Editorial Review

The often-tortured class weirdo has disappeared, leaving an enigmaticnote on the school library computer. Is he a runaway, a suicide, a murder victim? Read more

Reviews (84)

The Body of Christopher Creed
This is a superbly written teen novel containing an array of excrutiatingly real characters. Being a teacher of teenagers, I see these kids at school on a daily basis. I've read a large number of Young Adult novels that create cartoony representations of what a teenager "looks like." THE BODY OF CHRISTOPHER CREED looks, sounds and feels much more realistic. That is the pillar of this highly engaging story.
chris creed- missing the message
I thought this was a fabulous book; very suspenseful and realistic. I'm not going to summarize because everyone else has just done that. The characters were very realistic and beleiveable, and so was the situation- kids go missing in high school at least once a year. The only thing that bothered me about the book was that the author used the word 'mutter' way to much, and she used it inappropriately, which repeatedly got on my nerves. But other than that, it was fabulous.
The Body of Christopher Creed review by Evan FMS
All of his life Christopher Creed had been considered a freak, the target of the bullies at his school.When Christopher Creed disappears, however, he captures the attention of the entire town, and he upsets the lives of those whohad tormented him. Creed's disappearance has a profound effect on Torey Adams, Steepleton High School's popular football star. Torey makes a mission out of trying to discover what happened to Creed and discovers how truly brutal life can be.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Emotional problems    4. Fiction    5. High schools    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Missing persons    8. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    9. Peer pressure    10. Social Issues - General    11. Social Situations - General    12. Juvenile Fiction / Mysteries & Detective Stories   

Reviews (174)

"Inspiring!"
this book falls under my favorites!In the beginning of he book the demonic Opal Koboi reluctantley plans her revenge to kill Captain Holly Short and Artemis Fowl.While Opal Koboi is plotting in her fake coma, she secretley breaks out and is finally ready to kill Holly and Artemis.This book was absolutely phenominal!!the plot stuck right on a trail but ended completely unpredictable.the character were very believeable except for most of the mystical creatures, but you could feel their emotions.this book in my opinion ranks right up nest to Harry Potter, Eoin Colfer did an excellent job!!

Artemis fowl: The Opal Deception
Holly, a soldier in the lepRecon has messed up many times.Last time she got captured trying to replenish her magic by the wicked Fowl family.This time when she replenishes her energy and strength Artemis visited her for help (not very likely).There is a new enemy among the community and he might even have out smarted Artemis himself.
Book review: Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception
Suspenseful, and exciting from beginning to end, Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception is one of Eoin Colfer's best books.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Fantasy    3. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Fantasy    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Fairies    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Magic    9. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    10. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    11. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Editorial Review

It's 1906 and 16-year-old Mattie Gokey is at a crossroads in her life. She's escaped the overwhelming responsibilities of helping to run her father's brokedown farm in exchange for a paid summer job as a serving girl at a fancy hotel in the Adirondacks. She's saving as much of her salary as she can, but she's having trouble deciding how she's going to use the money at the end of the summer. Mattie's gift is for writing and she's been accepted to Barnard College in New York City, but she's held back by her sense of responsibility to her family--and by her budding romance with handsome-but-dull Royal Loomis. Royal awakens feelings in Mattie that she doesn't want to ignore, but she can't deny her passion for words and her desire to write. Read more

Reviews (109)

One of my top 10!
Okay, when I first checked this book out of the library, one of my teachers scoffed at me. Apparently he had scanned a page and had seen cuss words. But when I began reading it, I fell it love with it, and finished it within the afternoon. Mattie, the main character is growing up in such a hard situation, in a time when women still had little rights. Mattie battles between settling down and going to college. I'll leave the ending a surprise, but it made me cry, the reason being because it ended just as much as the actual ending. It's centered around the death of Grace Brown, who had given Mattie a pack of letters to burn. Mattie reads though, and solves a murder. Mattie is such a real person, and Donnelly's words are so poetic. It created a whole new world for me, and I'll never forget this book. Although I would not suggest this book for those under 13 because of language and adult sequences, but everyone else deserves to read this book.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE....
Matty Gokey is the sixteen year old narrator of this novel.With the 1906 murder of Grace Brown (also covered in Dreiser's "An American Tragedy) setting the stage for this tale that ultimately explores not only Graces murder, but the issues of poverty, racism, pregnancy, the perceived station of women in society, and the effects of death/loss on the human spirit.
Don't Miss This Gem Because of the YA Designation
I am not sure why this work is considered a young adult novel, because at the ripe old age of 55, I was intrigued by Donnelly'sauthentic, right-on-the-money, bulls-eye prose. The narrative chronicles the coming-of-age of young Mattie Gokey, who lives a hardscrabble rural life in the North Woods of the Adirondacks in the early 1900's. The novel functions as historical fiction, and it accurately pinpoints the poverty, racism, mores and gender issues of this era in this particular location.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - History    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    3. Education    4. Farm life    5. Fiction    6. Historical - United States - 20th Century    7. Historical Fiction (Young Adult)    8. Hotels, motels, etc    9. Hotels, motels, etc.    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Mysteries (Young Adult)    12. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    13. New York (State)    14. Social Issues - Adolescence    15. Social Issues - Death & Dying    16. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Adolescence   

