Reviews - January, 2001

The Deep by Peter Benchly reviewed by Ross W.

Mummy by Caroline B. Cooney reviewed by Victoria A., Elise L. and a friend

The Terrorist by Caroline B. Cooney reviewed by Justin C. and Kevin S.

The Runaways by Zilpha Keatley Snyder reviewed by Christina B.

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe reviewed by Patrick A. and Andrew R.

Swallowing Stones by Joyce McDonald reviewed by Lesley W. and Victoria L.

Draconian Measures by TSR Publishing reviewed by George O.

The House on Hackman's Hill by Joan Lowery Nixon reviewed by Cole H. and Daniel P.

Sphere by Michael Crichton reviewed by Jessica D. and David R.

The Lost World by Michael Crichton reviewed by Raj B. and David B.

The Cat Who Said Cheese by Lillian Jackson Brauhn reviewed by Matt M. and Ashley B.

The Thirteenth Warrior by Michael Crichton reviewed by Daniel R. and Paul S.

A Gift of Magic by Lois Duncan reviewed by Sara H. and Nikki T.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis reviewed by Ashley D. and Kim B.

A Rats Tale by Tor Seidler reviewed by Brandi G. and Judith G.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

= excellent
= very good
= pretty good
= not that great

Andalite Chronicles

by K.A. Applegate
Scholastic,1998
227 pages

The interesting fiction book, Andalite Chronicles, by K.A. Applegate, which takes place in outer space during, 1982 is about a part deer, part scorpion, part human alien named Alfangor-Sirinial-Shamtul who is being trained for war in order to keep the Yerks under control. We enjoyed reading this book because it has a lot of parts where they are about to have something bad happen they get away. We thought his book was interesting because there are lots of strange, gross, and interesting aliens. You should read this book because it is scary, strange and leaves cliffhangers. My favorite part was when they ended up in the mixed universe of part Andalite home world, part Yerk home world, and part Earth. We think you would like this book because it is fiction and is fun to read.

Mike G. and Andrew B.

Animorphs: The Discovery

by K.A. Applegate
Scholastic, 1997
213 pages

The strange sci-fi book, Animorphs: The Discovery, by K.A. Applegate, which takes place in a present day unknown city, is about a brave, fearless group of friends who are saving the world. We enjoyed this book because it was exciting, and we never knew what was going to happen. It was an interesting book because there were so many things happening at once. I would recommend this book to anyone who like action sci-fi. The most interesting part of the book was when the "ANIMORPHS" and the "YEERKS" fought in David's bedroom, and had a huge fight. Some people might like this book because it has a lot of action.

Matt S. and Jared L.

Animorphs 8

by K.A. Applegate
Scholastic,1997
227 pages

The outstanding science fiction book The Animorphs #8, by K.A. Applegate, which takes place in an unamed city in the present day and night, is about an Andalite named Aximili Esgarrouth Isthill, who almost kills Visser3 in order to avenge his brother's death [prince Elfangor]. We enjoy this book because it was action packed and fun to read. Our favorite part was when Ax tried to kill Visser3, but failed. The interesting part about this book is that the animorphs always skip school and they never get in trouble for skipping school. We think that other people should read this book because it is interesting. It depends on who you are, but everyone would like it because there are action parts, adventure parts, sad parts and a variety of other types of scenes.

Mikael T. and Scott L.

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

by Judy Blume

The interesting fiction book, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, by Judy Blume, which takes place in New Jersey during the 1980's, is about a quiet, confused girl named Margaret who faces the problems every young adolescent goes through in order to find out that she's not alone. We enjoyed this book because we think it is something that would be good for every young girl to know about. Even though it may not be real, it produces a good point of view from a girl that's just trying to fit in.

Elissa S. and Shannon C.

The Baby-sitter 2

by R.L. Stine
Scholastic Inc.,1991
166 pages

The frightening horror book, The Baby-Sitter 2, by R.L. Stine, takes place in a small town during modern times. Its about a high school baby sitter named Jenny who spends her time baby sitting for a young boy in order to make money. Whitney and I think that someone else should read this book because it is interesting how it makes you want to keep reading on and on. The author R.L. Stine makes you think as if it could happen to anyone. We would recommend this book to anybody.

Whitney B. and Debra G.

The Big Night

by Francine Pascal
Bantam Books, 1998
198 pages

The funny,unbelievable fictional book,The Big Night, by Francine Pascal takes place at Sweet Valley High. This book takes place before & during the pre prom. It's about two twins named Elizabeth & Jessica Wakefield who are caught up in a love triangle. It's interesting how Jessica can back stab her best friend and her sister. We love the way Jessica is so determined to get a date for the prom that she breaks a promise with her best friend. She even tries to take her own sister's boyfriend! Throughout the whole book one question stayed on our minds, "How far will she go?"

Elizabeth T. and Tabitha P.

A Break With Charity

by Ann Rinaldi
Harcourt Brace & Company, 1992
299 pages

The captivating historical fictional novel, A Break With Charity by Ann Rinaldi which takes place in Salem, Massachusetts during the 1700's, is about an outgoing, courageous girl named Susanna English who revealed the truth of the Salem Witch Trials in order to save her family. The descriptions of the real and fictional historical characters and the events were detailed and helped pull the reader into the story. For example, at the beginning, Rinaldi subtlety described how Susanna cam to be where she was. Another thing about the character descriptions is that Rinaldi doesn't make the characters seem historical. You feel like you know them and you forget it's just a story that took place long ago. Rinaldi blends history and fiction so well that it is hard to tell what is real and what isn't. This book was very well researched and brought the dark times of the Salem Witch Trials to life. Overall, A Break With Charity was an interesting climatic book worth reading.

Katie D. and Melissa P.

The Cat Who said Cheese

by Lillian Jackson Brauhn
Jove Book, 1989
267 Pages

This mind-twisting, mysterious book is about a journalist who lives with his two siamese cats. One day a mysterious lady comes to Pickax and stays in the Pickax Hotel. No one knows who she is or what she is doing there. Qwilleran meets with her in his cabin and they start to talk. She is going to make him dinner, but he doesn't have all that she needs. So he goes to the store and hears a loud boom! People are screaming that the Hotel Blew up! Qwilleran quickly drives home. The mysterious lady is gone. Who is she and who is she trying to hide from? The cats are always getting into mysteries, and Qwilleran is their dictator. This excellent mystery book by Lillian Jackson Brauhn is part of her The Cat Who... series. Will Qwilleran find the mysterious lady and who is trying to kill her?

Matt M. and Ashley B.

