Reviews (74)

Good for a laugh
After reading this book, I decided to look at the reviews to see what people had to say about it. I expected to find some funny insults and maybe some inconsistencies that I hadn't caught while reading it. I was wrong. I found mostly reviews written by 10 year olds and reviews that were obviously written by english teachers. I'm only going to say it this bluntly once, listen up:
I tried hard to like this book...
I really tried to like this book because I enjoyed "Tears of a Tiger."The author once again used dialogue to convey her story, but this time moreso in a journal/chatroom session instead of conversation.Some people hate that type of thing, but I'm such a big fan of dialogue that I like it.But this story was utterly corny and it may have been somewhat my fault.I knew that the story was somewhat like Romeo and Juliet and I hated that story too.But I was hoping that Draper was going to put some edge on it, by adding gangs, interracial relationships, an urban setting, and a guy with multicolor hair.
Disappointed
While reading "Romiette and Julio" you will meet Julio Montague and Romiette Cappelle.Two young teens who are desperately seeking companionship and love. Throughout the story you will follow the path of these two teens and the issues they are having with gangs at school. This is a heartwarming story in which friends work together to get through hard times.
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Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    3. Juvenile Fiction    4. Love & Romance    5. School & Education    6. Social Issues - Dating & Sex    7. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    8. Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism    9. Social Situations - Prejudice & Racism    10. Juvenile Nonfiction / Social Situations / Dating & Sex   

Reviews (17)

The Best American Novel.
I love this dogs spirit. Two primary themes are present. A dogs struggle for survival, and man's yearning for adventure. This is an adventure story about the transformation of one of mans best freinds. Buck is a gritty and dignified dog. He led a lavish life at judge Miller's estate in the Santa Clara valley California. Then one day he is kidnapped for money and sold to traders as a sled dog, during the gold rush. He endures men's cruelty and fights for his life with other dogs. He eventually slays the lead dog and takes his place. Chapters 5-7 are worth reading several times. In 5, a civilized miner John Thornton saves Buck and their relationship grows. Chapter 7 I won't reveal. Just read this book, I promise you will love it.

Recommended
I read this as a book on tape.I had heard about this book for years as "a classic" but never could get up enough interest to actually read it.When I got it as a book on tape I could read it in my car or while laying down relaxing at home.I found that it IS a "good book" and is worthy of it's stature as "a classic".Recommended.Email:boland7214@aol.

The Law of Club and Fang
Call of the Wild is an extraordinary book by Jack London. In this book, you follow a dog named Buck. Buck has a good life with his owner, Judge Miller, and lives in Santa Clara Valley, California. But one day, when no one is home, the gardener kidnaps Buck and he is sold again and again across the United States and Canada, all the way to a Klondike region of Canada, where a gold rush is going on. Buck is forced to pull sleds with other dogs, and finds that it is a dog-eat-dog world, literally, and that the only way to survive is to get to the top. But many obstacles get in his way, including a dog named Spitz. Buck's primal instincts come back to him, changing his personality along the way. Jack London does a great job of showing how different your personality can change depending on the situation. I find that this is a very important thing to know and that he shows it very well. This book really made me think, probably due to all of the intense scenes in this book. If you like dogs, action, or Jack London, I definetly recommend this intense book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Literature - Classics / Contemporary    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    4. Classics    5. Dogs    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Wolves    9. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (1)

Briana's Gift
Thirteen-year-old Susanna (Sissy to her family) hasn't had much luck with the month of December. When she was six, her dad died in a horrible accident at work. At eight, her mother was diagnosed with a debilitating arthritis. And most recently, her spirited older sister, Briana, decides to run off to Los Angeles with her boyfriend. So this year's December is a depressing one as well. Briana sends postcards at first, but all too soon, there's no word at all. Sissy depends on her best friends, Melody and Stu, to help her through the lonely days of missing her sister, and practicing her flute helps pass the time as well. Somehow, life goes on.
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Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    2. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Death    5. Family - General    6. Family - New Baby    7. Family - Siblings    8. Fiction    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Pregnancy    11. Sisters    12. Social Issues - Death & Dying    13. Social Issues - General    14. Juvenile Fiction / Family / General   

Reviews (40)

Parents BEWARE!Lots of sexual content.
These books are touted as "teen" books, but are highly sexual and completely inappropriate for young people.I read one just to keep up with what my 13-year-old stepdaughter is reading and could not believe that her mother allows her to read this trash.Passages where teens are kissing, then "moaning", then "moving on top of her" are common.This is adult material, not suitable for teens.

