FADE OUT (Morganville Vampires Book Seven)
RACHEL CAINE
Paranormal YA
NAL
ISBN# 978-0-451-22866-6
237 Pages
$6.99
Paperback—Available Now
Rating: 4.5 Enchantments
With Bishop gone and Eve in the local production of 'A Streetcar Named Desire', things around Glass House are about as normal as they've been in a long time. But normal is short lived in Morganville, especially for Claire. She thinks there's something a little odd about Eve's sudden new BFF Kim and it's not just the fact that she hooked up with Shane in the past either, no there's something there that Claire just can't put her finger on. When Kim suddenly goes missing before a rehearsal of the play, Claire and friends can't believe what they uncover about Eve's supposed new friend.
Ms. Caine does a great job with FADE OUT, the seventh installment in this entertaining paranormal series. With Bishop gone in the last book, I wasn't quite sure what would happen next in Morganville with Amelie seemingly back in charge, but things just keep on escalating. When the truth about Kim is found out, suddenly Claire, Eve, Michael and Shane are forced to save her from the Vamps punishment, even if she may actually deserve what she could get. Even with that going on, Ada is still out for blood—namely Claire's—and she really will do anything to get rid of her, making things between the two reach a climatic and chilling head in FADE OUT, where Myrnin gets caught in the middle of deadly game Ada's playing. I never imagined a character who's usually nothing more than a computer generated image of her former self can be so evil and devious. I love how we see Myrnin evolving from his crazed character in the earlier books in the series, even if he still retains a bit of his dark side, which shows up here and there. What I like best about the Morganville series is what I love best about this book, things just keep getting more complicated and the unexpected keeps popping up around every corner. I can't wait to see what's in store for Claire in the next book!
Rachel Caine is the internationally bestselling author of thirty novels, including the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Morganville Vampires young adult series: Glass Houses, The Dead Girls’ Dance, Midnight Alley, Feast of Fools, Lord of Misrule, Carpe Corpus, and Fade Out, with five more to follow in 2009-2011. Visit her online at www.rachelcaine.com
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
November 2009
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
Enchanting Review: Fallen
FALLEN
LAUREN KATE
Paranormal YA
Delacorte Press
ISBN# 978-0-385-73893-4
452 Pages
$17.99
Hardcover—Available Now
Rating: 4.5 Enchantments
Luce Price has always seen shadows, these terrifying things that appear around her without warning. She's helpless to stop them and the destruction that usually follows their appearances. Thanks to them and the death of the guy she was crushing on, she's found herself at Sword & Cross boarding school, a place for screw-ups and delinquents, something that Luce appears to be—at least to everyone else, including her own parents, who are slightly afraid of her after what happened. But how can Luce explain the shadows without everyone thinking she's crazy?
Daniel Grigori has a secret. He's immortal and he and Luce have had several past lives together before, but every time she's died before things reached a certain point. So when she shows up at Sword & Cross, he vows to stay away from her, that is until she finds herself in real danger and Daniel is forced to intervene.
I really enjoyed FALLEN. I thought it was a really unique mixture of paranormal, setting and characters. What better place for fallen angels to hide than a school for delinquents? Ms. Kate does a great job at making the reader not sure of some of the characters intentions, especially the female characters of Gabbe and even Luce's friend, Arriane. The dilapidated conditions of Sword & Cross come to life on the page, especially during the Parents Weekend scene where Luce is seeing things through the eyes of her parents, as she's already gotten used to things in her short stay. The cemetery in the middle of the campus is just plain creepy. As is the fact that detention involved being there before dawn to clean off the statues. I really liked Luce and the rest of the characters, especially Penn. Every character has something different about them, including a secrets that seem to be revealed in due time. Filled with twists and turns, and the deep sense of foreboding as the shadows that follow Luce become darker and more frequent as she gets deeper into the mystery of why Daniel feels so familiar and why it seems like she's able to interact with the shadows more. With an ending that literally had my jaw dropping with a couple dark surprises, FALLEN has quickly become one of my favorite reads of the year. I cannot wait to read the second in the series and see where Ms. Kate takes these characters next. Wherever it is, I doubt it'll be boring.
Lauren Kate recently finished her M.A. in Creative Writing at UC Davis, where she also teaches. She lives and writes in an old farm house in Winters, California.
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
December 2009
LAUREN KATE
Paranormal YA
Delacorte Press
ISBN# 978-0-385-73893-4
452 Pages
$17.99
Hardcover—Available Now
Rating: 4.5 Enchantments
Luce Price has always seen shadows, these terrifying things that appear around her without warning. She's helpless to stop them and the destruction that usually follows their appearances. Thanks to them and the death of the guy she was crushing on, she's found herself at Sword & Cross boarding school, a place for screw-ups and delinquents, something that Luce appears to be—at least to everyone else, including her own parents, who are slightly afraid of her after what happened. But how can Luce explain the shadows without everyone thinking she's crazy?
Daniel Grigori has a secret. He's immortal and he and Luce have had several past lives together before, but every time she's died before things reached a certain point. So when she shows up at Sword & Cross, he vows to stay away from her, that is until she finds herself in real danger and Daniel is forced to intervene.
I really enjoyed FALLEN. I thought it was a really unique mixture of paranormal, setting and characters. What better place for fallen angels to hide than a school for delinquents? Ms. Kate does a great job at making the reader not sure of some of the characters intentions, especially the female characters of Gabbe and even Luce's friend, Arriane. The dilapidated conditions of Sword & Cross come to life on the page, especially during the Parents Weekend scene where Luce is seeing things through the eyes of her parents, as she's already gotten used to things in her short stay. The cemetery in the middle of the campus is just plain creepy. As is the fact that detention involved being there before dawn to clean off the statues. I really liked Luce and the rest of the characters, especially Penn. Every character has something different about them, including a secrets that seem to be revealed in due time. Filled with twists and turns, and the deep sense of foreboding as the shadows that follow Luce become darker and more frequent as she gets deeper into the mystery of why Daniel feels so familiar and why it seems like she's able to interact with the shadows more. With an ending that literally had my jaw dropping with a couple dark surprises, FALLEN has quickly become one of my favorite reads of the year. I cannot wait to read the second in the series and see where Ms. Kate takes these characters next. Wherever it is, I doubt it'll be boring.
Lauren Kate recently finished her M.A. in Creative Writing at UC Davis, where she also teaches. She lives and writes in an old farm house in Winters, California.
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
December 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Enchanting Review: There Was A Coyote Who Swallowed A Flea
THERE WAS A COYOTE WHO SWALLOWED A FLEA
JENNIFER WARD
Children’s ages 4-8
Rising Moon
ISBN# 978-0873588980
32 pages
$15.95
Hardcover- Available Now
Rating: 4 Enchantments
THERE WAS A COYOTE WHO SWALLOWED A FLEA is a Tex-Mex version of the classic rhyme there was an old lady who swallowed a fly. In this story there was a coyote who swallowed a flea that was tickling his knee. He then swallows numerous other items to remedy the previous item he swallowed.
This was a fun tongue twisting story with colorful bright pictures. By the end of the book my kids could help me with each line, because they heard it so much. The way the story progressed you could see a little humor. This was such a fun story that will have you and your children laughing with the silliness of it. The ending was very cute and had all my little ones rolling of laughter. Yippe-o-ki-yee!
Jennifer Ward is an award winning children’s author. She not only writes stories for younger children but for older children as well. To find out more about her and her stories please visit her website at http://www.jenniferwardbooks.com/
Jennifer
Enchanting Reviews
October 2009
JENNIFER WARD
Children’s ages 4-8
Rising Moon
ISBN# 978-0873588980
32 pages
$15.95
Hardcover- Available Now
Rating: 4 Enchantments
THERE WAS A COYOTE WHO SWALLOWED A FLEA is a Tex-Mex version of the classic rhyme there was an old lady who swallowed a fly. In this story there was a coyote who swallowed a flea that was tickling his knee. He then swallows numerous other items to remedy the previous item he swallowed.
This was a fun tongue twisting story with colorful bright pictures. By the end of the book my kids could help me with each line, because they heard it so much. The way the story progressed you could see a little humor. This was such a fun story that will have you and your children laughing with the silliness of it. The ending was very cute and had all my little ones rolling of laughter. Yippe-o-ki-yee!
Jennifer Ward is an award winning children’s author. She not only writes stories for younger children but for older children as well. To find out more about her and her stories please visit her website at http://www.jenniferwardbooks.com/
Jennifer
Enchanting Reviews
October 2009
Enchanting Review: SkippyJon Jones In The Dog House
SKIPPYJON JONES IN THE DOG HOUSE
JUDY SCHACHNER
Children’s Adventure ages 4-9
PUFFIN
ISBN# 978-0142410417
15 pages
$9.99
Paperback- Available Now
Rating: 4.5 Enchantments
SkippyJon Jones is back with a new adventure. Sent to his room because he drew on the walls, SkippyJon Jones decided to start jumping on his chair. On his way back down he misses and falls into a pile of stuffed animals. It is there that he gets a little bird stuck in his ear that tells him of the trouble in the dog house and of the big bobbleito. So once again SkippyJon Jones transforms into Skippito Friskito and he is off to help his friends Los Chimichangos.
This is a fun sequel to the first SkippyJon book. This story is a little shorter than the first but it is just as fun. SkippyJon’s friends are in trouble. The big Bobbleito has moved into the attic of their house and SkippyJon must make him leave. This book has all the Spanish and fun rhymes as the first one and will leave you and your little ones giggling and singing.
Judy Schachner is the author of the fantastic SkippyJon series as well as I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Pie, and several other children’s books. To find out more about her and her books please visit her website at http://www.judithbyronschachner.com/ or you can go to SkippyJon’s own website at http://www.skippyjonjones.com/ where there is plenty of fun stuff for kids to do.
Jennifer
Enchanting Reviews
October 2009
JUDY SCHACHNER
Children’s Adventure ages 4-9
PUFFIN
ISBN# 978-0142410417
15 pages
$9.99
Paperback- Available Now
Rating: 4.5 Enchantments
SkippyJon Jones is back with a new adventure. Sent to his room because he drew on the walls, SkippyJon Jones decided to start jumping on his chair. On his way back down he misses and falls into a pile of stuffed animals. It is there that he gets a little bird stuck in his ear that tells him of the trouble in the dog house and of the big bobbleito. So once again SkippyJon Jones transforms into Skippito Friskito and he is off to help his friends Los Chimichangos.
This is a fun sequel to the first SkippyJon book. This story is a little shorter than the first but it is just as fun. SkippyJon’s friends are in trouble. The big Bobbleito has moved into the attic of their house and SkippyJon must make him leave. This book has all the Spanish and fun rhymes as the first one and will leave you and your little ones giggling and singing.
Judy Schachner is the author of the fantastic SkippyJon series as well as I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Pie, and several other children’s books. To find out more about her and her books please visit her website at http://www.judithbyronschachner.com/ or you can go to SkippyJon’s own website at http://www.skippyjonjones.com/ where there is plenty of fun stuff for kids to do.
Jennifer
Enchanting Reviews
October 2009
Enchanting Review: SkippyJon Jones
SKIPPYJON JONES
JUDY SCHACHNER
Children’s Adventure ages 4-9
PUFFIN
ISBN# 978-0439836968
32 pages
$6.99
Paperback- Available Now
Rating: 5 Enchantments
SkippyJon Jones is a hilarious cat who has such fantastic adventures as a dog. Not just any breed of dog, but a Chihuahua. He goes from Mischievous Siamese cat that is in his room being punished, to a Spanish speaking Chihuahua who helps his fellow Chihuahuas, Los Chimichangos, with their current dilemma. In this story SkippyJon Jones, who becomes Skippito Friskito, must face the big Bumbleito and rescue all the beans that he has stolen from the Chihuahuas.
This is such a fun cute story. It is an absolute favorite in my household and among my daycare children. It is full of Spanish words and accents and the kids just love it when I use my “Zorro” voice. SkippyJon teaches the kids the use of imagination and bravery. This is such a fun fantastic book. Even the pictures are so colorful and fun to look at. I can guarantee you will have his song in your head after reading his story. "I am Skippito Friskito, clap clap, I fear not a single bandito, clap clap."
Judy Schachner is the author of the fantastic SkippyJon series as well as I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Pie, and several other children’s books. To find out more about her and her books please visit her website at http://www.judithbyronschachner.com/ or you can go to SkippyJon’s own website at http://www.skippyjonjones.com/ where there is plenty of fun stuff for kids to do.
Jennifer
Enchanting Reviews
October 2009
JUDY SCHACHNER
Children’s Adventure ages 4-9
PUFFIN
ISBN# 978-0439836968
32 pages
$6.99
Paperback- Available Now
Rating: 5 Enchantments
SkippyJon Jones is a hilarious cat who has such fantastic adventures as a dog. Not just any breed of dog, but a Chihuahua. He goes from Mischievous Siamese cat that is in his room being punished, to a Spanish speaking Chihuahua who helps his fellow Chihuahuas, Los Chimichangos, with their current dilemma. In this story SkippyJon Jones, who becomes Skippito Friskito, must face the big Bumbleito and rescue all the beans that he has stolen from the Chihuahuas.
This is such a fun cute story. It is an absolute favorite in my household and among my daycare children. It is full of Spanish words and accents and the kids just love it when I use my “Zorro” voice. SkippyJon teaches the kids the use of imagination and bravery. This is such a fun fantastic book. Even the pictures are so colorful and fun to look at. I can guarantee you will have his song in your head after reading his story. "I am Skippito Friskito, clap clap, I fear not a single bandito, clap clap."
Judy Schachner is the author of the fantastic SkippyJon series as well as I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Pie, and several other children’s books. To find out more about her and her books please visit her website at http://www.judithbyronschachner.com/ or you can go to SkippyJon’s own website at http://www.skippyjonjones.com/ where there is plenty of fun stuff for kids to do.
Jennifer
Enchanting Reviews
October 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Enchanting Review: The Splendor Falls
THE SPLENDOR FALLS
ROSEMARY CLEMENT-MOORE
Paranormal YA
Delacorte Books
ISBN# 978-0-385-73690-9
513 Pages
$17.99
Hardcover--Available Now
Rating: 4.5 Enchantments
Sylvie Davis' promising career as a ballet dancer is over before it really even had a chance to begin. Thanks to a fluke, she fell and broke her leg and is unable to dance again. To top things off, her mother just remarried and while her and the step-shrink go off on a honeymoon, Sylvie's been shipped south to visit a cousin of her father's she barely remembers meeting once to stay at a house she's never seen. But once she arrives in Alabama, Sylvie finds herself in what seems like a different world. Cousin Paula's remodelling the family estate into a bed and breakfast, and the whole town seems to think she's something special just because she's a Davis, something she just doesn't understand at all. Add in the weird vibe she's getting from some of the locals, including Paula's business partner's daughter and the fact there's strange rumors about the house and things people have seen there, things maybe Sylvie's sorta seen for herself and things are way too complicated too quick for her liking.
One of the best things about Ms. Clement-Moore's writing is her characters. No two are ever alike, but they're as real as real can be. Sylvie is no exception to the rule and neither are those around her in Alabama. I especially loved the relationships between Sylvie and both Rhys, the mysterious stranger staying at the unfinished bed and breakfast with his father and Shawn Maddox, the local good boy, who seems to like Sylvie a little too much, too quickly. The house itself quickly becomes a character of its own, unfamiliar and at times slightly menacing, Sylvie isn't sure what to make of it—or Alabama as a whole. Her father never talked about the place, and maybe she can see why. But when she finds away to seek solace and time on her own, recreating what used to be a magical garden, the secrets of the past begin to be unleashed, something that puts her directly in danger.
THE SPLENDOR FALLS is one of my favorite reads of the year. Sylvie's a great character; I loved her voice, her weariness at where she was and what her future holds now that her dream of being a prima ballerina is shattered. Faced with that and what seems like an unpleasant stay in Alabama—Cousin Paula won't even let her take her beloved little dog up to her room, she soon finds herself involved in something more mysterious and supernatural than she'd ever expected. It all seems to start when she sneaks out with the dog to the back of the house and she sees a figure watching from one of the upstairs windows. But it's not Rhys or his father or even Cousin Paula. Who could it be? And what's their connection to the house? There were so many scenes I loved it's hard to pick one to highlight, but when Sylvie runs into Shawn in town and he takes her to the local coffee shop. All the locals are so excited to see the two of them together. Sylvie begins to wonder what exactly is going on.
Rosemary Clement-Moore lives and writes in Arlington, Texas. THE SPLENDOR FALLS is her fourth book for young readers. Visit Rosemary online at www.readrosemary.com
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
September 2009
ROSEMARY CLEMENT-MOORE
Paranormal YA
Delacorte Books
ISBN# 978-0-385-73690-9
513 Pages
$17.99
Hardcover--Available Now
Rating: 4.5 Enchantments
Sylvie Davis' promising career as a ballet dancer is over before it really even had a chance to begin. Thanks to a fluke, she fell and broke her leg and is unable to dance again. To top things off, her mother just remarried and while her and the step-shrink go off on a honeymoon, Sylvie's been shipped south to visit a cousin of her father's she barely remembers meeting once to stay at a house she's never seen. But once she arrives in Alabama, Sylvie finds herself in what seems like a different world. Cousin Paula's remodelling the family estate into a bed and breakfast, and the whole town seems to think she's something special just because she's a Davis, something she just doesn't understand at all. Add in the weird vibe she's getting from some of the locals, including Paula's business partner's daughter and the fact there's strange rumors about the house and things people have seen there, things maybe Sylvie's sorta seen for herself and things are way too complicated too quick for her liking.
One of the best things about Ms. Clement-Moore's writing is her characters. No two are ever alike, but they're as real as real can be. Sylvie is no exception to the rule and neither are those around her in Alabama. I especially loved the relationships between Sylvie and both Rhys, the mysterious stranger staying at the unfinished bed and breakfast with his father and Shawn Maddox, the local good boy, who seems to like Sylvie a little too much, too quickly. The house itself quickly becomes a character of its own, unfamiliar and at times slightly menacing, Sylvie isn't sure what to make of it—or Alabama as a whole. Her father never talked about the place, and maybe she can see why. But when she finds away to seek solace and time on her own, recreating what used to be a magical garden, the secrets of the past begin to be unleashed, something that puts her directly in danger.