Chamber of Fear

by R.L. Stine

This terrifying horror book by R.L. Stine, Chamber of Fear, takes place in a small town during 1998. The main character is Lindsay who becomes an assistant to an insane magician who killed her mom and wants to kill her now. We enjoyed this book because it was scary. It was also interesting because we couldn't guess who's good or bad. I think someone should read this if they want a good scare. Our favorite part is when the magician is sucked into the chamber of fear. We think fans of R.L.Stine's writing will enjoy this book.

Nick L. and John S.

Charlie & The Chocolate Factory

by Roald Dahl

The funny fiction book, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, which takes place in a chocolate factory during modern time, is about a poor, skinny boy named Charlie, who finds a golden ticket. Then he gets to go to the chocolate factory. We liked the part in the chocolate factory because all of the candy sounds so good. The everlasting gobstoppers sound especially scrumdiddlyumptious. Our favorite character was the man who sold Charlie the candy bar because he was a nice guy. The oompaloompas were sort of scary.

Emily S. and Meaghan M.

Coma

by Robin Cook
Signet, 1994
305 pages

The intriguing medical thriller, Coma, by Doctor Robin Cook which takes place in present day Boston, Massachusetts, is about an adventurous, rambunctious, and persistent Susan Wheeler who risks her life in order to unmask the secret behind the rising toll of innocent lives being stolen at the Boston Memorial Hospital. Robin Cook's training and knowledge of the medical field allows him to make the book more realistic and technical without wandering too far out of our comprehension. For instance, ".... negative for significant neurological disorders" is something we {laymen} can still understand although it's medical jargon. Another thing that made this book interesting was the fact that Robin Cook used a woman as the hero. Not that authors are sexist, but society has come to expect heroes instead of heroines. Susan Wheeler saves the day, has innumerable close encounters with sinister hit-men, and kindles a romance while researching coma victicms. The most interesting thing about Coma is the descriptions. Robin Cook seems to make everyday words spring to life with creative synonyms. To illustrate,".... any moment she would be deservedly reprimanded." This shows she isn't going to be just punished; she deserves to be really scolded. The only drawback is the profanity and the sexuality. Granted this is an adult novel, but it doesn't enhance the book's story line. If you're mature enough to handle the adult content, Coma is an exceptional novel, and we recommend it to anyone.

Meghan S. and Chelsea B.

The Dead Girlfriend

by R. L. Stine
Pocket Books, 1997

The terrifying, horror novel The Dead Girlfriend by R.L.Stine, which takes place in Shocklin Falls, during 1993 in late April, is about a sweet, adventurous girl named Annie Kiernan who must learn more than she wants to in order to know the truth about Johnathan. We recomend this book for readers mature enough to handle the suspense and horror of this book.

Aimee G. and Tanya H.

Death on the Nile

by Agatha Christie
Mass Market Paperhack, Republished 1992
321 pages

The gripping mystery book, Death on the Nile, by Agatha Christie, which takes place on a boat on the Nile River during the early 1900's, is about a crafty, smart, detective Hercule Poroit who needs to find out who is the killer on the boat to bring them to justice. The book was enjoyable because you never knew what would happen next. The best part was the shock ending. Although the beginning was slow, it picked up in the second chapter. The book was filled with deception and betrayal in a fast-paced action-enviroment. We recommend this book because Agatha Christie has a wonderful style of writing and captures your mind and your attention in a captivating murder novel.

Katherine H. and Kathryn S.

The Deep

by Peter Benchley
Columbia, 1976
300 pages

The thrilling fiction book,The Deep , by Peter Benchley, which takes place in Bermuda at ten o'clock in the morning, is about a cunning, smart, and curious man named Sanders who has to deal with whether or not to sell an object or keep it in order to stop himself from going mad over it. This book is great to read in your spare time. It just kind of pulls you in and it gets pretty exciting at some points. Its like going into a dark, mysterious room and the door is slightly ajar. I would recommend it for kids 12 and up. The characters aren't really described, but later on in the story you can picture them in the book (or on the back cover). It is kind of hard to keep up with, and in some places it gets kind of boring, but the rest is pretty much action. The Deep is a thrilling, exciting edge-of-your-seat book that is very fun to read.

Ross W.

Dinotopia

by James Gurney
1993
160 pages

This tantalizing fantasy book called Dinotopia, by James Gurney,which takes place on a uncharted land during 1862-1864, is about a courageous, daring determined person named Will, who has to achieve becoming a sky bax in order to reach his dream. Full of 160 pages of artistic mythological realistic paintings beyond belief . Is a story that is fit for all ages. This strange, yet majestic world of dinosaurs and humans comes to life by the author, James Gurney. Follow Will through his exciting adventure of tree town and all the way to Water Fall City. Full of danger and adventure with many fierce dinosaurs. Almost get lost in the world beneath, and follow Will on his sky bax as he flies and soars through the sky.

Laura D. and Madelena P.

Draconian Measures

TSR Publishing,, 2000
around 400 pages

The enthralling story of this amazing fantasy novel, Draconian Measures, which is written by much of the TSR staff, which is a Branch of Wizards of the Coast, takes place in the well known world of Krynn, where the War of the Lance has passed in older novels and the Chaos War has begun. A group of Draconians, who have lived in peace in their own village since the destruction of the Second Dragon army, have stumbled across a way to save their race... Carrying precious cargo from the depths of the mountains of Thorbardin, the Draconians struggle behind their commander Kang to survive and keep the treasure safe. Kang tries to find more of his kind as their are only Male draconians and are a slowly dying race. Created by magic, the draconians once had females to fight at their side. But seeing a danger of Draconians overrunning their masters mages sealed off the Female eggs, never allowing them to hatch. Kang is remarkably honorable for a dragon man, very resourceful, and has the ability of superb leadership. Kang and his company stumble across the fortress of many remaining Draconians, constructed by their only General. Kand must keep the females a secret from the new warriors until threat has passed. Kang still believes the female draconians are too fragile to train them in Self Defense and allow nothing except his most trusted men near them. Kand comes to see that the females are just as competant as the males and grudgingly accepts that they are of a warrior race.

George O.

The Dragon and the Ghetto Caper

by E.L. Konigsburg
Aladdin Paperbacks, 1988 (republished 1998)
128 pages

The unique fiction book, The Dragon in the Ghetto Caper by E.L. Konigsburg, which takes place in the suburbs during the present time, is about a curious, dragon- loving boy named Andy who is caught inside a gambling network. One of the reasons we really enjoyed this book was because it was very original and had interesting characters. Andy, for instance is very interested in dragons and wants to be a detective. Edie, Andy's sidekick, is in her late 20's or early 30's. Sometimes she embarrasses Andy, get together they are the perfect crime solving duo.

Lauren C. and Jenny J.

