Enchanting Review: Whisper

WHISPER
PHOEBE KITANIDIS
YA Paranormal
Harper Collins
ISBN # 978-0-06-179925-9
282 pages
$16.99
Hardcover Available now

Rating: 4 Enchantments

Joy can hear people’s thoughts or whispers. She’s learned to use this to her advantage. Her other sister Jessica, does the exact opposite thing. She uses whispers to hurt others. Then on Joy’s fifteenth birthday her ability changes. She finds out what her friends really think. And it’s not all good. To make matters worse, Jessica taunts her. This causes Joy to lash out and tell her sister to leave. Later, Joy finds out Jessica is missing. Her mother isn’t being truthful and her father is oblivious. It’s now up to Joy to find her one Aunt who has silenced other’s whispers. Maybe then Joy can find the truth and also her older sister before it’s too late.

This intriguing tale shows what happens when a paranormal ability turns out not to be so great after all. The beginning of the story is a tad bit slow with a little too much back story. But once you read about the pivotal event that changes Joy’s life, you can’t put the book down. I liked the sister relationship, which was totally realistic. Jessica, alias Icka, is shown at first as a resentful presence. She’s a major pain in the butt and takes pleasure in putting Joy down. It would have been easy to keep it at that. Instead the author fleshed Jessica out to show her vulnerabilities which included her trying to warn Joy of what would happen to her gift when she turned fifteen and how she tried to connect with her telepathically.

The relationship between Jaime and Joy is interesting. I liked how each of them complimented the other. I also liked how the author shows how Jaime deals with his paranormal ability in a different way.

WHISPER takes an intriguing twist on a paranormal ability that makes you want to read more!

Phoebe Kitanidis lives in Seattle, Washington, with her husband and big gray cat. A former Language Arts teacher, she now writes full time. To find out more check out www.authortracker.com


Kim Baccellia
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
June 2010

Enchanting Review: Borderline

BORDERLINE
ALLAN STRATTON
YA Contemporary
Harper Collins
ISBN # 978-0-06-145111-9
298 pages
$16.99
Hardcover­—Available now

Rating: 4 Enchantments

Life isn’t easy for Sami Sabiri. After one incident with a girl, his father puts him in a private school where he’s the only Muslim teen. Then Sami catches his father in a lie and checks out what’s going on. Come to find out others, which include the FBI, are interested too. When the FBI comes and takes his father away, Sami’s family becomes the center of an international terrorist investigation. It’s up to Sami to find the truth before his world unravels.

I really liked Sami’s POV in this story. Sami describes how hard it is being Muslim in a post 9/11 world in a very realistic and believable way. Some ways he shows this is how he finds a secret place to say his prayers at the school. He also compares how different his life is from his non-Muslim friends and how it sometimes makes him feel invisible and left out. The scene where Eddy, the star football player and bully, torments Sami because of his faith struck a chord with me. My own brother-in-law and nephews are Muslim so I’ve heard from them how easy it is for others to quickly judge someone who’s different.

Sami’s friends at first seem indifferent to his plight but later show their true colors once Sami sets out to find the truth. I liked the interaction between the friends that didn’t feel forced at all. Also I liked how one teacher tries to stand up for what’s wrong with racism and to show Sami that he needs to not accept the bullies abuse but to stand true to who he is.

I feel this is a perfect book for a book club selection as it shows a Muslim teen dealing with very real issues in a post 9/11 world. This book addresses such themes as prejudice, racism, and fear of the unknown. Also how easy it is to believe the worse of someone because of their differences.

Allan Stratton is the author of the Printz Honor Book Chanda’s secrets. He’s the winner of other numerous citations. He lives in Toronto with his partner, two cats, and a pond full of fish. Visit him at www.allanstratton.com to find out more on his books and latest projects.

Kim Baccellia
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
May 2010

Enchanting Review: The Missing Girl

THE MISSING GIRL

NORMA FOX MAZER

YA Contemporary

Harper Collins

ISBN# 978-0064473651

304 pages

$8.99

Paperback—Available now

Rating: 4 Enchantments

This is the story of the five Herbert sisters and the man who watches them in the shadows. Beauty is the oldest that can’t wait to leave the small town. Mim is the sensitive one. Stevie is the rebellious one. Fancy is the one with special needs. Autumn is the youngest.

