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.

YA Book Reviews

d d d d d = Highest Rating for Books
Reviews of some YA Books I have read for October. Not all of them are new books, but hopefully this will be useful to you anyway:

The Hunter's Moon by O.R. Melling d d d d
Gwen's cousin Findobhair is fairy-napped and it is up to Gwen to track down the traveling Fey Court and rescue her cousin before she is made the Sacrifice. In the course of her journey, Gwen learns about herself, her inner strength, the importance of friends and the power of confidence. The book starts off a bit slow, but by the end of the second chapter, the reader is caught up in the story. With a few surprising twists thrown in and interesting bits of Celtic lore sprinkled about, this novel is a refreshing "fairytale".

Gross News by the Sander Family d d d
Gross News is a collection of short articles about gross "but clean" stories, news articles and science facts from around the world. For example, an Australian doctor believes that children should be allowed, even encouraged, to pick their noses. And eat what they pick. All in the name of the healthier immune system. The theme of this book will definitely appeal mostly to boys, but some girls may also enjoy Gross News. This is a good book for reluctant readers. The entries are short, usually no more than one page and the subject matter is entertaining. Would definite recommend.

Vampire Knight Vol. 1 by Matsuri Hino d d d d
Cross Academy has two classes: the Day class and the Night class. It also has a big secret guarded by a select few. The Night class is full of vampires. It is the job of the Disciplinary Committee (two students) to keep the Day class away from the Night class. Yuki, on half of the Disciplinary Committee, was rescued from a vampire attack when she was a child, so she knows they are evil. However, her rescuer was also a vampire, so she is torn. Are vampires all monsters? Can a vampire be good? The first volume in this manga series is both beautifully drawn and contains interesting characters. With plenty of action, drama and angst, this series should have an interesting arc.

Evil Genius by Catherine Jinks d d
Cadel Piggott has a genius I.Q. and a fascination with any type of system. At the age of seven he was hacking into government systems. Now 14 he is studying for his degree in World Domination, but a new acquaintance makes him question what he’s learned. While interesting, this book had a lot of potential that it did not live up to. Perhaps its biggest flaw is that Cadel, although a genius, is a fairly normal kid. He is self-centered, unaware of the consequences of his actions and seemingly unconcerned with the state of the world around him. Because of his unique perception of the world, I expected a bit better of him. However, it is still a readable novel, the second half of the book really picks up and draws the reader in. Readers will enjoy the strange education Cadel gets at the Axis Institute for World Domination.

Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber d d d d
Sixteen-year-old goth Raven is the odd-girl-out in her small hometown. No one else dresses in black, plays in cemeteries or is obsessed with vampires. When asked by her fourth grade teacher what she wanted to be when she grew up, Raven promptly replied, “I want to be a vampire.” Still, nothing remotely interesting happens in Dullsville, until a new family moves into the abandoned mansion of a Romanian baroness. Town rumor has it that the new residents are vampires. Raven is ecstatic, when she finally meets the boy of her dreams. But Alexander has a secret. Is he truly the dream-boy, or a nightmare? This is a really fun book. Raven is funny, interesting and candid. Schreiber challenges some stereotypes, while using others to her advantage and the product is a novel worth reading.

YA Book Reviews

d d d d d = the best rating for a book
Here are some YA Books that I read in September (and what I thought about them):

Privilege of the Sword by Ellen Kushner d d d
Katherine's family makes a deal with her mad uncle. If she comes to live with her uncle and has no contact with her family for six months, her uncle will pay off the family depts. Little does Katherine know that her uncle plans to turn her into something no one has ever seen: a swordswoman. Kushner's novel has an interesting plot and a great deal of potential. While the reader does not feel overly close to the characters, the book itself is an interesting read.

Transformers: The Movie by Alan Dean d d d d
Based on the movie screenplay, this novel follows the Transformers and Decepticons as they battle for earth. This is a surprisingly good novel given that it is based on a screenplay. A lot more background and detail are given in the book than in the movie. Secondary characters are also more fully fleshed out. Altogether an enjoyable read.

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman d d d d d
Eleven-year-old Lyra, accompanied by her daemon Pan, set off on a quest to the far north to rescue kidnapped children. As this adventure progresses, Lyra discovers a secret that could end the world. Talking polar bears, zeppelins, daemons and gypsies round out this tale. The Golden Compass is one of the better books I have read this year. It starts off slowly, but after the first 100 pages I was unable to put it down. A well-planned adventure.

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr d d d d
Aislinn sees fairies; and they aren't anything like Tinkerbell. Fairies are scary and you do not want to draw their attention. However, the Summer King believes that Aislinn is his Summer Queen, who will save the earth from perpetual winter. Both the Summer King and Winter Queen want Aislinn. Will Aislinn overcome her fears and join the Summer King, or will she run and condemn the world to ice? I really enjoyed this novel. Aislinn is believable in her conflict and her wish to live a normal life. The descriptions of the Fey are both beautiful and disturbing. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who enjoys stories involving fairies.

Warrior Heir by Cinda W. Chima d d d d
Jack is a normal small-town boy with a big secret; one that he does not even know about. Two warring wizarding houses want Jack because he is a Warrior. As Jack's powers begin to manifest it becomes more difficult to hide. Now with danger threatening his family and friends he must choose: fight for a wizard house or fight for himself. The story and characters of Warrior Heir are both likable and believable. While the book gets off to a somewhat slow start, the reader is rewarded after the first 50 pages by a fast-paced interesting fantasy adventure.

Wizard Heir by Cinda W. Chima d d d d d
Seph McCauley has spent the past three years getting kicked out of every private school he as attended. It's not his attitude that's the problem; it's the accidents occur when he is around. Seph is a wizard, orphaned and untrained and his powers are escalating out of control. After causing a tragic fire at an after-hours party, Seph is sent to The Havens, a secluded boys' school on the coast of Maine. Does The Havens live up to it's name, or is it a trap for boys with magic? I actually enjoyed this companion novel to Warrior Heir more. The writing is quick and fluid; the characters very interesting. Seph is, in many ways, old for his years, but endearingly young at the same time. I would definitely recommend this book.