Elizabeth is Mine

by Francine Pascal
Bantam Books, 1997
194 pages

This story is about how realationships begin and how coubples face different problems. It takes place in Sweet Valley High, in Sweet Valley. The author is a writer who writes many books about Sweet Valley High and many T.V. episodes. The author is Francine Pascal. The book that we are reading is called Elizabeth is Mine. It is about two twins, Elizabeth and Jessica. They live in Sweet Valley. Elizabeth is Mine is a love story. Elizabeth and Todd have been going out forever, until she meets Devon, the new guy at school. She goes out with Devon behind Todd's back. Jessica finds out what Elizabeth is doing and tells Todd. Devon and Todd get in a huge fight over Elizabeth. After this whole sitch. Todd and Elizabeth break-up after all those years. We would deffinitly reccomend this book to our friends because its a book about relationships. When we finished this book we really like the book, it was so good! It was so good we couldn't put it down. We would really reccomend this book to other girls!

Maria A. and Alair L.

Esio Trot

by Roald Dahl
73 pages

The marvelous fantasy book, Esio Trot, by Roald Dahl, which takes place in a small apartment building during the present time is about an old man named Mr. Hoppy who wants to marry Miss Hoppy. In order to marry her he has to get her to fall in love with him. The part of the book that we liked the most is that Mr. Hoppy tried so hard to get Miss Silver to fall in love with him. The part of the book that we disliked is that Mr. Hoppy never would invite Miss Hoppy over till the end of the book.

Megan W., Melissa P. and Sophia C.

The Face on the Milk Carton

by Caroline B.Cooney
Bantam Doubleday Dell Books, 1993
217 pages

The gripping suspense novel, The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney which takes place in Connecticut during present day, is about a sweet, dizzy redhead named Janie who has to face her parents in order to figure out if she was kidnapped. Janie's life is a harsh one; she is a very realistic character. You don't know if Janie's parents are really hers, or if she was kidnapped. It's the perfect book for young adults. This book is so suspensful, you can't put it down. It's gripping and provacotive. One of the best books for teens. You get so caught up in The Face on the Milk Carton, that you are glued to your seat. The end keeps you dangling, and wanting more. All together The Face on the Milk Carton is the best book for young readers.

Kyle O. and Matt L.

The Face on the Milk Carton

by Caroline Cooney
Doubleday dell Publising Group, 1990
184 pages

The remarkable mystery book,The Face on the Milk Carton, by Caroline B. Cooney, which takes place in New Jersey during the 1990's, is about a curious,fascinating, young teenager named Janie Johnson who finds a young girl's face on a milk carton during lunch. Why does it looks so much like her? She needs to solve the mystery in order to stop having hallucinations. We enjoyed the thrilling mystery and suspense of the book. We thought the part where Jenny found out that she was kidnapped was very exciting. We wanted to know what would happen next. Would Jamie take action? It's all the more reason to read this book. We enjoyed the book because it had a little bit of everything in it: romance, action, etc. We wouldn't know of someone else's taste in books, but if you like mystery and suspense and exciting adventure, The Face on the Milk Carton is the book for you.

Angelique F. and Lindsay T.

Final Friends, Book 2: The Dance

by Christopher Pike
Pocket Books,1988
226 pages

The mysterious, fiction novel, Final Friends, Book 2: The Dance, by Christopher Pike, which takes place in Tabb High School in the 1980's, is about a group of seven teenagers who are trying to find the murderer of their dear friend Alice, while trying to support each other with their own personal problems. We enjoyed the book because of the creepy and mysterious characters and the way every character led their life. That part was very interesting, but the fact that the murderer's identity is unknown is the most interesting part of the book. We both thought that any reader that likes mystery, suspense, and drama would love this book because in addition to the scary parts of this book, there are a variety of love stories going on at the same time. However, both of us didn't like how one of the suspects came and killed an aunt of one of the characters, for it was too bizarre. The part we liked was when Jessica, a main character, was getting ready for homecoming. Also, when Maria, Jessica's friend, was crippled, she blamed it on Jessica, for no reason. That brought more problems that Jessica had to deal with. Many people that are looking for a really gruesome story would not like this book that much because it isn't a "slasher" or "monster/horror" book, but rather a more realistic book of a teen's life.

Kimi S. and Nicole U.

Funhouse

by Diane Hoh

Funhouse by Diane Hoh is a thrilling story about a girl named Tess and a deadly psycho who is out to get Tess and her friends in the horrifying Boardwalk. Funhouse was greatly enjoyable with mysterious and suspicious pranks that can throw you off track. Whenever we thought we knew who the psycho person was, someone else got framed. You should read this suspenseful thriller for excitement and fun. Funhouse will send a chill up your back. The only part in this book that you might not enjoy is the very beginning because it is not as exiting as the rest of the book. People will love this book with all of its exciting moments and unsolved mysteries.

Jessica N. and Rebecca S.

A Gift of Magic

by Lois Duncan

The mysterious fantasy book, A Gift of Magic, by Lois Duncan, which takes place in southern Florida, during the 90's, is about a young intelligent, imaginative girl named Nancy, who faces having a gift of magic, in order to learn how to control the powers she has. Her sister, Kirby, and brother, Brandon, have powers too, Kirby the gift of dance and Brandon the gift of music. She has to deal with schoolwork, Kirby's talent, Brandon's annoyance, and her gift of magic. Kirby helps her to use her magic for good use, while Kirby is starving herself so that she will be better at ballet. One day Kirby falls down the stairs at school while Nancy is watching her, and Nancy thinks it was her magic that caused the accident. After having her leg checked out, the doctors found that Kirby's foot was broken and she may never dance again. Kirby is heartbroken and tries everythng to dance again. This is a great book and really interesting. We give this book 4 stars ****.

Sara H. and Nikki T.

Hatchet

by Gary Paulsen
196 pages

The exciting adventure book, Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen which takes place in the Canadian Wilderness during present time, is about a 13 teen year old named Brian who likes food and who survives with only a hatchet in the deadly wilderness in order to live. We enjoyed this book because it was nonstop boiling excitement. There was nothing boring about this book. But we thought that it was impede that he had a hatchet to go to his dad's house. No one else should read this book because it is too good for anyone else. We liked the part when Brian got hit by the porcupine because the author really described how much blood and gore there was. Everyone would like this book because it is a Newberry Honor Book and is never boring.

Matt W. and Steven S.

Hatchet

by Gary Paulsen
Bantam Double Day Dell Books, 1991
153 pages

The compelling adventure book Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, which takes place in the Canadian Forest during the present is about a young troubled boy named Brian who survives a deadly plane crash and gets stuck in the Canadian Forest. In order to live, Brian must learn how to survive on his own. We enjoyed reading this book because it was an exciting adventure, and it left us hanging after every chapter. I think other people should read this book because it is really interesting and it makes you feel like your really there.

Kyle O. and Matt L.

