Editorial Review

Ron Suskind won the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing in 1995 for his stories on Cedric Jennings, a talented black teenager struggling to succeed in one of the worst public high schools in Washington, D.C. Suskind has expanded those features into a full-length nonfiction narrative, following Jennings beyond his high-school graduation to Brown University, and in the tradition of Leon Dash's Read more

Reviews (110)

A poignant and insightful story
What does it take to overcome great obstacles and find the best in oneself? The author found a young man named Cedric Jennings to explore this question. The author observes Cedric's life in a uniquely honest way. We are able to experience first-hand the often painful and complicated emotions of young people who grow up in socially disadvantaged neighborhoods and broken homes. The day to day experiences of these young people often necessitate the need to focus on emotional and financial survival, rather than intellectual pursuits or personal aspirations.
A tale of a boy who made it out...
This book would typically not be on my list of interesting reading; but the book was for college so I thought I would read it.To my great suprise, the book actually made emotions run through my body when I read it.It wasn't that these experiences were personal for me; but I recognized the struggle I had seen so often and how I seemed to be a part of the "majority" who didn't know any better.This seemed to bother me the most, I kept asking myself, "Am I really that ignorant?".The answer unfortunetly was yes, I really had become just another example of something the minority had to struggle so hard against to succeed.The idea that my suburban schools were far ahead of all the inner city schools seemed almost ludicrous.The more I looked into it, the more I realized that this struggle has been going on longer than I have lived, and that even though I feel bad for the minority; I still continue to live my life casually without sticking my neck out for others.
Grasping for the Gold Ring
"A Hope in the Unseen" provides insight into an ambitious, Africian American highschooler's mind as he pursues good grades and a life of integrity. Cedric, a Ballou High School student from Washington, DC, shares his journey with us as he, not only plans to graduate from high school as an honor student, but also heads into an Ivy League college and steps into his career with dignity.Great read for any one desiring to take responsibility of their own life and go for the "gold". ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Afro-American college students    2. Afro-American teenage boys    3. Biography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Discrimination & Racism    6. Education    7. Frank W. Ballou Senior High School (Washington, D.C.)    8. People of Color    9. Social Science    10. Sociology    11. Sociology - Urban    12. Specific Groups - General    13. Students    14. Washington (D.C.)    15. Modern fiction    16. Social Science / Sociology / Urban    17. Reading Group Guide   

Reviews (148)

A great adventure from James Patterson
Surprised at all the negative reviews, but then again its all just opinion, so here is mine:James Patterson isn't Ernest Hemingway!
A Page Turner
This book is one of the best teen books that I've ever read!It will keep you on the edge of your seat and guessing even after you finish it.Luckly the second book in the series is out.The story is about six 98% human/2% bird "creatures" and their lives as they rescue their little "sister" from the labratory where they were created.All the while they are being chased by wolf/humans.I won't spoil the story for you though.But I highly suggest reading this book.You won't be disappointed!!!!

An Adults Review
I am not a teen, or a tween, but I do enjoy a good well written adventure story and the plotline of this book sounded interesting. Genetically altered children with wings, in an age where parents are close to being able to assign attributes to future babies it seemed appropriate to write such a story. James Patterson, usually known for his murder mysteries tries and fails, in my opinion, to speak through an adolescent's point of view. It was an "almost" story; never quite reaching a "wow" factor, kept me interested just enough to finish it but not enough to read the next installment. The plot didn't flow; the characters were too one dimensional, with funny but ridiculous names and even more worse they were too generic to the Young Adult Genre. Pick up any book in that section and you will find that 90% of them have the A) angst ridden young girl who doesn't realize she is wonderful and B) the Boy she is close with but doesn't realize she loves him, and vice versa C) the characters spouting forth the idiom of the day and D) a plot with no flow only small surges that never reach a common stream of conscience. I would say this was less Maximum Ride and more like Miniscule Jaunt. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Adventure and adventurers    4. Adventure fiction    5. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    6. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    7. Fiction    8. Genetic engineering    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Science Fiction / Fantasy (Young Adult)    11. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic   

Reviews (40)

More Freek show stories.
Taking a line from his cancelled and poorly shown movie, Whedon and the Hacks at Dark Horse deliver up this rubbish, which is just that, Rubbish.

