kelley, readers get involved with trying to figure out who is this ghost and why is this happening. Readers also are trying to gain an understanding about what families experience when life doesn't go the way they have planned. I would suggest this book to read as it is a book that always keeps readers wondering and interested because there are surprises in every chapter. I was interested in trying to figure out who the narrator is in the story. I think people from the age of 10 - 13 would enjoy this book. I rate this a 5 out of 5.

Review written by Cesco (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of The Girl Behind the Glass for this review.

Have you read The Girl Behind the Glass? How would you rate it?

Review: Dead Rules by Randy Russell

Dead Rules by Randy Russell.

HarperCollins Children's Books
Publication Date: June 2011
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780061986703

Review: Imagine dying during a freak accident and then finding yourself walking and talking at a school, with other people around you. Jana Webster, of Webster and Haynes, is 16 years old and has died in a bowling accident. But instead of going to heaven like she has always imagined, she wakes up in a school bus, in strange clothes with strange people around her. Dead Rules by Randy Russel tells the story of what Jana Webster is willing to do to get her true love, Michael, back. She would kill (literally) to have him.

The story begins with Jana waking up on the school bus. She doesn't know where she is, who she is with, or where she is going. All she knows is she wants back is her beloved Michael. He is the one she was destined to be with, that much she is sure of. But the longer she is at the horrible Dead School, the more she begins to fall in love with the forbidden slider, Mars. Jana tries to be reunited with Michael but none of her schemes seem to work. So out of depression Jana tries to KILL Michael so they will be reunited. Little does Jana know that Michael has moved on and although Jana doesn't want to admit it, she herself has moved on too.

Dead Rules by Randy Russel is a wonderful book that is perfect for middle school and high school students that shows what some people are willing to do for their loved ones. For me the book was amazing. It started off at a good pace but got a little slow towards the middle but the pace was brought back up towards the end. Something exciting was almost always having and the book is a little suspenseful and left the reader anxious to look ahead. Dead Rules is very creative and full of laughs. The characters go well together and compliment each other's personalities. I give the book four stars out of five and would recommend it to everyone!

Review written by Samantha (6th grade student).

We would like to thank JKSCommunications for providing a copy of Dead Rules for this review.

Have you read Dead Rules? How would you rate it?

Review: Spirit Storm by E.J. Stevens

Spirit Storm by E.J. Stevens. A Spirit Guide Novel.

Sacred Oaks Press
Publication Date: January 2011
List Price: $12.99
ISBN-13: 9780984247530

Review: You think your life is falling apart? Well, Yuki has a pretty normal life, other than the fact that She Smells the Dead. Sequel of She Smells the Dead, Spirit Storm, a Spirit Guide Novel, is written by E. J. Stevens. Yuki is happy with her best friend Emma and her boyfriend Calvin (Cal), but what is the fate of the people she loves?

Not many people know that Yuki smells impressions of the dead, other Emma and Cal. Also, it isn't a very well-known fact that Cal is a werewolf. Only Yuki, Emma, and Simon, and older werewolf in the wolf pack, know of Cal's werewolf spirit and him being the pack alpha. But when Yuki, Cal, and Simon go to save Sam, another werewolf (held captive in a dark cave), Cal gets seriously injured. Only good medical care and Yuki can help him. How? When Yuki dances, she can get in touch with Cal's inner wolf spirit. Will Yuki be able to awaken Cal, or will he lie in his cabin bed until the worst happens? On top of it all, on Samhain (Halloween) the spirits will awaken. How will Yuki survive the attacking smell of so many spirits? Will she survive the smell?

I absolutely love Spirit Storm for so many reasons! First of all, it has a fast-paced plot. It keeps going, and doesn't stop when a solution doesn't come immediately. The characters are well-developed and very essential to the plot. Spirit Storm is a fantasy realistic-fiction, and contains werewolves and smelly spirits. Yuki's sleuthing skills to solve her Samhain problems are very detective-like. It would be best to read She Smells the Dead (1st Spirit Guide Novel) to best understand Spirit Storm, including the characters and the basic plot itself. I think it is very interesting how there is fantasy, adventure, and romance all combined in one novel. It is quite original how there is a significant, yet small part in werewolves and spirits. Though the book is based on werewolves and spirits, E. J. Stevens also incorporated some high school adventures. There is also the adventure of rescuing Sam, and Cal and Yuki's romance. If you like these combinations of genres, I suggest you read this book. I rate Spirit Storm a 5 out of 5.