The man is very ordinary. He watches his chickadees, planning on which one he’ll take. The girls are unaware of this and continue with their lives until their family security is shattered one fateful day when the man makes his decision with painful consequences.

I admit at times this book was hard to read considering I’m the mother of a small child. This is a very chilling and at times disturbing story of a man who watches and waits to kidnap a girl. I was disturbed at how much the author revealed about the man’s plans and his thinking so much so that I found myself checking my surroundings more than once.

This novel is told from alternating points of view that at times confused me. I almost think it would have been better if the author had stayed with only one point of view. By having all five sister’s voices throughout this novel I didn’t feel a real connection with any of them. Also the parents were in the background. I wanted to know what they were feeling and to show how a tragedy rips apart a family.

At the end of the book is a study guide and other interesting information on how the author came up with the idea of THE MISSING GIRL. I think this book would be a great book club selection. Also it would be great for discussions afterwards.

Norma Fox Mazer died in 2009 and THE MISSING GIRL is her last novel. Her career as an author of teenage books spanned forty years. Her books won many awards, including the ALAN Award from the National Council of Teachers of English, the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award, and the Christopher Award.

Kim

ENCHANTING REVIEWS

April 2010

Enchanting Review: Sweet Little Lies: An L.A. Candy Novel

SWEET LITTLE LIES: An L.A. Candy Novel

LAUREN CONRAD

Contemporary YA

HarperCollins

ISBN# 978-0061767609

320 Pages

$17.99

Hardcover—Available Now

Rating: 4.5 Enchantments

Picking up right where 'L.A. Candy' leaves off, Jane is trying to recover from the leaked photos of her and Braeden, her boyfriend's best friend. Unknown to Jane, the person out to get her is her new BFF and fellow L.A. Candy co-star Madison. Meanwhile, her true BFF, Scarlet is dealing with her own misery. With Jane gone, L.A. Candy has been forcing her into hanging out with her worst nightmare—Gaby. But when the cameras stop rolling, maybe Gaby isn't as bad as Scar originally thought. When one of the cute cameramen asks Scar out, she finds herself agreeing, which is totally against L.A Candy rules.

Fast moving, SWEET LITTLE LIES keeps the reader turning the pages, waiting for Jane to discover the truth and waiting to see if Scar's really in love. And what is Madison's little secret? Someone out there knows and the way she's determined to hide it, it must be something good. I have to say I really enjoyed SWEET LITTLE LIES. A strong second book in the series, the reader gets pulled deeper into the lives of Jane, Scar, and Madison. Jane and Scar's friendship is a little more on the rocks in this one, thanks to Madison's lies and Jane's need to believe the best about people. I really liked how we got to know Scarlet better and the relationship brewing between her and the cute cameraman. And you can't help but feel bad for Jane when the whole truth is exposed and she finds herself possibly without a best friend and a place to stay. I'm really looking forward to seeing where Ms. Conrad takes this cast of characters next.

Lauren Conrad is best known for starring in the MTV hit series The Hills. Her first novel, L.A. Candy, was a #1 New York Times bestseller. She began her career as a fashion designer in spring 2008 with the debut of the Lauren Conrad Collection and expanded in 2009 with a second line, LC Lauren Conrad, exclusively for Kohl's. She has been featured on the covers of Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue, Us Weekly, Rolling Stone, and Entertainment Weekly, among others. Lauren also launched the m.powerment by mark charity campaign with mark cosmetics in 2008. She lives in Los Angeles and is currently working on her third novel in the L.A. Candy series.

Lisa

ENCHANTING REVIEWS

February 2010

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

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

Enchanting Review: Prism

PRISM
FAYE & ALIZA KELLERMAN
YA fantasy
Harper Collins
ISBN # 978-0-06-16872-1
264 pages
$16.99
Hardback—Available now

Rating: 4 Enchantments

Kaida Hutchenson isn’t excited about going on a class trip to Carlsbad Caverns. She’s especially not happy that she’s stuck with jock Zeke Anderson and loner Joy Tallon on one of the school buses. Then the trip takes a turn for the worse and they find themselves in a cave. Everything goes black and then Kaida finds herself in her bed back in California. Things seem normal. But are they?

