Time Riders

An interesting notion, I was reminded of a movie a number of years ago, Time Cops was the title I believe. There was actually an agency that would send officers back in time to correct timelines that were being changed. These time riders are young people, teens to early twenties, who seem to be the only team organized to fix timelines that someone may have tried to change.

Liam, Maddy and Sal, all of whom have been saved from death to join the team. They all come from different periods of earth's history. Foster who is the senior (as in senior citizen) member is the one who saves them and trains them for their job. They also have the assistance of a clone who is something of a superman.

The team exists in a future earth. There was another team but it apparently was wiped out, thus the need for a new team. They find that sooner than they think two of them are sent back along with Bob, the clone to stop a change which will be apocalyptic unless they stop the ones who are playing with time.

The characters are interesting and very different from one another. They are young an unsure of what they are supposed to be doing but Foster assures them they will be fine. What he initially does not tell them is that he is dying and they will be on their own.

They become more self assured as they go along, however, their first mission makes them question whether they should have been involved, maybe dying would have been better. There is not that much action so the book does move a little slowly, still it was enough to keep me going. I had to know whether there was a trip back home or not. Since this is going to be more than one book, I will be interested in seeing how they do, now that Foster has gone to live out the last bit of time he has left.

The next book will be travel to the prehistoric past, this could be interesting. Reminds me of the BBC series "Primeval". Maybe I like Time Riders because it keeps reminding me either of television series I like or a movie which was so so. Maybe it just grew on me. Anyway, if you like time travel, try this one out and see what you think.

Ashfall

I have watched a program on the supervolcano which is situated under Yellowstone and the idea of it erupting scared the you know what out of me! Also the fact that I visited Yellowstone a number of years ago, my goodness, it could have erupted while I was there (okay maybe that's a LITTLE too dramatic). Seriously, a supervolcano erupting is horrifying.

Well Mike Mullin has done an excellent job in scaring me silly. His description of the eruption as far away as Iowa and its aftermath are terrifying. The research he did in order to write what took place did the story justice. What people will likely have to face is horrifying and something for which no one will probably be prepared.

Alex is alone, his family has gone for visit, when the eruption takes place. It is explosions, fire. buildings collapsing, having no power and pure terror. When Alex regains consciousness, he is hurt and practically deaf. He has no idea what has happen and no way to find out what just went on. He is left wondering if his family is alive.

Alex is 16 and a little cocky. But he is still scared enough to try to find out if anyone else survived. For a short time he finds shelter with neighbors, but after they are viciously assaulted, Alex decides it is time to search for his family.

The majority of the book is the tale of how Alex manages to stay a live. He is badly injured, food, water and shelter are constant concerns. Alex's determination to survive and find his family is admirable. It is also interesting to see how much he changes and the level of maturity he masters in the aftermath of this disaster. The people he meets on his journey run the gamut of types, heroic to slimebags.

It was difficult reading the book, since there were few uplifting things that happened to Alex. I could only hope I would be creative enough to survive more than a few hours. This eruption is inevitable, however, it probably won't happen during our lifetime (we hope). Still we have had too many recent instances of natural catastrophes where people had to find ways to stay alive until help came. As you read, think about what you would do and how would you manage to stay alive.

The sequel will be coming out in October of this year. I am looking forward to seeing whether Alex will be able to keep himself and other survivors alive long enough to have a future. In the meantime, I will be stockpiling MREs, blankets, aspirin, my favorite books..........

Wolf Mark by Joseph Bruchac

I really enjoy contemporary tales based on American Indian legends. Joseph Bruchac has written a very interesting twist on the werewolf tale. Everyone is familiar with how humans turn into wolves, there are many cultures which share this story.

Lucas King is having a very hard time trying to adjust to the death of his beloved mother and how his father's grief is making both of them miserable. Luke doesn't understand how his father has let him down and how their roles have seemed to reverse themselves.

There is also the problem of the personal anomalies he can't understand about himself. He can't have a watch or a cell phone and he messes up computers if he tries to use them. Luke has a sense of smell that does not quit and he doesn't sweat. So what gives? To make matters worse, he is very interested in a pretty girl who is from Pakistan and is confused about his feelings towards her.

There is also this weird group of Russian students who are very strange, Luke calls them the Sunglass Mafia. They smell funny and seem to have a hypnotic affect on everyone but Luke.

Suddenly things change dramatically. Luke's father is abducted and people are watching and following him. His father leaves him clues as to what Luke's is all about. Unbelievable secrets that Luke couldn't even guess.