THE SPLENDOR FALLS is one of my favorite reads of the year. Sylvie's a great character; I loved her voice, her weariness at where she was and what her future holds now that her dream of being a prima ballerina is shattered. Faced with that and what seems like an unpleasant stay in Alabama—Cousin Paula won't even let her take her beloved little dog up to her room, she soon finds herself involved in something more mysterious and supernatural than she'd ever expected. It all seems to start when she sneaks out with the dog to the back of the house and she sees a figure watching from one of the upstairs windows. But it's not Rhys or his father or even Cousin Paula. Who could it be? And what's their connection to the house? There were so many scenes I loved it's hard to pick one to highlight, but when Sylvie runs into Shawn in town and he takes her to the local coffee shop. All the locals are so excited to see the two of them together. Sylvie begins to wonder what exactly is going on.
Rosemary Clement-Moore lives and writes in Arlington, Texas. THE SPLENDOR FALLS is her fourth book for young readers. Visit Rosemary online at www.readrosemary.com
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
September 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Enchanting Review: The Blue Shoe: A Tale of Thievery, Villainy, Sorcery and Shoes
THE BLUE SHOE: A TALE OF THIEVERY, VILLAINY, SORCERY, AND SHOES
RODERICK TOWNLEY
Illustrated by Mary GrandPré
Middle Grade Fantasy
Knopf
ISBN# 978-0-375-85600-6
255 Pages
$16.99
Hardcover--Available Now
Rating: 4 Enchantments
An engaging fantasy read, THE BLUE SHOE is a well told story featuring Hap, a young cobbler's apprentice who ends up sent away to the frightening Mount Xexnax, when he tries to save a mysterious beggar from the same fate. Actually Hap doesn't mind, as he hopes he'll be reunited with his father who was sent there a few years earlier because of his own begging, but what Hap stumbles upon is something he hadn't expected. And it's not going to be easy to break out and return to the small town of Apalanap.
Imaginative characters, setting and storyline, readers looking for a fun and intriguing middle grade fantasy read shouldn't miss this one. I especially loved the crazy characters of the Mayor and his wife and the way the story flipped from what was happening with Hap and Sophia back to what was going on in town. I liked how the sand that covered the town from a storm turned to glass shortly after Hap's departure to Mount Xexnax, making things difficult for the more evil characters to move around the small town. That scene is almost comical and very laugh out loud worthy and is hands down one of my favorites in the whole book. Told mostly by a mysterious narrator, THE BLUE SHOE moves at a good pace. Hap's biggest mistake is trying to save the mysterious beggar in the blanket from ending up at Mount Xexnax, a decision that has him stealing a stone from the mysterious blue stone. A move that not only ruins the shoe, but gets him exiled to Mount Xexnax in place of the beggar. And when his crush Sophia tries to break him free from prison the night before, Hap refuses, instead wanting to be reunited with his father. Sophia isn't so easily swayed and ends up stowing away on the wagon and going with, which is one of my favorite scenes in the book. However, Mount Xexnax is worse than all the stories and rumors made it seem and Hap suddenly finds himself appointed the one to save everyone there, especially when the guards find Sophia and hold her hostage in the main building, which is where THE BLUE SHOE really becomes a page turning read as you hope Hap can find Sophia and escape without capture.
Roderick Townley’s books have received many stars and accolades. You can read more about him at www.rodericktownley.com. He lives in Kansas.
Mary GrandPré is perhaps best known for creating the jackets and illustrations for the Harry Potter books. She has also illustrated many fine picture books. You can read more about her work at marygrandpre.com.
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
October 2009
RODERICK TOWNLEY
Illustrated by Mary GrandPré
Middle Grade Fantasy
Knopf
ISBN# 978-0-375-85600-6
255 Pages
$16.99
Hardcover--Available Now
Rating: 4 Enchantments
An engaging fantasy read, THE BLUE SHOE is a well told story featuring Hap, a young cobbler's apprentice who ends up sent away to the frightening Mount Xexnax, when he tries to save a mysterious beggar from the same fate. Actually Hap doesn't mind, as he hopes he'll be reunited with his father who was sent there a few years earlier because of his own begging, but what Hap stumbles upon is something he hadn't expected. And it's not going to be easy to break out and return to the small town of Apalanap.
Imaginative characters, setting and storyline, readers looking for a fun and intriguing middle grade fantasy read shouldn't miss this one. I especially loved the crazy characters of the Mayor and his wife and the way the story flipped from what was happening with Hap and Sophia back to what was going on in town. I liked how the sand that covered the town from a storm turned to glass shortly after Hap's departure to Mount Xexnax, making things difficult for the more evil characters to move around the small town. That scene is almost comical and very laugh out loud worthy and is hands down one of my favorites in the whole book. Told mostly by a mysterious narrator, THE BLUE SHOE moves at a good pace. Hap's biggest mistake is trying to save the mysterious beggar in the blanket from ending up at Mount Xexnax, a decision that has him stealing a stone from the mysterious blue stone. A move that not only ruins the shoe, but gets him exiled to Mount Xexnax in place of the beggar. And when his crush Sophia tries to break him free from prison the night before, Hap refuses, instead wanting to be reunited with his father. Sophia isn't so easily swayed and ends up stowing away on the wagon and going with, which is one of my favorite scenes in the book. However, Mount Xexnax is worse than all the stories and rumors made it seem and Hap suddenly finds himself appointed the one to save everyone there, especially when the guards find Sophia and hold her hostage in the main building, which is where THE BLUE SHOE really becomes a page turning read as you hope Hap can find Sophia and escape without capture.
Roderick Townley’s books have received many stars and accolades. You can read more about him at www.rodericktownley.com. He lives in Kansas.
Mary GrandPré is perhaps best known for creating the jackets and illustrations for the Harry Potter books. She has also illustrated many fine picture books. You can read more about her work at marygrandpre.com.
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
October 2009
Enchanting Review: Strange Angels
STRANGE ANGELS
LILI ST. CROW
PARANORMAL YA
Razorbill
ISBN# 978-1-59514-251-1
304 Pages
$9.99
Trade--Available Now
Rating: 4 Enchantments
Dru Anderson’s used to dealing with the ‘Real World’, that is with the paranormal that most people don’t believe or don’t know exists. Zombies, werewolves, ghosts, apparitions, it’s all a part of her day to day life with her monster hunting father. But when her father turns Zombie and she’s forced to take him out to save herself, Dru finds herself all alone for the first time, with something or someone after her. Add in Graves, the mysterious Goth guy from school who’s more than willing to help her out and the appearance of another mysterious guy in Christophe, and things get complicated.
There was a lot about STRANGE ANGELS I liked. The world Ms. St Crow created quickly becomes very real and plausible, especially when her father shows up as a zombie within the first few chapters. I loved the scenes between Dru and Graves at the mall when he first finds her there after her father’s death and takes her in to his hideout of sorts hidden away in the forgotten corner of the mall, an unusual location to be sure. But some parts of the story did seem a little thrown in which tended to pull me out of the story at times and the language did take awhile to get used to. Dru’s a bit of a rough character, which really does fit who she is and how she grew up, fighting ‘real world’ creatures alongside her father, and now finds herself alone in the world with only the mysterious Graves for reluctant company for a good portion of the book. I liked Graves as well, he’s definitely on the mysterious side and the banter between the two is really great. I have to say my favorite scene is when Dru reluctantly takes Graves back to her place in the midst of the snowstorm. After his bite, she’s afraid what he might turn into and ties him down to the bed while he’s asleep. The convo between them the next morning is truly hilarious.
Look for the second book in the series, BETRAYALS: A STRANGE ANGELS novel to be released November 2009.
Lili St. Crow is the author of the Dante Valentine series. She lives in Vancouver, Washington with her husband, three children and a houseful of cats. STRANGE ANGELS is her first YA novel. Visit www.strangeangels.com to find out more.
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
August 2009
LILI ST. CROW
PARANORMAL YA
Razorbill
ISBN# 978-1-59514-251-1
304 Pages
$9.99
Trade--Available Now
Rating: 4 Enchantments
Dru Anderson’s used to dealing with the ‘Real World’, that is with the paranormal that most people don’t believe or don’t know exists. Zombies, werewolves, ghosts, apparitions, it’s all a part of her day to day life with her monster hunting father. But when her father turns Zombie and she’s forced to take him out to save herself, Dru finds herself all alone for the first time, with something or someone after her. Add in Graves, the mysterious Goth guy from school who’s more than willing to help her out and the appearance of another mysterious guy in Christophe, and things get complicated.
There was a lot about STRANGE ANGELS I liked. The world Ms. St Crow created quickly becomes very real and plausible, especially when her father shows up as a zombie within the first few chapters. I loved the scenes between Dru and Graves at the mall when he first finds her there after her father’s death and takes her in to his hideout of sorts hidden away in the forgotten corner of the mall, an unusual location to be sure. But some parts of the story did seem a little thrown in which tended to pull me out of the story at times and the language did take awhile to get used to. Dru’s a bit of a rough character, which really does fit who she is and how she grew up, fighting ‘real world’ creatures alongside her father, and now finds herself alone in the world with only the mysterious Graves for reluctant company for a good portion of the book. I liked Graves as well, he’s definitely on the mysterious side and the banter between the two is really great. I have to say my favorite scene is when Dru reluctantly takes Graves back to her place in the midst of the snowstorm. After his bite, she’s afraid what he might turn into and ties him down to the bed while he’s asleep. The convo between them the next morning is truly hilarious.
Look for the second book in the series, BETRAYALS: A STRANGE ANGELS novel to be released November 2009.
Lili St. Crow is the author of the Dante Valentine series. She lives in Vancouver, Washington with her husband, three children and a houseful of cats. STRANGE ANGELS is her first YA novel. Visit www.strangeangels.com to find out more.
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
August 2009
Enchanting Review: YOU ARE THE FIRST KID ON MARS
YOU ARE THE FIRST KID ON MARS
PATRICK O'BRIEN
Children's Sci-Fi Futuristic
Putnam
ISBN# 978-0399246340
32 Pages
$16.99
Hardcover—Available Now
Rating: 4.5 Enchantments
YOU ARE THE FIRST KID ON MARS is a wonderfully detailed and imaginative look at what life would be like if you were literally the first kid on Mars. Filled with great digital illustrations that make the story come to life, this a perfect read for boys and anyone is interested in space and what life exploring another planet might be like.
One of the most unusual children's books I've read, YOU ARE THE FIRST KID ON MARS is also one I really enjoyed reading. Filled with fun facts about Mars, like how long the actual journey to the red planet takes and what life might be like on the space station for the months long trek there. YOU ARE THE FIRST KID ON MARS will no doubt even grab the most reluctant reader's attention with its great imagery.
Patrick O'Brien has written and illustrated non-fiction books for children as well as fun adventures such as Captain Raptor and the Moon Mystery. His previous factual books have been historic and prehistoric subjects—this is his first look into the future. O'Brien lives in Baltimore, Maryland with his wife and son.
Visit him online at www.patrickobrienbooks.com
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
November 2009
PATRICK O'BRIEN
Children's Sci-Fi Futuristic
Putnam
ISBN# 978-0399246340
32 Pages
$16.99
Hardcover—Available Now
Rating: 4.5 Enchantments
YOU ARE THE FIRST KID ON MARS is a wonderfully detailed and imaginative look at what life would be like if you were literally the first kid on Mars. Filled with great digital illustrations that make the story come to life, this a perfect read for boys and anyone is interested in space and what life exploring another planet might be like.
One of the most unusual children's books I've read, YOU ARE THE FIRST KID ON MARS is also one I really enjoyed reading. Filled with fun facts about Mars, like how long the actual journey to the red planet takes and what life might be like on the space station for the months long trek there. YOU ARE THE FIRST KID ON MARS will no doubt even grab the most reluctant reader's attention with its great imagery.
Patrick O'Brien has written and illustrated non-fiction books for children as well as fun adventures such as Captain Raptor and the Moon Mystery. His previous factual books have been historic and prehistoric subjects—this is his first look into the future. O'Brien lives in Baltimore, Maryland with his wife and son.
Visit him online at www.patrickobrienbooks.com
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
November 2009
Enchanting Review: Summerland
SHADOWLAND (The Immortals Series)
ALYSON NOEL
Paranormal YA
St. Martin's Griffin
ISBN# 978-0312590444
368 Pages
$17.99
Hardcover—Available November 17, 2009
Rating: 4.5 Enchantments
After making an irreversible decision in Blue Moon, Ever and Damen must learn to live with the consequences of not being able to mix DNA until Ever can find whatever antidote exists. Unfortunately, only Roman knows and he's not interested in giving up his secrets, especially to Ever. With that spurring her on, Ever and Damen head to Summerland more often where she hopes to find something to help. But between that, her aunt's new relationship with Ever's teacher and the fact that Ever has to find a summer job within a week or go work as an intern at her aunt's law firm, things aren't exactly looking like she'll get the dream summer she planned. With the return of the twins, Romy and Rayne and their taking up residence at Damen's, things between Ever and Damen are changing. With the twins in tow, suddenly Damen's acting like Mr. Mom, ditching the cool car and staying home to help the girls adjust to life on this side of Summerland. Add in a new mysterious guy who has more history with Ever then she could have imagined and things in the series are really getting complicated.
I really enjoyed SHADOWLAND, the third installment in The Immortals series. Ms. Noel does an excellent job deepening the mystery of the Immortals and what exactly Roman wants, other than to make Ever and Damen's lives miserable. With the addition of the mysterious Jude, surfer and owner of the crystal shop, we finally get a glimpse into Ever's surprising past lives, lives which Damen may not have truthfully portrayed before. Are Ever and Damen truly destined to be together or has he chased after her unmercifully for centuries? And what role does Jude have in her life—past and present? At times SHADOWLAND gives us more questions than answers as it moves forward. I really liked the addition of the twins and learning more of their history and their past connection to Damen. I think my favorite scenes take place in the crystal shop where Ever takes a part time job, working the store and giving psychic readings, taken on a whole new persona for the readings to disguise her identity—a good idea when someone from school shows up with interest in taking one of Jude's introduction classes.
Ms. Noel never fails to leave things with an immense cliffhanger and SHADOWLAND is no different. With Ever's life changing decision, more things hang in the balance, much to Roman's sick delight. I can't wait to see what Ms. Noel has in store for us with the next book in the series out in 2010.
Alyson Noel is the author of Evermore, Blue Moon and seven previous novels for St. Martin’s Press. She lives in Laguna Beach, California, where she is at work on the next book in the Immortals series. Visit her on the web at www.alysonnoel.com.
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
November 2009
ALYSON NOEL
Paranormal YA
St. Martin's Griffin
ISBN# 978-0312590444
368 Pages
$17.99
Hardcover—Available November 17, 2009
Rating: 4.5 Enchantments
After making an irreversible decision in Blue Moon, Ever and Damen must learn to live with the consequences of not being able to mix DNA until Ever can find whatever antidote exists. Unfortunately, only Roman knows and he's not interested in giving up his secrets, especially to Ever. With that spurring her on, Ever and Damen head to Summerland more often where she hopes to find something to help. But between that, her aunt's new relationship with Ever's teacher and the fact that Ever has to find a summer job within a week or go work as an intern at her aunt's law firm, things aren't exactly looking like she'll get the dream summer she planned. With the return of the twins, Romy and Rayne and their taking up residence at Damen's, things between Ever and Damen are changing. With the twins in tow, suddenly Damen's acting like Mr. Mom, ditching the cool car and staying home to help the girls adjust to life on this side of Summerland. Add in a new mysterious guy who has more history with Ever then she could have imagined and things in the series are really getting complicated.
I really enjoyed SHADOWLAND, the third installment in The Immortals series. Ms. Noel does an excellent job deepening the mystery of the Immortals and what exactly Roman wants, other than to make Ever and Damen's lives miserable. With the addition of the mysterious Jude, surfer and owner of the crystal shop, we finally get a glimpse into Ever's surprising past lives, lives which Damen may not have truthfully portrayed before. Are Ever and Damen truly destined to be together or has he chased after her unmercifully for centuries? And what role does Jude have in her life—past and present? At times SHADOWLAND gives us more questions than answers as it moves forward. I really liked the addition of the twins and learning more of their history and their past connection to Damen. I think my favorite scenes take place in the crystal shop where Ever takes a part time job, working the store and giving psychic readings, taken on a whole new persona for the readings to disguise her identity—a good idea when someone from school shows up with interest in taking one of Jude's introduction classes.
Ms. Noel never fails to leave things with an immense cliffhanger and SHADOWLAND is no different. With Ever's life changing decision, more things hang in the balance, much to Roman's sick delight. I can't wait to see what Ms. Noel has in store for us with the next book in the series out in 2010.
Alyson Noel is the author of Evermore, Blue Moon and seven previous novels for St. Martin’s Press. She lives in Laguna Beach, California, where she is at work on the next book in the Immortals series. Visit her on the web at www.alysonnoel.com.
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
November 2009
Enchanting Review: Cromwell Dixon's Sky-Cycle
CROMWELL DIXON'S SKY-CYCLE
JOHN ABBOT NEZ
Children's Historical
Putnam
ISBN# 978-0399250415
32 pages
$16.99
Hardcover—Available Now
Rating: 4.5 Enchantments
Based on the true story of CROMWELL DIXON'S SKY-CYCLE, this fun and brightly illustrated children's book details young Cromwell's journey to making his dream of flying through the air a reality. With the help of his mother and unwavering drive to make his dream a reality, despite at least one horrendous set back when part of his sky-cycle catches fire before he has a chance to fly, Cromwell makes his goal a reality.