Review written by Sahaj (6th grade student).

We would like to thank E.J. Stevens for providing a copy of Spirit Storm for this review.

Have you read Spirit Storm? How would you rate it?

Review: She Smells the Dead by E.J. Stevens

She Smells the Dead by E.J. Stevens. Spirit Guide.

Sacred Oaks Press
Publication Date: August 2010
List Price: $9.99
ISBN-13: 9780984247523

Review: DEATH. That's all she smells. It changes all the time, from bunt brownies to a pungent vinegar smell; she smells it all. Yuki is a girl with a very odd and exquisite talent…she can smell the dead. She Smells The Dead by E.J. Stevens is a beginning, kind of like it's filling you in and preparing you for the series, to her whole collection based on Yuki's tales. The first book of the series A Spirit Guide is Spirit Storm. This book is about, yes; a girl who has a sixth sense for paranormal activity, but it doesn't get too into the creepy stuff. Like, there's no possession of souls or anything, it's just based on Yuki trying to help the lost souls find the light.

The main character is Yuki, (formally known as Vanessa, but swapped to Yuki after joining anime club), and her best friends Emma and Calvin, (Cal). Yuki is Goth, (very), and is known as "The Witch" at her high school. Not very popular but true to herself, Yuki keeps her own way and still achieves being admired by those she knows best. The story begins with Yuki smelling this very strong disgusting vinegar smell. She knows it must have something to do with the dead, since she's dealt with it before, but she needs to know how to get rid of it. She learns from Emma, The Research Queen, that the smell of vinegar is related to Mr. Green. Mr. Green owned a vinegar company and had died recently. His wife, Grace, is the only Green member left since her sons have all been killed in a boating accident recently, the same time as Mr. Green. Cal, Emma, and Yuki all set off to learn who killed Mr. Green. Was it his wife, his children, or himself? Yuki finds out that Cal (whom she had recently started to date a week or so before) is a werewolf. He is meant to be her protector from all of the dangers of the spirits trying to find their way into the light, because as the second book says, Let the spirits guide you, but never let them take you. Cal's inner animal is a wolf, and Yuki's is a scarab (a sacred dung beetle), and Cal's wolf is meant to protect her. But Cal's life is in grave danger at the Homecoming Dance, when it's a full moon and his wolf spirit is awakened. People may see him, and he isn't fully trained yet to control himself. The spirits are awakening, faster than ever before, and Cal may not be able to protect Yuki. It will take true courage for Yuki and Cal to train together to go against the spirits…but will Yuki be able to save Cal? Or even herself?

Basically, I see E.J. Stevens as a great writer. She writes deep, dark, mystical poetry on the spirits of the dead but doesn't include a dark side to her book. It contains some info on the spirits, but it has humor as well. I at first thought it would be all about how the spirits were entrancing Yuki's mind with scents and were going to imprison her through her nose, but they didn't. I judged a book by its cover, (which was why I judged it, if you can tell. She's frowning at the camera in her Homecoming dress with locks of hair sticks out while her eye shadow runs to her cheekbones…a fact I learned later was because of an incident at Homecoming). The book was nothing like its cover and I thought it would be considered a paranormal comedy. The book is written about werewolves as well, I found the two together were perfect…(mostly because the Twilight thing was getting old and this was a new type of fictional couple). All in all, Stevens did a great job. Yuki can't be considered the Goth type of person who goes around hating the world…she is energetic, fun, and exciting. I found her seeming more like Emma, who is the EXACT opposite of Goth. Kids can easily read this book maybe at the age of eight or nine, because really, it's not scary at all. That's what makes it so awesome, because I personally cannot stand to read scary books because it makes me say to myself, Alright, that's definitely NOT one I'm going to read again. NO WAY and I writing a review on that thing! But I didn't say that about this one, because honestly, it was totally, amazingly, awesome!

Review written by Amber (6th grade student).

We would like to thank E.J. Stevens for providing a copy of She Smells the Dead for this review.

Have you read She Smells the Dead? How would you rate it?

Book Review: The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

The Dead-Tossed Waves
by Carrie Ryan
Sequel to The Forest of Hands and Teeth

Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-385-73684-3
ISBN-13: 978-0-385-73684-8
Publication Date: March, 2010
List Price: $17.99

Review: Tragedy, romance, and a great plotline. Do you love all these great characteristics in a book? Of course! Then you should read The Dead-Tossed Waves, a sequel to The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. It’s a great book about friendship, and the importance of never abandoning friends- even in hard times.