Reviews (5)

Couldn't put this one down!
Both of these books are wonderful!I read them cover to cover!Terri Blackstock has done it again!

Awesome book
Terri Blackstock has done it again. This book made me think of the end of time...when we all must come together...trust in God for our needs and know he will provide as he says in scripture.What an awesome book and ending!

Great second chapter to the series!
I really loved this next book and now can't wait for the third book in this Restoration series.In this book, services and functions improve a bit (using pre-computer technology) and the people become very practical.Concerns of left-behind children, etc. come into the picture.
Read more

Subjects:  1. American Mystery & Suspense Fiction    2. Children's 12-Up - Religion - Christian Living    3. Christianity - Christian Life - General    4. Fiction    5. Fiction - Religious    6. Mystery/Suspense    7. Religious - General    8. Religious - Mystery    9. Suspense    10. Christian Interest    11. Modern fiction    12. Religion / Christian Life   

Editorial Review

In Frank Portman's dazzling debut novel, frustrated song-writer and high school student Tom Henderson finds his dead father's copy of Read more

Reviews (40)

Wish it would not end
I read about this book in EW and immediately went online to buy it.The topic sounded so refreshing.I tore through this book in about half the time it takes me to read a book of this length.I know this sounds cliche, but this was truely laugh out loud funny.I woke up my wife on numerous occasions laughing as I read long after she has fallen asleep in bed.
If you like Freaks and Geeks...
A whimsical murder mystery wrapped up in a music-obsessed episode of Freaks and Geeks. Engaging, clever, and often very funny. You don't have to be part of the teen/young adult audience to enjoy it, either. (I'm 31). 4.25/5.

STUPENDOUS!!!
A refreshing and brilliant coming of age novel.There are few books that have engrossed me as this one did. The protagonist is an introverted, awkward adolescent with a rampant imagination and extensive vocabulary who will quickly steal your heart and captivate your soul. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Boys / Men    2. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    3. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    5. Fathers    6. Fiction    7. High schools    8. Identity    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    11. Social Issues - Dating & Sex    12. Social Issues - Friendship    13. Social Issues - General    14. Juvenile Fiction / Boys & Men   

Editorial Review

Ever since David Yaffe was acquitted of murder in the accidental deathof his girlfriend, he has felt that "for the rest of my life, over and over, I would have to convince everyone--including me--of my harmlessness." To escape media attention and the prying stares of the curious, he is sent to finish his senior year of high school in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he lives in the attic apartment of his Aunt Julia and Uncle Vic. They receive him coldly, and his 11-year-old cousin, Lily, is openly hostile. (The apartment previously belonged to their older daughter Kathy, who died an apparent suicide at age 18.) With a haunting series of episodes--including a sporadic humming and a fleeting shadow--David begins to sense Kathy's eerie and powerful presence. Read more

Reviews (47)

Up in Smoke and Down in Ashes
David B. Yaffe has a lot to contend with.Acquitted of murdering his girlfriend, Emily and beating her brother Greg, David's parents help usher him out of their home state of Maryland to the home of his maternal aunt and uncle-in-law in Boston.David had to repeat his senior year and hopefully start anew in Boston.
Not a typical book...
This book was wonderful because there was nothing typical about it.The suspense was very well done, and the book was able to keep surprising me.Characterization was also done well, at least of the main characters anyway.

The Killer's Cousin
I found the book The Killer's Cousin very enjoyable. It's one of those books that keeps the reader wanting to know more and forces them to read on. It's about a 17 year old boy named David who was recently acquitted of murdering his girlfriend. To escape the media he moves out of state to stay with his aunt, uncle and 11 year old cousin Lily. After moving though, he can't help but feel not welcome or at home. Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Mystery    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Cousins    4. Emotional problems    5. Family - Multigenerational    6. Fiction    7. Guilt    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    10. Juvenile Fiction / Mysteries & Detective 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.
Read more

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 (2)

The Best Book in the World
It is a mystery. It has hard words sometimes. The character's is name Alex Rider, he is 14 years old. His mom and dad were in a plane crash, he lives with his Uncle,and his uncle was murdered. He is a SPY. If you are a good reader you must read this book. It the best book in the world.