Perfect filler between TV series and movie
Quick admission: I'm a huge fan of the Firefly TV series and "Serenity".I think both were horribly underappreciated, and can't understand why they weren't more successful.
Serenity, an under-sold epic
While it is a little inconvenient to have to jump from a television series (thanks Joss Whedon and crew and cast, untimely cancelled, bad judgment Fox) to movie (thanks Universal) to comic book (thanks Dark Horse), it is rewarding to see more of the story accessible to Firefly/Serenity fans.It is amazing how few fans actually saw the series on television or the movie but became big fans from DVD sales.This is a story that touches the heroic, underdog spark in all of us.The comic book was appreciated for connecting the series to the movie and for explaining a couple of missing elements such as what happened to the blue hands guys. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    2. Comics & Graphic Novels - General    3. Film & Video - Guides & Reviews    4. General    5. Graphic Novels    6. Graphic Novels - Media Tie-In    7. Graphic Novels - Science Fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Movie Tie - In    10. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    11. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    12. Comics & Graphic Novels / General   

Editorial Review

"Softly he brushed my cheek, then held my face between his marble hands. 'Be very still,' he whispered, as if I wasn't already frozen. Slowly, never moving his eyes from mine, he leaned toward me. Then abruptly, but very gently, he rested his cold cheek against the hollow at the base of my throat." Read more

Reviews (390)

The best book I have ever read!!!
You have found the love of your life. The catch? He's a vampire, thirsting for your blood.When Bella moves from sunny Phoenix to dreary forks, her mood is anything but happy. Then she meets Edward Cullen. He's not one of those coffin-sleeping, afraid of onions, sucking you dry type of vampire. He and his family are more civilized, preying on wild animals. Their family is different, having abilities such as reading people's minds (Edward's ability) and seeing the future (Alice's ability). They fall in love. Everything is wonderful until they invite Bella to play baseball, vampire-style. A nomad band of vampires hears them and wants to join. Once they realize that Bella is human, they want her blood. While Edward, his brother Emmett and his sister Rosalie, along with his mother Esme and his father Carlisle try to hunt the band of vampires, Alice, Edward's sister, and Jasper, Edward's brother, take Bella to Phoenix to get the band off her scent. While in Phoenix, Edward calls them to tell them that the band was lost, but Bella already knows that, the leader called her and told her that he had her mother and was going to kill her if she did not come. She runs away, and meets him at her mom's house. He tells her that he tricked her and that he did not have her mom. He starts to kill her, and he knocks her out in the process. She wakes up in Edward's arms, bleeding all over the place. He, the leader, broke her leg, smashed open her skull, and bit her. Edward has to suck out the poison, and saves her life. When she wakes up, she is in the hospital, with a very well thought out story about her injuries, with her mother by her side. When she recovers, Edward's family and Bella go home, just in time for the prom. Edward takes Bella, against her will, and Bella asks Edward why didn't he just let the poison take place, then they could be together forever. Edward pushes that thought out of her mind and together they dance, with that thought that they can really never be together. This book is so good; I recommend it to every one. This is my new favorite book, it is that good.
Move over Heathcliff and Cathy-Bella and Edward are here to stay
Meyer was not joking when she said she loved Edward Cullen, the main character of her debut novel, "Twilight" at the National Book Fest. Not joking, because every word she's written about him has single-handedly gone to create the perfect angst-ridden, marble shrouded vampire teen; that at 17 was "turned" on his deathbed during the Spanish influenza pandemic.
Simple and Wonderful... A Delight to Read
Even though this book has a simple plot, and repeats the themes of many, many other works, it somehow hits an important romantic chord. I was thrilled to read a book where Vampires have dignity and a conscience (expecially after reading one of Laurell K. Hamilton's sordid novels) and even though, as a young adult novel, it was sweet and innocent it was still beautiful. Definately worth the time, and I would love to see more books from this author - maybe even venturing into the adult section at some point. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Horror    2. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    4. Fiction    5. High schools    6. Horror & Ghost Stories    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Love & Romance    9. School & Education    10. Schools    11. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    12. Vampires    13. Juvenile Fiction / Horror & Ghost Stories   