The book starts off with a girl named Gabry, whose best friends Cira and Catcher want her to come with them out past the Barrier that separates the town of Vista (where they live) and the forest. Gabry knows this is dangerous, because Mudo (zombie-like creatures) wander the forest to look for humans to bite, and therefore Infect. When someone is bitten by a Mudo, they become Mudo. Gabry is anxious, but instead crosses the Barrier with her friends and others to an old amusement park. They turn around, and see a Mudo-like Breaker stagger into the clearing. Catcher tells Gabry to run, but she sees an Infected lurching over to her. Catcher saves her, but is bitten. He forces her to go back home before she's hurt. The next day Gabry tries to find Catcher; she travels past the Barrier on the beach and meets Elias, a boy who she later finds out is in a mysterious cult that worships Mudo, and when she finally finds Catcher, he tells her he is immune to Mudo. A few days later, Gabry must enlist the help of Catcher and Elias to find her mom who has disappeared. Gabry, Catcher and Elias traverse to find her, and when they finally do, her mother tells a tale of Gabry's mysterious young years. Trying to experience more than the world they already know, they come across Mudo, foreign strangers, and a heartbreaking love triangle that revolves around them.

The Dead-Tossed Waves is a great book filled with apprehension and pauses in the storyline. I personally thought it was an amazing page-turner suspense thriller that I couldn't put down until you read through it all (which is what I did in one night!). I liked that some parts left the reader hanging, like the time in between when she was at home and visiting Catcher. The author also threw in a lot of twists, like Gabry meeting Elias, Catcher's immunity, and other things. It was also really helpful that the author explained the Mudo, Infected , and Breakers, because I didn't read the first book, The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Otherwise, I wouldn't have understood the concepts very well. Also, I liked how she made Catcher be immune to Mudo bites, because I liked his character. In the beginning, I thought Catcher was really brave and it hadn't changed by the end of the story. In addition, I LOVED Gabry's 'hush-hush' past, because it totally changed the story and made it infinitely more interesting because Elias is wrapped up in it all. One last thing I liked was that Gabry was daring, brave, and willing to break the rules for her best friend Cira when Gabry looks for Catcher in the old run-down town. Some things I found unnecessary were all the blood, and violence at some points. I also disliked how the author made Gabry's mom seem so irresponsible, the way she just left Gabry all alone to take care of herself and the lighthouse. Nonetheless, all in all, The Dead-Tossed Waves is an amazing book. I can't tell you any more, but if you like how it sounds, read it! I can guarantee that you will love it.

Review written by Emily (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of The Dead-Tossed Waves for this review.

Have you read The Dead-Tossed Waves? How would you rate it?

Book Review: I Kissed a Zombie, and I Liked It by Adam Selzer

I Kissed a Zombie, and I Liked It
by Adam Selzer
Non-series

Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-385-73503-0
ISBN-13: 978-0-385-73503-2
Publication Date: January, 2010
List Price: $7.99

Review: Do you like zombies and werewolves and vampires and romance? That is what you get in the book I kissed a Zombie and I Liked It by Adam Selzer. In this story Algonquin “Ali” Rhodes doesn’t live your typical human life. She is the newspaper music critic in her high school. In her town, Cornersville, zombies and vampires go to school with her. Unlike other teenage girls Ali does not like the vampires and zombies at her school. While on an interview Ali meets Doug, a singer in a band. Ali falls for Doug and starts dating him, but what she didn’t know is that Doug isn’t the guy she thinks he is.

This book foreshadows future events at certain times. Every time this happens you are on the edge of your seat wondering what’s going to happen. You keep on reading because you want to find out what’s going to happen. Ali is different type of girl. She isn’t the type of girl that does everything everybody else does. She does and likes her own things. She doesn’t care if people think she is dumb or weird for not liking vampires and zombies. If Ali had the choice she would have all the zombies and vampires gone. There is also romance in this book. The zombies in this book are considered to be the emo type. Most of the girls fall for that. Ali is pretty much the only one that doesn’t like the emo zombies. Living creatures and dead creatures are mixed and living in the same world of high school. The teachers are afraid to tell the zombies and vampires to stop doing all the bad things that they do in school. There is only one strict teacher in the school named Mrs. Smollet. She is also a vampire. Mrs. Smollet is the only teacher that everybody listens to, both the dead and living.