It is interesting to go along on the ride with Luke and find out what his heritage has given him and how his whole life must change in order to accept what he is. In some ways Luke is a typical teenager and the reader can relate to the kinds of problems that go along with being a teen.

Bruchac lets us see and share Luke's life and to be just as shocked and surprised to find out about Luke, his father and his "uncle". The mental and physical adjustments Luke must make are hard and it is almost a little hard to believe that he could handle all the changes without more help from his father. However, this was not enough to spoil the adventure.

I liked the characters. There was a good mix of good guys, bad guys and some who you are not sure are either good or bad. They were pretty realistic and I think we could all think of comparable figures that we have met in our lives. Wolf Mark is a good read and I like seeing a positive side to werewolves. There is no happily every after ending, but it is a hopeful one.

The Goddess Test

An interesting, entertaining twist of the Hades/Persephone myth. The Goddess Test is part of the Harlequin Teen series. I generally DO NOT care for romance novels, but I actually like this book, to the extent that I am looking forward to the next installment.

I have always been a big fan of Greek mythology and I think that is the reason I picked up this book and gave it a try. Obviously the story is loosely based on the myth with lots of confusing relationships between the gods and goddess. But that was kind of what it was like anyway.

Kate has been chosen (as a last ditch effort for Henry/Hades to retain his rule over the Underworld) to take Persephone's place. She has no idea what is going on until she is told that she has failed her test to become immortal.

It is very interesting how she becomes very invested in Henry and his quest to retain his rule. She is trying to live with the fact that her mother is dying of cancer and how she will cope with the real possibility of becoming immortal and Henry's wife. Kate manages to start coming to terms with life without her mother and finds she is falling in love with Henry.

Most of the characters are pretty much one dimensional. Kate is fleshed a bit more, especially as she changes as the story moves along. Still I found them interesting and rooting for Henry and Kate. If you like Greek myths and you like a light romantic novel, then this is the book for you.

The Dark Zone

The latest in Testa's Galahad series is a slower moving study in the toll the trip is taking on the teens on this long journey and the relationships that have developed while on this journey. The teenagers seem to finally understand how daunting a task they have must accomplish. The readers get to see more of the underlying personalities of the main crew members. We see how the stress and responsibility starts to affect them.

The other aspect of The Dark Zone is finding out that they are not alone in the galaxy. Mysterious "things" attach themselves to the ship and the crew does not know whether they are alive or mechanical. While examining one of them inside the medical lab and trying to release it when it becomes extremely agitated, one of the main crew is killer. The Council and crew are devastated and it is their first experience with the death of one of their own.

The death causes the head of the Council to make what may be a very rash decision. Her decision causes the Council to have to do without yet another Council Member. We will have to wait until this October to find out what happens next. I am looking forward to the next installment. I have enjoyed the series thus far, I like the fact that the author gives these teens the intelligence and ability to think for themselves and to find a way to solve the problems they encounter during their journey.

Take Me to the River

A summer vacation canoeing and rafting in the Big Bend National Park, for Dylan this sounds like a great way to spend the summer. His uncle and cousin, who are river rats, will make sure Dylan is safe and has a great time.

Unfortunately once Dylan arrives, he finds that his uncle is in Alaska and his cousin Rio hasn't bothered to tell him about that little detail. However, Dylan is already there and decides to go for it and that what his parents don't know won't hurt him.

Rio and Dylan get ready and start off on their journey. They wind up having to deal with Hurricane Dolly which has the river depths running at an all time high, dangerously so. But that isn't even the worst of their problems. Drug cartel thugs kill two judges. One of the criminal takes a hostage and manages to escape to the river. Guess who Dylan and Rio run into?

Put this all into one pot and watch it boil, hotter and higher than either teen could even imagine. Will they survive Dolly and Carlos or are they goners?

This was one of those kind of books that pull you into the action quickly. Rio and Dylan make a good team. They've never met, but they become good friends almost immediately. Both are just a little to anxious to take risks, yet they are still good at thinking out their strategies and figure out the best/safest way to get out of a jam. They show a maturity that is impressive and they are brave and willing to risk their lives to save the young hostage, Diego. They are the kind of teens, I think most YAs would like to think they would be if they were caught in this kind of dangerous situation.

I enjoyed the white knuckle action and kept turning the pages to find out how it ended. If you enjoy action and heroes, you'll like this new offering by Will Hobbs.

Black Hole Sun

The chapter heading lets me know that we are on Mars. Three females are trying to mine ore while several cannibalistic creatures called Draeu are actually hunting them. This is a dystopian Mars you really don't want to visit.

Durango, is Regulator but because his father was disgraced, he too is considered disgraced, thus a dalit. It is hard for him and his davos to survive since work is not easy to find. Durango and his second Vienne run into miners who are looking to hire Regulators to help them fight the Draeu. The Draeu and their queen believe that the miners have some precious hidden treasure and will stop at nothing to get at it.

The main characters are very young but already mature beyond their years. One would not survive on Mars unless they could take care of themselves. Durango takes on the contract with the miners and will honorably follow the Code of the Regulators and protect the miners. Unfortunately, Durango's mission is made more difficult because neither the miners or the Draeu or their queen, Eceni will say what the treasure is.

Lots of action, violence and death. Although set in the future, it almost feels like the old west where everyone comes out with guns blazing. Durango and Vienne are attracted to one another but each fears having a relationship. Durango has an artificial intelligence implant, which just turns out to be his former chief. The back and forth dialog is funny and almost seems like and old married couple. The other characters are one dimensional but make the novel interesting. It looks like the trio will be having at least one more adventure.

Although I finally did get into this work and am actually looking forward to the next episode, it did take me more than half way into the book to finally begin to enjoy the novel. Even with all the action, it was not enough to pull me in right away. Once the author let the reader know a little more about Durango's history, I became more invested in the book. But I think that if readers like action packed stories they will enjoy this one. It will be interesting to see if I can get hooked by Gill's next effort more quickly.

Havoc

The sequel to Malice was eagerly awaited by this reader. I was very anxious to see whether the friends left behind were going to be rescued. I wanted to find out whether Tall Jake would be defeated and would receive the justice he deserved.

Seth's single minded mission to rescue Kady sometimes seemed a little unreal but it certainly was endearing. I think that readers would like to think they would have the resourcefulness and bravery to save their friends if they found themselves in a similar situation.

The action was pretty much nonstop. There were some pretty scary moments especially when they encountered Tall Jake's horrific Deadhouse creations. One or two of the characters who were introduced in this sequel added to the drama and brought in some interesting elements to the battle in Malice. Once again, I think that anyone who enjoyed Malice will be satisfied with Havoc.

I have to confess that once I got halfway through, I kept making excuses to stop reading and then put off picking it up again. I just did not want to finish reading the book, knowing that it was the end. I wanted to keep visiting Malice and find out how that world would fare. I wish it could have gone on for at least another two books. But once the last page or two was read, I did accept that the story had to end and there was no more. Perhaps that speaks to the talent of the writer leaving the audience wanting more or that I just have gotten so darn used to reading series (LOL). Anyway, I did enjoy Havoc and would recommend it to readers who like something different. You do have to Malice before you tackle Havoc. Happy Reading!

Test

It has been a number of years since I picked up a Sleator book. Although this novel Test, was written several years before, it may very well be of interest to readers who live survival type and changing society type novels. The book cover caught my interest and I wanted to see if it was somewhat in the vein of Hunger Games. Survival being the seemingly key phrase.

Set in an America in the future (one I do not think I would like living in) where testing determines what kind of a life high school graduates will live. Everything is geared to these tests. Unless you have power and money, this America is no place for anyone. Ann and her family are barely surviving, even if both parents are working. The working poor are at even more of a disadvantage. Ann is trying desperately to make sure she pass the senior XCAS in order to have a chance a better life. There is a boy in her class who is obviously an immigrant, but is doing surprisingly well with the practice tests. Ann wonders how Lep can do so well when his English is actually not very good.

Adding to her anxiety is the fact that her father is getting into trouble with his employer by trying to help the people (read poor and mostly immigrants) who live in the building in which he is employed. Things are getting so bad that it seems Ann is being targeted for harassment by a strange man riding a motorcycle. The more her father tries to help, the worse it gets. Finally Ann starts putting little pieces of odd coincidences together and figures out that the tests are being used to control the population. Once this happens and she starts asking questions, Ann is in even more danger.

The plot is an interesting one, I found that Sleator story lines are always just a little more outside the box. The characters are interesting but not necessarily ones that I found that sympathetic. I liked Ann's determination and willingness to sacrifice herself for the principles in which she believed. Lep's initial fear and then his show of bravery at the protest rang true. I think that readers will find Test interesting and can relate to the characters. I liked the upbeat ending to the story and even though it was somewhat contrived, I still like that the good guys come up on top

Grace

Elizabeth Scott has written a novel that has a great impact. It is not a long novel but it is certainly one that the reader will think about even after they have finished reading it. It is direct and is very spare. I really think that this would make a great play.