A-List #3: Blonde Ambition
Once again, I am addicted to the A-List novels. I started reading it, then got bored, then picked it up again a few days later and read it all the way through. I loved it. This one had more action in it.
THE A-LIST DOES IT AGAIN!
The a-List yet again does not cease to amaze me! This book was a wonderful read and I thoought it was as good as the others! Anna and Ben are finally back togther,but what is up with ben's jealousy problem? Ben obviously can't stand to see Anna with another guy, and thats why he's put Princeton aside. Sam continues to be a good friend to Anna. But really, what is going on with the Cammie and Adam thing? Adam is such a great guy and Cammie is amazingly catty, can their relationship work? Or is it doomed to fail like all other hollywood relationships? Is Ben going beck to Princeton?ever? Is Anna going to grow tired of Ben and his jealous ways? Or will she stay by his side in the name of love? Read the book to find out!!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    3. Fiction    4. High schools    5. Interpersonal relations    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Schools    8. Social Issues - Adolescence    9. Social Issues - Dating & Sex    10. Social Situations - Teen Lifestyle    11. Television production and dire    12. Television production and direction    13. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Adolescence   

Reviews (2)

A highly recommended read from first page to last
The Joint Venture by Gilbert D. Visconti is the author's debut novel international intrigue. Italy struggles with international terrorism, and a pair of Boston attorneys become drawn into a deadly web of ruthless figures and desperate killers. A terrible puzzle must be solved, and quickly, before time runs out for the population at large in this exciting and action-packed read. The Joint Venture is an attention engaging and highly recommended read from first page to last, as well as documenting Gilbert Visconti as a writer of considerable literary skill and a master storyteller.

A real page-turner.
If you enjoy Ken Follett's character development and location descriptions and Tom Clancy's precision, you'll love Visconti's style.He blends the present day with a historical foundation and you'll enjoy every word.Trust me! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    3. Fiction    4. Fiction - Espionage / Thriller    5. General    6. Suspense    7. Fiction / Suspense   

Reviews (169)

Not flat out amazing, but pretty decent
For once, a school related book that did not bore me out of my misery.
not...COMPLETE...torture
I love reading, especially historical fiction, but, I think this book would have been more interesting if it hadn't been first written so long ago. I found a lot of the dialog and wording very hard to understand, and I'm a straight "A" student. Most of the book was very dull and poorly written, but at least a third of it had some interesting "action" or something in it. I had to read this book for school, and it wasn't complete torture, but it was pretty bad. I wouldn't suggest buying this book or reading any other works of Conrad Richter.

A Beautiful Piece of American Literature
Okay, first of all, people like MeeMoo who think historical fiction is boring, shouldn't read or report on it. I don't report on video games, which I think are stupid, so why is MeeMoo on my turf? Secondly, teachers should not force kids to read & report on literature written for adults - it's not fair to the kids, who are not developmentally or intellectually ready for this kind of novel, and it's not fair to the novel. So teachers, get your acts together!
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Subjects:  1. Boys / Men    2. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    3. Children: Grades 3-4    4. Classics    5. Delaware Indians    6. Fiction    7. Historical - United States - General    8. Indians of North America    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / United States / General   

Reviews (738)

Evil inevitably appears
The year is 1943. War is raging across Eastern Europe and Northern Africa. Italy joins the battle, and so does Japan. Peace seems improbable. War is war, and its savage and horrific reality leaves tons of thousands of sodiers and civilians either dead or maimed for life.
"Classic" doesn't improve with age
Like many other readers and Amazon reviewers, this book was assigned reading for me in high school. I read it again recently when the kids got it...and found it has not improved with age. One wonders why generation after generation of teachers continues to tout this book as a "classic" when it's really far from enjoyable.
Are you reading this for class...?
If this book was assigned to you as a high school student, you may have a tough time liking it. Your high school teacher either doesn't like it but teaches it anyway, or else loves it so much that he/she can't understand why you don't.
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Subjects:  1. Classics    2. Fiction    3. Literature - Classics / Criticism    4. Literature: Classics    5. Fiction / General    6. Modern fiction   

Reviews (31)

