Enchanting Review: Hate List

HATE LIST

JENNIFER BROWN

YA contemporary

Little, Brown

ISBN# 9780316041454

408 pages

$8.99

Paperback available now

Rating: 5 Enchantments

Valerie Leftman didn’t mean for anyone to die. Her hate list was her way of venting back at those who bullied her. Her boyfriend Nick though had other plans. Five months ago, Nick opened fire at their high school killing and wounding people. Valerie never thought he’d actually use the hate list. In her attempt to stop him, she’s shot in the leg protecting one of those she hated.

Now the town can’t make out if Valerie is a villain or hero. She decides to go back to school to confront those who did survive. Valerie must come to terms on what happened that tragic day in order to make amends and move on with her life.

Wow. One image kept coming to me when I read Valerie’s tale. My sister’s funeral. Her ex boyfriend murdered her then turned the gun on himself. At the funeral the father of the guy who killed my sister showed up. I was furious. How dare he? But my mother taught me a lesson. She told me the father didn’t pull the trigger and that he was hurting too as he lost a son. That same feeling came back to me when reading HATE LIST. Valerie’s emotions and struggles are shown in such an intense and powerful way. Also she shows us the Nick she loved so he’s not such a monster. That’s one thing I love about this story. It would be so easy to just dwell on the graphic horror of the shooting and show Nick as a crazy monster. Instead the author gives us characters that are fleshed out and have us care.

The writing is powerful and gripping. Life isn’t all roses when Val shows back up at school. Her own family has issues too with her part of the tragedy like her father who believes she’s at fault too. There are others like the girl Valerie saved who go out of her way to be friends though others around her ridicule and just hope Val disappears. The ending of this book had me in tears when Val and her friend go to all those who were affected by the shooting. Haunting and riveting, this is one tale that really stays with you.

Jennifer Brown writes and lives in Kansas City, Missouri with her husband and three children. She’s also a columnist for the Kansas City Star. Read more about her at www.jenniferbrownya.com

Kim Baccellia

ENCHANTING REVIEWS

December 2010

Enchanting Review: Med Head

MED HEAD

JAMES PATTERSON & HAL FRIEDMAN

YA Non-fiction

Little, Brown

ISBN# 9780316076173

302 pages

$8.99

Paperback available now

5 Enchantments

Corey Friedman is an ordinary teenager with issues that take all his strength and courage to overcome. This is an account of his thirteen year journey dealing with OCD, anxiety, and Tourette’s symptom.

Wow. Reading Corey’s story amazes me. What he went through as a child with the daily ridicule of his peers and then the pure hell of a life time of different drugs, totally is awe inspiring. My own son deals with sensory issues and I’ve dealt with a school system that wasn’t supportive. I can’t even imagine what Corey’s parents went through. What is really inspiring is Corey’s voice. His descriptions of the meds that caused serious issues are so real. I felt for him when this one so-called expert in the field of Tourette’s, ends up just viewing Corey as a test subject even when the one drug she prescribes to him causes him to want to end his life.

Corey also shows the reader what it’s like to basically be a guinea pig to a wide assortment of meds. His OCD and Tourette’s were very extreme. One way Corey dealt with the pain was self-medicating with alcohol. But this book doesn’t just dwell on the negative. It shows Corey’s successes and triumphs. My favorite part is when Corey shows this one school founder that he will make it out in the real world. And he does with determination and persistence.

The story is haunting and Corey’s personal journey through years of medical turmoil will stay with you. At the conclusion are notes from Corey’s parents, personal photos, and also info on OCD and Tourette’s.

James Patterson is the author of Maximum Ride novels, Witch & Wizard, and a number of other books. He lives in Florida.

Hal Friedman has published five works of fiction. He lives with his wife, Sophia, at the edge of a forest in northern New Jersey.