The House on Hackman's Hill

by Joan Lowery Nixon
Scholastic Inc.,1985
126 pages

The suspensful mystery book, The House on Hackman's Hill by Joan Lowry Nixon, which takes place in a haunted mansion during the present day, is about two children named Jeff and Debbie, who spend a night in the mansion in order to get a reward for finding the mummy. This book keeps you in nail-biting suspense, not knowing what will happen next. The plot unfolds in many mysterious ways. We liked this book because it kept us waiting to see what happened next. It was scary at times, but never too scary. It was interesting because it was like real-life, but the mummy made it a little different. It made us think that there really could something like that out there. Someone else should read this book because it makes you want to continue reading non-stop. If you like suspense and horror you would really like this book. Our favorite part was when Mr. Carsten, the person who use to live there when he was a boy, was asleep in his room and heard scratching at his door. It was the he mummy looking for his eyes. This part kept us holding our breath the whole time. Another good part was when Jeff and Debbie were being chased around the house by the mummy; the part also kept us holding our breath. Overall The House on Hackman's Hill was great. We would reccomend this book to anyone, so get reading!

Cole H. and Daniel P.

The House on Hackman's Hill

Joan Lowery Nixon
Apple Paperbacks, 1985
126 pages

The exciting horror novel, The House on Packman's Hill, by Joan Lowery Nixon, which takes place in a haunted mansion during the 1980's, is about two adventurous kids named Jeff and Debbie who are trying to locate the mysterious mummy to get a 10,000 dollar reward. This book, The House on Hackman's Hill has a story line for younger readers. The whole story is about a mummy and this Egyptian god, Annubus. They need a lot more thrill, horror, and a slightly different plot to save this book. Jeff and Debbie are almost caught by the god Annubus a couple of times. Joan Lowery Nixon has written a lot more older age group books and is a great author.

Lindsay T. and Kimberly M.

I Know What You Did Last Summer

by Lois Duncan
257 pages

The extraordinary mystery book, I Know What You Did Last Summer, by Lois Duncan, which takes place in a small fishing town during the Summer, is about a sympathetic, college-bound teenager named Julie James who faces a menacing killer. First of all, this book is worth reading because Lois Duncan is always keeping suspence. She set this book up so that there always is a big event happening to keep you reading. Or what she will do is make you think that there is going to be a big event, but there really isn't goimg to be one. Secondly, Lois Duncan is very creative in writing this book. She often makes you curious and suspicious about certain people. Finally, Lois Duncan really enjoys surprising you in this book. Since there is a killer, she likes for him to pop up in weird places, times and where you do not expect him too. In conclusoin, I Know What You Did Last Summer is a brilliant book that we recommend for anybody to read.

Brittany T., Cryslyn P. and Tarah S.

I Know What You Did Last Summer

by Lois Duncan

It all started with drunk driving and a bunch of high school kids. We enjoyed this book because it was a thriller and you never know what's going to happen. What was so interesting about this book was that it never told you what happened; it always left you wondering. Someone else should read this book because it is very interesting and it never tells you the answer. The part of the book that we liked is the part where they hit the guy and throw him in the water and his eyes popped open. We think others would like how Julie and Ray survived.

Ashley S. and Kevin S.

I Know What You Did Last Summer

by Lois Duncan
Mass Market Paperback,1990
198 pages

I Know What You Did Last Summer was overall not that good.The book we suspected would be good, but is was disapointing.The action/thriller genre was not that thrilling.The book accomplished keeping the reader hanging on, but is was disapointing because we exspected a better thriller.We like the author and her style, but we did not like this particiular book.We look forward to reading her other books, especially Killing Mr.Griffin.

Jamie P. and Donald H.

The Invisible Man

by H. G. Wells
Barronet Books
238 pages

This horror book, The Invisible Man, by H.G. Wells which takes place in the southern part of England at the date of 1896, is about a scientist named Jack Griffin who became invisible on accident, but can't regain visibility. I thought this book was very interesting because they mixed both realism and science fiction. If I told somebody to read this book it would most likely be because of how different it was from most other books. The best part of the book was when the Invisible man, Jack Griffin, was eating, and you could see the food being digested.

Brandon G.

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

The adventurous fantasy novel James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl, which takes place in England in present day, is about a young, kind boy named James who rolled away from his wicked aunts in a peach with the help of his abnormal sized bug friends in order to make his life better. The bugs are a ladybug, a centipede, a spider, a grasshopper and a glowworm. James accomplished his goals by getting away from his aunts that treated him like trailer trash. We think others will enjoy this book because it's adventurous, and it has a good story line so it keeps your interest. We don't think there were any boring parts, but our favorite part was when the peach was getting eaten by the sharks and when James found his way to the pit of the peach. We encourage others to read this book because it is full of descriptive words to keep you interested.

Adrienne H. and Chloe B.

Jurassic Park

by Michael Crichton
Ballantine Books, 1990
399 pages

The exciting adventure novel, Jurassic Park, by Michael Crichton is a book which takes place in an uncivilized jungle, during modern times. Jurassic Park is about a stunning, mysterious archeologist named Dr. Grant. While Dr. Grant is on the island, he saves many people from the hazardous dinosaurs. We really enjoyed this book, for there were some very exciting parts. The only boring part in the book was the beginning were all they do is talk. The best part was when they were on the river and the t-rex was after them, but luckily they got away. Other people would like this book because it is adventurous and exciting. After the boring part, it starts to get interesting, so you should follow along carefully. We think this book is great book to read.

Jacob E. and Nick K.

Killing Mr. Griffin

by Lois Duncan
Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers, 1978
223 pages

The excellent mystery book, Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan, which takes place in a small town in Connecticut during the nineties, is about a moody harsh-grading English teacher named Brian Griffin who is kidnapped by a group of his students in order to frighten him. We enjoyed reading this book for many reasons. First of all, it was very intense which made us want to read more. Second of all, the events that happened were unexpectedly surprising, like when two of the students go to rescue Mr. Griffin and find him dead. Finally, we were always wondering what would happen next. Reading this book was a very hair raising experience, and we recommend it to all mystery lovers!

Karley M. and Kim R.

The Last Vampire

by Christopher Pike
1991
203 pages

Christopher Pike, the author of The Last Vampire, Writes top notch horror with dialogue that is delightfully entertaining, and a plot that really makes you think,"What if it really was?" or, "Is someone I know a vampire?" We think The Last Vampire really shows what Christopher Pike thinks of Sci-fi. It seems from all his other books, that he likes Sci-fi, and in our opinion, he's pretty good at it. The Last Vampire is a story of a young girl who is a 5,000 year old vampire, who's met a detective who's discovering information about her. To conceal her identify from the rest of the world, she breaks his ribs and kills him,only to find his son, Ray. She and Ray get into lots of trouble with a thought dead vampire. The whole story goes in a twist of scenarios which lead to many more sequels.