Reviews (19)

As a 38 year old man, I liked it.
I listened to the audiobook... I usually become annoyed with books with skip to back story alot. It didn't bother me much here.
Not for HP Fans
I read somewhere that this book is good for Harry Potter fans. Well, no.
Endymion Spring
It starts out as a great read, then falls flat....so disappointing! I was expecting it to be a great book like "Inkheart", but alas, it was not. "Chasing Vermeer" is better as is "The Wright 3".
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Subjects:  1. Apprentices    2. Books and reading    3. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Magic    8. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    10. Fiction / Fantasy / General   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Fiction    4. Historical - Europe    5. Historical Fiction (Young Adult)    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Letters    8. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    10. Supernatural    11. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Reviews (26)

Worth Spending Your Money On...
Runaways, Volume 1 (Hardcover) is a collection of Runaways series one issues 1-18. If your a huge fan of Runaways this is a must have. If your a fan in general you will still enjoy this edition. I got this for $21-22 including shipping and I think it was worth every penny.
An Enjoyable Comic
When reviewing something, I believe it is important to review both the manufacturing quality of the product and the artistic merit (I use this term very loosely because, of course, it is unfair to compare all products to Renaissance masterpieces).
Tasty but not filling
Entertaining read but at the end you feel like you're not really "full", as if something's missing... Then again this is the first collection of comic books in this line so it might get better with time... I guess I compare any graphic novel I read to the all time greats in that genre (Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns, The Killing Joke, Sandman, Preacher, Kingdom Come, et cetera ) - in comparison this book is pretty good but not on the level of the other titles I just mentioned. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Comics & Graphic Novels    2. Fiction    3. Good and evil    4. Graphic Novels    5. Graphic Novels - General    6. Graphic Novels - Superheroes    7. Runaways    8. Teenagers    9. Comics & Graphic Novels / General    10. Fantasy   

Editorial Review

Eoin Colfer describes his new book, Read more

Reviews (785)

Artemis Fowl
I myself am a huge fan of sci-fi fantasy. I like HP, Artemis Fowl, and others. So I'm not taking sides on HP vs. Artemis Fowl. I found this book enjoyable and a quick read. It was very different from what I expected, though. For instance, fairies are extremely technologically advanced. It's filled to the brim with excitement and adventure. Artemis captures LEP officer, Holly Short, and when she is freed, Artemis must escape the bio-bomb. I think that this is a good book for all ages.

A little slow
After reading the Harry Potter series with my son, we decided to try this book. I was a little disappointed in the story and the pace.
A fascinating tale
Artemis Fowl is an enthralling tale of a young boy, son of London underground criminal mastermind, trying to sustain his family fortune. By undergoing this quest, he must steal an ancient race's money: the fairies. He kidnaps one of LEP's greatest operatives, Holly Short, hostage. Can this young prodigy obtain his goal of the fairies gold?
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Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Science Fiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Fairies    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Kidnapping    8. Magic    9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    10. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Reviews (7)

I'm of two minds on this one.
I am a big Inkling fan. I am the only one I know personally who has read Charles Williams. I have read the LOTR, Silmarillion, and other Tolkien works. I have read most of C. S. Lewis and paged through OHEL and Allegory of Love. I have read biographies of Tolkien and Williams and several biographies of Lewis. I was excited when I read about this book and immediately bought it. I haven't read "Young Adult" fiction for a long time so I'm not sure how this book measures up. The book is well paced and it has some interesting scenes. It steals creatively from Lewis, Tolkien and other fantasy writers. It reminds me most of a Williams novel, but Williams, confusing as he is, wrote far more interesting novels than this. Though, I admit I had a hard time putting this book down.
Here There Be Dragons ... and a great story !
James A Owens' first book in the Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographics is a wonderful book. If you aren't one to normally read series books, give this one a chance. Mr. Owen has ingeniously layered history(WWI)with modern day myths(think the Loch Ness monster) fantasy(think Narnia and LotR) and even a bit of time travel(think ... well, just read the book).
Soars to stratospheric heights
Here's some interesting news...this book has already been picked up by Warner Brothers, and Batman Begins screenwriter David Goyer and Harry Potter producer David Heyman will be the producers of this movie. Boy was that fast! There is good reason that Hollywood is interested in this, because it is a story filled with magic from the first to last page.
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Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Science Fiction    3. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Fantasy    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Legends, Myths, & Fables - General    9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    10. Time travel    11. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Reviews (48)