Kim Baccellia

ENCHANTING REVIEWS

November 2010

Enchanting Review: Prophecy of the Sisters

PROPHECY OF THE SISTERS
MICHELLE ZINK
YA Fantasy
Little, Brown Young Readers
ISBN# 0316027421
343 pages
$17.99
Hardcover – Available Now

Rating: 5 Enchantments

PROPHECY OF THE SISTERS really has two major players in the story. Alice and Lia are twin sisters living in the times of corset and petticoats. Lia, from whose point-of-view the story is told, is the more awkward of the sisters but has a kind heart and a gentle soul. Her sister, on the other hand, exudes confidence and ambition. If the clash in personalities wasn’t enough to separate these two sisters, the recent death of their father brings to light a truth that could put the girls on opposite sides of an age-old battle.

Since childhood, James has owned Lia's heart. A charming young man who works with his father in the family bookstore, James makes frequent trips to Lia’s home to catalogue her father’s expansive book collection. A happy side effect of these trips is the time that James and Lia get to spend together. Whether it’s secret visits to cuddle under their favorite tree or a stroll along the water, these two lovebirds seem to have a fairly strong bond. When the darkness starts to encroach on the light, however, it will be a challenge to see if the strength of their love can keep the two together.

The Prophecy of the Sisters is an ancient tale, often thought of as myth, of two sisters destined to serve as the line between good and evil. At first Lia doesn’t want to believe to the story; in the prophecy, one sister shall act as the guardian of peace while the other acts as the gateway to the Apocalypse. When Lia discovers a strange mark bloom on her skin shortly after her father’s death, she’ll be led on a journey of discovery. With this prophecy potentially at play, she may not like what she discovers.

I absolutely loved PROPHECY OF THE SISTERS. In my opinion, Ms. Zink did an amazing job taking an old myth and giving it her own special twist to create this compelling story. If it makes any sense, part of what made this book so great was the simplicity of the story while keeping the complexity of the layers at the same time. With the multiple twists and turns throughout the story, I expected to get bogged down at some point, but Ms. Zink’s writing remained very fluid and easy to follow. Even though there was quite a bit of devious scheming and some side story, this maintained a natural progression. Meanwhile, Ms. Zink instilled quite a bit of elaboration within the story. Twists and turns combined with quite a few unexpected events made for a story that was unpredictable yet comfortable.

The other part of this book that made it a winner to me is the romance within the story. As we proceed through the story we learn more about the love between James and Lia. There is definitely a tender feel to the characters; at the same time there is also something you can’t quite put your finger on. There is something different in the relationship that will be exciting to explore in Ms. Zink’s future books.

Admittedly, I am an easily spooked person. When I first started reading PROPHECY OF THE SISTERS I did so in bed, in the middle of the night by myself. I would probably not recommend that. Once I really understood where the story was going, a little of the spook factor went away, but overall there is definitely a creepy aspect to the book. Between the voices whispering in the dark and the midnight rituals, this story really got the hairs on the back of my neck hopping up. The best way to describe this book is dark and deliciously addictive. I read this story in a day and now am excited to see what else Ms. Zink has up her sleeves.

PROPHECY OF THE SISTERS is book one in a trilogy; the second book, Guardian of the Gate is due out August 2010. Ms. Zink can be found online at http://michellezinkbooks.wordpress.com/.

Cinnamon
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
February 2010

Enchanting Review: The I Love You Book

THE I LOVE YOU BOOK
TODD PARR
Children’s
Little, Brown
ISBN# 978-0316019859
32 Pages
$9.99
Hardcover--Available Now

Rating: 4 Enchantments

THE I LOVE YOU BOOK is a very cute, sweet read that parents will no doubt enjoy sharing with their children. Highlighting the many reasons a parent loves a child, from the good--‘I love you when you share’, to playful, ‘I love you when you hide my keys” but most of all, the unconditional ‘Most of all, I love you just the way you are’.

Filled with bright colorful illustrations that take up the entire pages, THE I LOVE YOU BOOK will be a delightful addition to any child’s book collection as it reinforces all the reasons a parent loves a child.

Todd Parr has created more than 30 books for children and the Emmy-nominated animated television show, ToddWorld. He lives in Berkeley, California. You can visit him online at www.toddparr.com.

Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
February 2009

Enchanting Review: North Of Beautiful

NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL

JUSTINA CHEN HEADLEY

YA Contemporary

Little, Brown

ISBN 9780316025058

384 Pages

$16.99

Print - Available February 2009

Rating: 5 Enchantments

From the back, Terra Cooper is gorgeous. She works hard at looking perfect by daily workouts and she ends up looking like a model. But up front, she hides her 'flawed' face from others. Terra wants to leave her small town and start a new life where others don't know her and where she'll have nothing to hide. But an acceptance to the college of her choice is thawed by her controlling father.

On a trip to yet another surgery to correct her port-wine stained birthmark, she runs into a car. Inside is Jacob, a Goth Chinese teen, who seems to understand her better than those around her. Jacob and his mother Norah are staying in Terra's town to avoid the upcoming remarriage of Norah's ex.

After two years, Terra's older brothers come to visit for Christmas Eve. But after yet another family argument, they leave. Later, Terra's brother emails tickets for her and her mother to come to China where he practices law. Seizing on an opportunity to not be around during the marriage of her ex, Norah invites Terra and her mother to come with them as they search out Jacob's orphanage in China.

On the trip, Terra finds her carefully laid plans for her future in question. Should she listen to her heart and see the world through the eyes of those who don't judge beauty by its cover? Or continue down her present path where it's easy to hide the truth from others by not being yourself?

I loved this moving tale. Terra is a strong character who struggles with her own definition of beauty while longing to break free of her critical father. Jacob helps Terra see the world in a whole different light. I especially enjoyed the trip to China. Terra's mother also grows as a character. It was nice to see the relationship between Terra and her mother.

The author does a great job of showing the changes that occur in Terra's life. The references to cartography, map making, are interesting and are also very symbolic of the changes in Terra's life.

This story is scheduled for release in February 2009. I highly recommend readers grab a copy of this sure to be a hit story. Terra's struggles and triumphs will stay with the reader long after the last page.

Justina Chen Headley grew up near Buffalo, NY and San Francisco. She's the author of GIRL OVERBOARD and NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH (and a few white lies) which was a Book Sense Pick. Check out more on her website at http://www.justinachenheadley.com or her MySpace site: www.myspace.com/justinachenheadley

Kim

Enchanting Reviews

June 2008

Enchanting Review: Toot & Puddle: I'll Be Home For Christmas

TOOT & PUDDLE: I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

HOLLY HOBBIE

Children's (Ages 4-8)

Little, Brown

ISBN 978-0316033831

32 Pages

$6.99

Paperback--Available Now

Rating: 4.5 Enchantments

TOOT & PUDDLE: I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS is a perfect holiday read, featuring the beloved characters of Toot and Puddle. This time, when Toot goes away for a family reunion in Scotland, he sends Puddle a postcard promising to be home in time for Christmas. But when Toot reaches Boston, a sudden snowstorm may keep him from getting home for the holidays. Will Puddle's lucky nut, a gift from Great-Great-Aunt Peg be the key to getting home?

Cute charming illustrations accompany this fun story as Toot struggles to get home in time, and with time running out, and the to-do list too big, Puddles and Tulip are forced to start the decorating without their friend. I especially loved the pictures of Tulip and Puddle's Christmas preparations and Toot struggling to reach home in time for the holidays. This is one book I'll be adding to the holiday stack for years to come.

Holly Hobbie has worked as an artist for more than thirty years and is the author of seven previous and highly acclaimed Toot & Puddle picture books, as well as an illustrated memoir, The Art of Holly Hobbie. The mother of grown children, she lives with her husband in Conway, Massachusetts.

Lisa

Enchanting Reviews

November 2008

Enchanting Review: The Dangerous Days of Daniel X

THE DANGEROUS DAYS OF DANIEL X
JAMES PATTERSON & MICHAEL LEDWIDGE
Young Adult
Little, Brown
ISBN# 978-0-316-00293-6
238 Pages
$7.99
Trade--Available Now

Rating: 5 Enchantments

Alien Bounty Hunter Daniel has been living on his own since age three when his parents were killed by The Prayer, an alien looking for ‘The List‘. Now fifteen, Daniel is determined to crack the top ten list and is set on number six Ergent Seth, a top level alien. But cracking the top ten of ‘The List’ is a dangerous proposition, even for a skilled alien hunter like Daniel and he may wind up way over his head before its over.