Strange things happen around Kaida. For one thing the whole absence of medicines and dark looks she gets when she mentions 9-1-1. A mysterious boy appears, offering to help her. Should she trust him? All she knows is she must band together with both Zeke and Joy and try to get back to their own reality. And survive doing it.

At first all the dialogue of Kaida and her friend Maria right before the fateful trip to Carlsbad held me back. Then once Kaida gets on that bus, the suspense begins and grows until I couldn’t put the book down. Imagine a world where all medicines are illegal and Social Darwinism, the idea that the strongest survive, wasn’t just a theory but the norm. Kaida’s horror at seeing how the new reality deals with accidents and illnesses compels her to ask questions that are quickly frowned on. I liked the whole twist of the parallel world and know this book will have people questioning the idea that the solution to illnesses is worse than the diseases. Kaida struggles to make sense of this world and her conflicts of who to trust were real. I especially liked how these teens were able to put their differences aside and work at trying to get back home. A very compelling fantasy that is sure to be discussed long after it’s finished.

Faye Kellerman is the author of twenty-five novels. This is the first time writing with Aliza Kellerman, her daughter. Aliza has been writing for years, inspired by her family. A junior in high school, Aliza enjoys drawing, cartooning, singing, and playing her harp. This is her first book. Faye and Aliza live in Los Angeles, Ca.

Kim
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
July 2009

Enchanting Review: Ghosts of War (The True Story of a 19 yr old GI)

GHOSTS OF WAR (THE TRUE STORY OF A 19-YEAR-OLD GI)
RYAN SMITHSON
YA Biography/non-fiction
HarperCollins
ISBN #978-0-06-166468-7
310 pages
$16.99
Hardcover--Available now

Rating: 5 enchantments

Ryan Smithson is a hero. Not the kind of hero that you read about in the news, but the kind of hero that matters. He was sixteen when the planes hit the Twin Towers. Although he didn’t realize it at the time, the events of September 11, 2001 would have a profound and life changing effect on him. He decided to serve in the Army Reserves after graduation. This book is the story of his year of service in Iraq.

The reader follows Ryan as he starts his training as an eager teenager. During basic training he describes being broken down by his sergeants, and then built back up as a soldier. This transformation is juxtaposed with stories from his year of service.

The author notes indicate that the book actually grew out of a writing assignment for a college class that Ryan took upon his return. The instructor asked the class to write about something that they have seen destroyed. The resulting vignette was one of the most moving passages I have ever read. Titled “The House that Achmed Built,” it starts with a dangerous mission. Ryan and his team must deliver supplies into a town that is plagued by insurgents. During the mission, the convoy is ambushed. Ryan talks about how his training takes over, and because of it, he and his team survive. Throughout the chapter, Ryan juxtaposes his version of a children’s nursery rhyme. I couldn’t help but think how appropriate a nursery rhyme was, since so many of the soldiers were still so young themselves, not to mention the ages of the insurgents.

I had the privilege of reading this book over the 4th of July. I realized that even though I have always appreciated the sacrifices made by those who serve, I can never truly understand it the way Ryan Smithson does. This book should be read by any teen who is considering service, and by anyone who has a loved one in the armed forces. The stories he tells are funny, scary, thrilling, sad and exciting. The reader never knows which emotion Mr. Smithson is going to play on next. This was a deeply moving book, and I look forward to reading more from Mr. Smithson in the future.

Mr. Smithson currently lives in upstate New York with his wife.

Lisa Runion
Enchanting Reviews
July 2009

Enchanting Review: L.A. Candy

L.A. CANDY

LAUREN CONRAD

Contemporary YA

Collins

ISBN#9780061767586

336 Pages

$17.99

Hardcover--Onsale June 16, 2009

Rating: 4.5 Enchantments

Jane Roberts has just moved to Los Angeles with her best friend, Scarlett, in hopes of stepping out of her comfort zone. She just didn’t expect to step this far out of her comfort zone and become the star of what is the soon-to-be the popular reality T.V. show L.A. CANDY. Between her internship with event planner Fiona Chen, her friendship with Scarlett and her somewhat dubious relationship with new friend/crush Braeden, things in L.A. won’t stay sweet for long.

