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.