Fantastic!!!
This book is continuation of Tears of a Tiger. Keisha was Andy's girlfriend and now left with rest of her friends Ronda, Tyrone, BJ, Gerald, and Leon to survive without out their two friends Andy and Rob, who both died. Now in her senior year Keisha is selected class president and is having the best year. The principal's 23-year-old son is the new track coach and he has his eye on Keisha. Slowly Keisha begins to find comfort in 23-year-old Jonathan and starts going out with him. Soon the relationship takes a wrong turns when Jonathan takes Keisha to his apartment and tries to rape and kill her with his jack knife.
Painfully Wonderful
There is pain in this book that you hope no one goes through. It follows Keisha after the death of her boyfriend, which is one thing she could've done without and then the near-rape she encounters. (Read TEARS OF A TIGER first.)
Christian's Review
In the book a girl named Keisha has just lost her boyfriend. Andy killed himself because he and his best friends Rob, Tyrone, and B.J were in a car accident. Rob was the only one that didn't make it out of the car and he burned to death. Andy felt that it was his fault so he walked around with all this on his shoulders until he killed himself. Keisha had just broken up with Andy because of all his problems. That summer Keisha took Andy's little brother with her to the cookout. The cookout was something that the high school does every year and the students come and bring their little brothers and sisters. This summer, Keisha saw a guy that she thought was hot, so the summer passed and the new school year came. When she saw him, she acted as if she hadn't noticed him, but she did and she really liked him. At the same time, Leon liked her but she really had not paid any attion to that until one day she gave him a ride home and his dad started to say all this embracing stuff. So the conflict is she has to choose a boy (Leon) or a man (Jonathan).
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Fiction    5. High schools    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Love & Romance    8. People & Places - United States - African-American    9. Rape    10. School & Education    11. Schools    12. Social Issues - Sexual Abuse    13. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / African American   

Reviews (656)

Nothing but the Truth
The story was about a boy named Philip Malloy and he got suspended for humming during the Natinal Anthem.The teacher Mrs.Narwin had asked him to stop the first time but Philip Malloy refused.I think that Mrs. Narwin should have waited till the end to tell him to stop, but instead she was interupting to.She asked him to stop but he still would'nt do it and finally the third time she asked him she sent him out of the room.Then the principal said that he could either say sorry or get a 2 day suspention.And Philip refused to say sorry so he got a 2 day suspention.They thought that that was a rule but the super adendent saod there was no rule agenst singing during the Natinal Anthem.Then the word got out and then philip got letters from other schools that said about how he could go to their scholl because they have nothing agenst singing.Then Mrs.Narwingot letters that were not true and quit her job and went to live with her sister.

Excellent Young Adult novel
A powerful topic and engaging format. A great read for any young adult.

Not the whole truth
This story isn't really about truth as much as it's about communication and integrity. The problem is that all the characters make multiple unnecessary mistakes and compound the problem, demonstrating only the wrong way to do things and never the right way. I wonder if young readers will understand this? I was amazed to find no positive role models. Even the victimized "heroine," Ms. Narwin, was strangely ineffectual, as were the "heroic" Philip and his parents. And worse, Avi paints with a cynical brush all characters involved in education politics and media. There is nothing profound or thought-provoking in this story; the "good, bad, and ugly" are obvious. Some young readers may benefit from obvious points, and as such this might work as a cautionary tale. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Classics    5. Fiction    6. High schools    7. Historical - General    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Schools    10. Social Issues - Values    11. Social Situations - Values    12. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Values   

Editorial Review

Preparations for the feast for the Summer of the Golden Rainare underway at Redwall Abbey, and young Mattimeo's mother sets him towork with the other inhabitants. His father, Mathius, is the guardianof Redwall Abbey and it is this fact that puts the young Mattimeo indanger, as the evil Slagar the Fox plots to kidnap him in a bid toshake the very foundations of the Abbey and its inhabitants. Read more

Reviews (216)

Great series
Great series for young and old looking for a mental shut-down for bed book.