George F. and Christian L.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

by C.S. Lewis
Harper Collins, 1978
189 pages

The original fantasy book, The Lion. the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis,which takes place in Narnia during the time of Aslan, is about four wonderful,courageous kids named Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy who travel to Narnia to save all who live there from the spells of the White Witch. This book was enjoyable because of its great adventures and its creativity to help our imaginations come alive. This book was interesting because it had many fictional characters and scenes, including when Aslan set all the unicorns, birds, foxes, satyrs, dwarves, lions and centaurs free. We enjoyed the part when Aslan fought the White Witch. She killed him because he surrendered. The magic of the old days brought him back because she killed him and he let her. We also enjoyed The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe when the White Witch is finally taken care of, and Narnia was brought back to normal. We recommend The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe for third and fourth graders because of all the adventurous challenges these characters are faced with in a most beautifully written and enchanting book.

Brittany T. and Rosalyn K.

The Long Patrol

by Brian Jacques
G.P. Putnam & Sons,1998
358 pages

The radiant fantasy-adventure novel, The Long Patrol, by Brian Jacques which takes you to a place in the woodland during the middle ages, is about a heroic young rabbit named Tamo who faces a great army of rapscallions in order ti save Redwall. Tamo's life long dream was to become part of the Long Patrol. He set off with Russia (a traveling young squirrel) to start him on his journey. They met some troops from the long patrol. They were attacked by rats. Russia died when she was protecting a baby badger. This is only the beginning of a very exiting book. If you like action, adventure and fantasy you should read this book. It has all three in it. We really enjoyed this book and we hope you enjoy it to.

Toby W. and Ryan M.

The Lost Mind

by Christopher Pike
230 pages

The intense horror book, The Lost Mind, by Christopher Pike which takes place in a small city, during the present time, is about a girl who kills against her own will and doesn't remember a thing. The girl wakes up near a pond drenched in blood and doesn't know what happened or who she is. Everybody thinks she killed her best friend but did she? We really enjoyed reading this book. There were a lot parts that made you think. There were hardly any boring parts. It was a very entertaining book.

Kyle S. and Ryan B.

The Lost World

by Micheal Crichton
Ballantine Books, 1995
430 pages

This engrossing book, is an action packed novel and a great book. The Lost World, by Michael Crichton, which takes place in a remote island in the Pacific Ocean during the years of the 1970's, is about a team of scientists who discovered the island of Nebula, which was crawling with dinosaurs (mostly carnivores). Richard Levine and Dr. Throne are the main characters. These two must protect the rest of the team from all of the dangers on the island. Sarah Harding, who arrives late, saves the team from the T-rexes. The most exciting part of this book for me was when the adult t-rexes found the team's trailor and they push it of a cliff. The thrilling part is if the team made it out in time or if they fell to their doom. Read it and find out! Overall, I think this book was good and filled with action. The book's character's have a scientific conversation on evoluton and why there are so many predators surviving off of very few herbivores. My partner thought it was a good book, too. His favorite part was the chase scene with the rapters. All books have a problem incoporated into the story. Dodgson is an evil scientist, who plans to steal dinosaur eggs. Read the book and see if he succeeds.

Raj B. and David B.

Matilda

by Roald Dahl
Puffin Novels,1988
240 pages

Matilda was a extraordinary book by a profound and legendary author, Roald Dahl. Matilda had a brilliant plot and a spectacular ending. Matilda is a book that both children and adults will love to read over and over again. This two-hundred and forty page book is packed with imagination. Amusing and impressive chapters will keep you reading. The book is also amazingly illustrated with wonderful pictures that make it unforgettable. Matilda is a smart charming little girl whose family thinks she is worthless. Her school is terrorized by her evil principal, "the Trunchbull." But her teacher is astonishingly kind. This publication of this special story is a mesmerizing edition to those who read reread and adore Matilda. Matilda by Roald Dahl is a "must have"!

Stephanie N. and Monika M.

The Moon of the Gray Wolves

by Jean Craighead George

The nature fiction book, The Moon of the Gray Wolves, by Jean C. George, which takes place in the woods during nightime and daytime, is about a curious, smart, jumpy wolf who has puppies that must try to live on their own in order to make the puppies live well on their own.

Kristin

Mummy

by Caroline B. Cooney
Scholastic Inc., 2000
213 pages

The eccentric adventure book, The Mummy , by Caroline B. Cooney, which takes place in a small town in the New England area during the present era, is about a daring young lady named Emlyn who, with the help of her friends, steals a mummy from a local museum in order to do something evil for once in her life. I would recommand this book to all my friends. The book was action packed and filled with page turning mysteries that made my brow sweat with excitement. Emlyn is a girl that is a good student and a good person. She has the urge to do a terrible crime. She has been planning and researching her theft. Will it work? Will she get caught? The only way to find out, is to read the book (or you could have a friend tell you).

Victoria A. , Elise L. and a Friend

My Teacher Fried My Brains

by Bruce Coville
Pocket Books, 1991
136 pages

The strange fiction book, My Teacher Fried My Brains by Bruce Coville which takes place in Kennituck Falls, during the seventh grade, is about a big mean bully named Duncan Dougal who knows that one of his teachers is an alien. In order to prove it's true, he has to investigate. We think that it is neat how the alien could freeze Duncan and carry him around using a wooden spoon. The author does a good job of keeping us interested with what is happening in the book. The most interesting part in the book is where Susan finds Duncan and they can both hear Peter Thompson, who was lost in space, talking to them. At the end of the book Susan and Duncan agree to go out to space to try to save the Earth. To be continued...?

Bryan B. and Gene R.

No Answer

by R. L. Stine
Golden Books, 1998
150 pages

The excellent horror book, No Answer by R. L. Stine, which takes place in Shaddyside High during 1998, is about a sensitive, mysterious, girl named Clarissa who tries to contact her dead sister in order to find out who killed her. Clarissa Turner gets haunted by her dead sister and tries to contact her through a psychic hotline. This book was very exciting to read. We couldn't put it down. It so intense when she was hunting down her sister's killer. In a way she won't get put in a mental hospital again. So don't miss out on the great book No Answer by R. L. Stine.

Kevin G. and John S.

Nothing But the Truth

by Avi
Mass Market Paperback, 1993
224 pages

The real-life fiction novel, Nothing But the Truth by Avi, which takes place on the west coast of the United States during the early 1990's, is about a troubled young man named Phillip Mallony who gets in trouble for singing the National Anthem in class. This book is quite interesting. It's not all that great, but if you like stories that drag on then you you should read this book. It was written well, but the story can lose you easily. Phillip, has to make very important decisions throughout the whole book. This book is boring. It's not that kind of book where you couldn't put in down. It's the book you don't ever want to pick up! It is the book you would put yourself to sleep with. Nothing But the Truth is the kind of book that shows what teen life is like, but not in all cases. This book is about how much trouble you can get into for the smallest things. We won't recommend this book to people who don't like boring books.

Kristina H. and Amelia L.

Once Upon a Time

by Francie Pascal
Bantam Books, 1997
199 pages

The exciting, adventurous love story, Once Upon a Time by Francine Pascal, which takes place in France in modern times is about love struck teenage twins named Jessica and Elizabeth. They fall in love with princes that have mysterious secrets in order to find their true loves. The best part of the book was when Liz and Jess first arrived to the palace and were getting settled and Jessica was throwing her clothes everywhere. My other favorite part about the book was when the prince came on a white horse and got Liz and took her on a picnic at a pond. This book is recommended for girls 11-14 because it is about two teenage twins who have different perspectives in life. They fall in love with so-called princes. While that all occurs, they are stuck watching three kids who are spoiled brats.

Nicole H. and Natalie S.

The Outsiders

by S.E. Hinton
Viking Press, 1967
156 pages

This action-packed, fiction book, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton which takes place in the alleys and parks during the late 70s, is about a fighting, stuck up teen ager named Ponyboy who's gang accidentally kills somebody in a gang fight in order to not fight anymore. The action packed, fiction book, The Outsiders By S.E. Hinton which takes place in the alleys and the parks during the late 80s, is about a fighting, stuck up teen ager named Ponyboy who's gang accidentally kills somebody in a fight. I really enjoyed this book because I like suspense and fighting. What was interesting about this book was that someone died and the author brought to mind what could happen if you get into a serious fight. If you like fighting and suspense you should definitely like this book. I liked there last fight when some one got really injured and killed because they learned their lesson. I think you'll like the action, but when there are no fights going on its sorta boring.

David B. and Chris R.

The Pit and the Pendulum

by Edgar Allen Poe

The suspenseful horror story, "The Pit and the Pendulum," by Edgar Allen Poe, which takes place in a French dungeon during the 1800's is about an educated, terrified, prisoner that has no name who has to figure out a way to escape from a pit and a pendulum in order to save his life. I would recommend this story to advanced readers with a wide vocabulary. It is great for people who love suspense. Many people may find the story confusing at first, but further into the back it becomes clearer and more interesting. All in all it's a difficult yet worthwhile story to read.

Andrew B. and Ariana C.

Ramona Forever

by Beverly Cleary
192 pages

The mesmerizing fiction book, Ramona Forever by Beverly Cleary, which takes place in Oregon during the mid 70's, is about a playful, unpredictable, and mischievous girl named Ramona Quimby who faces the challenge of having a new baby sister and must prove to herself that she is still loved by her family. We think that the most interesting part of this book was when Ramona and Beezus, Ramona's older sister, found out that their mom was going to have a baby. Beezus and Ramona had noticed their mom was getting profoundly chubby around the waist and was having very strange food cravings. Also, their dad was acting very weird. Ramona and Beezus eventually found out that their mom was going to have a baby. We suggest you read this book because it is mesmerizing and funny. Ramona is a very interesting character and is fun to read about. Once you pick this book up, you will be reluctant to put it down.

Natalie C. and Eden H.

A Rats Tale

by Tor Seidler
Fred Marcellino Publisher, 1986
186 pages

The respectable fictional book, A Rats Tale, by Tor Seidler, which takes place in a city park, is about a lonesome, small, good-hearted mouse named Montague Mad-Rat. He gets up his courage and finds a lot of new friends in order to have a happier life knowing who his uncle really was. He also gets a girlfriend who was very hard to win over. He makes a lot of new friends and saves everyones houses. This book was satisfactory, but it was not very exciting. There was hardly any suspense. It was pretty good altogether but we only recommend this book to people who would like to learn about an animal's perspective on life and doesn't mind that it is not the most exciting book in the world. We thought A Rats Tale was pretty good and that you will enjoy reading it.

Brandi G. and Judith G.

The River

by Gary Paulsen
Bantam Doubleday Dell Books, 1991
133 pages

The suspenseful adventure, The River, by Gary Paulsen, which takes place in the wilderness during the present, is about a very smart, strong boy named Brian who has to raft down a river with a man who has a coma in order to save his life. We recommend this book to people who have read Hatchet because you wouldn't understand the plot of The River. Even if you don't like adventure you will like The River.

Jason D. and Matt W.

The River

by Gary Paulen

The Newberry Award Winner, The River, by Gary Paulsen, which takes place in the Canadian wilderness during present day, is about a courageous, independent, fifteen year old boy who travels miles and miles down river in order to save his unconscious companion. This book, which is the companion to Hatchet, is very adventurous. We enjoyed reading this novel because it was exciting and kept us wanting to read more. We also never knew what would happen next. Reading The River taught us some things too, for example: never touch anything electric during a lightning storm, and always be cautious. Overall, this book was not only fun to read, but educational and, we recommend this book to fifth graders and up.

Ashley C. and Kailie O.

Robison Crusoe

by Daniel Defoe
Scholastic,1964
356 pages

The book, Robinson Crusoe, brings out the thrill of being on a deserted island. This adventure book, Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe, takes place in a deserted island during the spring. It is about a person, Robinson Crusoe, who gets stranded on an island after a scary ship wreck. Robinson Crusoe was striving to find food, shelter, and water. I enjoy this book because of the adventure and suspense. It was interesting to me that the wreck didn't kill him and that he ended up alive on an island by himself. I think someone else should read this book because it shows hard work and that you can make it through hard times. I thought that the exciting adventure scene of him trying to find a way to get off the island. I think others will like how Robinson is so dedicated to find a way to get of the island and into his home.

Patrick A. and Andrew R.

Romeo & Juliet

by Willam Shakespeare

The thriller romance play, Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare, which takes place in Verona, Italy during the Renaissance, is about two crazy romantic young people named Romeo & Juliet who kill themselves in order to be together. This book is interesting to us because of how two people would rather kill them selves instead of being separated from each other. It is also interesting how each family is fighting with each other so much they don't realize how much Romeo & Juliet are in love, which forces them to go and get married without their parents knowing.

Lanitra B. and Jake T.

 
The Runaways

by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
Dell Yearling, 1999
245 pages

The compassionate dramatic book, The Runaways, by Zilpa Keatley Snyder, which takes place in Rattler Springs, Nevada during 1951, is about a group of brave daring children named Dani, Stormy, and Pixie who have to raise money for three bus tickets in order to sucessfully run away. In my opinion, the book was slow, and I would not recommend it to someone else. I didn't like the book because it took a while to get interesting. That was on about page 220 out of 245 pages.

Christina B.