I absolutely loved THE DANGEROUS DAYS OF DANIEL X! Daniel himself is a great character, an alien who is an alien bounty hunter. His voice, his sarcasm, everything just clicks really well and helps make him one of my favorite characters of the year. I loved how he materialized his friends and parents, even a younger sister when the need arose. When he goes after Ergent Seth, he finds himself leaving Portland and heading to Los Angeles where Ergent Seth is already well aware Daniel is after him. And the lengths Seth will go to in order to scare Daniel away are

Short chapters, a great premise and a great character in Daniel himself keep the story moving at a fast pace. Filled with a lot of great twists and turns, including one very jaw dropping moment involving Seth make this an amazing read. I can’t wait for the next in this entertaining series! THE DANGEROUS DAYS OF DANIEL X is one book you’ll zoom through in one sitting guaranteed.

Learn more about Daniel X books at www.danielxbooks.com

James Patterson is the author of the blockbuster series Maximum Ride and has sold more than 140 million books, making him one of the top selling authors of all time. He lives in Florida. For previews of forthcoming James Patterson books and more information about the author go to www.JamesPatterson.com

Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
November 2008

Enchanting Review: Burn

BURN
SUZANNE PHILLIPS
YA Contemporary
Little, Brown
978-0-316-00165-6
$16.99
288 pages
Available November 2008

Rating: 4 Enchantments

What causes a person to kill someone? Fourteen-year-old Cameron Grady’s life becomes a nightmare after one remark at school. He’s later known as Cameron Diaz by the local jock bullies, who torment him daily.

Cameron is filled with anger. He escapes by running in the nearby woods and playing with fire. No one will listen. Not his mother. Not his teachers. One day something horrific happens to Cameron that causes him to react in a frightening way against someone else. Nothing will ever be the same.

This is an intense look at how far bullying can go before it can erupt into a terrible act of violence. Cameron’s pain is very realistic and his inability to communicate with his family or others around him is sad but I’m afraid true. This book reminded me how tough high school can be. Add to that a past of being abused by a parent and then by someone else. The cycle can continue on which unfortunately it does in this tale.

Phillips describes a disturbing world where both the abused and abuser are victims. She looks into the mind of one who ends up doing something frightening but does show there can be redemption at the end.

A must-read for anyone who wants to see what can cause an individual to go over the edge. I feel this book would be great to read in a high school class and then have discussions afterwards. What should you do if you know someone is being victimized? Or what should you do if you’re the one on the other end?

Suzanne Phillips is a special education English teacher in San Diego, California, and the author of the critically-acclaimed novel Chloe Doe. She has an MFA in fiction writing and is an active member of her local writers' community in Santee, California, where she lives with her daughter.

Kim
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
September 2008

Enchanting Review: Priscilla And The Great Santa Search

PRISCILLA AND THE GREAT SANTA SEARCH

NATHANIEL HOBBIE

Illustrated by Jocelyn Hobbie

Children’s (ages 4-8)

Little, Brown

ISBN# 978-0-316-113331-1

32 Pages

$16.99

Hardcover--Available October 1, 2008

Rating: 4 Enchantments

What happens when Priscilla and her best friend decide to take a trip to the North Pole to search out the real Santa after seeing so many fakes at the mall?

PRISCILLA AND THE GREAT SANTA SEARCH is a really cute story, starring Priscilla and her best friend Bettina, who find themselves on the trek to the North Pole. On the way they encounter snowball bunnies, the Abominable Snowgirl, Jan of the faraway clan who tries to warn them about the impending fifty-year storm. But when the storm gets bad and they’re forced to go home, will they find proof they actually found the real Santa or was their trip nothing more than a fun day out?