Scarlett Harp moved to L.A. with her lifelong best friend to attend U.S.C. and enjoy life in the city. But there’s a lot of adjustments to make, like getting used to their small and dingy apartment that Jane simply calls ‘charming’. When the two girls go to Les Deux and end up meeting famed TV producer Trevor Lord, they couldn’t imagine the turn their lives are suddenly about to take. A turn that frankly Scarlett finds herself regretting.

I really enjoyed L.A. CANDY. Jane’s a likeable character, fighting to navigate life in Los Angeles when suddenly her entire life is changed again before she can get a true handle on things as they were when she becomes the star of a reality show. It seems in an instant, everything changes again—their apartment for one. Gone is their small, cramped apartment and they find themselves in pure luxury. Her cold and slightly scary boss even undergoes a transformation when the cameras are around and Jane finds herself suddenly attracted to someone she never thought possible. Can she really like two guys at the same time?

Hands down my favorite scene is Jane’s first date in Los Angeles with Paolo, the cute guy she met at work when he accidentally walked into her office. If that wasn’t nerve-wracking enough, not only is it her first date with him, but it’s also her first date with an entire camera crew around.

Ms. Conrad pens a highly entertaining debut with L.A. CANDY, creating a world that takes the reader behind the scenes of reality T.V. and some of L.A.’s hottest nightspots to show that things aren’t quite what they seem on T.V., especially for two girls who aren’t fully prepared to deal with sudden fame. Equally memorable is the ‘villain’ of the show, Madison, who’s totally willing to do whatever it takes to take what she believes is rightfully hers—being the star of the show. She’s truly a devious character, without question and what she’s willing to do to get Jane out of the picture is definitely shocking. Jane and Scarlett are two memorable characters and with the major cliffhanger ending, I can’t wait to see what Ms. Conrad has in store for Jane in the next book.

Ending with a major jaw dropper of a cliffhanger, readers will no doubt be demanding to know what happens next to this group of entertaining characters. Anyone who loves books about life in Hollywood will no doubt enjoy this debut read by Lauren Conrad

Lauren Conrad is the star of MTV's number-one hit show, The Hills. She launched her career as a fashion designer in Spring 2008 with the debut of the Lauren Conrad Collection. Lauren has been featured on the covers of Cosmopolitan, Rolling Stone, Seventeen, and Entertainment Weekly, among others. She lives in Los Angeles. This is her first novel. Her website is http://www.laurenconrad.com/

Lisa

Enchanting Reviews

June 2009

Enchanting Review: Nation

NATION

TERRY PRATCHETT

Young Adult Action/Adventure

HarperCollins

ISBN# 0061433012

367 pages

$16.99

Hardcover-Available Now

Rating: 5 Enchantments

Mau is a young man with an indestructible spirit. He’s full of questions, something that isn’t highly encouraged. When his world is turned upside down and then thoroughly erased, he must find the strength to go on. Neither a boy nor a man, Mau becomes a new sort of person. With the help of his memories, Mau forges a new path and rebuilds The Nation.

No hero can do it alone! Wherever there is a strong young man ready to battle demons and life itself, there must be an equally strong young woman. Daphne is about as strong as they come. Marooned on Mau’s island after her ship crashes in a storm, Daphne is left with nobody for company save the strange boy who always seems to walk around the island as if in a dream. Daphne is an intelligent young lady and full of personality. The spark between the two as they attempt to communicate through language barriers and rebuild their worlds together is absolutely amazing.

NATION is the story of a world in disaster. A plague has ripped through the “civilized” world while a giant tidal wave takes out many small islands. One of these is Mau’s. When he returns home from a coming of age visit to the Boy’s Island, he finds that everything he knows is gone – completely erased. His friends, his family, the entire Nation was swept out to sea. Not having had the special ceremony that turns a boy into a man, he is now no longer boy, nor man. When he meets Daphne, he must struggle to communicate with her and go on with life even though he questions everything he knows. As they rebuild the community they are met with survivors coming from other islands every day. With their help, Mau and Daphne might just be able to put the Nation and Mau’s soul at peace.

Contrary to popular belief, NATION is not set in any part of what we know as Earth. Terry Pratchett wrote this book as an alternate reality world, so many bets are off when it comes down to rules and the laws of nature. I absolutely loved that about this book. His world has a high sense of realism to it. This story could happen anywhere and yet, at the same time, we are met with instances where the impossible happens. There are rarely moments when you’re thrown into what is definitely from the imagination. Instead, these magical moments are thrown throughout the book, creating a realistically impossible world.