I really enjoyed CROMWELL DIXON'S SKY-CYCLE. Filled with charming and colorful illustrations that richly accompany the story, kids will no doubt enjoy following along as Cromwell begins his journey from inventor to first boy to fly through the air on bicycle. Based in reality, it was a nice touch to see a photo of the real Cromwell and his mother at the end of the story. My favorite scene is when the first version of the sky-cycle meets with a mishap and Cromwell is forced to start all over again, vowing to make it better then the first was.
CROMWELL DIXON'S SKY-CYCLE will appeal to kids and adults alike.
John Abbot Nez has made more than fifty children's books of all sorts. He lives in Seattle with his wife and two children. Visit his website: It has more details about my bookmaking and illustrations at cromwelldixonsskycycle.com to learn more about his bookmaking and illustrations. And learn more about him and his artwork at www.johnnez.com
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
November 2009
JOHN ABBOT NEZ
Children's Historical
Putnam
ISBN# 978-0399250415
32 pages
$16.99
Hardcover—Available Now
Rating: 4.5 Enchantments
Based on the true story of CROMWELL DIXON'S SKY-CYCLE, this fun and brightly illustrated children's book details young Cromwell's journey to making his dream of flying through the air a reality. With the help of his mother and unwavering drive to make his dream a reality, despite at least one horrendous set back when part of his sky-cycle catches fire before he has a chance to fly, Cromwell makes his goal a reality.
I really enjoyed CROMWELL DIXON'S SKY-CYCLE. Filled with charming and colorful illustrations that richly accompany the story, kids will no doubt enjoy following along as Cromwell begins his journey from inventor to first boy to fly through the air on bicycle. Based in reality, it was a nice touch to see a photo of the real Cromwell and his mother at the end of the story. My favorite scene is when the first version of the sky-cycle meets with a mishap and Cromwell is forced to start all over again, vowing to make it better then the first was.
CROMWELL DIXON'S SKY-CYCLE will appeal to kids and adults alike.
John Abbot Nez has made more than fifty children's books of all sorts. He lives in Seattle with his wife and two children. Visit his website: It has more details about my bookmaking and illustrations at cromwelldixonsskycycle.com to learn more about his bookmaking and illustrations. And learn more about him and his artwork at www.johnnez.com
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
November 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Enchanting Review: When Mike Kissed Emma
WHEN MIKE KISSED EMMA
CHRISTINE MARCINIAK
YA romance
Climbing Roses imprint of The Wild Rose Press
ISBN# 978-1601545459
$9.99
176 Pages
Paperback—Available Now
Rating: 4 Enchantments
Emma’s whole dream is for both her and her boyfriend to be cast as the leads in their high school’s production of The Song of Music. It’s basically a shoe in too. Or so she thought.
Things don’t turn out the way she thought. Emma doesn’t get cast next to her popular boyfriend. Also Biker Mike, the resident bad boy, gets into the play. Things go topsy turvy when she finds out maybe the rumors of Mike might not be true. Emma’s not sure what to do as her friends don’t accept him. Plus she’s feeling things for Mike that she shouldn’t considering she has the so-called ‘perfect’ boyfriend. Or does she? Is it possible feelings can change?
WHEN MIKE KISSED EMMA is one of those romantic tales you want to curl up with and read. Add the excitement of the school play and a cute guy with a past that is mysterious. Marciniak does a great job showing the emotions that go through Emma as she struggles with that age old problem of fitting in. Should she go with what she feels? Or stay with the safe more acceptable solution?
The pacing is great. So is the dialogue set behind The Song of Music. Very appropriate for middle graders too. Those who enjoy clean romances will love WHEN MIKE KISSED EMMA. Romance, mystery, drama, friendships, and loyality--this book has it all.
And the kiss? Let’s just say it’s one that all girls imagine and want. This is a sure hit for those who love clean romantic tales set behind the drama called high school.
Christine Marciniak loves to write and even dreamed of acting when she was younger. A former editor, now she’s a stay at home mother of two children. Find out more at www.christinemarciniak.com
KIM
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
NOVEMBER 2009
CHRISTINE MARCINIAK
YA romance
Climbing Roses imprint of The Wild Rose Press
ISBN# 978-1601545459
$9.99
176 Pages
Paperback—Available Now
Rating: 4 Enchantments
Emma’s whole dream is for both her and her boyfriend to be cast as the leads in their high school’s production of The Song of Music. It’s basically a shoe in too. Or so she thought.
Things don’t turn out the way she thought. Emma doesn’t get cast next to her popular boyfriend. Also Biker Mike, the resident bad boy, gets into the play. Things go topsy turvy when she finds out maybe the rumors of Mike might not be true. Emma’s not sure what to do as her friends don’t accept him. Plus she’s feeling things for Mike that she shouldn’t considering she has the so-called ‘perfect’ boyfriend. Or does she? Is it possible feelings can change?
WHEN MIKE KISSED EMMA is one of those romantic tales you want to curl up with and read. Add the excitement of the school play and a cute guy with a past that is mysterious. Marciniak does a great job showing the emotions that go through Emma as she struggles with that age old problem of fitting in. Should she go with what she feels? Or stay with the safe more acceptable solution?
The pacing is great. So is the dialogue set behind The Song of Music. Very appropriate for middle graders too. Those who enjoy clean romances will love WHEN MIKE KISSED EMMA. Romance, mystery, drama, friendships, and loyality--this book has it all.
And the kiss? Let’s just say it’s one that all girls imagine and want. This is a sure hit for those who love clean romantic tales set behind the drama called high school.
Christine Marciniak loves to write and even dreamed of acting when she was younger. A former editor, now she’s a stay at home mother of two children. Find out more at www.christinemarciniak.com
KIM
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
NOVEMBER 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Blog-In-Progress
Just a head's up that not all of our YA reviews are on our new blog yet since some are searching for them. There's still a few dozen that need to be added over here, including some that never made it to our webpage this summer. Look out for those soon.
Enchanting Review: Highway To Hell
HIGHWAY TO HELL
ROSEMARY CLEMENT-MOORE
Paranormal YA
Delacorte Books
ISBN# 978-0385734639
368 Pages
$16.99
Hardcover--Available Now
Rating: 4.5 Enchantments
It's time for more Maggie Quinn fun in the third book of the series, HIGHWAY TO HELL. This time, trouble finds Maggie and best friend Lisa on the way to Spring Break, the one time the two friends hope to just be normal and leave their paranormal abilities behind. But normal is soon quickly thrown out the window when Maggie's Jeep hits something in the middle of the dark Texas highway and they find themselves investigating something that definitely isn't human. Half the town believes its only coyotes or some other animal that's terrorizing and killing their livestock, but the other half of town, they believe something a little more sinister is behind the attacks, something that shouldn't exist outside nightmares. It's up to Maggie and Lisa to figure out the truth, but can Maggie figure it out before she gets in its way?
Well paced and full of the same great mix of paranormal and humor as the first two in the series, HIGHWAY TO HELL is an addicting read that pulled me in from the first page and never let me go. The setting is a bit unusual, especially compared to previous books, and I liked how Maggie and Lisa were a bit of the outsiders in the small town, under the microscope at times by the locals as they threw their ideas out into the conversations about what was happening around them. The supporting characters were great, from Teresa who runs the restaurant/bar at the small motel to the slightly mysterious Hector, who seems to be looking out for the girls and the fun addition of Justin's best friend Henry to the mix. Ms. Clement-Moore does a fabulous job with the supporting characters in this one, with Dave being a personal favorite of mine. Absolutely loved the scene with him and Maggie out in the pick-up truck where they make their first frightening contact with the supposed mythological creature that's traumatizing the small Texas town. One of the best scenes is when the girls find out about a local museum a short drive away that's supposed to have an actual skeleton of the beast, and Maggie and Lisa head out to see this creature. The museum itself is odd and creepy enough, but the rattlesnake that seems to hiss every time Maggie is near is one of the creepiest parts of all. With a heart pounding last few chapters that will have you desperately flipping the pages, HIGHWAY TO HELL is one of my favorite reads of the year.
Rosemary Clement-Moore lives and writes in Arlington, Texas. Visit Rosemary online at www.readrosemary.com
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
September 2009
ROSEMARY CLEMENT-MOORE
Paranormal YA
Delacorte Books
ISBN# 978-0385734639
368 Pages
$16.99
Hardcover--Available Now
Rating: 4.5 Enchantments
It's time for more Maggie Quinn fun in the third book of the series, HIGHWAY TO HELL. This time, trouble finds Maggie and best friend Lisa on the way to Spring Break, the one time the two friends hope to just be normal and leave their paranormal abilities behind. But normal is soon quickly thrown out the window when Maggie's Jeep hits something in the middle of the dark Texas highway and they find themselves investigating something that definitely isn't human. Half the town believes its only coyotes or some other animal that's terrorizing and killing their livestock, but the other half of town, they believe something a little more sinister is behind the attacks, something that shouldn't exist outside nightmares. It's up to Maggie and Lisa to figure out the truth, but can Maggie figure it out before she gets in its way?
Well paced and full of the same great mix of paranormal and humor as the first two in the series, HIGHWAY TO HELL is an addicting read that pulled me in from the first page and never let me go. The setting is a bit unusual, especially compared to previous books, and I liked how Maggie and Lisa were a bit of the outsiders in the small town, under the microscope at times by the locals as they threw their ideas out into the conversations about what was happening around them. The supporting characters were great, from Teresa who runs the restaurant/bar at the small motel to the slightly mysterious Hector, who seems to be looking out for the girls and the fun addition of Justin's best friend Henry to the mix. Ms. Clement-Moore does a fabulous job with the supporting characters in this one, with Dave being a personal favorite of mine. Absolutely loved the scene with him and Maggie out in the pick-up truck where they make their first frightening contact with the supposed mythological creature that's traumatizing the small Texas town. One of the best scenes is when the girls find out about a local museum a short drive away that's supposed to have an actual skeleton of the beast, and Maggie and Lisa head out to see this creature. The museum itself is odd and creepy enough, but the rattlesnake that seems to hiss every time Maggie is near is one of the creepiest parts of all. With a heart pounding last few chapters that will have you desperately flipping the pages, HIGHWAY TO HELL is one of my favorite reads of the year.
Rosemary Clement-Moore lives and writes in Arlington, Texas. Visit Rosemary online at www.readrosemary.com
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
September 2009
Enchanting Review: OH.MY.GODS
OH.MY.GODS
TERA LYNN CHILDS
Fantasy YA
Dutton
ISBN# 978-0-525-47942-0
Pages
$16.99
Hardcover--Available Now
Rating: 4 Enchantments
Phoebe Castro has one dream in life—to get a running scholarship to her dream school with her two lifelong best friends. Unfortunately, her mother is about to ruin everything. When her mother arrives home from a family reunion, with new fiancé in tow, she breaks the news that they're moving to a small island in Greece and Phoebe's about to miss out on her senior year with her BFFs. As if that wasn't bad enough, Phoebe finds herself at a school for descendants of the Gods and is about as much of a fish out of water as a girl can get, and not to mention, sworn to secrecy about that whole Gods thing. With her life suddenly turned upside down, a cold-hot relationship with the one of the hottest guys at school, who also happens to be dating one of the school's meanest girls, and an evil new soon-to-be stepsister to boot, Phoebe finds herself longing for her normal life back in Cali.
OH.MY.GODS was a really fun fantasy read. A mix of contemporary and the possibility that the Gods did exist and their descendants are all housed on a small secret island in Greece going to school together all combine into a world that would be fun to step right into, as long as you didn't upset the popular clique and get on the wrong side of the mean girl, which you guessed it, Phoebe does. Phoebe's really likeable as the girl who has to seemingly give everything up and struggles to make it through the year away from her best friends and the life she left behind, with her mother psycho-analyzing her half the time. When her evil soon-to-be stepsister throws a wrench into things, Phoebe's desperately happy for the two friends she's made on the island. But that still doesn't explain why the male half of the hottest couple in school seems to have split personalities where she's concerned. Some of the best scenes in the book happen while Phoebe's out running and trying to make the team. The surprise in the book about Phoebe herself may not come as much as total surprise to all readers, but the way it comes out is pretty good.
Sometimes though, the story did seem a bit slow moving, which was the only flaw to this fun and engaging read. I look forward to reading the next in the series, 'Goddess Boot Camp', also available now.
Tera Lynn Childs is a wannabe goddess and the author of OH. MY. GODS. and GODDESS BOOT CAMP. Tera lives in Houston, Texas, where she spends her time fleeing hurricanes, making character profiles on MySpace, blogging with the Buzz Girls at booksboysbuzz.com, and writing wherever she can find a comfy chair and a steady stream of caffeinated beverages.
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
September 2009
TERA LYNN CHILDS
Fantasy YA
Dutton
ISBN# 978-0-525-47942-0
Pages
$16.99
Hardcover--Available Now
Rating: 4 Enchantments
Phoebe Castro has one dream in life—to get a running scholarship to her dream school with her two lifelong best friends. Unfortunately, her mother is about to ruin everything. When her mother arrives home from a family reunion, with new fiancé in tow, she breaks the news that they're moving to a small island in Greece and Phoebe's about to miss out on her senior year with her BFFs. As if that wasn't bad enough, Phoebe finds herself at a school for descendants of the Gods and is about as much of a fish out of water as a girl can get, and not to mention, sworn to secrecy about that whole Gods thing. With her life suddenly turned upside down, a cold-hot relationship with the one of the hottest guys at school, who also happens to be dating one of the school's meanest girls, and an evil new soon-to-be stepsister to boot, Phoebe finds herself longing for her normal life back in Cali.
OH.MY.GODS was a really fun fantasy read. A mix of contemporary and the possibility that the Gods did exist and their descendants are all housed on a small secret island in Greece going to school together all combine into a world that would be fun to step right into, as long as you didn't upset the popular clique and get on the wrong side of the mean girl, which you guessed it, Phoebe does. Phoebe's really likeable as the girl who has to seemingly give everything up and struggles to make it through the year away from her best friends and the life she left behind, with her mother psycho-analyzing her half the time. When her evil soon-to-be stepsister throws a wrench into things, Phoebe's desperately happy for the two friends she's made on the island. But that still doesn't explain why the male half of the hottest couple in school seems to have split personalities where she's concerned. Some of the best scenes in the book happen while Phoebe's out running and trying to make the team. The surprise in the book about Phoebe herself may not come as much as total surprise to all readers, but the way it comes out is pretty good.
Sometimes though, the story did seem a bit slow moving, which was the only flaw to this fun and engaging read. I look forward to reading the next in the series, 'Goddess Boot Camp', also available now.
Tera Lynn Childs is a wannabe goddess and the author of OH. MY. GODS. and GODDESS BOOT CAMP. Tera lives in Houston, Texas, where she spends her time fleeing hurricanes, making character profiles on MySpace, blogging with the Buzz Girls at booksboysbuzz.com, and writing wherever she can find a comfy chair and a steady stream of caffeinated beverages.
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
September 2009
Enchanting Review: Fat Cat
FAT CAT
ROBIN BRANDE
Contemporary YA
Knopf
ISBN# 978-0-375-84449-2
327 Pages
$16.99
Hardcover--Available Now
Rating: 4.5 Enchantments
Cat has always been a bit of a brain. AP classes all the way, and so she's eagerly awaiting what should be one of the highlights of her high school career, the project in Mr. Fizer's research science class. But when she picks her picture out of the stack, instead of something she can be excited about and sure to beat former best friend Matt at, she ends up with a picture of the hominids, our earliest human ancestors. What is she supposed to with that? But the more she thinks, the more the idea begins to form. She'll use herself as the project, eating and living how the early humans lives, which means giving up nearly everything she loves—junk food, her car, TV and make a record of her transformation.
Cat's likeable from the start and I loved her best friend, Amanda, who definitely stole a few scenes on her own, especially at the cafe. At the beginning of the book, Cat's a little on the heavy side, she doesn't seem to be focused that much on her body, though she would like to feel prettier. So when she ends up with the photo of the hominids for her class, and decides to do the project on herself, she couldn't imagine the results or how it'll change her life. As the story moves along, Cat finds herself evolving, not only physically by losing the weight but mentally as well when her social life changes as does her self esteem. She even finds herself bonding more with her little brother. The only thing still negative around her is her former best friend, Matt, who she'd do anything to beat in this competition. It takes almost the whole book before the reader gets to find out what happened to her and Matt's friendship as thirteen year olds. Some of my favorite scenes are when Cat notices him watching her at school and especially when she's talking to one of the guys in class. The first time they meet up at the Zoo is one of the most memorable ones in the book. The awkwardness between the two, Cat's desire to show him she doesn't need him in her life and yet so desperately wants him to apologize for those hurtful words. And the scene between her and Amanda in the car afterwards was great too.
All in all, FAT CAT is a really great and entertaining read as Cat goes on a bit of a journey of self-discovery and finding out what it is in life that truly makes her happy. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a great mix of humor, little romance and friendship.
Robin Brande is a former trial attorney who is also the author of the young adult novel Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature. Robin was herself an overweight teen, and knows that a smart girl can figure out a smart way to be fit. She lives in Tucson, Arizona.
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
October 2009
ROBIN BRANDE
Contemporary YA
Knopf
ISBN# 978-0-375-84449-2
327 Pages
$16.99
Hardcover--Available Now
Rating: 4.5 Enchantments
Cat has always been a bit of a brain. AP classes all the way, and so she's eagerly awaiting what should be one of the highlights of her high school career, the project in Mr. Fizer's research science class. But when she picks her picture out of the stack, instead of something she can be excited about and sure to beat former best friend Matt at, she ends up with a picture of the hominids, our earliest human ancestors. What is she supposed to with that? But the more she thinks, the more the idea begins to form. She'll use herself as the project, eating and living how the early humans lives, which means giving up nearly everything she loves—junk food, her car, TV and make a record of her transformation.