Mattimeo! The new champion of Redwall!
Mattimeo is kidnapped by Slagar and his gang along with many other young ones. He is forced to travel to an evil kingdom where he will become a tortured slave forever. But, Mattimeo's father and many other parents are hot on Slagar's trail ready to fight him and any other obstacles that they may encounter.
A wonderful coming of age story and exciting travels into the southern lands. Not the best in the series, but still recommended
The third book in the Redwall series, Mattimeo is the story of Mattimeo, Matthias the Warrior's son, who is captured by a slaver and taken on a long journey far to the south of Mossflower Woods--a journey that will turn him from a youth into a warrior. Slagar the Cruel, a masked fox, is a slaver determined to bring ruin to Redwall and to the warrior Matthias in particular. When he kidnaps Matthias's son, Mattimeo, along with a number of other youngsters from Redwall, it seems that Slagar will achieve his goal. As he forces the slaves on a long march deep into the barren, dangerous southern lands, Matthias and a band of warriors go to rescue their children. In their absence, the Abbey is attacked, leaving the peaceful abbeydwellers to defend it. The three storylines run concurrently, keeping the action moving. Riddles hidden deep within the Abbey bring aid to the rescuing warriors and reveal long-forgotten knowledge about the Abbey's founders. A coming of age story is combined with exploration, riddles, and battle, making for a meaningful, readable story.
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Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Animals    4. Animals - General    5. Animals - MiceHamstersGuinea Pigsetc.    6. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Fantasy    7. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    8. Children: Grades 4-6    9. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    10. Fantasy    11. Fiction    12. Jacques, Brian    13. Juvenile Fiction    14. Mice    15. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    16. Fiction / Fantasy / General   

Features

• Audiobook
• Unabridged

Subjects:  1. Children's audiobooks    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Classics    4. Family life    5. Fiction    6. Gangs    7. Hinton, S. E.    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Unabridged Audio - Literature Classics    10. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Editorial Review

Audacious author Lauren Myracle accomplishes something of a literary miracle in her second young-adult novel, Read more

Reviews (79)

ttyl
TTYL
Totally Sweet!
Wow, this book is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! I liked the way the author used IM so the characters could communicate! But, when it heats up, weirdly, with Zoe and mr.h, i thought they were going to have sex, which is weird, but dramatic. when Maddie does that "thing" at the frat party, it was just disusting. And this was such a funny book too, with the crazy events goin' on in Angela, Maddie, and Zoe's lives is just hilaroius, but creepy... and it couldn't get any more cool! TTYL!;)

Contemporary Appeal
It's a fast paced plot, thanx to the Instant Messages but the story ends up just revolving around the love-interests of the 3 girls...I'm sure there's a lot more substantial stuff that teenage girls are truly involved in!
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Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Fiction    4. Friendship    5. Instant messaging    6. Interpersonal relations    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Social Issues - Friendship    9. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Friendship   

Editorial Review

In this breathtaking sequel to the Governor General's Award-winning fantasy novel Read more

Reviews (13)

A fantastic read!
I was so eager to get to SKYBREAKER after AIRBORN I ordered it from the bookstore, started it and five hours later was done. I couldn't put it down. After AIRBORN I had no idea what else could happen to Matt and Kate, but Oppell continues to surprise and astound you with his vivid imagination and talent to bring his story to life. As I read about their adventures in obtaining a mystical, ghost-like air-ship in the sky, I felt as if I was seeing the movie in my head. His attention to detail and ability to bring the characters to life leave you wanting more. You also find yourself cheering on Matt and Kate, and a few other new characters, as they try to obtain what everyone else has failed at...the elusive HYPERION. Now, I'm am anxiously awaiting a 3rd book! This second book was just as good as the first, similar to Harry Potter in nature this book will appeal to all kinds of adults and children. I would recommend reading AIRBORN before reading this one to get the full background on our hero, Matt Cruse!

A Very Good Book
I really liked Skybreaker by Kenneth Oppel. It is an excellent sequel to the first book, Airborn. It's setting ranges from France all the way to Antarctica as the game goes on. Although no time frame is given, I believe that it was set in the past. The genre is a mix between historical fiction, sci-fi, and mystery. The past setting separates it from other sci-fi stories, and the fact that it strays so much from historical fact (flying jellyfish-squid things) seperates it from pure historical fiction. I believe that anyone who likes a good adventure story would like this book, due to the fact that that is what this book is.
Skybreaker Response
I loved this book! I simply couldn't put it down. Kenneth Oppel has a great way of keeping my eyes glued to the book. I couldn't hold the suspense most of the time; I found my eyes skipping to the bottom of the page. Luckily, I forced myself to go back and read it so I would understand what was happening! This book took me 2 days to finish reading, it was very captivating and I had a hard time putting it away. I like the way he told the story because every chapter continued from the last and it was very exciting to read on although it was a long book.
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Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Airships    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Fiction    6. Imaginary creatures    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Pirates    9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    10. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Reviews (125)

A Long Way from Chicago
Two kids who live in Chicago go to their grandma's for a week every summer. At Grandmas house is a normal old fashion house with a privy out back. But things will happen to the kids that will scar them for life. Grandma is very different from the kids and dose lots of weird stuff in the book. Grandma is a good liar and lies in this book more than you can think of. If you want to find out more and learn what happens to the kids read A Long Way from Chicago.