Grace and Kerr are both on the run. They are on opposite sides of the political spectrum but have one thing in common, they want to escape the tyranny of Keran Berj and they both want to live. Grace was trained to be a suicide bomber who would kill prominent members of Keran Berj's government. Kerr is in reality Jerusha, a follower of Keran Berj who is held in high regard by Keran Berj.

Following their history to the point where they get on the train is horrifying. That a society could make turn their children into killers is hard to fathom. Then I remember that there is a country that turn children into killer soldiers. Seeing how Grace and Kerr (Jerusha) evolve and communicate with one another is powerful.

This is not a story for everyone, but anyone who read this would gain something from the reading. If you enjoy a book that makes you think, this is the book for you. I was impressed with this author and would recommend it to anyone.

The Stuff of Legend

This is a very different graphic novel. The boogeyman! Give me a break! However, once I started reading it, I couldn't stop. I actually picked up the book because of the cover, the angry looking teddy bear caught my interest.

The idea of toys and a puppy going to the rescue of a boy abducted by the boogeyman was intriguing. Once the rescue party goes into the closet and into The Dark, the toys become real. When they become real, the reader gets to see the kind of personalities each one has and some are surprising and a little disturbing. But it is clear to see the all but one of the party is determined to get the boy back.

I became invested in the characters and admired their bravery and loyalty. The author has created some memorable and believable characters. The sepia drawings make the story otherworldly and almost make me believe that if I went into the "right" closet, that I would be in The Dark. A frightening prospect. I would not recommend this for anyone under the age of 8 as it would be a little too scary for younger readers.

I have already passed this on to another colleague. The Stuff of Legend is a unique graphic novel and a special one. I cannot wait to find out what happens next.

Devil's Kiss

What do you know, another novel with the Templars as the main characters! It seems that many authors have found them to be fertile ground for novels.

Devil's Kiss is a mishmash of various supernatural and legendary elements that it is almost too much even for me. It may be a bit hard to follow all the bits and pieces that the Chadda includes in his novel. It would have been better if Mr. Chadda had used only a few devices so readers could see the connections the author was trying to make.

Billi SanGreal, as the first female Templar is an interesting twist, since Templars could not have anything to do with women. Ordinarily, being sympathetic to the Templars, I generally like the characters. I found this group only nominally interesting. They all seemed too one dimensional and I could never get into any of them.

The Templars have their back against the wall these days. There are very few of them left to fight the good fight. It also seems that training Billi to be a Knight Templar has caused a great deal of friction among the remaining knights.

Billi is put in an untenable position of being forced to become a Templar and trying to be a "normal" girl going to school. She is an outsider and because the only friend she had has been sent away for training (Kay is also part of the Templar group) so she has no one.

With Kay coming back, the Templars are being threatened with dark forces. Which are being led by Michael, the Archangel. Michael is determined to take back the last Templar treasure (a mirror) that keeps his brethren imprisoned. If this happens the tenth plague will be unleashed into the world and firstborns will die everywhere.
At all costs the Templars must keep this from happening.

While the actions scenes were good for those of us that like good fight scenes, the novel was not one that I was wanted to pick up as soon as I could. However, if the reader has an interest in the Knights Templar they will likely be satisfied with Devil's Kiss. It will be interesting to see future offerings from Chadda.

Purple Heart

A young soldier, Matt, is injured in an ambush. His memory is faulty as to what actually happened and his keeps seeing an Iraqi boy he befriended as part of the ambush. Matt is so terribly afraid that he killed the boy. Matt comes to realized that things are not what they seemed. Once Matt finally realizes what happened, he still has a very hard time accepting the circumstances. It still makes no sense, yet he must go on and try to live with his memories and his actions.

McCormick wrote a very realistic novel. It unrelenting in its portrayal of what life is like for our men and women in the Middle East. My nephew served in Iraq and reading this book made me want to cry knowing what he went through and what other soldiers go through now. I also mourn the kind of life the civilians and other living beings have to endure.

It is a hard novel to read, not very long, but I kept wanting to read that Matt and his squad had served their time and were going to go home in one piece. War is dirty, tiring, heartbreaking and senseless. All of these emotions are played out on the pages of Patricia McCormick's Purple Heart. I wish this was a fantasy book instead of a well researched book that used actual experiences of soldiers who gave their lives and of civilians who also died while we occupied their country. It is well written and I would certainly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a good book.

Year of the Bomb

Paul, Arnie, Oz and Crank are big horror movie fans. I mean love being scared silly.
If it is a horror film, they've seen it. So can you imagine how they feel when they find out "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" is going to be filmed in their little town of Sierra Madre, CA. This is only the best and biggest thing in their lives.

However, the background action is beyond what they ever expected. The boys manage to become friends with one of the extras and the director. They are allowed on the set and are invited to watch the entire filming, what more could a horror movie buff as for?

The boys are pretty much regular kids who have their disagreements and fights but there is nothing extraordinary about their lives, except they live in times when they have a daily drill of dropping to the floor under their desks. They do not question why they have to do this or that they are supposed to fear Russia and the communists.

As the boys get involved with the movie, they find more is happening than just the filming of a movie. People's livelihoods could be in jeopardy, perhaps even their freedom. Paul and his friends discover that there are FBI agents on the set. Why are they there, who are they investigating? This situation starts Paul thinking about how the fear the country is living with is affecting people who may be innocent. He even starts thinking about his own family situation. Each of the boys change as the story unfolds and not always for the better. It is difficult to see the fear and anger displayed by the four young men. Still this reader had to admire a willingness on the part of Paul to ask questions and not be a pod person. One also wonders how we would deal with the circumstances, hopefully, we would be more objective and open-minded.

The novel does not hit you over the head with the paranoia that was rampant in those days. It is horrifying knowing that once again American citizens could so easily turn against their neighbors and friends. This is a thought provoking work and one that should not be missed. Parallels can be drawn from this book to our current society.

I was not sure what to expect when I picked up this book but I am very glad I did. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes reading a novel that has substance and an ending that is bittersweet and not predictable.

Dragon's Heart

I read the first three parts of this series many years ago. I thoroughly enjoy dragon stories. I was so excited when I found out Jane Yolen had written another Pit Dragon Chronicle.

While I did enjoy this installment, I found that it was harder to become involved with the story. Perhaps it was the number of years that had passed or that the dragons were not as big a part of the tale that made it harder for me to read the book.

It felt as if the characters had become estranged to me and I had to get to know them all over again. Perhaps, I should have read the last novel before this one. At any rate, I had to work with this one. But Yolen is such a good author that I knew that I wanted to finish Dragon's Heart.

Jakkin and Akki have both grown up and dramatically changed. They have discovered something that could have an extremely dramatic effect on the population of Austar IV. It is both exciting and could be dangerous, especially to the dragons of Austar.

I think that anyone who has read the first three in the Chronicles will want to read Dragon's Heart as well. I do not know whether there will be further stories in the series, but even though it was a little harder to read Dragon's Heart, I find that I am hoping that Jane Yolen will write others so I can find out how both the dragons and the humans progress with their new found talents.

Mudshark

Gary Paulsen has another winner that the boys will enjoy reading. Since I've pretty much read like a guy all my life, I enjoyed it as well. It is short and entertaining.

Lyle Williams a.k.a Mudshark, is twelve years old, very intelligent and has trained himself to be extremely observant almost to the point of having a photo graphic memory.
Because of this he can find pretty much anything anyone has lost. A very good talent to have.

There are strange goings on at the school and on top of that a psychic parrot appears
on the scene. Things get so bad that Mudshark's Principal asks him to figure out the mystery.

As I said the story is short, full of unsual characters and lots of humor. This will appeal those male readers who want something quick to get through, they may surprise themselves and wish it was longer. Mudshark was a fun read and I would certainly not mind reading more adventures of this young man.

Creature of the Night

The story is set in Ireland and it certainly sounds like a vampire or werewolf tale, but it isn't. How about a story involving the sidhe? The wee people or perhaps, wee person, play a role in this slightly creepy tale.

Bobby gets himself in one too many scrapes. He and his cousin are part of gang of thieves in Dublin. Bobby's mother decides the best way to keep Bobby out of trouble and to avoid the moneylenders she owes money to, is to move to the country. Bobby does not like the idea and once he gets a look at where they wind up, he tells his mother he's going back to Dublin.

The previous tenant of the cottage they are renting, simply left. No one knows where he went. Since on identification or money was found, it was assumed he just left. No one seems overly concerned. However, as Bobby's curiosity gets the better of him, he finds evidence to suggest that Lars never left. There are also some strange drawings and writings of Lars' that sound somewhat like the superstitious tales of fairies.

None of the main characters are likable. Bobby is a troubled teen who has no respect for his mother and shows it. His mother leaves much to be desired as a mother, but she was very young when she got pregnant and her family more or less deserted her. Dennis, Bobby's younger brother is to be pitied since both his mother and brother treat somewhat cruelly.

Creature of the Night is more a study in how Bobby begins to see the world in a different light and how he has to change in order to relate to this new world. The old tales and the gruesome discovery of Lars also make him wonder about the reality of the Tuatha de Danaan. It is interesting and the ending is not neatly tied up, but I see a more mature man with perhaps a chance at a future.

Response by Paul Volponi

The author is well acquainted with young people in less than idyllic settings. He has worked with troubled youth. Thus when he writes, the reader feels very much a part of what is happening. Mr. Volponi does not waste words, he simply writes it like it is. He does not embellish or is over descriptive of either characters or the settings.

Noah Jackson is a black high school student, who already has young daughter and is working at McDonalds to help with expenses in raising his daughter. His girlfriend makes him feel guilty for not providing enough money, so Noah decides he needs to get the money anyway he can. Unfortunately, that means going into a white neighborhood and steal a car. Noah and his buddies almost get caught so they start back to their own neighborhood. As they are leaving, three white boys spot them and start chasing them.

It looks like they might get away safely with only epithets being hurled at them, but Noah winds up tripping and gets a trip to the emergency as a result of the severe beating he incurs. One of the other boy uses an aluminium bat on Noah. Miraculously he survives and a trial ensues.

The beating, the media coverage and trial causes tensions to rise even higher. Volponi, during this time, lets the reader experience the emotions, attitudes, perceptions and prejudices of the the black and white communities. We also see how Noah begins thinking about what has happened to him and we see how he begins to change his outlook on his life and the world in which he lives. His family's expectations of him and the values his grandmother, who is an exceptional woman, has tried to instill in him begin to make sense to Noah.

It is hard to read, knowing that although people have changed, there are still those who have not. As a person of color, I want a better world for everyone, but I know that there are still battles to be fought. Noah realizes that and he also knows that in order to both honor his grandmother and to make a better world for his daughter he will have to work hard.

I ended the book rooting for Noah and hope that he realizes his hopes to become an engineer. I would certainly not mind finding out what happens to this young man. Perhaps Mr. Volponi might write another book and let us know what happens to Noah Jackson.

The Farwalker's Quest

This sounds like the beginning of an interesting possible series. I know that some people are not fond of series and I myself am somewhat ambivalent. I really like them and then sometimes I do not.



I do not know if this is set on Earth and it does not really matter. This is a slightly different twist on humans rediscovering a past history and fearing the discovery. The past destroyed civilization and there is fear that finding out about the past and its machines, etc will cause destruction once again.



Two youngsters Ariel and Zeke are on the threshold of taking possession of their "special" gifts/power. As young adulthood approaches, each individual will be tested for their aptitudes. Some will become Healers, others Fishers, others tree-singers, etc. A strange device and strangers coming to the village cause problems before Namingfest occurs. Namingfest is when the youngsters get their last names. For instance, Ariel is expected to become a Healer since her mother is a Healer. If she passes her Namingfest test, her name will become Ariel Healer.



Namingfest arrives and so does the disappointment and tragedy that marks the beginning of Ariel's and Zeke's momentous journey. Neither youngster ever dreamed that they would be leaving their village and begin walking a path of danger and uncertainty.



The main characters are all very interesting. Ariel and Zeke must hurriedly adapt to world that can be wild and life threatening. They must grow up much faster than either likes. The changes as they take place show the adaptability of both youngsters. It is painful sometimes to see how they are forced to mature so soon. Scarl, who abducts Ariel, is not at all what he seems. It took me some time to figure out whether he was a white hat or a black hat. It is only later in the book when one better understands his circumstances that one decides which he is.



As I said, the ending certainly leaves this open to further adventures of Ariel and Scarl and perhaps Zeke. It is an interesting premise when the possible hope of this world lies in a young girl who is still learning what and who she is.

Nightmare at the Book Fair

Trip gets into more adventures and trouble than I thought possible. Of all the places for these adventures--the library!! Trip is not a reader, mostly he likes anything else. However, he gets stuck helping the PTA President.

The story moves along pretty quickly and the adventure is varied. There are puns galore, hopefully this is not lost on the youngsters reading the book. Some of them are kind of cheesy, but you still have to laugh.

Trip is funny and likable. I think that boys can probably relate to him and feel a part of the adventure. There are also some gross moments that boys are sure to enjoy! It is also a fast read, another sure thing to recommend itself.