Outside of the wonderful world building that Pratchett did, I found that the relationship between Mau and Daphne was my second favorite aspect of the book. There are many obstacles to their friendship including the color of their skin, their customs, language, etc. Whatever could be different about these two is, save for their enduring personalities and strong wills. I loved this because it was a nice conflict that added that extra tension to the story. Don’t get me wrong, there’s already plenty of delicious tension sprinkled throughout these pages. No, this added tension between the characters. Something that kept us reading, pulled to the characters just as they were pulled to each other.

I thought NATION was absolutely fantastic and surprisingly very funny! There were times when my eyes ran ahead of my brain and I got a little confused, so I suggest taking your time with the book. Pratchett has created a complicated world, but one that is completely filled with color and beauty. Feel free to reread passages or entire pages if you need to. Trust me, it’s completely worth it. This is definitely one of the books that I would pick up and reread over and over again.

The award-winning author, Terry Pratchett, can be found at http://www.terrypratchettbooks.com/. I highly suggest you visit his website and take a peek around. He’s hilariously funny.

Cinnamon

ENCHANTING REVIEWS

May 2009

Enchanting Review: Wings

WINGS
APRILYNN PIKE
YA fantasy
Harper Collins
ISBN #978-0-06166803-6
294 pages
$16.99
Hardcover Available now

Rating: 4 Enchantments


Fifteen-year-old Laurel’s life changes when her parents decide to buy a bookstore outside the small town she’s from. Being homeschooled all her life she’s afraid that she might be different than the other teens at her new high school. When a plant blooms out of her back, she finds out just how different she really is. Laurel is a faerie. Now her parents are trying to sell some land that is crucial to the secret world of Avalon. It’s up to Laurel to find out what she needs to do to help keep that world safe from enemy trolls.


I was pleasantly surprised with this unique twist on the almost cliché faery story. Stephanie Meyer of TWILIGHT gives a fab blurb on this book and I can see why. Pike does a great job of showing a world where mythology blends with our world. Laurel’s discovery of who she is and what she has to do is very gripping along with the struggle she has with her feelings toward the mortal David and the faery Tamani. I wanted to know more about this world and can’t wait for the sequel. This tale is sure to appeal to those who like cleaner urban fantasy tales.


Aprilynne Pike currently lives with her husband and three kids in Utah. You can find out more at www.aprilynnepike.com


Kim
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
May 2009

Enchanting Review: Psyche In A Dress

PSYCHE IN A DRESS
FRANCESCA LIA BLOCK
Contemporary YA Fantasy
Harper Collins
ISBN #978-0-06-076372-5
116 pages
$15.99
Hardcover Available Now

Rating: 4 Enchantments

Psyche is a young wannabe starlet who stars in her father’s films. She questions her own beauty by comparing herself to her mother who deserted her. One night, Psyche finds love and acceptance for a brief period with a beautiful stranger who comes to her at night. Then he leaves. She goes on a journey to find it again. Her journey resembles a tragic Greek tale filled with women of myth, each thinking they have found love only for it to slip away. Each time Psyche must go out again, trying to find who she really is.

Once again Block’s lyrical writing carries the reader to new places while dealing with such sensitive subjects as abuse and growing old. Block’s does a great job of using Greek gods as symbolism for the journey of a girl on finding her true self and the one she loved once. It’s a journey all women take and Block shows this beautifully.

Block uses contemporary settings for these Greek heroes and heroines. Aphrodite has a dress shop with beautiful clothes. Hades is dangerous. And Narcissus loves himself. Even if readers don’t remember the Greek tales, they will be carried away with this poetic coming of age tale. A must read for all Block fans.

Francesca Lia Block is the winner of the prestigious Margaret A. Edwards Award and the author of many bestselling books, including WEETZIE BAT, DANGEROUS ANGELS, and NECKLACE OF KISSES. Find out more at her website: http://www.francescaliablock.com/ Her MySpace site: http://www.myspace.com/francescalia

Kim
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
January 2009

Enchanting Review: Mason

MASON

THOMAS PENDLETON

YA horror

Harper Collins

ISBN# 978-0-06-117736-1

247 pages

$8.99

Paperback—Available now

Rating: 4 Enchantments

Mason Avrett is shunned at school as being the local ‘pudding head.’ Not too bright, others ridicule him. No one knows that he has a power so terrifying that even he’s not sure how to use it. He lives with his aunt and sadistic older brother, Gene, who likes to beat Mason when things don’t go his way.