The Next Wonderful Alex Rider Thriller
This wonderful book is quite exciting and I think it was probly just as good as the 1st one. In this book Alex is asked by MI6 to take up a case involving a school in the French Alps in which rebellous teenage boys go, but the mystery is that all these boys have somthing in common. They all come from rich families and that`s where ALex`s adventure begins. Below I will list the good points and bad points of the book:
Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Boys / Men    4. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Espionage    5. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Mystery    6. Children: Grades 4-6    7. Cloning    8. Fiction    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    11. Schools    12. Spies    13. Juvenile Fiction / Boys & Men   

Reviews (26)

The Best Book Of The Series!
Over the summer I read all of the books in the series by Laurie faria Stolarz. That included Blue is for Nightmares, White is for Magic, Silver is for Secrets, and Red is for Remembrance. My favorite one was Silver is for Secrets and that is the one I am writing about today. Laurie faria Stolarz put so much great detail into the whole series. I loved all of the books!
Best but sadest book ever!!
This book was the best. I read it in 2 days, I couldnt put it down. You have to read it, but I made the mistake by reading this book befor I read White is for Magic or Blue is for Nightmares. So if I could go back Id read those first. And Im not going to spoil the ending for you, but its very surprising and made me cry for a LONG time. You HAVE to read it!!

I think it's the best one!
I think that Silver is for Secrets is the best out of the first three books.I kind of predicted that Clara wasn't all that innocent.Mainly because she didn't really care about losing her life.She acted really childish and flirty.I never really liked her character. I never thought that she would do what she did at the end.Overall, this is a great book!
Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Fantasy    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    3. Dreams    4. Extrasensory perception    5. Fiction    6. Girls & Women    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Magic    9. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    10. Nightmares    11. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    12. Witchcraft    13. Juvenile Fiction / Mysteries & Detective Stories   

Reviews (2)

Superb suspense and real life issues.
Edgar winner, Werlin, combines suspense with real life problems as Matt and his sisters Callie and Emmy try to keep their volatile and unbalanced mother happy. One day in the convenience store they witness Murdoch stopping a kid from being abused and become obsessed with him. For Matt's birthday, Callie finds Murdoch's address but their mother finds it and takes them all over to Murdoch's house. They begin dating and kids' lives look so much better but Murdoch quickly realizes that the mom is unbalanced and breaks up with her. Each day with their mom raises the question of survival. Will she drive the car with all the kids in it into oncoming traffic? The relationships between the siblings are richly depicted and Werlin's pacing is excruciatingly good. It is a page turner.

Richie's Picks: THE RULES OF SURVIVAL
As Matt explains, it was a sweltering Boston evening, and a date night for their mother. Matt was thirteen at that point, and Callie was eleven on that evening they left their five year old sister Emmy sleeping alone in the apartment, climbed out the window, and raced around the corner to buy a couple of Popsicles at the convenience store. They would return home a few minutes later with the dream that a stranger whose behavior they'd just witnessed might somehow be persuaded to intercede in the frightening and dangerous world they inhabited, a world controlled by Nikki, their nightmare of a mother.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Brothers and sisters    2. Child abuse    3. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    4. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    5. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    6. Emotional problems    7. Family - General    8. Family - Siblings    9. Fiction    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    12. Social Issues - Domestic Violence    13. Social Issues - Physical & Emotional Abuse    14. Suspense/Thriller    15. Juvenile Fiction / Family / General   

Reviews (3)

The Message is You
Ed Kennedy is a young cab driver in Australia, with not much direction or ambition.When he is suddenly thrust into the limelight as a hero in a bank robbery, he begins receiving mysterious messages written on playing cards. Each message leads him to a new person and a new scenario to puzzle out.Ed has no idea who is sending him these cards, but he does know that his life has more meaning than ever before.
Find the meaning of life
I bought this book recently on a serendipitous bookstore trip during a family reunion in Colorado. It is most definately worthy of the multiple starred reviews it has received. Ed Kennedy, a 19-year-old with no forseeable future, is extremely likeable and readable. His life takes a sharp turn for the positive when he receives the first card in the mail-an ace with three addresses and times. It suddenly becomes clear that these people need his help, whether in large ways or small acts of kindness. Three more aces follow, and thus embarks Ed's adventure to help other people, and naturally in the end help himself. His friends are very realistic and their issues are almost as compelling as Ed's. There is a bit of romance, but it doesn't overpower the rest of the book-it's a very nice balance. Family challenges are a major theme here, as is learning your true potential. I would recommend it to teens over the age of 15 (some swearing and violence), but it is more than adult-friendly, and interesting enough to be a page turner for all ages, and the price is unbeatable as well. All I have to say thank heavens for spontaneous trips and books like this!