Filled with cute illustrations and an equally fun story, fans of the ‘Priscilla’ series will love this new holiday themed edition. I really thought this was a fun story about Priscilla and her best friend going off on an adventure to find the ‘real’ Santa after seeing so many fakes in the mall. I really liked characters they encounter on their journey and the illustrations really add to the story.

Jocelyn and Nathaniel Hobbie are the daughter and son of our bestselling author/artist, Holly Hobbie. Jocelyn holds a B.F.A. from RISD and works for a contemporary art dealer in New York, NY. Nathaniel Hobbie is also a fine artist who works with metal and wood. PRISCILLA AND THE GREAT SANTA SEARCH is their fourth book for children featuring the adorable Priscilla.

Lisa

Enchanting Reviews

September 2008

Enchanting Review: Wabi Sabi

WABI SABI

MARK REBSTEIN

Art by Ed Young

Children’s (ages 4-8)

Little, Brown

ISBN# 978-0-316-11825-5

40 Pages

$16.99

Hardcover--Available Now

Rating: 4 Enchantments

WABI SABI is the story of a cat by the same name, who after hearing a conversation her owner has with friends about her unusual name decides to go out in search of the true meaning of Wabi Sabi. Along the way she asks fellow feline Snowball, Rascal the dog and even wise old monkey Kosho who all share with her their personal meaning of Wabi Sabi, which are all told in beautiful Haiku style. Once she’s satisfied with her answers from her friends, Wabi Sabi finally returns home, content with her newfound knowledge.

I think WABI SABI is the most unique children’s book I’ve ever seen and one that many will no doubt enjoy. I would say though that this is one children’s book that has a higher reading level to it to go along with its message of Wabi Sabi, the art of finding “beauty and harmony” in what is simple. The accompanying illustrations, which are actually collages made from natural and manmade materials, are truly beautiful to look at and compliment the story really well.

Mark Reibstein is an English teacher and writer who has lived in New York, California, Hawaii, Japan, and Thailand. Now Mark and his daughter live near San Francisco with their good friend Arlo, who is also a cat. This is his first picture book.

Ed Young has illustrated for over 70 books and has been awarded the Caldecott Medal for Lon Po Po and the Caldecott Honors for Seven Blind Mice and The Emperor and the Kite. He lives in upstate New York with his daughters.

Lisa

Enchanting Reviews

September 2008

Enchanting Review: Eclipse

ECLIPSE

STEPHENIE MEYER

YA Paranormal

Little Brown, Young Readers

ISBN#0316160202

640 pages

$19.99

Hardcover--Available now

Rating: 5 Enchantments

Seventeen year old Bella Swan is back in the third book of the Twilight Saga. Still human, Bella is fighting to be turned into a vampire and has strong beliefs on the subject. Still naive and clumsy as ever, Bella is about to graduate high school and has a lot of decisions to make.

Edward Cullen is a 100 year old vampire that lives and acts among the humans with his family. Edward is still in love with Bella and does whatever it takes to keep clumsy Bella out of harm’s way. With Eclipse, you see more of Edward’s challenge and what he must do to try and overcome them.

In Eclipse, you see a lot of changes made. Bella, for one, is happy to have her vampire boyfriend back. Edward is very over protective of her, though. Leaving her once was enough for him. With Edward keeping a close eye on her, Bella is not allowed to see her former best friend and werewolf, Jacob, for the simple fact that in one angry moment, Bella could be hurt. In other problems, someone is after the damsel once again and is out for blood. With Jacob and Edward fighting over her, Bella feels torn that the two can’t be friends. Bella is also starting to want more out of her relationship with Edward. In the midst of all of this happening, there are a bunch of killings happening in Seattle that could be vampire related. There is also a surprise visitor that will also disrupt the peace. In this book, Bella does figure out a few new things about herself and how strong she actually is.