Rene Denton, used to be a childhood friend of Mason. Even though she doesn’t talk to him, that doesn’t mean she likes to see others take advantage of him. One night of standing up for Mason sets off a string of horrific events. For Mason, the lifetime of pain come out in ways more terrifying than even his brother Gene.

This is one of those stories that you need to keep the light on when reading. Especially at night. Creepy and chilling, I couldn’t put this book down. I liked Rene’s character, especially when she refuses to stay silent when others mock Mason or when she watches one of her friends make a dangerous choice. Mason’s loyalty to Rene is shown in his way to send scary images to those who hurt her. But Pendleton doesn’t just dwell on this. He shows the qualities of Mason that still believe in hope and redemption.

Once again Pendleton shows the reader a world where horror coexists with everyday life. His tale is suspenseful and a real page turner with a powerful conclusion that will be remembered long afterward.

Thomas Pendleton has coauthored with Stefan Petrucaha another recommended edgy series—THE WICKED DEAD. MASON is Pendleton’s first solo novel for teens. He currently lives in Austin, Texas. Visit him at www.wickeddead.com and www.leethomasauthor.com

Kim

Enchanting Reviews

January 2009

Enchanting Review: Down To The Bone

DOWN TO THE BONE
MAYRA LAZARA DOLE
YA contemporary
Harper Collins
ISBN # 9780060843106
367 pages
$16.99
Hardcover--Available now

Rating: 4 Enchantments

Laura has a secret which is revealed when her Catholic school teacher reads a loud a love letter—a love letter sent to Laura from another girl. Laura is a tortillera, which means she loves girls. Then the Mother Superior calls her mami, who can’t face that her daughter might be gay. So Laura’s mother ends up kicking her out.

To make matters worse, the love of her life is shipped back to Puerto Rico to marry a guy. Laura is heartbroken. But there is some hope. Her bighearted friend Soli and mother take her in. All the while, Laura struggles to make sense of who she really is while the world still frowns on those they claim are ‘different.’

I enjoyed this tale of a Latina who struggles with her sexuality while battling prejudice from those in her family to those around her. The author paints a very vivid world that isn’t layered in the usual gay stereotypes. I also like how she shows Laura’s cultural background. Laura is funny, down to earth, and also someone I’m sure many teens will relate with. Plus, Laura learns that sometimes a family isn’t just the one you’re born into, but those that accept and love you unconditionally.

Mayra Lazara Dole suffers from M.C.S. or Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, and must live in a ‘bubble’ in order to survive-a glassed-in room. A chemical injury from pesticides damaged her immune system.

Mayra was born in Cuba and now lives in Miami with her partner, Damarys. You can read more at her website—www.mayraldole.com

Kim
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
December 2008

Enchanting Review: Ghost Files: The Haunting Truth

GHOST FILES: THE HAUNTING TRUTH
THE GHOST SOCIETY
Paranormal Young Adult
Harper Collins
ISBN# 9780061283956
36 Pages
$19.99
Hardcover--Available Now

Rating: 4.5 Enchantments

Told as the secret files from ‘The Ghost Society’, the GHOST FILES fills its pages profiling several different haunted locals including the Glamis Castle in the UK as well as giving information on types of ghosts and hauntings.

I really liked this book. Every page had something interesting on it, whether it was a moving part, an extra bit of info, more artwork or in the case of the one, a pull out Talking Board. I really liked the info on doppelgangers and apparitions, as well as the signs your house is haunted. The story about the haunted pirate ship was pretty interesting and one of the highlights of the book.

As the back of the book suggests, this is a great book for ages 10 and up, as there are a few spookier parts and the illustrations of a skull might be a little mature for the younger crowd. All in all, anyone interested in ghosts and the supernatural would enjoy the GHOST FILES: THE HAUNTING TRUTH.

For more info and to check out the Ghost Files video, visit:


Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
October 2008