Cat's likeable from the start and I loved her best friend, Amanda, who definitely stole a few scenes on her own, especially at the cafe. At the beginning of the book, Cat's a little on the heavy side, she doesn't seem to be focused that much on her body, though she would like to feel prettier. So when she ends up with the photo of the hominids for her class, and decides to do the project on herself, she couldn't imagine the results or how it'll change her life. As the story moves along, Cat finds herself evolving, not only physically by losing the weight but mentally as well when her social life changes as does her self esteem. She even finds herself bonding more with her little brother. The only thing still negative around her is her former best friend, Matt, who she'd do anything to beat in this competition. It takes almost the whole book before the reader gets to find out what happened to her and Matt's friendship as thirteen year olds. Some of my favorite scenes are when Cat notices him watching her at school and especially when she's talking to one of the guys in class. The first time they meet up at the Zoo is one of the most memorable ones in the book. The awkwardness between the two, Cat's desire to show him she doesn't need him in her life and yet so desperately wants him to apologize for those hurtful words. And the scene between her and Amanda in the car afterwards was great too.
All in all, FAT CAT is a really great and entertaining read as Cat goes on a bit of a journey of self-discovery and finding out what it is in life that truly makes her happy. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a great mix of humor, little romance and friendship.
Robin Brande is a former trial attorney who is also the author of the young adult novel Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature. Robin was herself an overweight teen, and knows that a smart girl can figure out a smart way to be fit. She lives in Tucson, Arizona.
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
October 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Enchanting Review: Trail Of Fate
THE YOUNGEST TEMPLAR: TRAIL OF FATE (BOOK 2)
MICHAEL P. SPRADLIN
Historical Fantasy
Putnam
ISBN# 978-0-399-24764-4
240 Pages
$17.99
Hardcover--Available October 29, 2009
Rating: 4 Enchantments
THE YOUNGEST TEMPLAR Picks up shortly after book one ends, TRAIL OF FATE starts with Tristan washed ashore, alone and not sure where he is. Drifting in and out of consciousness, he is soon discovered by an armed group on horseback, four men and two women, including the beautiful Celia. He soon finds out that they are Cathars and in danger from the High Counsel led by Father Renard after Celia upset the archbishop during a meeting. Torn between helping them and his own mission, he reluctantly leaves them and heads to find the port town with Maryam and Robard. But when they run into Father Renard on the beach, Tristan quickly changes his mind and lies about knowing where Celia and the others were headed. Deciding to help them, Tristan loses one of his friends when Robard decides to go home, leaving him, Maryam and the dog, Angel, on their own.
What I love most about Mr. Spradlin's writing is the way you feel like you're right there in the story with Tristan and company. Tristan is as stubborn and determined as ever, willing to risk his own life to fulfill his mission to Sir Thomas and deliver the Grail. Celia and his feelings for her throw things off balance. With a vow to one of her fallen protectors, Tristan puts himself directly into harm's way and his friends as well. I hope we'll see Celia again in the future, as she was an intriguing character who seemed a good match for Tristan. The relationship between Robard and Maryam continues to evolve and I loved the dialogue between them and Tristan realizing there's something brewing between them.
The action in THE YOUNGEST TEMPLAR: TRAIL OF FATE moves fairly fast at some points, especially when they finally reach Montsegur and again in the final few chapters. The last few chapters were some of my favorite parts of the book, when Tristan, Robard and Maryam are trying to escape France and the dangerous and equally evil Sir Hugh to find their way to Scotland to finally deliver the Grail. With a jaw-dropping cliff-hanger as an ending, readers will be demanding the next in this adventurous series.
Michael P. Spradlin is the author of more than a dozen books for children. When not writing, he enjoys reading, traveling, spending time with his family and worrying over the fact that he really should be writing instead of doing other stuff.
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
October 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Enchanting Review: I Am A Genius Of Unspeakable Evil and I Want To Be Your Class President
I AM A GENIUS OF UNSPEAKABLE EVIL AND I WANT TO BE YOUR CLASS PRESIDENT
JOSH LIEB
YA Humor
RAZORBILL
ISBN# 978-1-59514-240-5
304 pages
$15.99 ($20.00 CAN)
eBook/Print - Available 10/15/09
Rating: 5 Enchantments
Oliver Watson lives in Omaha Nebraska and he is both an eight grader and a criminal mastermind who runs a vast organization dedicated to the humiliation and punishment of those he feels have wronged him.
Tatiana Lopez is known by Oliver as the meanest girl in school. Oliver seems to have a bit of a crush on Tatiana.
The entire story is told by Oliver so sometimes events may be distorted by what Oliver would like to present. Oliver is nominated for class president by Tatiana and at first he declines, but later changes his mind when he claims he sees an opportunity to annoy or diminish his dad by running and doing easily what his dad worked hard for as a student. Oliver manipulates, threatens and bribes his way to an unopposed election. His dad expresses his pity that poor Oliver won’t know the success of truly running and winning an election. Oliver decides to manipulate a little more and sponsors a ‘rival’ through more bribery, manipulation and threats. He hires a campaign manager for his rival through his criminal organization. This is to ensure his final victory. Things don’t go quite the way Oliver plans due to the his mother and his campaign volunteers led by Tatiana.
This book is great. I really enjoyed the scenes where Oliver acts as though Randy, his fellow student and rival for class president, scares or hurts him. Each time Randy tries to console or help Oliver, Oliver acts as if Randy is threatening him or hitting him, or demanding his money. Oliver takes great pride in being an evil genius. In his efforts to be President, Oliver never truly plans what he will do if he actually wins the election. I like how the author shows the inconsistencies in Oliver’s story about himself. Oliver claims that he does everything completely legally and then goes on to describe incidents like having paid henchmen use blow darts to inject drugs into unsuspecting bullies. This is definitely illegal even if it allows Oliver to take revenge on the bully.
This is Josh Lieb’s debut novel. Josh Lieb is the Emmy-winning producer of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He worked on The Simpsons and Newsradio.
Kathy Johnson
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
July 2009
JOSH LIEB
YA Humor
RAZORBILL
ISBN# 978-1-59514-240-5
304 pages
$15.99 ($20.00 CAN)
eBook/Print - Available 10/15/09
Rating: 5 Enchantments
Oliver Watson lives in Omaha Nebraska and he is both an eight grader and a criminal mastermind who runs a vast organization dedicated to the humiliation and punishment of those he feels have wronged him.
Tatiana Lopez is known by Oliver as the meanest girl in school. Oliver seems to have a bit of a crush on Tatiana.
The entire story is told by Oliver so sometimes events may be distorted by what Oliver would like to present. Oliver is nominated for class president by Tatiana and at first he declines, but later changes his mind when he claims he sees an opportunity to annoy or diminish his dad by running and doing easily what his dad worked hard for as a student. Oliver manipulates, threatens and bribes his way to an unopposed election. His dad expresses his pity that poor Oliver won’t know the success of truly running and winning an election. Oliver decides to manipulate a little more and sponsors a ‘rival’ through more bribery, manipulation and threats. He hires a campaign manager for his rival through his criminal organization. This is to ensure his final victory. Things don’t go quite the way Oliver plans due to the his mother and his campaign volunteers led by Tatiana.
This book is great. I really enjoyed the scenes where Oliver acts as though Randy, his fellow student and rival for class president, scares or hurts him. Each time Randy tries to console or help Oliver, Oliver acts as if Randy is threatening him or hitting him, or demanding his money. Oliver takes great pride in being an evil genius. In his efforts to be President, Oliver never truly plans what he will do if he actually wins the election. I like how the author shows the inconsistencies in Oliver’s story about himself. Oliver claims that he does everything completely legally and then goes on to describe incidents like having paid henchmen use blow darts to inject drugs into unsuspecting bullies. This is definitely illegal even if it allows Oliver to take revenge on the bully.
This is Josh Lieb’s debut novel. Josh Lieb is the Emmy-winning producer of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He worked on The Simpsons and Newsradio.
Kathy Johnson
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
July 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Enchanting Review: Without Sin
WITHOUT SIN
J.TOMAS
Contemporary YA
Prism Books
ISBN # 978-1-60370-683-4, 1-60370-683-6 EBook
ISBN: 978-1-60370-684-1, 1-60370-684-4Print
155 pages EBook
240 pages print
$5.95 EBook $13.95 print
Rating: 3.5 Enchantments
Sixteen-year-old Jacob Smithson has a temper. He's picked on because he likes boys. As a last resort, his parents place him in St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Boarding School for Boys.
When Jacob sees Avery Dendritch, a senior, the attraction is hard to deny. The two become fast friends, and as the school year progresses, their friendship deepens until Jacob feels he's found a place where he belongs. But the other students gossip about their growing relationship. Avery can ignore them; Jacob can't. Can Jacob curb his temper, or will his fighting get him expelled from St. Thomas, too?
I have to admit that this was my first young adult read and I loved it. The storyline was as I expected, solid and detailed. The author did a good job at building the characters, Jacob and Avery. The character Jacob is our temperamental, possessive, and protective type young male that makes him just perfect for the strong male lead. Avery was more the quiet type but no less protective of Jacob which is also good solid qualities in a character. It would have been an easy to follow, solid storyline if it had not been for all the errors. Errors such as no quotation marks, made it hard to stay in the story as I had to focus more on figuring out when someone was speaking and when they weren’t. The author and publisher could have avoided these types of mistakes with proper editing as it makes the story flow more smoothly.
The author’s website is http://j-tomas.net where you can find all the latest new or updates about the author.
A.M.Brown
Enchanting Reviews
May 2009
J.TOMAS
Contemporary YA
Prism Books
ISBN # 978-1-60370-683-4, 1-60370-683-6 EBook
ISBN: 978-1-60370-684-1, 1-60370-684-4Print
155 pages EBook
240 pages print
$5.95 EBook $13.95 print
Rating: 3.5 Enchantments
Sixteen-year-old Jacob Smithson has a temper. He's picked on because he likes boys. As a last resort, his parents place him in St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Boarding School for Boys.
When Jacob sees Avery Dendritch, a senior, the attraction is hard to deny. The two become fast friends, and as the school year progresses, their friendship deepens until Jacob feels he's found a place where he belongs. But the other students gossip about their growing relationship. Avery can ignore them; Jacob can't. Can Jacob curb his temper, or will his fighting get him expelled from St. Thomas, too?
I have to admit that this was my first young adult read and I loved it. The storyline was as I expected, solid and detailed. The author did a good job at building the characters, Jacob and Avery. The character Jacob is our temperamental, possessive, and protective type young male that makes him just perfect for the strong male lead. Avery was more the quiet type but no less protective of Jacob which is also good solid qualities in a character. It would have been an easy to follow, solid storyline if it had not been for all the errors. Errors such as no quotation marks, made it hard to stay in the story as I had to focus more on figuring out when someone was speaking and when they weren’t. The author and publisher could have avoided these types of mistakes with proper editing as it makes the story flow more smoothly.
The author’s website is http://j-tomas.net where you can find all the latest new or updates about the author.
A.M.Brown
Enchanting Reviews
May 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Enchanting Review: The Hunchback Assignments
THE HUNCHBACK ASSIGNMENTS
ARTHUR SLADE
YA Steampunk
Wendy Lamb Books
ISBN# 978-0385737845
288 Pages
$15.99
Hardcover—Available Now
Rating: 4 Enchantments
Mr. Socrates saved infant, Modo, from the traveling road show he was the star of. Hidden in a cage in the back of a carriage, his small body hunched, his face 'blessed' with the ability to morph into whatever it seemed he wanted. But his regular face, his true self, is so hideous that he must hide it behind a mask he receives as a child. As Modo grows older, Mr. Socrates has him practice morphing his facial features, until he can replicate the look of someone else for hours on end, all the while schooling him in other subjects that a normal child wouldn't normally learn.
Modo was a very likeable and sympathetic character. Forced to suddenly fend for himself on the streets of London, he has to use the lessons he's learned in the past at the hands of Mr. Socrates, as well as his caregiver and his fighting teacher, unsure of when he might see the mysterious Mr. Socrates again. What he does is pretty ingenious, turning himself into a detective, specializing in finding missing objects. This way he sticks to the night, makes what he considers good money and allows himself to hide from the world...until the beautiful Octavia appears at his door, asking him to find her brother, something that pulls him into an adventure he'd never imagine and put him back in contact with Socrates. I liked his relationship with Octavia, a character as mysterious as Mr. Socrates, and I found myself wondering how close her past resembles Modo's. Mr. Socrates himself was very mysterious. You have to wonder what's ahead for Modo and Octavia, and if Mr. Socrates is a totally good guy or is there something he's hiding from his young charges. I'm really looking forward to reading the next book to get some questions answered. I'm sure more interesting characters wait. Mixed with a good dose of adventure, a bit of humour and lots of memorable scenes, THE HUNCHBACK ASSIGNMENTS is a memorable read.
Arthur Slade has published several novels for young readers, including Jolted: Newton Starker’s Rules for Survival, Megiddo’s Shadow, Tribes, and Dust, which won the Governor General’s Award for Children’s Literature. He lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, with his wife, Brenda Baker. Visit him on the Web at www.arthurslade.com.
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
September 2009
ARTHUR SLADE
YA Steampunk
Wendy Lamb Books
ISBN# 978-0385737845
288 Pages
$15.99
Hardcover—Available Now
Rating: 4 Enchantments
Mr. Socrates saved infant, Modo, from the traveling road show he was the star of. Hidden in a cage in the back of a carriage, his small body hunched, his face 'blessed' with the ability to morph into whatever it seemed he wanted. But his regular face, his true self, is so hideous that he must hide it behind a mask he receives as a child. As Modo grows older, Mr. Socrates has him practice morphing his facial features, until he can replicate the look of someone else for hours on end, all the while schooling him in other subjects that a normal child wouldn't normally learn.
Modo was a very likeable and sympathetic character. Forced to suddenly fend for himself on the streets of London, he has to use the lessons he's learned in the past at the hands of Mr. Socrates, as well as his caregiver and his fighting teacher, unsure of when he might see the mysterious Mr. Socrates again. What he does is pretty ingenious, turning himself into a detective, specializing in finding missing objects. This way he sticks to the night, makes what he considers good money and allows himself to hide from the world...until the beautiful Octavia appears at his door, asking him to find her brother, something that pulls him into an adventure he'd never imagine and put him back in contact with Socrates. I liked his relationship with Octavia, a character as mysterious as Mr. Socrates, and I found myself wondering how close her past resembles Modo's. Mr. Socrates himself was very mysterious. You have to wonder what's ahead for Modo and Octavia, and if Mr. Socrates is a totally good guy or is there something he's hiding from his young charges. I'm really looking forward to reading the next book to get some questions answered. I'm sure more interesting characters wait. Mixed with a good dose of adventure, a bit of humour and lots of memorable scenes, THE HUNCHBACK ASSIGNMENTS is a memorable read.
Arthur Slade has published several novels for young readers, including Jolted: Newton Starker’s Rules for Survival, Megiddo’s Shadow, Tribes, and Dust, which won the Governor General’s Award for Children’s Literature. He lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, with his wife, Brenda Baker. Visit him on the Web at www.arthurslade.com.
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
September 2009
Enchanting Review: The Magical Ms.Plum
THE MAGICAL MS. PLUM
BONNY BECKER
Magical Middle Grade
Knopf
ISBN# 978-0-375-85637-2
104 Pages
$12.99
Hardcover--Available September 22, 2009
Rating: 4 Enchantments
To end up in Ms. Plum's third grade class is a real privilege as there's something magical about what happens in her classroom. And funny enough, none of her students are able to talk about it, even if they want to. Ms. Plum's supply closet hosts a magical secret. Whatever lesson a child seems to need to learn is taught by whatever animal follows them out of the closet. No one knows what's going to come out of there next, but one thing is for sure, almost everyone in class wants their turn.
I really enjoyed THE MAGICAL MS. PLUM. Every chapter is like a mini story all on its own, featuring a different student in her class. Everyone in Ms. Plum's class learns a lesson by the end of the school year, including Ms. Plum herself, which was one of my favourite chapters of the book. Though this can be a fairly fast read, it doesn't take away from the enjoyment of the book and the lessons that the characters learned. I really liked Ms. Plum and my favourite student had to be Darla. Out of the animals that emerged from the supply closet, it's hard to choose a favourite. The monkeys were great, the squirrels and I loved the peacock for Ms. Plum. I have to say that Ms. Plum and the peacock was definitely my favourite scene in the book, simply because you didn't expect anything to come out for the unusual Ms. Plum. The illustrations as well were really great and added a nice touch to the book.
A great read for boys or girls, even reluctant readers are sure to enjoy the magical glimpse into Ms. Plum's world.
Bonny Becker lives with her husband in Seattle, Washington. She hopes kids who read THE MAGICAL MS. PLUM will feel less afraid of making mistakes and will that stumbles are a part of how everyone grows and figures things out. Visit her online at http://www.bonnybecker.com
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
September 2009
BONNY BECKER
Magical Middle Grade
Knopf
ISBN# 978-0-375-85637-2
104 Pages
$12.99
Hardcover--Available September 22, 2009
Rating: 4 Enchantments
To end up in Ms. Plum's third grade class is a real privilege as there's something magical about what happens in her classroom. And funny enough, none of her students are able to talk about it, even if they want to. Ms. Plum's supply closet hosts a magical secret. Whatever lesson a child seems to need to learn is taught by whatever animal follows them out of the closet. No one knows what's going to come out of there next, but one thing is for sure, almost everyone in class wants their turn.
I really enjoyed THE MAGICAL MS. PLUM. Every chapter is like a mini story all on its own, featuring a different student in her class. Everyone in Ms. Plum's class learns a lesson by the end of the school year, including Ms. Plum herself, which was one of my favourite chapters of the book. Though this can be a fairly fast read, it doesn't take away from the enjoyment of the book and the lessons that the characters learned. I really liked Ms. Plum and my favourite student had to be Darla. Out of the animals that emerged from the supply closet, it's hard to choose a favourite. The monkeys were great, the squirrels and I loved the peacock for Ms. Plum. I have to say that Ms. Plum and the peacock was definitely my favourite scene in the book, simply because you didn't expect anything to come out for the unusual Ms. Plum. The illustrations as well were really great and added a nice touch to the book.
A great read for boys or girls, even reluctant readers are sure to enjoy the magical glimpse into Ms. Plum's world.