PRETTIES
This book is just as exceptional as its predecessor, with thought-stirring ideas and perfectly placed plot twists to keep you reading until the last page is done. Now that Tally Youngblood is a pretty, she is living the high life with an avalanche of parties to attend; the hardest decision on her mind is what to wear to a costume party. Then a mysteriously familiar person gives her directions to a pouch containing something seemingly important. It takes all the wit her fuzzily pretty mind can manage to get it. When she does, she finds a letter written to herself from back when she was ugly. Along with it, she finds the cure described to her while with Maddy and David. In a last second decision, she and her newly-found boyfriend Zane split the pills. They both seem pretty much clear minded, even when Zane gets some headaches every few mornings. But when they escape to the New Smoke, Tally learns that something went terribly wrong. Another must-read with a cliff-hanger ending. Left me waiting in suspence for the final part in the trilogy.

Pretties School Review
When a random boy comes up to Tally Youngblood and hands her a note, she thinks that he is crazy. Tally Youngblood is your average pretty, going to parties, getting drunk, and not thinking more ahead than the next form of entertainment. See, in Tally's town when you turn sixteen you receive an operation that turns you from an ugly(normal person) to a mindless pretty. While Tally was still an Ugly, she was at a rebel camp called New Smoke that had figured out the operation ad was trying to spread the word about brain lesions you develop after the pretty cosmetic surgery. Tally volunteered herself to try the pills that the New Smoke made to see if they got rid of the lesions, but after she became pretty, she forgot everything about her life as an ugly and the pills. So whenthe random boy comes up to Tally and gives her the note she wrote giving permission to take the pills, she is bewildered. With her boyfriend Zane, she goes to take the pills, but splits them with him so that they each get one. Slowly things start to become clearer and clearer to them, but Zane starts getting huge headaches and Special Circumstances Doctor Cable is on their trail to find out about the pills. Suddenly Shay, Tally's best friend, stops talking to Tally and is found cutting herself on the arm with a group of friends. When Zane's headaches get so bad that he can barely get out of bed, Tally plans a hot air balloon escape to find the New Smoke to cure him. When they reach the New Smoke doctor, she says that Zane took the pill that eats away the lesions and your brain, and Tally took the pill that gets rid of the things that eat away the lesions, so Zane has had things eating away at his brain for a month or two, and Tally has had nothing happen to her brain. On their way back, their hot air balloon is overtaken by Special Circumstances hoverboards flown by the Cutters, a new brand of Specials led by none other than Shay, who takes Tally to Doctor Cable where she too becomes a Cutter. This is a swift and exiting read that has a predictable but exiting plot and a futuristic setting.
awesomely awesome book -olivia
When i first gotUglies i didn't know if I would like it.But by the end i loved it.I wanted to get Pretties wright away.When i got Pretties i loved it two .It was soooo good and i wanted to keep reading it. Now that i read those two i cant wait to read Specials. I think it is going to be really good. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Beauty, Personal    3. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    4. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Science Fiction    5. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    6. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    7. Experiments    8. Fiction    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Science Fiction / Fantasy (Young Adult)    11. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    12. Science fiction    13. Social Issues - General    14. Social Situations - New Experience    15. Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure   

Subjects:  1. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    2. Comics & Graphic Novels - Superheroes    3. Graphic Novels    4. Graphic Novels - Superheroes    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Comics & Graphic Novels / General    7. Fantasy   