I give this book 11 out of 10 stars for its romance and suspense. Do you want to know what happens with Ali and Doug? Does she keep seeing him after she find out who he really is? Read the book to find out.

Review written by Abby (7th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of I Kissed a Zombie, and I Liked It for this review.

Have you read I Kissed a Zombie, and I Liked It? How would you rate it?

Book Review: I So Don't Do Spooky by Barrie Summy

I So Don't Do Spooky
by Barrie Summy
Sherry Holmes Baldwin

Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-385-73604-5
ISBN-13: 978-0-385-73604-6
Publication Date: December, 2009
List Price: $19.99

Review: As Sherry Holmes Baldwin (age 13) tries to balance the 7th grade, her boyfriend Josh, her best friend Junie, and a new step-mom, things start to get out of control. Since her mom had recently died, Sherry’s new mother is her language arts teacher, Paula, (a.k.a. the Ruler). But Sherry’s ghost mother gets enrolled into the Ghost Academy, and starts to compete in the Ghostlympics. The Ghostlympics are special events hosted by the Ghost Academy, such as lifting objects and animal control, for ghosts. The grand- prize is 5 minutes of Real Time, where a ghost can interact with a family member for 5 minutes, but the mortal will not remember any of it afterwards. Suddenly, weird things start to happen to the Ruler. Her keys show up in odd places, and her tires get slashed in mid-day with one of her own knives which were in the kitchen. Then, in the Robotics Practice Competition, the Donner Dynamo’s robot seems to be better than usual, in fact too good than it could have been before. The Ghost Academy asks for Sherry’s help on finding the Ruler’s stalker, which turns out to be a ghost as well. Will Sherry be able to stop him/her before he/she hurts one of Sherry’s loved ones? Find out in I So Don’t Do Spooky, by Barrie Summy.

I found this book to be fantastic! It put together the fantasy of ghosts along with the realistic life of a teenage girl to create an awesome clash of literature. Honestly, this book deserves a 5/5 star rating. It kept me on edge every chapter and kept me begging for more. I felt part of the story, as if I were at a movie and watching the scenes full screen in my head. Also, I was more interested in the story because ghosts are a topic I find to be eccentric and unexplainable. I was proud to own this book, because it is a story worth reading over and over and over again. I hope you feel the same way too. I’d like to give thanks to the author for creating an amazing book that continues to awe me to this day. I So Don’t Do Spooky is possibly one of the best books I have ever read.

Review written by Lynnea (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of I So Don't Do Spooky for this review.

Have you read I So Don't Do Spooky? How would you rate it?

Book Review: Ghost in the Machine by Patrick Carman

Ghost in the Machine
by Patrick Carman
Skeleton Creek

Scholastic
ISBN-10: 0-54507-570-X
ISBN-13: 978-0-54507-570-1
Publication Date: October, 2009
List Price: $14.99

Review: Do you enjoy ghost stories? The Internet? Reading from a journal? Join Sarah Fincher and Ryan McCray on the adventure of a lifetime. Skeleton Creek is the journal of Ryan, who writes down everything he find out about his seemingly dull life, until they explore dredge, and discover it’s haunted. Have you read Skeleton Creek? Then Skeleton Creek, Book Two: The Ghost in the Machine, is the book for you. It sounds like a really thick book, but honestly it’s not. Do you want to know why? You need a computer to understand the full story. This is considered a multimedia story. Every 40 pages or so, you just hop on the computer when Ryan tells you to and use the password (the website is Sarahfincher.com). Ryan McCray and Sarah Fincher are on the brink of finding out the secret of dredge asset #42, Old Joe Bush, and the Crossbones. Ryan is almost ready to go back to school. The videos get scarier. And, you may just find a few surprises while you read.

Drudge asset #42 is haunted, presumably the ghost of Old Joe Bush, and nobody believes Sarah or Ryan about it. And it doesn't help that Ryan's parents banned him from seeing Sarah ever again. The one bad thing about Sarah is that she doesn't take “no” for an answer. Ryan starts to freak himself out. We wakes up one night to find that he had written “Don't make me come looking for you” on the wall above his bed. And what does he conclude?... its Old Joe Bush. Sarah's videos get creepier, Ryan's journal gets harder and harder to stop reading, and the stakes get higher. While Ryan has to help Sarah and discover things for her while his mother and father check his computer, and Ryan can't walk with a broken leg, let alone go meet up with Sarah. Follow these two in the second book in the Skeleton Creek series the Ghost in the Machine.

Patrick Carman has a unique way of doing things, and frankly, many readers enjoy it. Instead of a simple paper book, he decided to add some technology into it. Carman has written a delightfully terrifying story, and everybody I've spoken to about it seems to have loved it. It gives you quite a fright, but this book may make you a bit paranoid, like it did to me. I wish I could give it more stars, but I'm only allowed 5, so he deserves all of the 5. There is one thing I would like to point out, though. If anyone is without a computer, they only get to experience about half of the story, and anything Ryan tells them from the video. The best thing to enhance this story had been the scenery. Nice, little town in the middle of nowhere, nothing ever really bothered it, then Ryan and Sarah, two innocent kids, go and find out that the smallest little town on the face of the US, has the biggest secret they could imagine. Ryan especially gets more and more worried (or you could call it paranoid) and freaks out at the smallest things. All in all, this story has been very enjoyable, but I don't want to spoil anything for those who want to read the book for themselves.

Review written by Willow (6th grade student).

We would like to thank The Mehta Family for providing a copy of Ghost in the Machine for this review.

Have you read Ghost in the Machine? How would you rate it?

Book Review: Fallen by Lauren Kate

Fallen
by Lauren Kate
The Fallen Series

Delacorte Press
ISBN-10: 0-385-73893-5
ISBN-13: 978-0-385-73893-4
Publication Date: December, 2009
List Price: $17.99

Review: Imagine a world where everything is new, bewildering, and terrifying, but deep inside, everything is eerily familiar. This is the world of Lucinda Price, the heroine in Lauren Kate’s Fallen – the first book in a four part series. In a time when vampires are flooding the market, Lauren Kate takes her new series in a refreshing direction – fallen angels. Lucinda, a 17 year old girl who is haunted by shadows and the uncertainty surrounding her involvement in the death of her boyfriend, is sent to Sword & Cross Reform School where she is to make amends with her life and somehow find a way to be a “normal” girl. But, instead of reform, Luce is thrust into a world in which she questions her sanity even more strongly! Only one person is able to make sense of Luce’s life, but that person is Luce’s greatest mystery.

Fallen begins in 1854 England with a young artist and an irresistible maiden. When the artist finally succumbs to his love for the young girl, he embraces her knowing that his affection will lead to her being swept from the earth by shadows. 150 years later, Lucinda Price begins her schooling at Sword & Cross in Georgia. When she must give up every privilege, including her privacy, upon entrance to the school, Luce realizes how different her life will be compared to her New England private school prior to “the accident.” Luce is greeted by some of the most colorful and unfriendly characters, but slowly begins to assimilate to reform school life. It doesn’t take long for her to meet HIM – Daniel Gregori. Daniel’s first greeting to her is an unsightly hand gesture, but nonetheless, Luce is completely taken in by Daniel. She can think of nothing else, that is until Cam enters the scene. Soon, Luce finds herself in a love triangle of epic proportions. But, what draws her so strongly to a boy that does everything to ignore her, and how can she explain this to Cam, a boy with more charm in his little finger than anyone Luce has ever met before? And, what makes everything so much more unsettling is the feeling that she’s done this all before.

Fallen is a fast-paced suspense novel packed with just the right kind of romance to keep readers coming back for more. Lucinda Price is a perfect heroine. She’s beautiful, intelligent, and daring with just enough innocence for her to connect with readers. Daniel’s handsome features, aloofness, and hint of mystery make him irresistible. Time and time again, writers have proven success with lovers that can never be together, and Luce and Daniel are no different. “’You mean there are things more important than this?’ she challenged, taking his hands and drawing them to her heart. Oh to be her and not know what was coming! Or at least to be stronger than he was and be able to stop her. If he didn’t stop her, she would never learn, and the past would only repeat itself, torturing them both again and again.” Lauren Kate wisely leaves many unanswered questions in Fallen which will certainly be answered as the series progresses. Fallen, as a first book, is well-written and engaging leaving the reader waiting for more. It might need a little more “bite” in the next installment to hope to rival books like the Twilight series, but with characters as well-developed as Luce and Daniel, and an antagonist who readers love to hate; Lauren Kate is on the right track. As the series continues, the epic battle between heaven and hell will undoubtedly leave readers questioning their very existence. Move over vampires – angels are here to stay!

Lauren Kate’s second book in the series, Torment, is expected to be released in October 2010.

Review written by Margo Nauert (6th grade teacher).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Fallen for this review.

Have you read Fallen? How would you rate it?