READ THIS BOOK AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
Two kids who live in Chicago go to their grandma's for a week every summer. At Grandmas house is a normal old fashion house with a privy out back. But things will happen to the kids that will scar them for life. Grandma is very different from the kids and dose lots of weird stuff in the book. Grandma is a good liar and lies in this book more than you can think of. If you want to find out more and learn what happens to the kids read A Long Way from Chicago.

A Long Way From Chicago By Richard Peck
Time comes when Joey and Mary Alice must visit their Grandma Dowdel in Illinois. Each year they visit, Grandma Dowdel may be getting older , but is actually growing younger inside. Richard Peck captures special moments of every trip in each chapter.The most memorable chapter for me is called, " The Day ofJudgment".I enjoyed reading this chapter the most, because I think this chapterportrays Grandma Dowdel the best. This book was influential for me, because it had an important moral in it. Peck wanted us to find the true meaningof the book, which is that you're never to old tobe a kid. Richard Peck used the moral of the storyto create one of his important characters-Grandma Dowdel. In the beginning, I thought the Dowdels would be in for the longestmonotonoustrip of their lives. But now I realized I was completely wrong . Every yearturned out better than the previous year. This also tells me that you can never tell a persons heart from the outside. I also learned that I should show more respect to the elderly, because theyhave been throughnumerous experiences. The characters in this book have accents which verifies that it takes place in the past.
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Subjects:  1. 1929    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Country life    6. Depressions    7. Family - Multigenerational    8. Fiction    9. Grandmothers    10. Historical - United States - 20th Century    11. Humorous Stories    12. Illinois    13. Juvenile Fiction    14. Lifestyles - Country Life    15. Juvenile Fiction / Humorous Stories   

Reviews (9)

Great young adult book
Code Orange kept the attention of my 12 year old daughter who really doesn't like to read.It was on a list of approved books at her school for summer reading, so I was reassured that it would be appropriate for her age.I would recommend it to others of this age group.

Code Orange
Code Orange took a long time for me to get a hold of and it was pretty much worth the wait. I found that this book was very exciting and I enjoyed it very much.
All About Orange Code.
This book takes place in New York City in present time. Mitty is a 15-year-old boy who thinks that life would be so much easier without school. The only reason that he makes himself go is Olivia. Mitty takes advanced biology, and he's not really sure why. His class is assigned to research a infectious disease using books as their textural references. If he does not make a good grade on this test, he'll go back down to regular biology. Mitty would be fine with that, but it would mean not being in Olivia's class. So he decides to do the project. He chooses Variola Major, commonly called smallpox. While researching, Mitty comes upon a envelope stuck in between the pages of a disease book. When he opens it he finds several, what he believes were once smallpox scabs from a 1920 epidemic. As Mitty is writing his paper, he describes what smallpox does to your body. I recommend not reading these parts on a stop-and-go bus ride on the way to school, it only makes it worse. At the end of the chapters, the author tries to scare you by implying that the scabs had gone into his nose, and were affecting Mitty. He himself can not decide if he actually has this disease which he and the rest of the world thought no longer existed, or if he is simply imagining it.
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Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Suspense    2. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Mysteries / Detective    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Diseases    5. Fiction    6. Health & Daily Living - General    7. High schools    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Lifestyles - City & Town Life    10. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    11. School & Education    12. Schools    13. Smallpox    14. Suspense/Thriller    15. Juvenile Fiction / Mysteries & Detective Stories   

Reviews (4)

It's the edge of the world as we know it
2006 has been a good year for Newbery sequels.First Louis Sacher comes out with, "Small Steps", his follow-up to "Holes".Then Avi does the same with the second part of his Crispin series."Crispin: At the Edge of the World" begins at the precise moment that "Crispin: The Cross of Lead" ended.Like its predecessor, the book is chock full of intelligent contemplations on the nature of "good" and "evil".More importantly, with this book Avi is taking the time to show that a human being is a tricky changeable thing.That said, this is the weaker of the two books and feels very much to be the middle section of a three part series.There's much to admire in Avi's writing here, but I had a hard time gettingpast some of the story's sadism to truly think it worthy reading.