YA Book Reviews

ddddd = the highest ranking

Avalon High by Meg Cabot dddd
Ellie moves to a new high school where everything seems normal. That is, if normal includes King Arthur and his court. Reality or fairytale, Ellie is determined to discover the truth. This book is an entertaining and enjoyable read. Ms. Cabot does a very good job of writing from the perspective of a teenage girl. The secondary characters are not as well developed as they could be and the ending occurs rather abruptly, but this does not detract over much from the reader’s enjoyment. The possibility of another book set at Avalon High is left open, so keep your eyes peeled.

The Arrival by Shaun Tan ddddd
The Arrival chronicles the journey of a man who immigrates to a new country filled with strange animals and new customs. This graphic novel is both beautifully drawn and moving. Executed entirely with pictures, the author/illustrator conveys the loneliness and isolation of a new immigrant while emphasizing the hope the main character feels. This book is worth reading.

Hana-Kimi - For You in Full Blossom ( Volumes 1-3) by Hisaya Nakajo ddddd
Synopsis: Mizuki is a Japanese-American track-and-field star who transfers to a high school in Japan. To be close to her idol, high jumper Izumi Sano, she's going to an all-guys' high school disguised as a boy. As fate would have it, Sano and Mizuki are more than classmates, they're roommates! Now, Mizuki must keep her secret in the classroom, the locker room, and her own bedroom. And her classmates, and the weird school nurse, must react to the new transfer student who looks like a very pretty boy… So far the Hana-Kimi series is one of the more entertaining and well drawn mangas I’ve read. There is plenty of humorous tension as Mizuki tries to maintain her male façade. I look forward to reading more of these mangas as I can. Definitely recommend for more mature readers.

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy ddd
Sir Percy and Lady Blakeney are highly lauded in British society. He is the most foppish dandy about Town and she admired for her rapier sharp wit. Though in public he plays the fop, Sir Percy is actually a master of disguise who rescues French nobles from the forces of the French Revolution. When his identity is compromised, Lady Blakeney must find a way to warn him without compromising his mission. As one of the first novels written about a masked hero, I have to say I really enjoyed this book. Yes it is a classic (it was originally published in 1905) but it is entertaining and very readable. I would suggest it to readers who enjoy political intrigue and adventure.

Dance with a Vampire by Ellen Schreiber ddd
The latest book in the Vampire Kisses series. Jagger and Luna have finally left Dullsville, but just when Raven and Alexander think life is getting back to “normal” , the youngest Maxwell sibling arrives. Now Raven and her beau have to stop an adolescent vampire from making Raven’s younger brother one of the undead. On top of everything else there’s Prom to think about! This newest book in the series stays true to form and is an enjoyable read. The only criticism I have is that not very much happens in the book. However, Raven’s personality and quirkiness more than make up for an absence of action.