Sunday, January 31, 2010

Club Dead

Club Dead is by Charlaine Harris. The third book in the Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Mystery series. When Bill disappears while on a job, Eric asks Sookie to go to Club Dead in Jackson, Mississippi, and see if she can "hear" anything that might lead them to Bill. But between Eric's advances, her new shifter partner's good looks, and Bill's serious betrayal she doesn't know if she wants to rescue him or not. Sookie finds herself in a cat fight at the club, disposing of a dead body found in the closet, locked in the trunk of a car, and staked herself. She handles everything with typical Sookie southern charm and wit.

Ratings: Adult - 8 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content) - S (sexual content) - V (violence).

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Marley & Me: Life & Love With the World's Worst Dog

Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog is by John Grogan. Shortly after their marriage John and Jenny decide to get a puppy. What they end up with is Marley, a yellow lab, who makes up for in people skills what he lacks in socialization skills. Marley flunks obedience training, is terrified of storms, shuts down a public beach, lands himself a role in a movie, and protects his family. A wonderful nonfiction tale of happiness and heartbreak. If you can read this book without laughing and crying you are no dog lover.

Ratings: 9th grade - 10 out of 10 - AC (some mature thematic content) - MP (mild profanity).

Storm Thief

Storm Thief is by Chris Wooding. Rail and Moa are thieves in a futuristic city in chaos. Orokos is an island that is inescapable and lashed by probability storms that can change whatever they touch. A probability storm can move streets, rearrange city blocks, move rivers, turn people to glass, make them disappear, or simply kill them. Rail lives with a respirator due to a probability storm years before that took away his ability to breathe freely; but that hasn't slowed him down at all. When he and Moa steal a centuries old artifact, that is wanted by the queen of thieves and the rulers of the city as well, they must unlock its secrets. But doing so could change Orokos forever.

Ratings: 7th grade - 8 out of 10.

Listen for the Whisperer

Listen for the Whisperer is by Phyllis A. Whitney. Leigh Hollins has always harbored resentment against her classic film star mother, Laura Worth, who never wanted her. Her father's dying wish is for Leigh to go to Norway and meet her mother. She goes, but with plans of her own, and then discovers herself in the middle of a decades old murder mystery. Can she save her mother or is Laura the murderess? Another great novel for lovers of Whitney's magnificent blend of mystery and romance. No one does detailed settings better than Whitney.

Ratings: 9th grade - 9 out of 10 - AC (some mature thematic content).

Sea of Trolls

Sea of Trolls is by Nancy Farmer. The first book in a new series by Farmer. Twelve-year-old Jack is apprenticed to the local Bard until he and his little sister Lucy are taken by a band of vikings led by Olaf One-Brow. They are taken to the land of the Vikings where they must survive a quest to Mimir's Well in the land of the trolls if they ever want to see home again. A adventure filled quest rich with historical detail and imaginative fantasy. An excellent book!

Ratings: 7th grade - 9 out of 10.

Stranded

Stranded is by Ben Mikaelsen. Koby's family has been in transition since she lost part of her leg four years ago. Now it looks like the pressure is getting too much and her parents may separate. As she struggles to accept herself and her parents situation, she discovers two injured pilot whales. The lives of the whales are in her hands and she risks her own lives to say theirs.

Ratings: 6th grade - 8 out of 10.

Emily Windsnap & the Monster from the Deep

Emily Windsnap & the Monster from the Deep is by Liz Kessler. The second book in Kessler's "swishy" new series. Emily and her family are taken to Allpoints Island in the middle of the Bermuda Triangle. She and Shona then mistakenly awaken the dreaded kraken and Neptune says Emily is the only one who can save everyone. But she will need the help of her friend Shona and someone she hoped never to see again.

Ratings: 6th grade - 8 out of 10.

Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy

Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy is by Jenny Nimmo. This is the third book in the Children of the Red King series. Charlie returns for a new semester, and it's another nightmare. Uncle Paton has gone away on a journey and not returned. While Charlie worries about his uncle he and his friends discover an invisible boy imprisoned in the academy. Saving him will take the support of his friends and all of his powers. An action packed continuation of this cool series.

Ratings: 7th grade - 9 out of 10.

Son of the Mob: Hollywood Hustle

Son of the Mob: Hollywood Hustle is by Gordon Korman. It's time for Vince to go to college, as far away from his mob family in New York as he can get; so he heads to film school in California. His new roommate is the son of a powerful Congressman who loves to shoplift. His girlfriend Kendra is too busy making a film with the guy upstairs to spend time with him. And if that's not enough, his brother Tommy and the "Uncles" show up suddenly. Can Vince help his roommate, get Kendra back, and outwit the mob? A great sequel and a fun read, makes you wish there were more books in this series.

Ratings: 8th grade - 10 out of 10 - MP (mild profanity).

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Uninvited

Uninvited is by Justine Musk. Kelly's world fell apart when her older brother Jasper disappeared after a car accident that killed two of his friends. She doesn't want to believe her brother was at fault, but then why did he run away? Kelly struggles to fill the emptiness inside with dangerous behaviors. Then, Jasper returns just as mysteriously as he left; but he hasn't returned alone. Who, or what, is Archie? Why does he want Jasper? What truth is Jasper hiding and what price is he willing to pay to keep his secrets? A spooky dark tale of evil and redemption. This tale contains profanity and depictions of recreational drug and alcohol use.

Ratings: 10th grade - 8 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content).

Invincible Louisa

Invincible Louisa is by Cornelia Meigs. This book is a biography of Louisa May Alcott, the author of Little Women and other novels. It was originally published in 1933 which makes the language a little antiquated. It is nonetheless a very detailed and heart warming journey through the life of Louisa and her family; a life full of trials and troubles. It is an excellent look into America before and during the Civil War.

Ratings: 8th grade - 7 out of 10.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Sons of Destiny

Sons of Destiny is by Darren Shan. The final book in the Cirque Du Freak series. Steve and Darren meet for the final battle to determine the fate of vampires, vampaneze, and humans. But if Darren wins is the world any better off than if Steve wins? Not according to Mr. Tiny and Evanna. Who will win? Does the world have a chance for survival? This book has the most unexpected ending of any book I've read in quite a while. A great ending to this delightful series.

Ratings: 8th grade - 10 out of 10 - V (violence).