Reviews (24)

Slowing down
Read all the books in this series. Booked and got this from my library, read it and returned it. Not as good as earlier books. That's it for this series. I may not read anymore. The author is now stuck in a rut

AUTHOR D.J. MacHALE DOES IT AGAIN WITH PENDRAGON BOOK 7
I discovered the Pendragon book series when I was at Middle School, and just looking at the cover of book 1 The Merchant of Death, I became very interested in them. I read the first book when I was fourteen-years old, and I instantly fell in love with them. The whole storyline about a teenage kid writing and sending journals to his best friends describing his incredible and frightening adventure through space and time is very interesting, and the characters are well defined and have great dialouge and characteristics.So far each book has fascinated me, and I've never once been disappointed by any one of them.
Outstanding!
I have been reading this series for a long time and every book has been my favorite. From the first book of this series to this last one, they are all very amazing books. The latest book, The Quillan Games, has a very interesting way of captivating the reader. There is action in every page of the book, and you never know what is going to happen next. Just when you think that you have figured things out, D.J. MacHale will throw in a twist that makes the reader want to read on to find out more. D.J. MacHale also has a way of revealing part of the truth about the whole series in every book, to allow the reader to try and figure out the truth and to think not only about that one book, but how to connect all the events in the whole series. The newest book includes a major breakthrough in that truth and creates you to want to read for hours on end. This is probably the most outstanding book I have ever read because of the way it enthralls the reader by the wonderful way that it is written. I recommend this book to all readers and I promise that they will love it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Adventures and adventurers    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Diaries    6. Fantasy    7. Fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    10. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Features

• Box set

Reviews (39)

Enchanted Foresr
The company sent thr book set that I ordered in a timely fashion and when I recieves them they were in perfect condition.

What fun!
I did not realize that these books were for young adults when I ordered them, so imagine my delight when I found that they are quite enjoyable for "old" adults also!! Lots of fun!

great books
I loved these books. I can't wait to read them to my kids. They have a great message to always be yourself. They are just a really good read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Fantasy    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Fairy tales    5. Fiction    6. Humorous Stories    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Kings, queens, rulers, etc.    9. Science Fiction / Fantasy (Young Adult)    10. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    11. Wizards    12. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Reviews (4)

true talent for creating the mystical
Leven Thumps returns! Obert Skye's second book, "Leven Thumps and the Whispered Secret," is a much-anticipated sequel to "Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo." In the first book readers learn about the existence of Foo and meet Leven, Winter, Clover and Geth among other delightful characters. In this second book, readers are able to explore Foo itself and hope that it will still be there at the end of the book.
Be in on the "secret"...

Excellent read!
This book is fun to read, so much so that it has laugh out loud moments.Obert Skye has a gift for writing.His story is concise, unpredictable, coherent, and a joy to read.The characters are worth reading about and doa nice job drawing you into their story.Fun for all ages.I highly recommend this book and the series. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    4. Fantasy    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic   

Reviews (37)

Great way to flesh out characters!
Hats off to Mr. Salvatore on taking a step away from Drizzt.I really enjoyed the way in which he fleshed out some of his characters in a bold new adventure.Nice to see other life within the Realms and the Wizards has given R.A. some breathing room to explore new stories.As he said in his interview with Wizards, it is a dungeon crawl and a very good one.
One of his best
this book will keep you reading all night! i read it while camping and i couldnt put it down. the vivid imagery helps you really SEE the story, and HEAR it. the characters are interesting and grow tremendously throughout the book. there are many jokes and subtle hints at things that Salvatore doesnt really describe. has a lot ofadult material in it though.

awesome read
this book kept me on the edge of my seat! it had me holding my breath in some places and chuckling in others. i own all of salvatore's books back (besides the sequel to this) and this made entreri more human. i will be definitely be getting the next book. it had a rather interesting ending. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    2. Fantasy - General    3. Fiction - Fantasy    4. Juvenile Fiction    5. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    6. Fantasy    7. Fiction / Fantasy / General   

Reviews (37)<