Scavenger Hunt

by Christopher Pike

The oddly mysterious novel, Scavenger Hunt, by Christopher Pike, which takes place in Express, California during modern times, is about an average teenage boy names Carl who participates in a school scavenger hunt in order to uncover the truth to his friend's death. The story actually starts off near the end, then Carl recalls the whole story. He recently lost his best friend Joe, and a strange dream continues to haunt him about the tragic event. That morning is when the scavenger hunt begins. You are introduced to key characters: Carl, Tom, Tracie, Paula, Davey, and Cessy. They make up two of the scavenger hunt's teams. The first few clues are easy to solve for Carl. Here, as the groups go their separate ways, the action becomes much more varied. Interactions between the two groups and side events help make the action that much more thrilling. At points, you may not know exactly what's happening, but there's always a point when you're in the clear again. You can easily maintain the sense that this book has a horror theme. If you're not already a fan of Christopher Pike, this is a good place to start. Especially if you're *dying* to know how this one ends.

Matt D. and Denise B.

Seniors

by R.L. Stine
Scholastic, 1994
205 pages

We all agree that Seniors-a frightful book by everyone's favorite author R.L. Stine, was somewhat delightful. A group of active, fun-loving Seniors-to-be are trying to enjoy their summer vacation, but they are having an unusually hard time doing this because they all have a sinking feeling that this summer will be their last!!!I really enjoyed this book; I found it scary yet intriguing. This one will leave you sleeping with the lights on. On a scale of one to ten, I gave it an eight and a half.

Chazz D.

Silent Night

by Mary Higgins Clark
Simon & Schuster Books,1995
177 pages

The compelling mystery novel Silent Night, by Mary Higgins Clark, which takes place in present day New York City is about fearless, young Brian who is kidnapped and taken hostage by a criminal who has escaped from prison. We really enjoyed this book because it kept us on the edge of your seat. You couldn't ever tell what was going to happen next. We could tell what the characters were going through. This book was not very long, but it was intense. If you're the kind of person who enjoys mysteries but can't stand slow beginnings, this book is definitely for you. We recommend this to all short tempered, mystery loving readers.

Melissa T. and Shannon S.

Sole Survivor

by Dean Koontz
1997
321 pages

Dean Koontz's Sole Survivor is extraordinary! It is a present day mystery novel. The main character,Joe Carpenter, finds himself caught in the middle of a giant conspiracy. At the end Joe becomes a new man after facing his problems. Reading this book we enjoyed the fact that at the end of some chapters Dean Koontz left you hanging. We also enjoyed the fact that the book was exiting the entire way through. What we didn't enjoy was that sometimes he changed the topic suddenly, and it was sometimes hard to follow. Dean Koontz's style is an easy-to-understand, laid back format. We enjoyed reading his book and are looking forward to reading more of his books.

Michael S. and James B.

Something Upstairs

by Avi
Avon Books, 1998
116 pages

This spooky but crazy novel, Something Upstairs, by Avi, which takes place in Rhode Island during modern time, is about a boy named Kenny who had to move to Rhode Island because his father got a new job. Later on he discovers a ghost in his room who was murdered in this sleep. We enjoyed this book because it kept us on the edge of our seats the whole time. We would recommend this book to the age groups of 4th to around 7th.

Bryan M. and Justin H.

Sphere

by Micheal Crichton
Ballantine Books, 1987
371 pages

This interesting in a weird way, science fiction novel, Sphere, by Michael Crichton, which takes place in the middle of the ocean out in the Atlantic during the middle of summer in the late 80's, is about an older, short, smart physcologist, named Dr. Norman Johnson,who was called by the government on a paper he did about the possibility of extra-terrestial life and contact with them. He only wrote such a paper to buy a house, but in order to find out what the "Sphere" was, he would have to pool his skills, work with people he hadn't seen since he tested them and not lose his sanity through the whole ordeal. This novel is one for those with an imagination but not for those of all ages since there is a little cussing and weird, and awkward moments. I personally liked the novel, but my partner was not as interested as me.

Jessica D. and David R.

 Sphere

by Michael Crichton
Ballantine Books, 1979
371 pages

The suspenseful sci-fi novel, Sphere by Michael Crichton, which takes place in the middle of an ocean in the present, is about a smart, unfit, psychologist named Norman Bates who goes in a sub with a small crew to find out about a mysterious ship in order to make a big discovery. One of the best parts in the book is when the small crew on the sub encounters a mysterious, unknown creature named Jerry. Jerry, at first, gives the crew a jumble of strange number patterns. Harry, the smart, suspicious mathematician figures out the code in no time. Now they can talk to Jerry in plain English. Jerry is a playful, almost childish character who likes to talk. The crew does not know that Jerry can be violent when upset. Later in the book, they will not talk to Jerry because of an important discussion. Jerry doesn't understand why the crew is ignoring him. He gets upset and eventually terribly mad and attacks the vulnerable sub. Jerry attacks with great rage. He rattles the ship violently, turning himself into a squid. The giant squid wraps its long arms around the sub. Forced to use the emergency defense systems on the sub, which causes scorching fires, they catch the inside of the sub on fire. Ted, a scientist, dies and many are hurt and wounded. Not only is Sphere a suspenseful and mysterious book, but there are also other great parts in the book like this one.

Marc S. and Eric D.

Starship Troopers

by Robert A. Heinlein
G.P. Putnam's Sons,1959
263 pages

Starship Troopers is a controverial classic of military adventure, by Robert A. Heinlein. It takes place at Camp Currie Military Base in the future, and it's about a young, army recruit named John Rico, who has been to war once already. In the beginning of the book it starts out at Camp Currie, as they prepare for a drop to destroy an unwanted enemy. John is learning his new surroundings and trying to make new friends. This sci-fi army quest keeps you entertianed through the first half then it dulls down 3/4 of the way, but roars up to the action once more. This book would be great for someone who likes action-adventure because this book has a lot of it. It deserves to be read.

Josh U. and Fernando R.

Star Wars: Jedi Search

by Kevin. J. Anderson
Bantam Books, 1994
354 pages

The fascinating science fiction novel, Star Wars: Jedi Search, by Kevin J. Anderson, which takes place in the Star Wars Universe seven years years after Return of the Jedi, is about a compelling trio named Luke, Han, Leia who go against the remnants of the empire and the loner planet Kessel in order to relieve peace to the universe. We enjoyed the book because each character has a different adventure in the book. A very interesting part in the book is when Han Solo and Chewbacca meet a new friend, Kyp Durron, and decide to escape from Kessel. Many fans will love this book, and Kevin. J Anderson writes as if he is one of the characters in the book. However he jumps from character to character frequently and the novel contains much of "lingo" many "newbies" may not understand. To many fans, this book is a must.

Jeff N., Michael F. and Alvin R.

Swallowing Stones

by Joyce McDonald
Bantam Doubleday Dell Books, 1997
245 pages

The depressing drama novel, Swallowing Stones, by Joyce McDonald, which takes place in a small town surrounded by woods during the present day, is about a depressed, worried, and confused teenage boy named Michael MacKenzie who has accidentally killed a man. After Michael finds out he killed a man, he stops talking as much and cheats on his girlfriend. His life slowly starts to crumble . Meanwhile the dead man's daughter, Jenna, starts having dreams about Michael . This is a mysterious book that will make you wonder whats going to happen next .

by Lesley W. and Victoria L.

The Tale ot Boba Fett: Last One Standing

Kevin J. Anderson
Bantam books, 1996
148 pages

The stunning science fiction book, Tale of Boba Fett: Last One Standing by Kevin J. Anderson, which takes place in a galaxy far a way in the distant past ( during and after Star Wars: Return of the Jedi) is about a cunning, ruthless, and fearsome bounty hunter named Boba Fett who faces his rival Han Solo in order to collect a bounty. Boba Fett is a lone bounty hunter known throughout the galaxy as the fiercest and most ruthless bounty hunter. His outfit of mandalorian armor and battle scared helmet strike fear in the hearts of those he pursues. In the beginning of the book, Fett is on Tatooine at Jabba the Hutt's palace. It tells about the classic Jabba scene from Fett's point of view. Then goes on to tell of how he is eaten by the Saclac, but destroys it and is rescued by Dengar, another bounty hunter. Next the book tells of his attempts to capture a Mos Eisly butcher with a five million dollar bounty on his head. Finally it explains of his accidental meeting with Han Solo, which ends up to be a life or death situation for both Han and Fett.

Katelyn B.

The Terrorist

by Caroline B. Cooney
Scholastic, 1997
198 pages

The thrilling and tense novel, The Terrorist, by Caroline B. Cooney ,which takes place in London, England during modern time, is about a young girl named Laura Williams who must find the murderer of her brother Billy in order to live the rest of her life. I enjoyed reading this book a lot, esspecially the first chapter. It was kind of sad in parts. However, near the middle, the book got kind of boring. It was boring because all that happened was Laura tried to find the bomber. Every page is intense, you just can't wait until you find out the murderer. Someone else should read this book because it is superb. It is a great murder mystery for 3rd graders to high schoolers. I liked the part where after Billy dies and Laura is extremly determined to find the killer. I think that people will really want to discover the murderer, but would be very bored by her searching.

Justin C. and Kevin S.

Then Again, Maybe I Won't

by Judy Blume
Dell Publishing Co.,Inc., 1971
164 pages

This exciting realistic fiction book, Then Again, Maybe I Won't, by Judy Blume which takes place in Long Island during modern times, is about an unhappy, 13 year-old boy named Tony Miglione who moves to a new town and really hates it. We think this book is interesting because of the circumstances. For instance, his best friend Joel is a shoplifter, plus he has to put up with Joel's psycho 16 year-old sister,Lisa. Tony's grandmother is miserable and his mom is turning into a high-class social phony. All this just because they moved to a rich town called Rosemont. Some people think that money is everything, but to Tony, all it does is bring a lot of problems. And on top of all this, Tony has to put up with growing up. Tony's father is a genius and that is the whole reason they moved to Rosemont. His dad won lots of money for his invention and the entire family is overjoyed, that is, except for Tony. If Tony's parents ever found out what he thought of it, they'd probably flip! We highly recommend this book to people of all ages because of its intriguing plot. Read it!

Ofelia S. and Janelle B.

The 13th Warrior

by Michael Crichton
Ballantine, 1998
258 pages

The action-packed fictional novel, The 13th Warrior, by Michael Crichton, which takes place in northern Europe during 922 AD, is about an Arab representative named Ibn Fadlan who gets recruited by a band of Vikings in order to fight an evil terror upon the land. The creatures attack the towns when the mist rolls in, taking their victims bodies' back to their caves to eat their bodies. We enjoyed this book because it is full of action and suspense. It was also interesting because you learn the Viking customs as you read. We reccomend this book to anyone who likes thrilling adventure books.

Daniel R. and Paul S.

 Truth or Dare

by R.L.Stine
Pocket Books, 1997

The fascinating fiction book Truth or Dare by R.L. Stine, which takes place in the mountains during winter, is about a clever, nice, and likable girl named April who almost gets killed and changes to be more careful. April, Eric, and their friends went up to the mountains expecting to have a good time until they started playing truth or dare. April reveals a dark secret about Eric. Then the games turn into revenge. A girl is found outside, dead, then everyone starts jumping to conclusions. This book is well written, and always leaves you wanting to read more. When you finish this book it leaves you wanting to know more. This action-thriller has a strong plot and a twisted ending. You will keep on wondering who the killer is until you finish the book, when confessions are made. This story is believable, but it is not so likely to happen in real life. I would strongly recommend this book to people who are ten years old and up. Dying to know more? Read Truth or Dare.

Alyssa P. and Chelsea P.

Twilight Eyes

by Dean Koontz
Berkley Books
438 pages

Twilight Eyes, a horror/action/suspense, from Dean Koontz is a gripping, page turner. It takes place in the late sixties, at a traveling carnival. Slim Mackenzie, a sharp seventeen-year old has a dark secret: some people only he can see, are pure evil,and it's up to him to save the world. We enjoyed this book because it was so different from the other books. The odds were stacked so high against Slim, you can't put the book down. Someone else should read this because it has a gripping, spine-tingling, weird and different approach. The part of the book that we like the most is when the hero devises his master plan. We think others will find this book very well because it's different, scary and has a way of making you not put the book down in a search for answers.

Travis C. and Kyle M.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

by C.S. Lewis
MacMillin Publishing,, 1952
210 pages

This book is about 3 cousins, Edmund, Lucy, and Eustace, who get sucked into a magical picture. They travel to another land called Narnia. Lucy and Edmund are used to the place, but Eustace isn't. The cousins and Prince Caspian get captered by slave traders, and Prince Caspian gets sold but the others don't. We are enjoying this book because it is fun and interesting to read. It's interesting because you never know what is going to happen next. This is an excellent book for people who like fantasy and mystery books. The best part of this book is when they got sucked into the magical picture which had the ship heading to Narnia. We think other people will like this book because it is exciting to read. Also it is not that hard to understand.

by Ashley D. and Kim B.

A Wrinkle in Time
by Madeline L'Engle

The intriguing science fiction novel, A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeline L'Engle, which takes place in different fantasy worlds during the modern days, is about a confused, determined, and horrendous girl named Meg who put her brother, a boy named Calvin, and her own life in danger in order to find her father. This pure novel is great for anyone who likes science fiction, whether you are a boy or a girl. For some, the book may be a little boring and hard to follow in the beginning, but towards the end the book is very interesting and you will never want to put it down.

Rachel W. and Samantha M.