Bonny Becker lives with her husband in Seattle, Washington. She hopes kids who read THE MAGICAL MS. PLUM will feel less afraid of making mistakes and will that stumbles are a part of how everyone grows and figures things out. Visit her online at http://www.bonnybecker.com
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
September 2009
Enchanting Review: And Then Everything Unravelled
AND THEN EVERYTHING UNRAVELED
JENNIFER STURMAN
Mystery YA
Point
ISBN# 978-0545087223
256 pages
$16.99
Trade—Available Now
Rating: 4.5 Enchantments
Delia Truesdale never imagined her idyllic life in California was about to change. When her internet tycoon mother suddenly goes missing off an expedition to the Antarctic, Delia is the only one who believes T.K. is still alive. Worse, since she's the only one, she has no chance to decide to stay home. Oh no, according to her mother's will, she's about to be shipped off to the other side of the country, to New York City and two aunts she's never even met, let alone barely heard anything about. And the two of them are about as opposite as you can get.
With Delia the only one believing her mother is still out there somewhere, she's forced to deal with the fact that everyone around her wouldn't believe a word she says if she told them what she suspects. Between a weird phone call, mysterious satellite pictures online and the fact she just doesn't feel her mother's gone, Delia does what she can to prove to the world her mother is still alive. I liked Delia right away and her aunts, Charley and Patience are about as opposite as you can get. Charley was definitely my favorite of the two with her fun personality and unique way of doing things. especially how at first she had enrolled her in a totally different school without telling her prim and proper sister and was ready to send Delia there, until Patience came charging in. I loved how Charley set up a meeting for Delia to come to terms with what happened and it ends up being with a psychic, one who seems to agree with everything Delia's found so far. Her mother is still out there somewhere. But when she warns her she can't tell anyone, because the eight will turn into twelve, Delia decides to get her own detective to look into things since she doesn't know whether eight means days, weeks, months or even years. The pace of the book moves along very well and things are revealed all in good time, and the evolving relationship between Delia and Quinn, with his at times opposite personalities was enjoyable to watch unfold. Filled with unique and interesting characters, fun scenes and a mystery that gets more deep and dangerous the more Delia finds out, AND THEN EVERYTHING UNRAVELED is definitely an entertaining mystery read.
Ms. Sturman is the acclaimed author of several adult mystery novels, including The Pact and The Jinx. After graduating from Harvard College, Jennifer earned her MBA from Harvard Business School. She now lives in New York City, a few blocks from Delia’s aunt. She has no free time, but if she did she would probably spend it watching teen movie classics and playing poker. Please visit her online at
www. jennifersturman.com
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
August 2009
JENNIFER STURMAN
Mystery YA
Point
ISBN# 978-0545087223
256 pages
$16.99
Trade—Available Now
Rating: 4.5 Enchantments
Delia Truesdale never imagined her idyllic life in California was about to change. When her internet tycoon mother suddenly goes missing off an expedition to the Antarctic, Delia is the only one who believes T.K. is still alive. Worse, since she's the only one, she has no chance to decide to stay home. Oh no, according to her mother's will, she's about to be shipped off to the other side of the country, to New York City and two aunts she's never even met, let alone barely heard anything about. And the two of them are about as opposite as you can get.
With Delia the only one believing her mother is still out there somewhere, she's forced to deal with the fact that everyone around her wouldn't believe a word she says if she told them what she suspects. Between a weird phone call, mysterious satellite pictures online and the fact she just doesn't feel her mother's gone, Delia does what she can to prove to the world her mother is still alive. I liked Delia right away and her aunts, Charley and Patience are about as opposite as you can get. Charley was definitely my favorite of the two with her fun personality and unique way of doing things. especially how at first she had enrolled her in a totally different school without telling her prim and proper sister and was ready to send Delia there, until Patience came charging in. I loved how Charley set up a meeting for Delia to come to terms with what happened and it ends up being with a psychic, one who seems to agree with everything Delia's found so far. Her mother is still out there somewhere. But when she warns her she can't tell anyone, because the eight will turn into twelve, Delia decides to get her own detective to look into things since she doesn't know whether eight means days, weeks, months or even years. The pace of the book moves along very well and things are revealed all in good time, and the evolving relationship between Delia and Quinn, with his at times opposite personalities was enjoyable to watch unfold. Filled with unique and interesting characters, fun scenes and a mystery that gets more deep and dangerous the more Delia finds out, AND THEN EVERYTHING UNRAVELED is definitely an entertaining mystery read.
Ms. Sturman is the acclaimed author of several adult mystery novels, including The Pact and The Jinx. After graduating from Harvard College, Jennifer earned her MBA from Harvard Business School. She now lives in New York City, a few blocks from Delia’s aunt. She has no free time, but if she did she would probably spend it watching teen movie classics and playing poker. Please visit her online at
www. jennifersturman.com
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
August 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Enchanting Review: Ghost Huntress
GHOST HUNTRESS: THE AWAKENING
MARLEY GIBSON
YA paranormal
Houghton Mufflin Harcourt
ISBN # 9780547150932
352 pages
$8.95
Paperback—Available now
Rating: 4 Enchantments
Sixteen-year-old Kendall Moorehead is having a hard time adjusting to her parent’s recent move from Chicago to the small town of Radisson, Georgia. For one thing she can’t sleep. Not at all. Her father brings home a white-noise machine which should help her fall asleep but instead she starts hearing a scary voice that shouldn’t be there.
Kendall finds out that most of Radisson is haunted. Celia, a local resident and student at Kendall’s high school, lets her in on how she can go about finding out what’s behind the strange voices. In the meantime, Kendall’s father is being attacked by an invisible force at his new job. Should Kendall listen to Celia and form a local ghost hunters team to find out more? Can Kendall deal with her abilities to communicate with the dead in time to help?
I enjoyed this teenage ghost hunter’s book. The author does a great job showing the whole world of those who search out for ghosts and other paranormal things. In fact, the author is a paranormal investigator. Kendall’s struggles with her nurse mother not accepting her paranormal ability felt real. Her relationships with kids at her new high school were interesting. I guess if you live in a town where most houses are rumored to be haunted by Civil War ghosts, someone showing up and claiming to actually see them wouldn’t be that hard to believe.
What did feel forced was the whole pop references throughout the book. Also the crossing felt a tad bit abrupt. The sequel to GHOST HUNTRESS is coming out this fall. For those who love watching GHOST HUNTERS and GHOST ADVENTURES this book will appeal to them. I know I’m curious what Kendall will do later on with all those ghosts waiting to be helped.
Marley Gibson is a member of the New England Romance Writers of America (RWA) and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and the creator and founder of Chick Lit Writers RWA. Marley works full-time as a meeting planner and lives in the Boston area with her husband Mike. Find out more at http://www.marleygibson.com/ or her blog www.booksboysbuzz.com.
Kim
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
August 2009
MARLEY GIBSON
YA paranormal
Houghton Mufflin Harcourt
ISBN # 9780547150932
352 pages
$8.95
Paperback—Available now
Rating: 4 Enchantments
Sixteen-year-old Kendall Moorehead is having a hard time adjusting to her parent’s recent move from Chicago to the small town of Radisson, Georgia. For one thing she can’t sleep. Not at all. Her father brings home a white-noise machine which should help her fall asleep but instead she starts hearing a scary voice that shouldn’t be there.
Kendall finds out that most of Radisson is haunted. Celia, a local resident and student at Kendall’s high school, lets her in on how she can go about finding out what’s behind the strange voices. In the meantime, Kendall’s father is being attacked by an invisible force at his new job. Should Kendall listen to Celia and form a local ghost hunters team to find out more? Can Kendall deal with her abilities to communicate with the dead in time to help?
I enjoyed this teenage ghost hunter’s book. The author does a great job showing the whole world of those who search out for ghosts and other paranormal things. In fact, the author is a paranormal investigator. Kendall’s struggles with her nurse mother not accepting her paranormal ability felt real. Her relationships with kids at her new high school were interesting. I guess if you live in a town where most houses are rumored to be haunted by Civil War ghosts, someone showing up and claiming to actually see them wouldn’t be that hard to believe.
What did feel forced was the whole pop references throughout the book. Also the crossing felt a tad bit abrupt. The sequel to GHOST HUNTRESS is coming out this fall. For those who love watching GHOST HUNTERS and GHOST ADVENTURES this book will appeal to them. I know I’m curious what Kendall will do later on with all those ghosts waiting to be helped.
Marley Gibson is a member of the New England Romance Writers of America (RWA) and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and the creator and founder of Chick Lit Writers RWA. Marley works full-time as a meeting planner and lives in the Boston area with her husband Mike. Find out more at http://www.marleygibson.com/ or her blog www.booksboysbuzz.com.
Kim
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
August 2009
Enchanting Review: The Blonde of the Joke
THE BLONDE OF THE JOKE
BENNETT MADISON
YA contemporary
Harper Collins
ISBN# 978-0-06-125560-1
260 pages
$16.99
Hardback—Available now
Rating: 4 Enchantments
Val knew there was something different about Francie the first day she showed up in her Physics class. Blonde, brass, and gutsy, Francie was everything Val wanted to be. Then Francie decides to let her become her partner in shoplifting at the upscale mall. So both the mousy brunette and flashy blonde go on a wild ride of stealing. Francie sees something in Val, a wild streak. Val is unaware of this hidden part of herself. The risks for stealing get higher and both of them continue to shoplift. Along the way other secrets are revealed. Secrets that will either bring them closer or pull them apart.
I enjoy this story of a teen, who felt invisible at her school until Francie appears in her life. The voice is unique and engaging. At times hilarious and sarcastic, you can’t help but be entertained. Francie is at times way over the top in her outrageous behavior. I could see why Val would be attracted to her. Val at first seems gullible but in fact is stronger than she thinks. The only thing I felt was missing was the secret of Val’s dying brother. And the ending tended to be a bit abrupt.
The secrets of shoplifting were very revealing. Who knew what a simple rubber band could accomplish? What makes this book engaging is how Val opens up from her shell to the very end when she makes a final decision that turns her life upside down.
Bennett Madison learned everything about shoplifting from working at the Gap. He lives in New York City. You can visit him at www.bennettmadison.net
Kim
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
August 09
BENNETT MADISON
YA contemporary
Harper Collins
ISBN# 978-0-06-125560-1
260 pages
$16.99
Hardback—Available now
Rating: 4 Enchantments
Val knew there was something different about Francie the first day she showed up in her Physics class. Blonde, brass, and gutsy, Francie was everything Val wanted to be. Then Francie decides to let her become her partner in shoplifting at the upscale mall. So both the mousy brunette and flashy blonde go on a wild ride of stealing. Francie sees something in Val, a wild streak. Val is unaware of this hidden part of herself. The risks for stealing get higher and both of them continue to shoplift. Along the way other secrets are revealed. Secrets that will either bring them closer or pull them apart.
I enjoy this story of a teen, who felt invisible at her school until Francie appears in her life. The voice is unique and engaging. At times hilarious and sarcastic, you can’t help but be entertained. Francie is at times way over the top in her outrageous behavior. I could see why Val would be attracted to her. Val at first seems gullible but in fact is stronger than she thinks. The only thing I felt was missing was the secret of Val’s dying brother. And the ending tended to be a bit abrupt.
The secrets of shoplifting were very revealing. Who knew what a simple rubber band could accomplish? What makes this book engaging is how Val opens up from her shell to the very end when she makes a final decision that turns her life upside down.
Bennett Madison learned everything about shoplifting from working at the Gap. He lives in New York City. You can visit him at www.bennettmadison.net
Kim
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
August 09
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Enchanting Interview: Jeannine Garsee
What do you like best about being a writer?
Power. It may sound silly, but being a writer gives me ultimate control over people and situations of which I’m the sole creator. I decide what they do, what they say, what they eat and wear, and, ultimately, I decide their fate. The best thing is that I can change my mind any time.
I also live the solitude of writing. When I’m working on something, I love spending hours of uninterrupted time. It’s a huge contrast to my “real” life.
Why Young Adult?
Because I write the kind of stories I wish were around when I was a teen. It wasn’t until the late seventies or so that the edgier topics began to appear in YA literature. I’m not saying I didn’t enjoy the books I read in the sixties and early seventies, but I love the raw emotion and absolute reality to find in the YA sections of today. YA for the most part is fast and in-your-face, and without all the (often) unnecessary narrative you often find in adult literature. I’ll read an adult book today and, with few exceptions, I’ll think: Do I seriously care about this? Get on with the story already!
What's your writing process like?
First of all, I don’t outline (though I sometimes regret it)—I first do a rough draft from beginning to end, and then revise and re-revise until I’m satisfied with the results. I don’t do character sketches because I think they’re a waste of time; anything I need to know about the characters, I’ll find it out as I’m writing the story. I think some writers spend so much time on perfect outlines and synopses and multiple, lengthy character sketches that “this” becomes their actual writing; they obsess over it. I prefer to get the story down first and then go back and refine the details. I also have crit partners who will read one of my later drafts (I never allow anyone to see a rough draft) and I’ll send my agent a few pages as well.
I totally loved your book especially with all the recent news on gay marriages. What inspired you to write this story?
It was a story I’d thought about for quite a while. Originally I’d planned to write about a girl with a gay best friend (female) and the problems this posed. Then in 2006, when a lot of attention was first drawn to the gay marriage issue, I was inspired to turned my idea for a new story into something quite different.
How did you come up with the title?
In the second chapter of the book, a younger Shawna, comparing her elegant, beautiful mother to her mother’s less than feminine partner, says with extreme embarrassment, “You don’t look like Fran…so maybe you’re not really, you know, one of THEM.” And Shawna’s mother snaps back, “I’m a lesbian, Shawna. Les-bi-an. Why are you so afraid to say that word?” Shawna struggles with this throughout the story.
Which character gave you the toughest time to write in the book?
Shawna’s dad, one of the nastiest characters I’ve had to write. Nasty in the sense that he is refined and wealthy and highly educated, yet hasn’t a clue how his actions affect other people, especially those he loves. I tend to go overboard with unlikeable characters and it took quite a bit of effort to rein him in.
Hardest scene to write?
There were a LOT in this one: First, there’s a rape scene in the book and I had to remind myself that this IS young-adult. The last scene with Shawna and Arye must’ve been revised a thousand times before I was happy with it. Shawna’s final confrontation with her father broke my heart to write.
Who would your ideal cast be if a movie was made?
I know people will think I’m making this up, but I never think about my books being made into movies. My first novel was optioned for film, so I did fantasize a bit, but the option has since expired. I have such a strong personal picture of what my characters look like, it’s hard to picture them as actors who already exist (though sometimes I surf photo sites looking for similarities!).
Interview by Kim
May 2009
Power. It may sound silly, but being a writer gives me ultimate control over people and situations of which I’m the sole creator. I decide what they do, what they say, what they eat and wear, and, ultimately, I decide their fate. The best thing is that I can change my mind any time.
I also live the solitude of writing. When I’m working on something, I love spending hours of uninterrupted time. It’s a huge contrast to my “real” life.
Why Young Adult?
Because I write the kind of stories I wish were around when I was a teen. It wasn’t until the late seventies or so that the edgier topics began to appear in YA literature. I’m not saying I didn’t enjoy the books I read in the sixties and early seventies, but I love the raw emotion and absolute reality to find in the YA sections of today. YA for the most part is fast and in-your-face, and without all the (often) unnecessary narrative you often find in adult literature. I’ll read an adult book today and, with few exceptions, I’ll think: Do I seriously care about this? Get on with the story already!
What's your writing process like?
First of all, I don’t outline (though I sometimes regret it)—I first do a rough draft from beginning to end, and then revise and re-revise until I’m satisfied with the results. I don’t do character sketches because I think they’re a waste of time; anything I need to know about the characters, I’ll find it out as I’m writing the story. I think some writers spend so much time on perfect outlines and synopses and multiple, lengthy character sketches that “this” becomes their actual writing; they obsess over it. I prefer to get the story down first and then go back and refine the details. I also have crit partners who will read one of my later drafts (I never allow anyone to see a rough draft) and I’ll send my agent a few pages as well.
I totally loved your book especially with all the recent news on gay marriages. What inspired you to write this story?
It was a story I’d thought about for quite a while. Originally I’d planned to write about a girl with a gay best friend (female) and the problems this posed. Then in 2006, when a lot of attention was first drawn to the gay marriage issue, I was inspired to turned my idea for a new story into something quite different.
How did you come up with the title?
In the second chapter of the book, a younger Shawna, comparing her elegant, beautiful mother to her mother’s less than feminine partner, says with extreme embarrassment, “You don’t look like Fran…so maybe you’re not really, you know, one of THEM.” And Shawna’s mother snaps back, “I’m a lesbian, Shawna. Les-bi-an. Why are you so afraid to say that word?” Shawna struggles with this throughout the story.
Which character gave you the toughest time to write in the book?
Shawna’s dad, one of the nastiest characters I’ve had to write. Nasty in the sense that he is refined and wealthy and highly educated, yet hasn’t a clue how his actions affect other people, especially those he loves. I tend to go overboard with unlikeable characters and it took quite a bit of effort to rein him in.
Hardest scene to write?
There were a LOT in this one: First, there’s a rape scene in the book and I had to remind myself that this IS young-adult. The last scene with Shawna and Arye must’ve been revised a thousand times before I was happy with it. Shawna’s final confrontation with her father broke my heart to write.
Who would your ideal cast be if a movie was made?
I know people will think I’m making this up, but I never think about my books being made into movies. My first novel was optioned for film, so I did fantasize a bit, but the option has since expired. I have such a strong personal picture of what my characters look like, it’s hard to picture them as actors who already exist (though sometimes I surf photo sites looking for similarities!).
Interview by Kim
May 2009
Enchanting Review: Touch
TOUCH
FRANCINE PROSE
Contemporary YA
HarperTeen
ISBN# 978-0-06-137517-0
272 pages
$16.99
Hardcover—Available Now
FRANCINE PROSE
Contemporary YA
HarperTeen
ISBN# 978-0-06-137517-0
272 pages
$16.99
Hardcover—Available Now
Rating: 5 Enchantments
Maisie is a ninth grader living with her father, her stepmother, Joan, and Josh, her nine-year-old step-brother.
Maisie has always been a bit of a tom-boy and grew up together with her best friends Kevin, Chris and Shakes. Maisie left for her 8th grade year to live with her mother and Geoff, her new step-father. When Maisie returned, she had developed physically and unlike some of her other classmates, she had developed a lot. She finds that her friends don’t quite know how to treat her anymore and the awkwardness leaves Maisie feeling unsure how to handle the relationships. Shakes and Maisie still get together and seem to be sorting out their relationship and feelings for each other, but then Chris and Kevin react with jealousy and an incident occurs on the school bus. When the boys are afraid they will be punished, they react by lying about what happened and who did what. Maisie feels betrayed by Chris, Kevin, and Shakes. Her step-mother wants to respond with lawyers and expulsions and Maisie is still sorting out what happened to her friendships, her body, and what really happened on the bus.
The author handled some very touchy subject matter with both honesty and delicacy. This is a great book for teens who are going through changes, whether it be their family structure, their bodies, their friends or other areas of their life. Even though Maisie has some struggles, nightmares and pressure at home and at school, she begins to discover who she is and to choose how much she will let other people’s pressure affect her actions. For example when Maisie’s step-mother takes her shopping, instead of getting caught up in her stepmother’s drama and backhanded compliments, she chooses not to get into it with her stepmother at the store. She simply allows her stepmother to be happy buying two dresses Maisie never intends to wear. My favorite part is when Maisie has a very honest conversation with Shakes to let him know just how she feels about his part in the bus incident and afterwards.
Francine Prose has written eighteen novels including ..Bullyville’ and ..After’ two young adult novels. She may be contacted at www.francineprose.com.
Kathy Johnson
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
July 2008
Enchanting Review: The Summer I Turned Pretty
THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY
JENNY HAN
Contemporary YA
Simon Pulse
ISBN# 978-1-4169-6823-8
$16.99
276 pages
Hardcover – Available now
Rating: 3.5 Enchantments
Isabel, better known as Belly, always looks forward to summers. That’s when it’s time to relax, to swim in the pool or the ocean, to lay on the beach doing nothing. That’s when she, her brother Steven, and her mother drive to the beach house, when they spend three glorious months with loving Susannah and her sons Conrad and Jeremiah.
Brothers Conrad and Jeremiah have been there since the first summer. Just older than Belly, they always treated her like the baby, but despite the teasing, the three were pretty close. To Belly, they’ve been everything from best friends to unattainable crushes, and most definitely, people she could count on to be at the summer house when she arrived.
But this summer is different. Almost sixteen, Belly feels like she’s old enough to be included in the boys’ antics. She’s ready to make this summer perfect. But between Conrad’s moods, Jeremiah’s lifeguarding job, and Steven’s college road trip, there seems to be hardly any room left for Belly. But Belly can’t just give up; she’ll find a way to make this summer the way it should be.
THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY is a fast, fun, and at times moving story about life, love, and friendship. The story starts out none too originally, focusing on the highlights in Belly’s life, summers at the beach house. It predictably covers every corner of summer vacation: beaches, swimming, crushes, and parties. Even after the story gets going, nothing significantly differentiates this novel from other beach reads. It’s true that each main character is dealing with pain in their lives, but so do most characters in most novels. This lack of uniqueness made me feel like id already read pieces of the story before, albeit in a different novel. Despite that, the characters were, for the most part, realistic and believable, and I grew to understand and care about them even if I saw them reflected in countless other characters from summer stories. Belly is particularly likable, with her determination and desire to prove herself; flashbacks aided in defining her personality and background although it was difficult for me to keep track of when each segment of the story was taking place. Even though I feel this novel could have been vastly improved and even if I found the book’s ending deeply unsatisfying, I can’t deny that THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY is a sweet story abtou the fragility and beauty of life and the sacredness of first love.
Jenny Han lives in New York City, and THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY is her second novel. Her first is SHUG. She can be visited online at her website: http://www.dearjennyhan.com/
Rachael Stein
Enchanting Reviews
August 2009
JENNY HAN
Contemporary YA
Simon Pulse
ISBN# 978-1-4169-6823-8
$16.99
276 pages
Hardcover – Available now
Rating: 3.5 Enchantments
Isabel, better known as Belly, always looks forward to summers. That’s when it’s time to relax, to swim in the pool or the ocean, to lay on the beach doing nothing. That’s when she, her brother Steven, and her mother drive to the beach house, when they spend three glorious months with loving Susannah and her sons Conrad and Jeremiah.
Brothers Conrad and Jeremiah have been there since the first summer. Just older than Belly, they always treated her like the baby, but despite the teasing, the three were pretty close. To Belly, they’ve been everything from best friends to unattainable crushes, and most definitely, people she could count on to be at the summer house when she arrived.
But this summer is different. Almost sixteen, Belly feels like she’s old enough to be included in the boys’ antics. She’s ready to make this summer perfect. But between Conrad’s moods, Jeremiah’s lifeguarding job, and Steven’s college road trip, there seems to be hardly any room left for Belly. But Belly can’t just give up; she’ll find a way to make this summer the way it should be.
THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY is a fast, fun, and at times moving story about life, love, and friendship. The story starts out none too originally, focusing on the highlights in Belly’s life, summers at the beach house. It predictably covers every corner of summer vacation: beaches, swimming, crushes, and parties. Even after the story gets going, nothing significantly differentiates this novel from other beach reads. It’s true that each main character is dealing with pain in their lives, but so do most characters in most novels. This lack of uniqueness made me feel like id already read pieces of the story before, albeit in a different novel. Despite that, the characters were, for the most part, realistic and believable, and I grew to understand and care about them even if I saw them reflected in countless other characters from summer stories. Belly is particularly likable, with her determination and desire to prove herself; flashbacks aided in defining her personality and background although it was difficult for me to keep track of when each segment of the story was taking place. Even though I feel this novel could have been vastly improved and even if I found the book’s ending deeply unsatisfying, I can’t deny that THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY is a sweet story abtou the fragility and beauty of life and the sacredness of first love.
Jenny Han lives in New York City, and THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY is her second novel. Her first is SHUG. She can be visited online at her website: http://www.dearjennyhan.com/
Rachael Stein
Enchanting Reviews
August 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Enchanting Review: Killer (#6 Pretty Litlte Liars series)
KILLER (#6 in the Pretty Little Liars series)
SARA SHEPARD
YA Mystery
HarperTeen
ISBN# 978-0-06-156611-0
321 Pages
$16.99
Hardcover—Available Now
Rating: 5 Enchantments
KILLER, the latest installment of the Pretty Little Liars series, takes its readers on a rollercoaster of a read as the girls find Ian’s body, but the moment they bring Wilden back to the scene, Ian’s body is gone. Now the girls are being called liars by both the police and the press and no one believes a word they’re saying. Even as the new ‘A’ texts the girls, no one wants to believe that the girls are in any danger from anything but fear of being out of the spotlight. But are they crazy or is the newest ‘A’ actually trying to help them solve the mystery this time? With a jaw dropping ending that almost seems impossible, fans of the series will delight in the newest addition to the series.
Pretty Little Liars is my favorite YA mystery series, hands down. KILLER is a fast paced, riveting read with characters that’ve grown over the course of the series and new secrets and scandals being revealed around every corner. As the girls discover and remember more about the night Ali died, the more things point towards Wilden as somehow being involved, but how and why? How can they possibly trust the man who seems to haunt all their memories?
Aria’s struggling not only with moving into her father’s new house with his expecting girlfriend as a mean’s to get away from her mother’s boyfriend, but also with the fact she keeps bumping into Ali’s older brother, Jason. Is it her or is there something going on between them? Surely the rumors about Jason hurting Ali all those years ago were just that. Rumors. Spencer yet again feels the major outcast. Not only because of her possibly being adopted, but because she’s the one who first found Ian’s supposed body. When her family’s home is vandalized because of it and her parents ostracizing her for it, Spencer decides to find out where it is she might belong and answers the e-mail from her possible birth mother. Hanna’s forced friendship with her soon-to-be-evil-stepsister isn’t working out like her father would hope. And after Hanna blurted out what she did about Kate in the last book, it seems Kate’s out for revenge. But Hanna knows how to play that game too. Emily’s dealing with her own relationship troubles, especially when her boyfriend’s mother seems to hate her. When her boyfriend won’t believe her, what’s a girl to do, especially after finding a photo in their kitchen with her head cut out. That’s not typical friendly mother behavior. What I loved best about KILLER was how the tension never seemed to let up where the mystery was involved and how everything led up to the big party at the new hotel, a place that ends up harboring a very big secret. As all the clues start to fall together, the girls find themselves in deeper danger then they could ever imagine. One of the best scenes in the book is when aria is lured out to Jason’s apartment, only to almost be attacked by a dog. When she has no other choice, she’s forced to break into the apartment, only to discover what may be the biggest clue yet.
Sara Shephard graduation from NYU and has an MFA from Brooklyn College. Her PRETTY LITTLE LIARS novels were inspired by her growing up in Philadelphia’s Main Line. Visit www.prettylittleliars.com for PLL gossip, giveaways and exclusive series secrets.
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
July 2009
SARA SHEPARD
YA Mystery
HarperTeen
ISBN# 978-0-06-156611-0
321 Pages
$16.99
Hardcover—Available Now
Rating: 5 Enchantments
KILLER, the latest installment of the Pretty Little Liars series, takes its readers on a rollercoaster of a read as the girls find Ian’s body, but the moment they bring Wilden back to the scene, Ian’s body is gone. Now the girls are being called liars by both the police and the press and no one believes a word they’re saying. Even as the new ‘A’ texts the girls, no one wants to believe that the girls are in any danger from anything but fear of being out of the spotlight. But are they crazy or is the newest ‘A’ actually trying to help them solve the mystery this time? With a jaw dropping ending that almost seems impossible, fans of the series will delight in the newest addition to the series.
Pretty Little Liars is my favorite YA mystery series, hands down. KILLER is a fast paced, riveting read with characters that’ve grown over the course of the series and new secrets and scandals being revealed around every corner. As the girls discover and remember more about the night Ali died, the more things point towards Wilden as somehow being involved, but how and why? How can they possibly trust the man who seems to haunt all their memories?
Aria’s struggling not only with moving into her father’s new house with his expecting girlfriend as a mean’s to get away from her mother’s boyfriend, but also with the fact she keeps bumping into Ali’s older brother, Jason. Is it her or is there something going on between them? Surely the rumors about Jason hurting Ali all those years ago were just that. Rumors. Spencer yet again feels the major outcast. Not only because of her possibly being adopted, but because she’s the one who first found Ian’s supposed body. When her family’s home is vandalized because of it and her parents ostracizing her for it, Spencer decides to find out where it is she might belong and answers the e-mail from her possible birth mother. Hanna’s forced friendship with her soon-to-be-evil-stepsister isn’t working out like her father would hope. And after Hanna blurted out what she did about Kate in the last book, it seems Kate’s out for revenge. But Hanna knows how to play that game too. Emily’s dealing with her own relationship troubles, especially when her boyfriend’s mother seems to hate her. When her boyfriend won’t believe her, what’s a girl to do, especially after finding a photo in their kitchen with her head cut out. That’s not typical friendly mother behavior. What I loved best about KILLER was how the tension never seemed to let up where the mystery was involved and how everything led up to the big party at the new hotel, a place that ends up harboring a very big secret. As all the clues start to fall together, the girls find themselves in deeper danger then they could ever imagine. One of the best scenes in the book is when aria is lured out to Jason’s apartment, only to almost be attacked by a dog. When she has no other choice, she’s forced to break into the apartment, only to discover what may be the biggest clue yet.
Sara Shephard graduation from NYU and has an MFA from Brooklyn College. Her PRETTY LITTLE LIARS novels were inspired by her growing up in Philadelphia’s Main Line. Visit www.prettylittleliars.com for PLL gossip, giveaways and exclusive series secrets.
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
July 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Enchanting Review: Gorgeous
GORGEOUS
RACHEL VAIL
Contemporary YA
HarperTeen
ISBN# 978-0-06-089046-9
$16.99
278 pages
Hardcover – Available now
Rating: 4 Enchantments
Allison Avery has always felt invisible. The middle child sandwiched between older, smart, talented, and accomplished Quinn and younger, pretty, and popular Phoebe, Allison thinks herself the epitome of mediocrity. It doesn’t help that she feels like an ugly duckling in public. And with not-quite-supportive friends, distracted sisters, and parents with their own financial problems, no one has really told her different.
But that all changes the first time Allison hands out with Roxie, a used-to-be big city girl also rumored to be a model. Suddenly Allison realizes she’s tired of being the girl in the shadows. So, she makes a deal with the devil. In exchange for gorgeousness, all Allison has to do is let the devil possess her cell phone. Sounds like a great deal, right? Not. Allison’s looks may have earned her more popularity, but do her new friends like her for her—or her face? And is her semi-finalist spot in a competition to find America’s next teen model all what it’s cracked up to be? And now that the devil’s control of her phone is wreaking havoc with her personal and social life, Allison has to ask herself—is beauty really worth this?
GOEGEOUS is a witty, unusual, and ultimately charming tale of a girl trying to figure out who she is. Allison is a very likable character every teen girl will be able to relate to in some way; she’s very unsure of herself, both in intelligence and looks, she feels dwarfed by the accomplishments of those around her, and she doesn’t know who she can completely trust. That’s why she gives so little thought to the devil’s deal when she’s offered beauty. She’s just floundering for some confidence, something she can be proud of. This novel is very successful in conveying the importance of learning to love yourself. Despite that people should care about personality rather than image, beauty can be vital to that process of finding confidence, more for the reward of feeling beautiful than just being so. Vail, I felt, was also very effective in this message. For me, that’s what set GORGEOUS apart from other novels about body image and beauty even if it all comes down to inner beauty. It also helps that Allison’s business with the devil was continually mysterious. In all, GORGEOUS is a sweet story that will be enjoyed by women of all ages.
A resident of New York City, Rachel Vail has written many novels for young adults. GORGEOUS is the second installment in the Avery sisters trilogy; the first book, LUCKY, follows Phoebe’s story. Rachel can be visited online at her website: www.rachelvail.com
Rachael Stein
Enchanting Reviews
August 2009
RACHEL VAIL
Contemporary YA
HarperTeen
ISBN# 978-0-06-089046-9
$16.99
278 pages
Hardcover – Available now
Rating: 4 Enchantments
Allison Avery has always felt invisible. The middle child sandwiched between older, smart, talented, and accomplished Quinn and younger, pretty, and popular Phoebe, Allison thinks herself the epitome of mediocrity. It doesn’t help that she feels like an ugly duckling in public. And with not-quite-supportive friends, distracted sisters, and parents with their own financial problems, no one has really told her different.
But that all changes the first time Allison hands out with Roxie, a used-to-be big city girl also rumored to be a model. Suddenly Allison realizes she’s tired of being the girl in the shadows. So, she makes a deal with the devil. In exchange for gorgeousness, all Allison has to do is let the devil possess her cell phone. Sounds like a great deal, right? Not. Allison’s looks may have earned her more popularity, but do her new friends like her for her—or her face? And is her semi-finalist spot in a competition to find America’s next teen model all what it’s cracked up to be? And now that the devil’s control of her phone is wreaking havoc with her personal and social life, Allison has to ask herself—is beauty really worth this?
GOEGEOUS is a witty, unusual, and ultimately charming tale of a girl trying to figure out who she is. Allison is a very likable character every teen girl will be able to relate to in some way; she’s very unsure of herself, both in intelligence and looks, she feels dwarfed by the accomplishments of those around her, and she doesn’t know who she can completely trust. That’s why she gives so little thought to the devil’s deal when she’s offered beauty. She’s just floundering for some confidence, something she can be proud of. This novel is very successful in conveying the importance of learning to love yourself. Despite that people should care about personality rather than image, beauty can be vital to that process of finding confidence, more for the reward of feeling beautiful than just being so. Vail, I felt, was also very effective in this message. For me, that’s what set GORGEOUS apart from other novels about body image and beauty even if it all comes down to inner beauty. It also helps that Allison’s business with the devil was continually mysterious. In all, GORGEOUS is a sweet story that will be enjoyed by women of all ages.
A resident of New York City, Rachel Vail has written many novels for young adults. GORGEOUS is the second installment in the Avery sisters trilogy; the first book, LUCKY, follows Phoebe’s story. Rachel can be visited online at her website: www.rachelvail.com
Rachael Stein
Enchanting Reviews
August 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
Enchanting Review: Sisters In Sanity
SISTERS IN SANITY
GAYLE FORMAN
YA contemporary
Harper Collins
ISBN #978-0-06-088749-0
290 pages
$8.99
Trade paperback Available now
Rating: 4.5 Enchantments
Sixteen-year-old Brit Hemphill, just wants to play in her band. Life hasn’t been the same since the Step monster joined the family. Brit doesn’t realize how bad things will get until a so-called promised family trip to the Grand Canyon turns into a trip to a remote, all-girl, residential treatment center for troubled teens. Brit is devastated by her father’s betrayal. Once at the center, she finds other inmates’ who become her friends and help try to find a way out of the prison-like institution.
This edgy tale shows the pain and anger of a girl who is tricked by her father into going to a boot camp for out of control teenagers. Brit’s reaction to being in the camp and her refusal to accept the counselor’s diagnosis of her so-called problem rang true. The language at times is raw but also very realistic of what might be the reaction to anyone suddenly locked up in a prison like building. Forman does a great job getting the reader inside and letting us see the horrors of so-called ‘tough’ love. The girls are exposed to harsh criticisms of their so-called problems in order for them to reform. Instead, it only makes them resent not only the camp but their parents as well.
I really liked how Forman doesn’t show the typical stereotypical troubled teen. No,
Brit’s character is not the usual angry punk rocker, but a girl that is struggling with the pain of her father’s betrayal and the fear that she might become like her paranoid schizophrenic mother. Brit learns to open up to some of the other girls at the camp and together they put together a secret sisterhood club in order to survive from the indifferent counselors at the camp. The other girls in the institution are also multilayered. I especially liked how Brit slowly learns to trust and how she decides to take matters into her own hands. Those who loved IMPULSE will also enjoy SISTERS IN SANITY.
Gayle Forman lives in New York City with her husband and daughter. Find out more at www.gayleforman.com
Kim
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
August 2009
GAYLE FORMAN
YA contemporary
Harper Collins
ISBN #978-0-06-088749-0
290 pages
$8.99
Trade paperback Available now
Rating: 4.5 Enchantments
Sixteen-year-old Brit Hemphill, just wants to play in her band. Life hasn’t been the same since the Step monster joined the family. Brit doesn’t realize how bad things will get until a so-called promised family trip to the Grand Canyon turns into a trip to a remote, all-girl, residential treatment center for troubled teens. Brit is devastated by her father’s betrayal. Once at the center, she finds other inmates’ who become her friends and help try to find a way out of the prison-like institution.
This edgy tale shows the pain and anger of a girl who is tricked by her father into going to a boot camp for out of control teenagers. Brit’s reaction to being in the camp and her refusal to accept the counselor’s diagnosis of her so-called problem rang true. The language at times is raw but also very realistic of what might be the reaction to anyone suddenly locked up in a prison like building. Forman does a great job getting the reader inside and letting us see the horrors of so-called ‘tough’ love. The girls are exposed to harsh criticisms of their so-called problems in order for them to reform. Instead, it only makes them resent not only the camp but their parents as well.
I really liked how Forman doesn’t show the typical stereotypical troubled teen. No,
Brit’s character is not the usual angry punk rocker, but a girl that is struggling with the pain of her father’s betrayal and the fear that she might become like her paranoid schizophrenic mother. Brit learns to open up to some of the other girls at the camp and together they put together a secret sisterhood club in order to survive from the indifferent counselors at the camp. The other girls in the institution are also multilayered. I especially liked how Brit slowly learns to trust and how she decides to take matters into her own hands. Those who loved IMPULSE will also enjoy SISTERS IN SANITY.
Gayle Forman lives in New York City with her husband and daughter. Find out more at www.gayleforman.com
Kim
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
August 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Enchanting Interview: Amy Efaw
1. How long have you been writing? Was this something that you always knew you would do?
I starting writing like most kids do, when my English teacher assigned a writing project. And I noticed how easy it was to get an “A” when I wrote something – poetry or short stories or essays or even reports; I was good at all kinds of writing styles. But I really made a decision to try to write for “real” once I had kids.
I started trying to write picture books (three to be exact) and sent them off to publishers. I collected nothing but rejection letters. Then I decided to write a novel based on my experiences at West Point, and I sold that book – BATTLE DRESS – before I had even finished it! That book was published in 2000 with HarperCollins. The second novel I ever tried to write was AFTER. So, I’ve been pretty lucky. Some authors write several books before they ever get one published.
2. What drew you to write for Young Adults?
I think a big part of me is still stuck in “Planet Teenager” (as my husband likes to call it).
But, seriously, I might get into trouble for saying this, but I’m going to do it anyway – I think in many ways you have to be a better writer to hold a teen’s attention than an adult’s. We young adult authors have a lot of competition – video games and movies and MySpace and TV and iPods and text messaging, etc. If we don’t grab our audience right away, our book will be tossed, collecting dust under some bed and never to be cracked again. Adults tend to be more patient when they read; they’ll give books more time to draw them in.
Also, I believe that teens tend to be more open to new ideas than adults. Not that I write with an agenda in mind, but as an author, I think it’s an awesome thing to possibly affect the way people look at a particular issue or expose them to a new concept.
3. If your life and/or writing career were a book, what would the title be?
I know I’m totally ripping from Sharon Creech’s novel, but it would be ABSOLUTELY NORMAL CHAOS. Definitely. At least during this particular time of my life!
4. Our readers always like to know, what is your writing process like?
I write very slowly and meticulously. I write chapter by chapter, chronologically, for the story. Every once in a while, I’ll be suddenly inspired and will write a scene ahead of time, but that’s very rare.
On any given writing day, I’ll start by reading over what I wrote during the previous writing session. That gets me in the “mood” for what I’ll be working on next. I edit as I read through it, so I’m always revising. This method can be a bad thing because it takes a long time for me to write anything. But it’s a good thing, too. It makes for relatively polished first drafts.
I DO NOT use outlines, at least not the written out kind. But I do a lot of thinking before I ever start writing, so when I finally do sit down and get to work, I’m ready to roll.
5. Do you have any specific writing rituals, both in general and with AFTER?
I wouldn’t call this a “ritual” exactly, but my best time of day for writing is late at night – between 10 PM and, like, 2 AM generally. It’s the only time that I can just relax, not care about the stuff that I have to do during the day, and concentrate.
BTW, I just looked at my watch; it says 1:32 AM right now! So there you have it!
6. Response to AFTER has been rolling in for a while. How are fans responding?
The feedback I’ve received, particularly from book bloggers like you, has been great! It seems like almost everyone who’s read AFTER has “gotten it.” I haven’t heard from anybody who’s said that they think the story is bogus. This is important because the idea that a girl could deny the fact that she was pregnant would seem pretty far-fetched to most people. And that’s probably where most readers are when they step into this book. If I’ve gotten readers to understand, believe the phenomenon exists, and maybe even feel some compassion for the main character (even if they hate what she’s done) by the time they’ve finished the book, then I think I’ve done a good job.
A few readers have expressed some disappointment in the ending. It’s very interesting because, at the same time, they also say that they don’t know how the story could have ended otherwise. They don’t know how to – or can’t – articulate where exactly their dissatisfaction lies.
Some didn’t like the fact that all the relationships in the story didn’t come to full completion, that everything wasn’t tied up neatly at the end. All I can say to that is . . . that’s just not real life. And this is my own preference of course, but I personally roll my eyes when I read books where everything conveniently pulls together perfectly at the end. It kinda bugs me! I think it sort of cheats the reader because that’s just not how the world works. And especially books as tough as AFTER, in my opinion, need very realistic endings. AFTER doesn’t deal with a pretty subject; a pretty ending would not have worked. Pretty endings are for a different type of book. But that’s just my view!
7. I read that you did quite a bit of research before writing AFTER. How did this impact your story? Did it change the story from your original idea?
Not really. Since my story is more character-driven, I started with the character, Devon. And I didn’t write anything until I was able to figure out who she would be. The very first thing I did was pull hundreds of “Dumpster baby” newspaper accounts off the Internet and read them. By doing this, I discovered that most “Dumpster baby” stories share some definite common characteristics. Out of those common characteristics, I was able to compile a profile of the type of teen girl who might conceal her pregnancy and then throw her baby into the trash. That profiled character became Devon.
Then before I started writing about the scenes inside the juvenile detention center, I spent hours and hours observing girls inside one. And so on. Whenever I came to a place while writing AFTER where I needed to figure something out, I’d stop and do the research before moving on. That way, I wasn’t guessing, and I wasn’t wasting time writing scenes that were unrealistic and would eventually be cut or need extensive revision.
This makes for slow writing, but I think it makes for a better, stronger, and tighter story.
8. What scene was the hardest for you to write in AFTER?
Probably the courtroom scenes. I had a lot to accomplish in those scenes, but I didn’t want them to read like a transcript from a trial. I wanted them to be accurate of what it’s like to be in court, but they had to move the story along and not be so full of detail that they dragged down the narrative.
9. What was your favorite scene in AFTER?
That’s a hard question to answer! But I think one of my favorite scenes was when Devon and Connor are walking along Point Defiance, when their romance is just starting. There’s so little “light” in this book, that this scene just sort of lifts the darkness for a needed, brief moment.
10. Did you ever experience any difficulties or roadblocks while writing AFTER?
Yeah, a big one. I had originally signed a contract for AFTER with another publishing company, and I did this based on a synopsis and about twenty-five pages (similar to what I did with my first young adult novel, BATTLE DRESS). And then the editor who had acquired AFTER left publishing altogether, so my novel was handed over to another editor there. However, it took me so long to finish AFTER that my “new” editor (and publisher) lost patience and decided to terminate the contract. By that time, I had finished a solid draft of the novel, but, alas, too late.
Four anxious months crawled by. I worried AFTER would never become a real book. But my very capable agent, Amy Berkower, put it in Viking’s hands, and they snapped it up!
And, really, I’m so glad that this happened! I love Viking and especially my amazing editor, Joy Peskin. AFTER wouldn’t have been the same book without her.
11. What's next for you?
Another book! Finger’s crossed . . .
Interview by Cinnamon
August 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Enchanting Review: After
AFTER
AMY EFAW
Young Adult
Viking Juvenile
ISBN# 9780670011834
352 pages
$17.99
Hardcover – August 11, 2009
Rating: 5 Enchantments
Devon is a straight A student who has never done anything wrong in her life. She has a strong character and a fantastic will that shows through even when the world around her is turning upside down. Polite, and unwilling to cause physical or emotional pain to anyone, Devon is the perfect daughter, athlete and student.
AFTER is the story of what happens when everything goes wrong. Devon makes a life altering decision by abandoning her baby in a garbage can. The resulting story is painful to read and yet strangely addicting. AFTER follows Devon as the juvenile detention system takes hold of her and the courts attempt to decide her fate. Efaw challenges us to ask the question, do we believe that Devon knew what she was doing? Did she plan to hurt her baby? With excellent research backing her up, Efaw gives us a look at the women that make the choice to abandon their babies.
I’m not sure if the word “amazing” is strong enough to describe AFTER. Efaw has managed to create a book that is so powerful that I, for perhaps one of the first times, am having a difficult time coming up with the words to describe it. My only hope is that I can convey at least a fraction of my thoughts and feelings on this book as the entirety of those thoughts and feelings would probably fill up their own thick stack of pages. AFTER is the most emotional and thought provoking book that I have read all year.
Efaw’s writing is so smooth and fluid that it was difficult to remember that I was reading a book and not watching a television show or staring at people in front of me. The emotion and strength that she put into her writing pulled Devon off the page and created a real person. That might be one reason why the story affected me the way that it did. Despite my best intentions, I found myself wishing the worst for Devon at the beginning of the book. That lasted all of three paragraphs and then suddenly my own feelings and desires vanished. All that was left was a little piece of me stuck up in Devon’s head. Her story has been playing constantly through my head and multiple times throughout the days I have found images from the story popping up in my thoughts. The raw emotion that Efaw writes with is so tangible that I’m unsure how a person can refrain from being drawn in.
The best and most unique part of the story, in my opinion, is how relatable Efaw made Devon. The subject matter of the story is fairly dark, but somehow, she made Devon a character that we couldn’t resist following. While the story didn’t by any means make me feel happy, it did make me feel. AFTER gave my brain new ideas to conquer and a different way of thinking to ponder. If ever there was a book that could get people talking and a cold heart to feel emotion, AFTER is it.
Amy Efaw uses her experiences growing up in the military and her West Point Academy education as the background to her writing. She can be found online at http://www.amyefaw.com/.
Cinnamon Brown
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
August 2009
Enchanting Review: Shiver
SHIVER
MAGGIE STIEFVATER
Paranormal YA
Scholastic
ISBN# 978-0-545-12326-6
400 Pages
$17.99
Hardcover—Available Now
Rating: 4.5 Enchantments
Grace’s fascination with the wolves in the forest behind her home stems from an attack that happened when she was young. Ever since, she’s had a connection, with one wolf in particular with the beautiful yellow eyes. But when a teenager at her school is apparently killed by the wolves, the community is in an uproar and goes after the wolves. Desperate to save ‘her’ wolf, Grace risks her own safety to go running into the forest, wanting to save both the wolf and her best friend who is out in the forest taking pictures. Ushered home, Grace finds an unbelievable sight on her back porch, a huddled up figure with the same eyes as her wolf.
Sam’s been changing back and forth between a human and a wolf as the seasons change since a brutal attack on him as a child. His parents, unable to deal with what he had become, tried to kill him but he survived and was taken in by the local pack leader. But when a bullet hits him, he finds himself human again in the fall, a time when he shouldn’t be. Sam’s been in love with Grace for years, ever since he saved her from the wolf attack several years ago. Now in human form, he’s desperate to make the most of the time the two have together, never knowing when the next cold weather is going to hit and make him change—this time permanently.
SHIVER is truly an enjoyable love story, with twists and turns that keep the reader hoping that Sam and Grace will find a way to keep him from turning back to the wolf, because as Sam fears, turning once more is something he may not be able to change back from. I really came to love these two characters over the course of the book, the way they cared about each other and the way Sam wanted to give Grace good memories to hold on to when he turned back. One of my favorite scenes is when he takes her to Duluth to the little candy store on a date. I loved the banter between the two and the way they truly cared about one another. Ms. Stiefvater has a very lyrical and enjoyable style, that keeps the reader turning the pages into well into the night.
Readers looking for something different in the paranormal genre should definitely try SHIVER.
Maggie Stiefvater is also the author of Lament: The Faerie Queen’s Deception and Ballad: The Gathering of Faerie. Maggie lives in rural Virginia with her husband and their two children. You can visit her online at www.maggiestiefvater.com
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
August 2009
MAGGIE STIEFVATER
Paranormal YA
Scholastic
ISBN# 978-0-545-12326-6
400 Pages
$17.99
Hardcover—Available Now
Rating: 4.5 Enchantments
Grace’s fascination with the wolves in the forest behind her home stems from an attack that happened when she was young. Ever since, she’s had a connection, with one wolf in particular with the beautiful yellow eyes. But when a teenager at her school is apparently killed by the wolves, the community is in an uproar and goes after the wolves. Desperate to save ‘her’ wolf, Grace risks her own safety to go running into the forest, wanting to save both the wolf and her best friend who is out in the forest taking pictures. Ushered home, Grace finds an unbelievable sight on her back porch, a huddled up figure with the same eyes as her wolf.
Sam’s been changing back and forth between a human and a wolf as the seasons change since a brutal attack on him as a child. His parents, unable to deal with what he had become, tried to kill him but he survived and was taken in by the local pack leader. But when a bullet hits him, he finds himself human again in the fall, a time when he shouldn’t be. Sam’s been in love with Grace for years, ever since he saved her from the wolf attack several years ago. Now in human form, he’s desperate to make the most of the time the two have together, never knowing when the next cold weather is going to hit and make him change—this time permanently.
SHIVER is truly an enjoyable love story, with twists and turns that keep the reader hoping that Sam and Grace will find a way to keep him from turning back to the wolf, because as Sam fears, turning once more is something he may not be able to change back from. I really came to love these two characters over the course of the book, the way they cared about each other and the way Sam wanted to give Grace good memories to hold on to when he turned back. One of my favorite scenes is when he takes her to Duluth to the little candy store on a date. I loved the banter between the two and the way they truly cared about one another. Ms. Stiefvater has a very lyrical and enjoyable style, that keeps the reader turning the pages into well into the night.
Readers looking for something different in the paranormal genre should definitely try SHIVER.
Maggie Stiefvater is also the author of Lament: The Faerie Queen’s Deception and Ballad: The Gathering of Faerie. Maggie lives in rural Virginia with her husband and their two children. You can visit her online at www.maggiestiefvater.com
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
August 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Enchanting Review: Sir John Hargrave's Mischief Maker's Manual
SIR JOHN HARGRAVE’S MISCHIEF MAKER’S MANUAL
SIR JOHN HARGRAVE
YA Nonfiction
Grosset & Dunlap
ISBN# 978-0-448-44982-1
272 pages
$15.99 US ($17.50 CAN)
Hardbound - Available June 2009
Rating: 5 Enchantments
This nonfiction guide for mischief Makers is an excellent step by step quick guide to playing pranks in a safe and non-vandalizing way. Many of the pranks are classic pranks that have been played before, but this book de-mystifies the methods and the materials used. A few new twists are introduced on some old pranks and a history is given for some pranks like the whoopee cushion. Some of the pranks can be performed alone, but others will require the reader to find a partner or team who can be trusted to help with the prank and not leak information.
The first section of the book introduces the basics of how to prank, how to stay out of trouble and some very basic pranks. The book progresses from simple pranks to more complex pranks that require more preparation and planning to pull off. One of the more important concepts introduced in the book is staying safe and making sure that nobody is likely to be injured.
My favorite pranks in the book are the tuna cookies and the smoke bombs made from old ping-pong balls. These seem fairly simple to bring off and use items I can easily lay my hands on. I like the layout of the book, progressing from simple to more complicated pranks. The diagrams are very easy to understand and make it simple to prepare materials for pranks like the smoke bombs or the spewing soda trick. I will definitely follow the author’s advice and hide this book so that my ‘victims’ won’t suspect me as the prankster. The reversible cover is great for hiding the book when reading in a public place.
The author, Sir John Hargrave is well known as the editor of ZUG, the first humor website, http://www.mischiefmakersmanual.com/ where you can find additional pranks, software and sound files listed in the book and other information about pranks and the author.
Kathy Johnson
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
July 2009
SIR JOHN HARGRAVE
YA Nonfiction
Grosset & Dunlap
ISBN# 978-0-448-44982-1
272 pages
$15.99 US ($17.50 CAN)
Hardbound - Available June 2009
Rating: 5 Enchantments
This nonfiction guide for mischief Makers is an excellent step by step quick guide to playing pranks in a safe and non-vandalizing way. Many of the pranks are classic pranks that have been played before, but this book de-mystifies the methods and the materials used. A few new twists are introduced on some old pranks and a history is given for some pranks like the whoopee cushion. Some of the pranks can be performed alone, but others will require the reader to find a partner or team who can be trusted to help with the prank and not leak information.
The first section of the book introduces the basics of how to prank, how to stay out of trouble and some very basic pranks. The book progresses from simple pranks to more complex pranks that require more preparation and planning to pull off. One of the more important concepts introduced in the book is staying safe and making sure that nobody is likely to be injured.
My favorite pranks in the book are the tuna cookies and the smoke bombs made from old ping-pong balls. These seem fairly simple to bring off and use items I can easily lay my hands on. I like the layout of the book, progressing from simple to more complicated pranks. The diagrams are very easy to understand and make it simple to prepare materials for pranks like the smoke bombs or the spewing soda trick. I will definitely follow the author’s advice and hide this book so that my ‘victims’ won’t suspect me as the prankster. The reversible cover is great for hiding the book when reading in a public place.
The author, Sir John Hargrave is well known as the editor of ZUG, the first humor website, http://www.mischiefmakersmanual.com/ where you can find additional pranks, software and sound files listed in the book and other information about pranks and the author.
Kathy Johnson
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
July 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Enchanting Review: Post Grad
POST GRAD
EMILY CASSEL
Women’s Fiction
St. Martin’s Griffin
ISBN# 978-0-312-59626-2
256 Pages
$13.99
Trade--Available Now
Rating: 5 Enchantments
Ryden Malby’s had her whole life planned out, do well in high school, get a great scholarship and graduate, thereby moving into the next phase of her life, a gorgeous place and her dream job at the city’s best publishing house. Graduating from college was one thing, but when her plans for her life are quickly disintegrating she’s forced to do the unthinkable—move back home with her parents, her crazy grandmother and strange little brother till she can find a job and figure out what to do with her life.
POST GRAD is a hilarious, entertaining read. There wasn’t a single chapter where I didn’t either laugh or lament the thought of having to eventually put the book down. I loved Ryden instantly, it’s hard to not like a girl who’s dealing with a family as crazy as hers, and her nemesis in Jessica Barde, the ‘perfect’ girl who seems to always show up when Ryden would least like her to, especially during one truly horrific moment when working at Luggage World. Her best friend Adam who’s hopelessly crushing on her. Ryden’s family is truly one of the best, most outrageous families I’ve ever come across. Her father is beyond hilarious and her grandmother is a scene stealer. It’s so hard to pick a scene to mention in the review, but the first one that pops to mind is when her grandmother takes them shopping for her own casket and the chaos that ensues. Ryden’s already embarrassed enough at times by her family, but to have her grandmother actually trying out the caskets is enough to give the poor girl a meltdown.
If you’re looking for a great read, POST GRAD is one book you should definitely pick up.
Check out the first chapter online at http://us.macmillan.com/postgrad
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
July 2009
EMILY CASSEL
Women’s Fiction
St. Martin’s Griffin
ISBN# 978-0-312-59626-2
256 Pages
$13.99
Trade--Available Now
Rating: 5 Enchantments
Ryden Malby’s had her whole life planned out, do well in high school, get a great scholarship and graduate, thereby moving into the next phase of her life, a gorgeous place and her dream job at the city’s best publishing house. Graduating from college was one thing, but when her plans for her life are quickly disintegrating she’s forced to do the unthinkable—move back home with her parents, her crazy grandmother and strange little brother till she can find a job and figure out what to do with her life.
POST GRAD is a hilarious, entertaining read. There wasn’t a single chapter where I didn’t either laugh or lament the thought of having to eventually put the book down. I loved Ryden instantly, it’s hard to not like a girl who’s dealing with a family as crazy as hers, and her nemesis in Jessica Barde, the ‘perfect’ girl who seems to always show up when Ryden would least like her to, especially during one truly horrific moment when working at Luggage World. Her best friend Adam who’s hopelessly crushing on her. Ryden’s family is truly one of the best, most outrageous families I’ve ever come across. Her father is beyond hilarious and her grandmother is a scene stealer. It’s so hard to pick a scene to mention in the review, but the first one that pops to mind is when her grandmother takes them shopping for her own casket and the chaos that ensues. Ryden’s already embarrassed enough at times by her family, but to have her grandmother actually trying out the caskets is enough to give the poor girl a meltdown.
If you’re looking for a great read, POST GRAD is one book you should definitely pick up.
Check out the first chapter online at http://us.macmillan.com/postgrad
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
July 2009
Enchanting Review: The Treasure Map of Boys
THE TREASURE MAP OF BOYS: Noel, Jackson, Finn, Hutch, Gideon—and me, Ruby Oliver
E. LOCKHART
Contemporary YA
Delacorte Press
ISBN# 978-0-385-73426-4
256 Pages
$15.99
Hardcover—Available July 28, 2009
Rating: 4.5 Enchantments
Ms. Lockhart doesn’t disappoint with THE TREASURE MAP OF BOYS,
the third book in the Ruby Oliver series. Ruby’s dealing with more of the same: issues with her parents; potential problems with her two friends and the biggest problem of all—boy trouble, something that escalates as she finds herself in charge of a bake sale and finds herself suddenly thrown together with her recently dumped ex, Jackson and not to mention things with her and Noel are going a lot differently then she would want them to.
The best thing about the Ruby Oliver series is Ruby herself. No other young adult character makes me laugh as hard or as often as Ruby. I love her interactions with her friends and the situations she finds herself in. When the last thing Ruby needs is another boy in her life to complicate things, in walks another, in the form of her good friend’s older brother. But hands down, my favorite scene of all is the science class experiment that goes so horribly, horribly wrong that leaves poor Ruby in a see-through shirt in front of a class full of jerky boys. Thankfully Noel saves the day, but the scene is something only Ruby could pull off.
I can only hope there are more books ahead with this great cast of characters. Fans of the series will no doubt love THE TREASURE MAP OF BOYS.
E. Lockhart is the author of two other books about Ruby Oliver: The Boyfriend List and The Boy Book. Like Rook, she dislikes marshmallows and loves vintage clothing. Unlike Roo, she loves Birkenstock's and is old enough to remember when retro metal was not retro. Visit her at www.e-lockhart.com, where you can read all about Ruby and the sophomore year bake sale. Or check out her blog at www.theboyfriendlist.com
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
July 2009
E. LOCKHART
Contemporary YA
Delacorte Press
ISBN# 978-0-385-73426-4
256 Pages
$15.99
Hardcover—Available July 28, 2009
Rating: 4.5 Enchantments
Ms. Lockhart doesn’t disappoint with THE TREASURE MAP OF BOYS,
the third book in the Ruby Oliver series. Ruby’s dealing with more of the same: issues with her parents; potential problems with her two friends and the biggest problem of all—boy trouble, something that escalates as she finds herself in charge of a bake sale and finds herself suddenly thrown together with her recently dumped ex, Jackson and not to mention things with her and Noel are going a lot differently then she would want them to.
The best thing about the Ruby Oliver series is Ruby herself. No other young adult character makes me laugh as hard or as often as Ruby. I love her interactions with her friends and the situations she finds herself in. When the last thing Ruby needs is another boy in her life to complicate things, in walks another, in the form of her good friend’s older brother. But hands down, my favorite scene of all is the science class experiment that goes so horribly, horribly wrong that leaves poor Ruby in a see-through shirt in front of a class full of jerky boys. Thankfully Noel saves the day, but the scene is something only Ruby could pull off.
I can only hope there are more books ahead with this great cast of characters. Fans of the series will no doubt love THE TREASURE MAP OF BOYS.
E. Lockhart is the author of two other books about Ruby Oliver: The Boyfriend List and The Boy Book. Like Rook, she dislikes marshmallows and loves vintage clothing. Unlike Roo, she loves Birkenstock's and is old enough to remember when retro metal was not retro. Visit her at www.e-lockhart.com, where you can read all about Ruby and the sophomore year bake sale. Or check out her blog at www.theboyfriendlist.com
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
July 2009
Enchanting Review: Blue Moon
BLUE MOON (THE IMMORTAL SERIES Book 2)
ALYSON NOEL
Paranormal YA
St. Martin’s Griffin
ISBN# 978-0-312-53276-5
284 Pages
$9.99
Trade—Available Now
Rating: 4.5 Enchantments
Ms. Noel picks BLUE MOON up a short time after Evermore leaves off. Ever and Damen are happy together, she’s starting to learn more about her mysterious powers and everything looks like its going great, until the new kid at school arrives. Everyone adores Roman, except for Ever. There’s something off about him and she can’t put her finger on it…until her whole world starts falling apart and Ever finds herself on the outside looking in.
BLUE MOON is a great second book in the series. We learn more about Ever; her relationship with her friends; her previous incarnations with Damen and more about the mysterious Summerland, as Ever finds herself spending more time there in order to find a way to save Damen. At Summerland, she meets a pair of mysterious sisters who I’m sure will play an even bigger role in the series going forward. I’m anxious to learn more about these two. While I thought the pacing of the book was sometimes a little slow, the lead up to the ending picks up relatively quickly and puts Ever in a spot no one would expect. Filled with well developed characters, more mysterious clues about where everything is eventually headed and the fact that the ending leaves Ever and Damen’s relationship potentially changed forever, BLUE MOON is a book fans of paranormal YA won’t want to miss.
Ms. Noel is the author of Evermore and seven previous novels for St. Martin’s Press. She lives in Laguna Beach, California where she is at work on the next book in the Immortals series. Visit her on the Web at www.alysonnoel.com
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
July 2009
ALYSON NOEL
Paranormal YA
St. Martin’s Griffin
ISBN# 978-0-312-53276-5
284 Pages
$9.99
Trade—Available Now
Rating: 4.5 Enchantments
Ms. Noel picks BLUE MOON up a short time after Evermore leaves off. Ever and Damen are happy together, she’s starting to learn more about her mysterious powers and everything looks like its going great, until the new kid at school arrives. Everyone adores Roman, except for Ever. There’s something off about him and she can’t put her finger on it…until her whole world starts falling apart and Ever finds herself on the outside looking in.
BLUE MOON is a great second book in the series. We learn more about Ever; her relationship with her friends; her previous incarnations with Damen and more about the mysterious Summerland, as Ever finds herself spending more time there in order to find a way to save Damen. At Summerland, she meets a pair of mysterious sisters who I’m sure will play an even bigger role in the series going forward. I’m anxious to learn more about these two. While I thought the pacing of the book was sometimes a little slow, the lead up to the ending picks up relatively quickly and puts Ever in a spot no one would expect. Filled with well developed characters, more mysterious clues about where everything is eventually headed and the fact that the ending leaves Ever and Damen’s relationship potentially changed forever, BLUE MOON is a book fans of paranormal YA won’t want to miss.
Ms. Noel is the author of Evermore and seven previous novels for St. Martin’s Press. She lives in Laguna Beach, California where she is at work on the next book in the Immortals series. Visit her on the Web at www.alysonnoel.com
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
July 2009
Enchanting Review: The Real Real
THE REAL REAL
EMMA McLAUGHLIN & NICOLA KRAUS
Contemporary YA
HarperTeen
ISBN# 978-0-06-172040-6
309 Pages
$16.99
Hardcover—Available Now
Rating: 5 Enchantments
Jesse O’Rouke is the typical average girl at her Hamptons high school. She’s not the most glamorous or the most beautiful and she definitely doesn’t hang out with the A-list crowd, but her and her best friend Caitlin really don’t care that much about any of that. Then suddenly XTV shows up at school, auditioning every single student to be one of the stars for their soon-to-be hot new reality hit, and Jesse gets cast as one of the leads, leaving her in the bright glare of the spotlight with her best friend on the outside looking in.
I loved Jesse, finding herself thrown in with the kids who’ve always been more popular then her. While her and Drew are the outsiders in the group, they’re forced to play friends with the others in front of the cameras, following the directions of a crazed cinematographer which results in some truly hilarious scenes. All the while, Jesse’s ‘reality’ is anything but as they shoot a Saturday at the spa in the middle of the night and her friendship with Caitlin starts to fade as the two barely have any time together. Soon, Jesse finds herself trying to wrangle a deal to get her best friend on the show…something that doesn’t turn out how she expected.
Hands down, my favorite scene is when the cast is whisked away to Mexico to film the spring break episode, a week before the actual spring break and are surprised to find themselves almost the lone inhabitants of the hotel. Everything is perfectly choreographed on film, while off camera, things get chaotic, leading to a scene where a drunk Trisha brings the party downstairs up to the penthouse where things get quickly out of control, leaving the entire cast huddled together in the bathroom trying to keep the partiers out.
What didn’t I love about this book? If I could have given more then five enchantments, I would have. THE REAL REAL is the perfect summer read. From the moment I picked it up, I was immediately pulled into Jesse’s world and didn’t stop till I reached the final page, where I seriously hoped there was going to be a teaser of a sequel. Trust me, once you get to the end, you want to know there is more of Jesse and these characters in your future.
Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus are the authors of the New York Times bestsellers The Nanny Diaries, Citizen Girl and Dedication. They live and work in New York city. Please visit their website at www.emmaandnicola.com
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
July 2009
EMMA McLAUGHLIN & NICOLA KRAUS
Contemporary YA
HarperTeen
ISBN# 978-0-06-172040-6
309 Pages
$16.99
Hardcover—Available Now
Rating: 5 Enchantments
Jesse O’Rouke is the typical average girl at her Hamptons high school. She’s not the most glamorous or the most beautiful and she definitely doesn’t hang out with the A-list crowd, but her and her best friend Caitlin really don’t care that much about any of that. Then suddenly XTV shows up at school, auditioning every single student to be one of the stars for their soon-to-be hot new reality hit, and Jesse gets cast as one of the leads, leaving her in the bright glare of the spotlight with her best friend on the outside looking in.
I loved Jesse, finding herself thrown in with the kids who’ve always been more popular then her. While her and Drew are the outsiders in the group, they’re forced to play friends with the others in front of the cameras, following the directions of a crazed cinematographer which results in some truly hilarious scenes. All the while, Jesse’s ‘reality’ is anything but as they shoot a Saturday at the spa in the middle of the night and her friendship with Caitlin starts to fade as the two barely have any time together. Soon, Jesse finds herself trying to wrangle a deal to get her best friend on the show…something that doesn’t turn out how she expected.
Hands down, my favorite scene is when the cast is whisked away to Mexico to film the spring break episode, a week before the actual spring break and are surprised to find themselves almost the lone inhabitants of the hotel. Everything is perfectly choreographed on film, while off camera, things get chaotic, leading to a scene where a drunk Trisha brings the party downstairs up to the penthouse where things get quickly out of control, leaving the entire cast huddled together in the bathroom trying to keep the partiers out.
What didn’t I love about this book? If I could have given more then five enchantments, I would have. THE REAL REAL is the perfect summer read. From the moment I picked it up, I was immediately pulled into Jesse’s world and didn’t stop till I reached the final page, where I seriously hoped there was going to be a teaser of a sequel. Trust me, once you get to the end, you want to know there is more of Jesse and these characters in your future.
Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus are the authors of the New York Times bestsellers The Nanny Diaries, Citizen Girl and Dedication. They live and work in New York city. Please visit their website at www.emmaandnicola.com
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
July 2009
Enchanting Review: Matisse On The Loose
MATISSE ON THE LOOSE
GEORGIA BRAGG
Contemporary Middle Grade
Delacorte Press
ISBN# 978-0385735704
$16.99
160 Pages
Hardcover--Available July 14, 2009
Rating: 3 Enchantments
Matisse is in trouble. It’s not bad enough that he has some of the strangest parents around or that his older sister had an almost unhealthy love for the color purple, but he’s gone and done something that could not only cost his mom her job as head of security for the museum, but also take away his freedom.
Matisse is an interesting and somewhat unique middle grade character with a talent for art. Easily embarrassed by his family, although who wouldn’t be with the description of his father’s homemade barbecue on the opening pages of the book, Matisse is desperate to prove he’s not as weird as them. As a talented artist who makes copies of the museum’s masterpieces, the reader kind of gets the idea that Matisse is headed for trouble when he decides to see what his version of the picture would look like hanging on the wall.
MATISSE ON THE LOOSE was an okay middle grade read. I didn’t love it, but I didn’t dislike it either. There were some aspects of the story that seemed rushed along, and every time Matisse tried to get the real painting back, there was always something holding him back. I did really like the scene where the cop was chasing him through the museum, with Matisse panicking he’d been found out, when the cop was merely the son one of the volunteers who wanted him to meet. The situation at the end with the real Pierre Matisse did seem a little farfetched to me and sort of pulled me from the storyline. All in all, I liked the characters in MATISSE ON THE LOOSE, but some of the scenes did pull me from the story.
Georgia Bragg’s father, mother, and brother are all artists, and Georgia is too. She was a printmaker, a painter, and a storyboard artist before becoming a writer. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two children, and two cats.
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
June 2009
GEORGIA BRAGG
Contemporary Middle Grade
Delacorte Press
ISBN# 978-0385735704
$16.99
160 Pages
Hardcover--Available July 14, 2009
Rating: 3 Enchantments
Matisse is in trouble. It’s not bad enough that he has some of the strangest parents around or that his older sister had an almost unhealthy love for the color purple, but he’s gone and done something that could not only cost his mom her job as head of security for the museum, but also take away his freedom.
Matisse is an interesting and somewhat unique middle grade character with a talent for art. Easily embarrassed by his family, although who wouldn’t be with the description of his father’s homemade barbecue on the opening pages of the book, Matisse is desperate to prove he’s not as weird as them. As a talented artist who makes copies of the museum’s masterpieces, the reader kind of gets the idea that Matisse is headed for trouble when he decides to see what his version of the picture would look like hanging on the wall.
MATISSE ON THE LOOSE was an okay middle grade read. I didn’t love it, but I didn’t dislike it either. There were some aspects of the story that seemed rushed along, and every time Matisse tried to get the real painting back, there was always something holding him back. I did really like the scene where the cop was chasing him through the museum, with Matisse panicking he’d been found out, when the cop was merely the son one of the volunteers who wanted him to meet. The situation at the end with the real Pierre Matisse did seem a little farfetched to me and sort of pulled me from the storyline. All in all, I liked the characters in MATISSE ON THE LOOSE, but some of the scenes did pull me from the story.
Georgia Bragg’s father, mother, and brother are all artists, and Georgia is too. She was a printmaker, a painter, and a storyboard artist before becoming a writer. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two children, and two cats.
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
June 2009
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