Eclipse is a very enjoyable read, with all the happenings that Stephenie Meyer throws in. I really feel for Jacob in this book, fighting for Bella to be with him, instead of Edward. And, Edward’s attitude is amazing in this one. The only thing that annoyed me a little is how overprotective that Edward was. He didn’t give Bella a lot of space and I could understand how Bella did feel about that. I also really liked Jacob in this book, because he started having feelings for Bella in New Moon, but really started fighting for her when Edward came back. In a way, I was really rooting for both of them, because Bella is very lucky to have two stand up guys (or mythical creatures) fighting for her. Charlie is also some comic relief, with being mad at Edward for leaving Bella in the first place. Towards the end of the book, it gets really gripping, with Bella being stalked by a mysterious vampire and with the drama between Edward and Jacob. Another interesting thing about this one, is the back story that Stephenie gives us on the werewolves. Around a campfire one night, Bella is told some ancient stories about them and it’s a very interesting and insightful story. Eclipse is a page flipping read.

Stephenie Meyer is the author of the other three books in the Twilight Saga, Twilight, New Moon and the final Breaking Dawn. She’s also the author of a sci-fi book, The Host and is planning on 2 more books in that series. Also, she is in the process of writing Twilight in Edward’s perspective and it’s going to be called Midnight Sun. You can visit Stephenie at her website www.stepheniemeyer.com.

Holly

ENCHANTING REVIEWS

August 2008

Enchanting Review: Secrets of My Hollywood Life: Family Affairs

SECRETS OF MY HOLLYWOOD LIFE: FAMILY AFFAIRS

JEN CALONITA

Contemporary Young Adult

Little, Brown Young Readers

ISBN# 978-0316117999

320 Pages

$16.99

Hardcover - Available Now

Rating: 4.5 Enchantments

Kaitlin Burke’s life is finally back to normal—or so it seems. Filming of her movie Pretty Young Assassins is finally over and she’s back on set of Family Affair, but things are about to get shaken up when a fresh new face joins the show. At first, Kaitlin thinks the tabloid stories about her are once again being leaked by her arch rival and co-star Skye McKenzie, but when Skye begins to be targeted as well, all fingers point to the hot new co-star Alexis. Can Kaitlin keep her cool while the hot new diva does her best to oust her from the show or will things finally reach a boiling point?

SECRETS OF MY HOLLYWOOD LIFE: FAMILY AFFAIRS is definitely one of my favorite books of the ‘Secrets Of My Hollywood Life’ series. I really liked how Kaitlin and Skye were forced to become ‘frenemies’ in order to survive against the hot newcomer turned diva Alexis. The scene with Kaitlin and Skye leaving the set near the end of the book marks my favorite scene of the series. Truly had me laughing at loud at where the two of them actually ended up. I look forward to seeing how Ms. Calonita continues their ‘frenemy’ relationship in the next book.

Visit Ms. Calonita’s official MySpace page at www.myspace.com/jlcal and look for book 4 of the series, SECRETS OF MY HOLLYWOOD LIFE: PAPPARAZZI PRINCESS releasing March 2009.

Lisa

Enchanting Reviews

July 2008

Enchanting Review: Sweethearts

SWEETHEARTS
SARA ZARR
Contemporary Young Adult
Little, Brown
ISBN 0-316-01455-9
217 Pages
$16.99
Hardcover – Available Now

Rating: 4 Enchantments


Jennifer Harris’ life has undergone a serious transformation since the last time she saw her childhood best friend, Cameron Quick. Gone is the shy, chubby outcast Jennifer and in her place is Jenna Harris, a teenager who is popular, happy and dating one of the hottest guys in school. She is in fact everything that ’Jenna’ knows Jennifer never could be. But when her long lost friend Cameron suddenly reappears in her life, a friend she thought dead, both are faced with the stinging memories of the past that no transformation can truly leave behind.

Confronted by her past and the truth about Cameron’s disappearance, Jenna struggles to come to terms with who she was then and who she is now, all while rebuilding one of the most important relationships of her life.

Full of emotion, SWEETHEARTS is a beautifully written story about the power of friendship and its ability to transform. Anyone who’s struggled to fit in will be able to sympathize with Jennifer’s desire to transform herself into someone else.

This is Ms. Zarr’s second young adult novel.

Lisa
YA Director
Enchanting Reviews
March 2008