Brilliant!
When I finished reading 'The Book Thief' I felt at a real loss as I did not want it to end. And this book is not any different. Markus Zusak not only writes very well, he captures your imagination in ways that prevent you from being able to live beyond the book! Set aside a couple of days and read this book. Tell your friends you have a really bad cold and can't come into contact with people for two days at least. Be willing to smell from a lack of showering as you will not want to put this book down. A great read! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    2. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    4. Fiction    5. General    6. Heroes    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    9. Self-esteem    10. Social Issues - Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance    11. Taxicab drivers    12. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (4)

Blackthorn Winter reveiw by Julie D.
In one of her latest novels, Blackthorn Winter, Kathryn Reiss puts everything you would think of in a mystery, and more into the plot.This book wasn't just your average "who done it" mystery; it included drama, suspense, and more.I have to say, I have read a lot of mysteries in my life, and this one definitely is on the top of my list.Some mysteries are a little unrealistic, but this one I could understand how she was feeling, and it all seemed real to me.
Such a good book -- a review by Nina
This book is one of the best books I've ever read.Its about a girl named Juliana whose family goes to live in England.A friend of the family mysteriously gets murdered and Juliana must find out who has done it.
Blackthorn Winter
Sunny skies and warm beaches was the life for fifteen year-old Juliana Martin-Drake. All of this
Read more

Subjects:  1. Adoption    2. Artists    3. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. England    6. Family - Adoption    7. Family - Marriage & Divorce    8. Family - Orphans & Foster Homes    9. Family life    10. Fiction    11. Juvenile Fiction    12. Mysteries (Young Adult)    13. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    14. Juvenile Fiction / Mysteries & Detective Stories   

Reviews (60)

WONDERFUL CONCEPT - YOU MIGHT WANT TO OWN THIS ONE
This is a different book in so many ways.It is really one that should be placed not only in the children's section of the library, but the adult also.The author gives us a brief explanation as to where the pictures came from (no spoiler here..read it yourself), and then the book begins.Each picture is all Allsburg.Wonderful black and white illustrations done in pencil and, as with his other books, each illustrtion is absolutely captivating and a delight to gaze at or study.Each picture is accompanied by just one line of a story with no explanation other than the picture itself.This is a wonderful book to add to a creative writing class, for any age, contemplate late evenings, or just to enjoy anytime.This work will certainly not hurt a childs imagination and infact can start the day-dreaming going in most adults.I highly recommend this one and highly recommend you add it to your home library.

Haunting and Beautiful
When I first saw this book as a kid it really sparked my imagination.To this day I still get chills when I look at the pictures that speak volumes through mere implication.Allsburg is a visual master with a mind for sharp effective prose, to which this is a testament

The Mysteries of Harris Burdick
There is no age limit for enjoying this book. Anyone can let their imagination run wild! The illustrations are beyond beautiful... they are somewhat spiritual!! Buy this for any creative thinker you know (and love). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children's stories, American    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    6. Mystery and detective stories    7. Plot-your-own stories    8. Fiction    9. Juvenile Fiction / Mysteries & Detective Stories    10. Picture books   

Editorial Review

"Her name was Sally Lockhart; and within fifteen minutes, she was goingto kill a man." Philip Pullman begins his Sally Lockhart trilogy with a bang inRead more

Reviews (147)

The Ruby In The Smoke
The Ruby In the Smoke is a good mystery, and exactly what I would expect from Pullman. The characters are intriguing, and the sudden deaths make it very suspenseful. I felt very connected with Jim and Adelaide, as they showed quite a bit of personality. A good book is one in that you can't tell whether or not a person is actually good or will betray sometime.
The Ruby in the Smoke, July 14, 2006
Philip Pullman has created a new character that readers can empathize with and root for during this suspenseful mystery.Sally Lockhart is a sixteen year old orphan girl that receives a strange note about the death of her father.As soon as she begins her investigation, more deaths occur.Sally becomes entangled in a web of mystery involving murder, illegal opium trading, and a stolen ruby.Sally has many nightmares, which she is unable to understand until she uncovers more pieces of the puzzle.The suspense builds as new characters are continually brought into the mystery, making it difficult to know who can be trusted.
Some of the most realistic charcters you will ever have the pleasure of reading about...
I shall admit that upon reading some of these reviews I felt my heart sink, for I believed this book better then those of His Dark Materials - if that is even possible.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Mystery    4. Fiction    5. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    6. Mystery and detective stories    7. Orphans    8. Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure