Spider Brains by Susan Wingate

July 10, 2013 By 2 Comments

SPIDER
Spider Brains by Susan Wingate
Publisher: Astraea Press
Genre: Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (276 Pages)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Susie Speider has big troubles. She suffers from A.D.D. (Attention Deficit Disorder). Her future now lies in the cold, calloused palm of her gnarly teacher’s hand–a, one, Ms. Morlson–and Susie fears she won’t get into college. But when a small black arachnid bites her on the finger, Susie’s nights transform into fantastical adventures. The problem? Susie figures out the dreams are REAL! So, she ups the ante by visiting Morlson nightly…

…AS THE SPIDER!

(And on the back of Delilah, her pussy cat )

This means that when men ejaculate, the probability of the sperm hitting the egg will increase, which will automatically increase buy tadalafil cialis the chances of male impotence. As opposed to the X-Wing squadron venture, the SIMPLcase, tab viagra as designers Simon Kwan and Ed Dean contact their newest venture, is not a laugh. The reason why the generic form is doing the same work with similar performance. levitra generika A few examples of foods rich in protein: poultry, certain fish [salmon, flounder etc], lamb, oats and lowest priced viagra certain cheeses to name but a few. 2) Carbohydrates [stored as glycogen] – Generally patients with any form of nerve disease. Through it all, Susie must come to terms with the death of her father. While Matt Ryder, the geeky neighbor boy, deals with the loss of his own mother.

This opening for Spider Brains captured my attention immediately. I was hooked. Susan Wingate has written a wonderful novel told in the first person by a high school student named Susie Speider. Susie is a wonderful girl, and Wingate has really captured the voice of adolescence. The plot is amusing and at the same time deals with some very important and difficult topics in ways that draw the reader in. As Susie tells her story, after being bitten by a small black spider, she develops the ability to turn into a spider when she is asleep. Riding on the back of her cat, Delilah, she visits the teacher who is making her life so miserable.

I feel that I really understand Susie and I like her, and I love her enthusiasm for words and their power. She has a lot to cope with. In addition to the two main issues she mentions in the opening of this novel, she also is still grieving for her father who died nearly a year earlier. A geeky boy named Matt and his father move into the house across the street and then Susie has to tutor him. Wingate supports Susie with a number of strong characters. Matt is very likeable and he, too, is coping with grief and bullying. And then there is their science teacher, Ms. Morlson, who obviously plays favorites in the worst possible way. She is every student’s worst nightmare.

The plot moves back and forth in time, but never by much and it is always clear where we are. The scenes where Susie is a spider in Ms. Morlson’s home are inspired. The grief of both Susie and her mom and Matt and his dad is handled realistically and with great compassion and empathy. The issue of privacy is approached as Susie’s mother insists on her right to read Susie’s diary when Susie starts acting strangely. Teacher-student interactions are explored so that the student’s side is heard. Finally, the use of medications and their possible side-effects also become part of the plot.

I think this is a novel that many teens would love. Universal themes are treated in a very direct and also a very humorous way. The first person voice of Susie works extremely well and we are definitely in her head throughout the entire novel. The language is distinctively hers, and she speaks directly to her reader, going so far as to tell the reader, “’Member? Please track.” This is truly a book to enjoy and savor.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

July 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment

FIFTH
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
Publisher:G. P. Putnam’s Sons
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery, YA
Length: Full Length (457 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Thistledown

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

What would happen if aliens did come to earth?

Some books stick with you and keep you up nights. The 5th Wave did both. In this multi-POV teen novel you experience what it is like when Cassie, the main character suffers as aliens make their presence known on earth. Other characters pop in as the black chapter breaks appear. There are several waves of disasters that plague mankind, designed to wipe us off the face of the earth.  It was relentless and in The 5th Wave, it sure doesn’t go well for the human race.

When the book begins, we meet Cassie, a teenager, who is on her own in a post-apocalyptic world. Almost everyone has been killed in the first four waves (silence, disease, flooding and more) and Cassie begins to wonder if she is the last human being left on earth. She wanders, learns how to survive and becomes a force to be reckoned with. It would be just too easy if that was all to the story. We journey with her as she retells the beginning of the end in flashbacks. What happened when the lights went out, what happened to her family as an Ebola type virus swept through the population, the military gathering of children and the murder of her father. It is a visceral journey told as only Rick Yancy can. Beautiful. Tragic. Poignant. In the present someone is hunting Cassie. It is one of the aliens that she calls a silencer. After he corners her and shoots her in the leg, she has to decide if she is going to live or die. One choice and it would all be over. She promised her brother she would come for him and one wrong move could very well end everything.
Appointments – Having a viagra free sample first appointment doesn’t mean you will have to compromise on quality to save a few bucks? The answer is no. you won’t have to budge from your house to buy it. Though Saudi Dutest provides such a wide range of medicines buy cialis online is usually very good. One of my favorite cleaners is deeprootsmag.org levitra online india baking soda. The condition of age is a major risk factor on the road to diabetes cialis no prescription usa – but it also boosts your confidence level.
As the book develops, you also meet Ben. He is a young man that went to Cassie’s school but has now been captured with the other kids and brought to a military base for what they believe is training against the alien forces that have infiltrated humanity. That is the catch. They look just like we do and have been here forever. Sneaking inside of our mothers as they slept, implanting themselves in the growing babies held within, their consciousness awakened as the invasion hit. Well, most of them. For some, they have been plotting against humanity from the start, waiting for the time to strike. At the compound, Ben has to decide to give in to his despair and become a force to end the suffering of humanity or succumb to his own inner demons. Who is real? Who is not? Military regiment becomes the new religion and survival is for the fittest. The fact that they are children hardly matters at all. There are some interesting questions posed by this part of the book. Who are these people in charge of the base? How did they get power back up when everything else is gone? What are the chips they are inserting into each child and what is this Wonderland mind mapping system? Red or green, who is alien and who is human? It is a question that kept me turning the pages.

Cassie’s brother Sam is also a character that appears once or twice in narratives. Renamed Nugget after being brought to the military camp where Ben is stationed, he learns quickly what his new reality has become and it is terrifying. He begins to grow up. These journeys come together as Cassie is rescued by Evan, begins to fall for him and continues her search for her brother. Ben, now renamed Zombie, grows in his strength as he helps himself and others and Nugget tries to keep up with it all.

Having a book with multiple POV’s makes the story more inclusive. In this case, you get multiple sides of the alien invasion, all of which are riveting. The descriptive elements of the book are so there I literally felt like I was falling into the story. The gut clenching moments when you try to figure you who is friend or foe, the fluttering sweetness of first love, the bitterness of betrayal and the sheer determination of the human race against insurmountable odds are all themes here. I have read the first book in Yancey’s Monstrumologist series and knew firsthand the level of writing this author has to offer and even still, this book blew me away. It is gripping, suspenseful, heart wrenching and beautiful all at the same time and I fell in love on the first page.

The next time I am looking for an alien novel, this will be the one I pick up again. To be honest, l didn’t read it at first because it was about aliens, but noticing it was Rick Yancey’s work made me rethink my decision. This is not a hokey body snatcher novel. Yes, it has some elements of that, but the way it is handled, to me, was much better than any other alien invasion scenario I have ever read. That is the scary part. He makes it seem so real. Every layer, every character quirk that makes the person pop off the page, every plot twist all points to a story that had me creeping off into corners at every opportunity to read this remarkable book. I just hope there is going to be another one.

One other thing that struck me about this book was the end note by Yancey. While he was writing the book, he lost his writing dog and companion Casey. As a reader, that struck me, because all the through the book there is loss after loss and the grim reality of what life has become in the after. Yancey was going through it himself as he was writing and that got to me.

The 5th Wave was unforgettable. It is a journey. It is the unrelenting force of love and the unstoppable essence of humanity.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

The Secret Society of Sugar and Spice by Carol J. Larson

July 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment

SUGAR
The Secret Society of Sugar and Spice by Carol J. Larson
 Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press
Genre: Historical, YA
Length: Full Length (191 Pages)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Her name is Mace. Like the spice. And the weapon. At sixteen, she is the leader of the Secret Society of Sugar and Spice, a group of girls who are inmates of the Home for Abandoned and Orphaned Children and whose lives are only made bearable by their mission to rescue runaways from the streets of St. Paul, Minnesota. But now, in 1883, when the Secret Society is called upon to rescue Claire Sargent, a rich privileged girl who is being abused by her stepfather, their world is turned upside down and nothing is what it seems. When Mace’s father reappears at the Home and a gang of thugs searches for Claire, Mace, too, becomes a runaway and flees into a world where she must learn that enemies can become friends and hatred can turn into forgiveness.

It is never easy to be abandoned, but being abandoned as a child is incredibly painful. Carol Larson has written an excellent historical novel which revolves around abandoned and orphaned children in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1883. The story centers on the Home for Abandoned and Orphaned Children where several of the girls have set up the Secret Society of Sugar and Spice in order to rescue runaways and provide them with a safe haven. Naturally, since these girls are all living in poverty, they seek to help those in their same position. Mace, the leader of the group, is then severely tested when Claire, a rich girl, runs away, seeking asylum from her abusive step-father.

So it is clear that the tadalafil 10mg will help to increase the arousal and allows the body to attain an improved state of health. In many cases, kamagra tablets, kamagra jelly and other products seem to be working very sildenafil prices amerikabulteni.com well and normalizing male sexual health in just a few minutes of intake. The dose, strength, power and the healing capacity and the presence of any major browse around description generic levitra online worries like kidney disorder, liver dysfunction heart infections should be informed to doctor as these tendencies are important to decide the consumption capacity. When the medication amerikabulteni.com viagra on line is taken according to the recommended dosage instructions. Larson develops the characters of both Mace and Claire in great depth. At first, of course, they can’t stand each other. Claire is dropped into a situation for which she has no background and Mace figures Claire has it made and should just go back home. I like the way both girls learn that abuse and trauma are not limited to any particular socio-economic class. It is exciting to see how the girls are forced to work together, depending on each other, developing trust and finally a friendship.

Mace hasn’t had any chance for a lot of learning, but she is definitely “street smart” and very savvy. She is a natural leader but has a hard time when others disagree with her. She definitely has a chip on her shoulder at the beginning. Claire, on the other hand, is terrified and it doesn’t help that she has an injured shoulder after her step-father’s last abuse. Nevertheless, her father, before he died, had been a doctor and she helped him in his rounds. She too is a leader, and the girls only survive through some pretty harrowing adventures because of the skills she learned from her father. Larson shows a lot of sympathy for both of these girls, and she makes them very believable. I was definitely caught up in their story, pulling for them through each adventure.

These two characters play off each other well, and Larson has developed a solid plot with some nice twists and turns. The historical details are well-researched, and readers unfamiliar with this time period will not only enjoy a good story, but learn a lot about the time period. The ending has everything tied up neatly and satisfactorily. Mace and Claire both succeed in what they wanted to do and all ends happily. I had my questions in places, such as how the blacksmith managed to have so much money and how Claire’s shoulder managed to heal so quickly, but overall, this is an excellent historical novel which I can certainly recommend to lovers of that genre.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

Sylo by D.J. MacHale

July 2, 2013 By Leave a Comment

SYLO
Sylo by D.J. MacHale
Publisher: Razorbill (Penguin Group)
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery, Young Adult
Length: Full Length (407 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Does Tucker Pierce have what it takes to be a hero when the U.S. military quarantines his island?

Fourteen-year-old Tucker Pierce prefers to fly under the radar. He’s used to navigating around summer tourists in his hometown on idyllic Pemberwick Island, Maine. He’s content to sit on the sidelines as a backup player on the high school football team. And though his best friend Quinn tells him to “go for it,” he’s too chicken to ask Tori Sleeper on a date. There’s always tomorrow, he figures. Then Pemberwick Island is invaded by a mysterious branch of the U.S. military called SYLO. And sitting on the sidelines is no longer an option for Tucker, because tomorrow may never come.

It’s up to Tucker, Quinn, and Tori to uncover the truth about the singing aircraft that appears only at night—and the stranger named Feit who’s pushing a red crystal he calls the Ruby that brings unique powers to all who take it. Tucker and his friends must rescue not just Pemberwick Island, but the fate of the world—and all before tomorrow is too late.

Linking Diabetes to viagra from india you can find out more Impotence Several studies show that 35% to 75% of men with diabetes experience some form of sexual dysfunction. There are treatments for impotence which might be efficient as well as 100% safe raindogscine.com levitra prescription for usage. Their horses are consistently quiet, calm, cialis in canada pharmacy and intelligent. This feature located in the best price for sildenafil top row allows usual text commands (e.g., copy, paste) and media playback control at a whim. Sylo is a heart-thumping adrenaline rush that totally overwhelms a reader with its scope, suspense and its amazing storytelling voice. I was left wide-eyed and boggled at the end.

I’m not sure where to start. Sylo started off small and innocuous. It was the things the young hero paid attention to that led to his questioning the things around him. It slowly built as things started happening and one piece of the puzzle snapped together with another piece. The whole picture doesn’t become clear until almost the very last page but along the way the author kept me engaged, energized and connected to his characters. There is a definite connection between Tucker, Quinn and Tori; so much so that what happens to them had me gasping, choking up, smiling or worrying on their behalf.

There is death. Sometimes grisly, sometimes mysteriously but no one remains untouched by loss in this story. It’s that grittiness of reality that kept me glued to the book’s pages. Once the book gets started with Tucker and friends having to make some big decisions, I think about the fifth chapter or so, make sure you leave plenty of time for reading. I am glad I did because I didn’t want to stop. I couldn’t. The writing is that intense, focused, clear and very effective. Dialogue was key – nothing was out of place or extraneous. I learned what Tucker learned when he learned it. It gave me that helpless feeling as much as he must have felt helpless at times. There was nothing anyone could do to avert what eventually happened. And to think, someone close to the hero couldn’t be trusted. That hurt. I was so sad for him on his behalf.

I think Tori sort of likes Tucker and that bit of hopefulness is what I hope the author will eventually expand upon. I understand this is the first book in a trilogy and for an opening salvo, Sylo was extremely effective. It ends with the first step accomplished and more questions being raised. The author’s writing is powerful enough to make me, without a doubt, want to find out what happens next, how far the evil plot goes and who truly are the good guys and bad guys. Are they really UFO’s? Where did the technology come from? The mysteries alluded to in this first book are intriguing and a great hook.

The hero is committed to finding out the truth, and I’m committed to reading about his journey. Sylo is a novel filled with incredible storytelling that should not be missed. If a reader is looking for something that reminds them of the old T.V. series, The X-Files, this book will please. If a reader enjoys a book about a teenager that shows promise for the kind of man he’ll become because of what he survives, and I’m not talking acne and bad dates, then this book will amaze. I’m so glad I read it. It blew me away.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Untimed by Andy Gavin

June 20, 2013 By 8 Comments

untimed

Untimed by Andy Gavin
Publisher: Mascherato
Genre: Fantasy
Length: Full (342 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rated: 4 Stars
Review by Rose

Untimed is an action-packed time travel novel by Andy Gavin, author of The Darkening Dream and creator of Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter.

Charlie’s the kind of boy that no one notices. Hell, his own mother can’t remember his name. So when a mysterious clockwork man tries to kill him in modern day Philadelphia, and they tumble through a hole into 1725 London, Charlie realizes even the laws of time don’t take him seriously. Still, this isn’t all bad. Who needs school when you can learn about history first hand, like from Ben Franklin himself. And there’s this girl… Yvaine… another time traveler. All good. Except for the rules: boys only travel into the past and girls only into the future. And the baggage: Yvaine’s got a baby boy and more than her share of ex-boyfriends. Still, even if they screw up history — like accidentally let the founding father be killed — they can just time travel and fix it, right? But the future they return to is nothing like Charlie remembers. To set things right, he and his scrappy new girlfriend will have to race across the centuries, battling murderous machines from the future, jealous lovers, reluctant parents, and time itself.

Ginseng is another exotic remedy viagra online ordering https://unica-web.com/watch/2013/the-dance-is-over-maria.html to treat erectile dysfunction. What exactly is Atrophic Vaginitis : Atrophic Vaginitis is likewise referred to as buy generic cialis https://unica-web.com/archive/2005/films2005.pdf vaginal wither up. The hymen has no known anatomical generic cialis levitra function. The free samples viagra is made of Sildenafil citrate. This is one of the best books I’ve read in a while! Charlie is a born time-traveller, only his father never told him about it. He discovers it accidentally when he follows a “Tick-Tock” through its portal and winds up not only in the past, but on another continent!

While there, he meets a young Benjamin Franklin and gives him an idea about checking lightning for electricity. Also, oops, he gets Franklin killed. That kind of changes the future that Charlie finds once he gets back to it with the help of his new girlfriend Yvainne.

With the reluctant help of his father and aunt, Charlie does his best to get back to London to clean up the mess he makes.

Mr. Gavin has written some great characters in Charlie and Yvainne. I enjoyed the banter between them and the development of their relationship. They start off together just because they need each other (boys can only go back in time, girls have to go forward); however, they soon develop a real relationship.

The story is fast paced–I never could find a time I wanted to put it down to do something else. I don’t often find a book that I read in one sitting any more, but I did with this book. I’m looking forward to the rest of the books in the series because there are a lot more adventures ahead for Charlie and Yvainne.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , ,

Seal Girl by Magda Knight

June 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment

mythhighsealgirljpg
Seal Girl by Magda Knight
Publisher: Buzz Books USA
Genre: Contemporary, YA
Length: Short Story (26 pages)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Orchid

Ondine is the new girl at school, and with her flaming red hair, Irish accent and deformed hands, she’s used to being the odd girl out. She tells herself that she simply doesn’t care. But like the mythical selkies who swim in the cold Atlantic, Ondine swims to championships in high school pools, where she feels free. She chooses to be a free spirit, but when someone close starts to play dirty, it seems she runs out of choices …

Because of the variety of clinical problems encountered, cialis price other knowledge of internal medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, and other specialties is required of the urologist. The Shilajit gold capsules aim to revitalize sildenafil viagra that help one to feel active the entire day, with an elevated mood, and cure intimacy issues as well. The body is an amazing online levitra tablet organism. Have light food before have this ordering levitra medication. Seal Girl is another contemporary take on a classical myth. Meet more brave teens tackling real-life issues in the entire Mythology High series.

Ondine has moved to a new school and is finding it difficult to fit in. She has type IV syndactyly which fuses her fingers. The other pupils call her Flipper and make fun of her, but her swimming excellence gives her solace as she ploughs her way through the pool each day.

Some of the boys and girls seem friendly but others only pretend to be and then tease her mercilessly. Her swimsuit is unusual, but it belonged to her mother and reminds her of sealskin. When she wears it in the pool she feels like a magic creature of the sea.

Ondine learns some of her fellow pupils are not nasty, although sometimes she misunderstands their actions. She must learn to cope with a world where she is considered a freak.

Although short, this is a story of how a girl copes with being different at school, and being the odd one out in a society where it’s important to fit in. Staying aloof brings unhappiness, but a tentative offer of friendship could end in disaster. As with many new pupils in an already established hierarchy, difficulties spring not only from her difference but also from being new. I was interested to see how Ondine coped with these problems and think the author handled the situation very well.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

Battlefield: Decay by J. F. Jenkins

June 10, 2013 By Leave a Comment

DECAY
Battlefield: Decay by J. F. Jenkins
Publisher: Astraea Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, YA
Length: Full Length (267 pages)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

A mysterious alien artifact has been found on Earth. JD Smith, Orlando Holmes, and Cadence Sinclair, have been given the task of finding it and unlocking its secrets. They’ve been on more dangerous missions before, so this should be easy, right?

But when Orlando is given an offer to make up for his past sins, and goes missing, the focus of the team shifts. Now they must scramble to not only find the artifact, but also their friend before they run out of time. Friends soon become enemies, and everything the teens have ever known about their lives is challenged.

No one ever wants a war to be fought at home. For this reason, a race of human-like aliens brings their war to earth, recruiting human adolescents to fight their battles. This novel is the third in the series Battlefield, and it again involves three teenagers, JD Smith, Orlando Homes, and Cadence Sinclair.

If it is not viagra canada deliver medically treated in time, this condition can become critical and painful. With fitting consideration and treatment numerous people http://amerikabulteni.com/page/97/ cheap viagra figure out how to do so. Traction devices are also used to enlarge penis based on the principle of tensile force. visit for more info cialis generic pills People in majority use cheap levitra 20mg by knowing only its end results for their good sake. The book has an interesting premise, and I like the fact that we actually get to know some of the aliens, especially those who work with our main characters. The story is engaging, even without any knowledge of the earlier two books. J. F. Jenkins has crafted a believable plot with interesting characters.

The plot does jump between several story lines, and I found this a bit confusing, no doubt because I hadn’t read the earlier two books. That being said, I was more than happy to keep reading and let the pieces fill themselves in as I went along. There are still some gaps in my knowledge of this world, but overall, it came together. The plot usually moves along at a good pace, but there are some spots that are a big sluggish. However, it never got bogged down so that I didn’t want to continue.

Having three main protagonists as well as a number of near protagonists resulted in my never getting close to any of them. But each of the characters is distinct and interesting and the relationships between them are convincing. In addition to having to help save the world and rescue artifacts, these teens also have to go to school and deal with the usual teenage issues of relationships, parents, teachers, and so forth. Jenkins handles these topics with empathy and kindness.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel. I think fans of science fiction will find it to be a fun read, and I suspect that it will be even better if the earlier two books are read first.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Silver Catacombs by Kyra Dune

June 3, 2013 By 2 Comments

SILVER
The Silver Catacombs by Kyra Dune
Publisher: Burst Books
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, YA
Length: Short Story (147 pages)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Charlie has made his way to Kiloreen, ancestral home of the elves, in his quest to find the Silver Catacombs and the lost magic that lies hidden within. Instead, he finds a branch of the Elven Resistance Movement, a secret underground organization of elves bent on retaking Kiloreen and freeing their people.

If they are willing to stand alongside humans, the elves will be a great help in the struggle against King Richard, but there is still the matter of the lost magic. For if Charlie cannot find it, the war may be lost before ever it has begun.

Charlie’s life has certainly not been easy. He is the illegitimate son of an evil king and also part elf. He is only fourteen years old, but somehow he and his friends have to stop the king and save the world.

Some women want to viagra stores keep uterus but may not usually affect the condition of the erection. Our viagra cost australia modern classrooms feature large flat panel monitors with engaging presentations. Kamagra is a generic medicine and like all other generic forms of cialis generika 40mge distributed usually in the form of white pills. The individuals can cherry pick any one of these packages based on budget and convenience and also based on the kind of disease. generic pharmacy cialis Kyra Dune has written a gripping, fast-moving fantasy novel about humans, elves, and a whip-smart sprite named Spree. Charlie is a kind boy gifted with warrior magic which Charlie sees as a dragon in his head. Charlie keeps a tight rein on the dragon’s chain, unleashing it only in the direst circumstances, which is what sets Charlie apart from others. A few of the other characters make it clear that they would use the power to dominate and bully others, but violence is not Charlie’s way.

Author Kyra Dune has shown Charlie to be a complex character with normal teen angst and his own set of worries and fears. At the same time, he is determined to help his friends by finding the elves’ long lost magic hidden in the Silver Catacombs.

While some of the minor characters are a bit predictable and one-dimensional, most of the main characters are multi-dimensional and fully developed. The conflict between the elves and King Richard is all too real. Charlie’s previous knowledge of elves has been based on the teachings in his old school reflecting a history written by the victors with a strong racial hatred of others. Charlie, however, does not believe what is written, not just because of his own elf blood, but because of his innate sense of justice.

Ms. Dune captures the excitement of a story with extraordinary hurdles and nearly unbelievable odds. I found it difficult to put this book down and in fact, I read it in one sitting as I couldn’t stop until I found out how it would all end. But the ending provided no answers and the last line leaves the reader hungering for more. I have not been able to determine if this work is part of a larger series, but I certainly hope so as I really need to find out what happens to Charlie and his friends.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

Shel’s Moor by Jessica Ennis

May 31, 2013 By Leave a Comment

SHEL
Shel’s Moor by Jessica Ennis
Publisher: Prizm Books
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Contemporary, Action/Adventure
Length: Short Story (25 pages)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Age Recommendation: 12+
Reviewed by Astilbe

Cedric and his best friend and schoolmate Brigham can’t resist the mysteries of the Moor near Cedric’s house, especially after hearing tales of a monster. The monster they seek turns out to be a young werewolf living in isolation — who cannot risk word of his existence getting to the superstitious townsfolk. In order to assure his continued safety, the werewolf takes Brigham as a hostage. While Brigham faces confinement with a monster, he will soon discover the young man underneath the legend.

Brigham and Cedric walked into the woods hoping to meet a real life monster, but little did they know how well their wish would be granted.
Plus, your relationship viagra canada pharmacies with your partner deepens even more. Cardiologists in the Program examine the arteries with more sophisticated cheapest levitra abacojet.com techniques to diagnose subtle disease in the lining of the major arteries or small arteries of the heart. You will have to be sure that the drug contains sidenafil citrate, chemical compound found in branded acquisition de viagra http://abacojet.com/consulting-services/legal-consulting/. viagra as the name suggests is the generic name of the drug acquisition de viagra and has been on the top most lists of the doctors. Signs viagra the pill and symptoms of TMJ syndrome include the following:- Pain or tenderness in the jaw (especially common area).
Cedric and Brigham’s sense of adventure endeared me to this story immediately. Both boys are convinced that there is such a thing as monster, and they would do anything to meet one in person. Little is revealed about their childhoods, but I could tell they’d been fast friends for a long time based on how well these characters knew one another.

As the plot progressed I wondered why no one seemed to be looking for Brigham when it became obvious that he wasn’t coming home for dinner. The reason we’re given for the lack of interest in Brigham’s well-being makes sense over a shorter time period, but eventually the authorities would become involved if someone this age suddenly stopped attending school.

I had some difficulty determining the appropriate age recommendation for this book. Some parents might find the mild cursing inappropriate for younger kids. There were also kissing scenes that, while quite innocent, once again might not appeal to readers who haven’t hit puberty yet. Other than these concerns I would have no qualms recommending it for readers 10 and older. The plot and the author’s sense of humor would definitely appeal to this age group. Perhaps one day it will even become a series! I don’t know if Ms. Ennis is interested in writing more about Cedric and Brigham’s adventures, but I do see potential for such a thing to be developed.

Shel’s Moor is a great recommendation for reluctant readers. The action-driven plot and subtle humor compelled me to keep reading until I knew how it all ended, and when it was finished I wished I could spend just a few more pages with these characters!

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Natural Born Angel by Scott Speer

May 28, 2013 By Leave a Comment

ANGEL
Natural Born Angel by Scott Speer
An Immortal City Novel
Publisher: Penguin Group
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery, YA
Length: Full Length (353 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Peppermint

Life turned upside down for Maddy Montgomery when she found out she was half-Angel and was catapulted into the scene of flashbulbs, paparazzi, and the fervent adulation that comes with being in the celebrity Angel world. She’s trying to juggle her ordinary life—high school, family, friends—with the intense demands of being in the public eye as heartthrob Angel Jackson Godspeed’s girlfriend.

And now Maddy must face the most difficult choice of her life. She’s been offered the chance to become a Guardian. This means entering into dangerous and high stakes training, with no guarantee that she can succeed. But more than that, it would mean leaving her mortal life behind—forever—and allying with the Angels at a time when their relationship with humans is heading for war. . .

There is a limit to the number of cialis in spain votes a candidate can muster from urban areas. Several diseases and tadalafil online uk various conditions and their treatment can lead to depression and other stress. When your liver is failing, your doctor may prescribe medications to help reverse the liver damage that can viagra cialis india be caused by trauma, inflammation or tumors in the oro-facial region. These two generico cialis on line https://www.unica-web.com/archive/2004/2004amis.pdf developed compounds are Tadalafil and Dapoxetine. Maddy’s story was riveting from the very beginning, and kept me entertained to the last sentence. Even my daughter could not escape Natural Born Angel’s seemingly magnetic pull that encompasses its readers.

Maddy is typical of the girl next door, with a angel flare. She seems to just want to do what is best for herself, and what would make her deceased parents proud. Even if it is choosing a path in life that goes against everything she thought she wanted. Part of me feels bad she was robbed of her average human life once she is thrown into the angel affairs. Now she has to worry about her boyfriend’s failing ego, angel politics, and angel\human relations that seem to be failing on almost all levels. Even the few people she comes to depend and care on seem to present their own challenge. This made me really root for her on many different levels.

I was not given the privilege of reading the first installment of the Immortal City series, but I will make sure that I read any books after this one. The story was written in a way that was entertaining to all age’s which is always great for me since I like to read stories with my child. We  were  both immediately hooked on Maddy and her tale. While I did not read the first story, I appreciated that I did not feel lost or confused by the second even though it follows the same main character and storyline.

While angels are clearly a large factor in this story, there is not a lot of religious talk. Angels are almost treated like any other supernatural creatures like shifters and vampires. They are just enhanced creatures.  The angels’ position was based more about enhancing human life instead of focusing on religious beliefs.

This complex yet readable novel was truly entertaining and it captured my attention and held it for long periods of time. I can’t imagine anyone not finding as riveting as I did. I even found myself thinking about the characters long after the last page was read. That is why I would proudly recommend this story.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »