Review of "Into the Land of the Unicorns"

"Leaning forward, Cara threw herself from the tower."

     Bruce Coville's Into the Land of the Unicorns is a short novel full of magic, friendship, and beauty. Cara Diana has lived with her grandmother most of her life, but she has a few dim memories of the parents who abandoned her when she was very young. Grandmother Morris is a kind old woman who tells stories of unicorns, magical creatures whose horns can heal the wounded. Cara hasn't believed those stories in years, of course. They're fairy tales, bedtime stories. Then, on the way home from the library, a man chases Cara and her grandmother through a church and to the roof, where she is forced to carry out Grandmother Morris' insane command to jump at the bell's twelfth toll. Suddenly she is in Luster, a magical forest full of extraordinary creatures, and she has a mission: to save the unicorns from complete extinction.

     Coville's book starts at a quick pace and continues at that clip for the rest of the book. Although there isn't a lot of violence, tensions are constantly high and action is common as Cara races to find the queen of the unicorns and deliver a vital message. The plot is straightforward and simple, but it's also filled with small subplots woven into the worldbuilding and dialogue. Everything is important, from the smallest details to the dragon on the mountain, yet this is presented in a manner that is easy to follow. That said, there are a few plot twists that bring everything together while still managing to surprise readers, which is quite refreshing.

     The writing style in this story suits the book perfectly. Not too formal, not too modern, the prose matches Cara's personality: a girl from the modern world who is thrown into a fantasy story she never imagined was real. The worldbuilding is fantastic, as well, perfectly balanced with plot and dialogue. Magic is presented in such a way as to be completely realistic. Sadly, though, the story is quite short, so we only get to see a small portion of Luster. However, this is the first book in a series, so it seems likely that more of the land is explored in the next installments. The author neatly weaves in uplifting themes as he explores the idea of family, empowerment, and independence, as well, which fits well with the plot and is extremely subtle. Humans are painted as the bad guys, though, despite the author's attempt to clarify that the unicorn hunters are an exception rather than the rule.

     Characters in Into the Land of the Unicorns are simultaneously the book's strongest and weakest link. On the one hand, each is a complex being full of conflict and realistic emotion. It's also pretty cool that, aside from Cara, only two other humans show up in Luster. The rest of the characters are unicorns, a Squijim, a Dimblethum, and other such fantasy creatures, some of them traditional while a great deal of the rest are unique to Coville's world--a trait that makes the first book in The Unicorn Chronicles stand out among others in its genre. On the other hand, the thinness of the volume leaves little room for backstory expansion and deep subplots.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun children's tale about a girl whose quest to help others teaches her more about herself and her family than she could have expected. Despite the role of the "evil humans", the characters are great to read and very complex. The whole thing could have been expanded, especially since it is already so thin--though, as the start of a series, plenty of room has been left for the author to play with. For a great plot, fun characters, a good theme, and believable magic, I give Into the Land of the Unicorns four stars.

Review of "Cinder"

"Tossing the screwdriver onto the table, Cinder gripped her heel and yanked the foot from its socket."

     Marissa Meyer's Cinder will make readers rethink everything they thought they knew about "Cinderella". It's over a hundred years T.E., and New Beijing citizen Linh Cinder is fed up with her life. After all, things can be rough when you're adopted, the only parent who loved you is dead, your mother works you like a slave, and you're only partially human. Cinder has been contemplating a runaway attempt for years, but now that she's unearthed the wreckage of a salvageable car, her plans may actually work. Then her sister falls victim to a terrible plague, everyone blames her, and what little stability she had in life is shattered. Take into account her growing feelings for the crown prince of the Eastern Commonwealth, and the Lunar queen's plot to establish a foothold on Earth, and Cinder has the makings of a very bad day. She'll have to fight, unearth secrets, and reconsider everything she thought she knew about herself if she wants to survive--and even then, the odds are not in her favor.

     When it comes to retelling classic fairy tales, Meyer's novel takes "Cinderella" to a whole new level. Cinder is a teenage cyborg who also happens to be the best mechanic in New Beijing. Her best friend is Iko, a bubbly android who only wants to be human, though she's also developed a tentative relationship with the kinder of her two stepsisters, Peony. And to top it off, her mother isn't trying to keep her away from the castle--when Peony falls ill and Cinder's body appears to hold answers, she practically throws her at the officials. This isn't the Disney princess we all know and love; she's a hardcore, freethinking teen with a head full of technology, and she's the perfect protagonist for this story.

     The plot of this book starts out simple: Cinder is minding her own business--literally--when Kai, the crown prince, drops an ancient android on her workbench and requests a repair. Pages later, she's running from the epicenter of a plague breakout, and from then on nothing is predictable. Betrayals, revelations, and startling discoveries are around each corner, lurking in innocent and sinister scenes alike. Meyer easily balances action, hard truths, political intrigue, a moon queen with superpowers, and shy romance with a dedicated sense of pacing, playing tension like a flute with every page. She knows her story well, and it's obvious from the characters' roundness, stunning worldbuilding, and easy-to-follow yet complex plot. Some of the characters are a little shallow, though, which is sad because they are so loveable.

     Readers don't need to worry about whether this book is age-appropriate. Profanity-wise, characters are clean, and the romance is very simple. Violence, when it happens, is not gory and parceled out neatly, lending the tale a clear sense of pacing. The most potentially-questionable scene involves a nightmare about fire, which is resolved quickly and serves a purpose. The villain of this piece is realistic and chillingly real, utilizing charm, political power, and brute force to achieve her goals.

     I would recommend this book to teens and young adults looking for a sci-fi take on "Cinderella". Linh Cinder is a strong, capable protagonist with plenty of depth and a lot of development, and her tale is almost addicting. This Cinderella is different from the rest--not only must she find true love and grow into her own, but she has to save the planet along the way. As an individual book and as the start of a series, Marissa Meyer has truly crafted a five-star story in Cinder.

Review of "A Dark Inheritance"

"Deep down, I was hoping it would just go away."

     Chris d'Lacey's A Dark Inheritance, the first title in his "UNICORNE Files" series, is all about the impossible. Michael Malone and his sister, Josie, are on their way to school when they are forced to a stop by a police cordon. The problem? A runaway dog is resisting capture. While Josie tries to sweet-talk an officer into letting them through with a made-up story about flute exams, Michael is focused on the dog and a certainty it emits like an aura: it is about to jump off the cliff. Suddenly, he's at the dog's side, his mother is screaming, and Josie, whose musical talent is exactly zero, has a flute on her lap and an upcoming test. All Michael wants to do is stay out of the spotlight, but when he is approached by a mysterious organization, he is presented with a mission and a chance for a life he never thought he'd have--because his ability to alter reality may just be the key to finding his missing father.

     The writing style in this piece is very well done. Although it's recorded in past tense, readers get the honest, in-the-moment experience of Michael himself. Not a whole lot is explained about UNICORNE, the secret organization that recruits our hero, which makes sense--it is secret, after all--but which can also be rather frustrating. There is just enough worldbuilding to fulfill the requirements of the story without going overboard, and characters are shaped with simple details that leave much to the reader's imagination. They are, however, a little two-dimensional, which is a real shame because they are so likeable.

     A Dark Inheritance's plot may not be character-driven, but it's incredibly strong. Michael's ability to shape the world around him draws the attention of a paranormal-activity-investigating team that promises a chance to find his father, who disappeared three years ago, in exchange for answers about the suicidal dog's owner. As Michael digs ever deeper into the dog's past, he gets to know some troubled characters and realizes that the only adjective befitting the case is "paranormal". With its twists, shocking turns, and confident approach to the impossible, d'Lacey's plot is intriguing and surprisingly believable.

     Although teh characters in this book are primarily middle-schoolers, the story is dark enough to fit in the YA spectrum as well. Readers should note that reality-shifting and telepathy are not the only superpowers presented--seeing ghosts and other things along that line are present in the novel and are sure to crop up in the following books. It's not very action-packed, but the violence that does happen is well-placed and shocking.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a children's/YA book about alternate realities and paranormal mysteries. Although the characters are rather flat and the plot is low on action, the premise is great and the plot believable. It's easy to feel for Michael and sympathize with his mission, two attributes that make reading a lot easier. Because of this, Chris d'Lacey's A Dark Inheritance deserves four stars.

Review of "Sam the Cat: Detective"

"That part aside, we get along pretty well: I stay out of his hair; he stays out of my fur."

     Linda Stewart's Sam the Cat: Detective is for everyone who is convinced their cat has a secret life they never see. Sam lives with his roommate, a bookseller who specializes in mystery novels, in a New York apartment complex. He's been in the PI business for three and a half years, and he's good at it. Enter Sugary, a pretty blonde with a big problem: her family has been robbed, and the cat-loving building janitor, Max, is the primary suspect. Determined to help his client and clear Max's name, Sam heads to the street in search of a lead. But with little more to go on than a description of the stolen item and an unusual scent, this may very well be a case even a cat can't solve.

     From the first page, it's obvious that Stewart understands cats. Not just their habits and sleep cycles, but also their distinct personalities and inborn mystique. Sam and his neighbor, Spike, deal with cats of all shapes, sizes, and dispositions. From grumpy Angie to obliging Sue, the cats they encounter are unique and decidedly feline. Sam himself is an interesting character to read, with his sense of duty, determination to do right by his friends and clients, and talent for haggling. Although the characters are a little flat, they have just enough roundness to them to be interesting and believable.

     The plot in this book is very well written. Sam is constantly going from contact to contact, asking questions and searching for patterns where none seem to exist. Every plot twist is a surprise, every decision realistic. Readers may find themselves running right alongside this four-legged hero as he pokes at theories in the hope that something will bite. Although he doesn't like getting into fights, Sam has to claw his way through more than one scrap before the story is over, each one written with great pacing and action. Even the low-tension scenes carry a sense of anxiety, thanks to the stakes. This is balanced out neatly by smart humor and witty logic that works quite well with the overall sense of noir.

      Since the story's principal characters are cats, it follows that many of their crime-solving tactics are unique to their species. Sam and his various companions leap across penthouse railings, battle a yapping schnauzer, and make deals with some less-than-pleasant cats. It's refreshing to note that the good guys and bad guys are clearly separate figures. The book doesn't contain foul language, and is suitable for all ages.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a smart, fun read about a cat detective who knows his stuff. With its dynamic cast, firm sense of realism, and easy humor, the novel has its own distinct writing style that perfectly fits the story it tells. Stewart knows cats, so cat-lovers can trust her to get the facts right. For strong writing, witty dialogue, and a fundamental understanding of its feline cast, I give Linda Stewart's Sam the Cat: Detective five stars.

Review of "The Hunger Games"

"It's not really fair to present us as a team and then lock us into the arena to kill each other."

     In Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games, we follow the life of a girl whose second nature is survival. Katniss Everdeen has provided for her family for years. She's taken the tesserae (extra food provided by the government), hunted illegally when food ran low, and made every conceivable sacrifice to ensure her sister was safe. Now that Prim is twelve, there is a new danger: she has been entered into the reaping for the Hunger Games, a free-for-all where the only winner is the last man standing. Katniss isn't worried; after all, Prim's name is only in the ball once, while she, at sixteen, has twenty entries just waiting to be picked. Then, at the reaping, the unthinkable happens: Prim's name is pulled, and before she knows it Katniss has volunteered to take her place. She's prettied up, interviewed, then thrown into a competition where "living" is a relative term and friendship can be a weakness--or her greatest strength, if only she learns how to trust.

     The writing style Collins employs in her novel is really what makes the story work. Through the lens of Katniss' thoughts, we experience everything as if we were really there. Battles, alliances, and deaths are all portrayed with the same harsh, down-in-the-dirt sense of realism, and it's easy to sink into her way of thinking. The use of the first person point of view and present-tense prose brings about an in-the-moment angle that would be absent otherwise. Katniss, the arena, and the Games themselves are detailed with a balanced blend of adjectives and action, giving the book a regular sense of pacing.

     Another upside is the cast. Everyone, from Prim to Katniss' hunting partner, Gale, and fellow tribute, Peeta, is crafted with the utmost care and precision. Their traits are all unique enough to be distinct but similar enough to interact well, a feat that can be rather difficult to pull off. Even the less pleasant characters, be it the misunderstood Ms. Everdeen, sullen mentor Haymitch Abernathy, or Katniss herself, are complex people with their own shifting desires and fears. Not a whole lot of development takes place in any of these characters, although Katniss does learn a bit about making friends and dealing with tragedy.

     It has been mentioned in previous posts that cursing and such sits on one end of the YA spectrum. For an example of the other end, read The Hunger Games. Although the gore is kept to a minimum, terrible things happen to the teens in the arena: death by impaling, hallucinations, blood poisoning, and mauling all happen at least once. Participants in the Games, known as "tributes", are all between the ages of twelve and eighteen, and their battles are treated as a reality show that is aired on live TV across the nation. Romance is involved, which mainly consists of talking about feelings and opening up about the characters' pasts, as well as a little kissing.

     I would recommend this book to older teens interested in dystopian societies, fast-paced action, and a protagonist who must face moral dilemmas in order to survive. The prose is strong, the characters well-written, and the worldbuilding dynamic. However, it is rather violent--some scenes may cause squeamish readers a spot of difficulty--and the protagonist isn't necessarily likeable. Therefore, I give it four stars.

Review of "Inhuman"

"Now that I was actually on the roof of the skyscraper, I was having second thoughts."

     In Kat Falls' Inhuman, we get a glimpse into a world where humanity is subjective. West of the Mississippi River and the Titan wall, the term refers to the people who live and breathe cleanliness; to the east, it refers to those who have yet to succumb to their inner animal. Delaney Park McEvoy and her father live a comfortable, clean life right by the wall, careful to keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in their back pockets and their hands to themselves. Lane grew up on stories about the manimals and chimpacabras that supposedly live across the wall, but she never believed the creatures actually existed--until her father disappears, and she is tasked with the retrieval of an artifact from the Feral Zone. With the help of two people she isn't sure she can trust, Lane must complete her task as quickly as possible, or risk losing her father forever.

     If there's one thing Inhuman has going for it, it's the premise. Striking and original, Falls' world opens with a splash and promises to deliver an action-packed story about family, love, and what it means to be human. And, in a sense, it does. Throughout the novel, Lane makes allies and friends, uncovers secrets, and grows from a cautious, clean-palmed girl to one willing to take dangerous chances to save the ones she loves. However, although her world is well-developed, Lane is severely lacking in the backstory department, which lends her a two-dimensional angle that is not exactly flattering.

     One of the YA genre's most common tropes is the missing father. He's a major figure in the protagonist's life, he holds the key to overthrowing the government or otherwise saving the main character from death or ruin, and otherwise acts as a great plot device with which to motivate the characters. Written well, this can be a good thing. In this case, it isn't. Mr. McEvoy is a faceless name when Lane sets out on her quest, and continues in this line throughout most of the story. He isn't so much a person as a cardboard cutout, which is extremely disappointing. And when he is, at last, introduced, Falls wastes few words to describe him, so that his appearance is a bit of a letdown.

     However, don't think this is merely a train wreck with a cover. Falls builds her characters, and her worlds, with a writing style that leaves you begging for more. From the passage of time to sneaking Lane into a military camp, the author does a great job of painting her story for her readers--people, places, animals, manimals. Everything is written with raw emotion, making it easy to connect with Lane and her companions as they set out to save her father.

     The protagonist develops a good deal over the course of the book, and not just in her views on cleanliness. Delaney Park starts out as a blank sheet with only the barest details filled in, and winds up battling for survival in a brutal wilderness, her personality shaped by the monsters she fights and the hard choices she is forced to make. Although Lane's journey is one of science fiction, it classifies as more of a "mutated enemies" book than an "evil robots" one. While it's mostly about the manimals and their place in society, plenty of the action is bloody and chilling. There is a romantic subplot that is quite sweet, but the love triangle feels a little forced. Characters are, in general, clean-mouthed.

     I would recommend this book to teenagers and young adults looking for a spot of adventure. While the background of the protagonist and her friends is rather shallow, the storytelling is solid and the action believable. Sadly, the novel is rather short and contains a love triangle that isn't exactly realistic. For a good, well-written book with simple characters, a plot device with too little presence, and a beautiful premise, I give Kat Falls' Inhuman three stars.

Review of "Tuck Everlasting"

"And, so far as I know, I'll stay seventeen till the end of the world."

     Natalie Babbitt's Tuck Everlasting is the kind of book children may pick up with apprehension, but when they finally put it down after a long day of reading, it's all they'll want to talk about. Winifred Foster is a ten-year-old girl from a rich, overprotective family. She lives in a snooty cottage on the edge of town, and is never allowed past the front gate. But when she slips out one morning and visits the family's wood, she discovers a boy: seventeen-year-old Jesse Tuck, who drinks from a spring she cannot touch and who claims he is a hundred and four years old. Soon Winnie is swept up in a fantasy story as old as time itself, which will last until the end of the world--unless a man with smooth words and a yellow suit has his say, in which case the Tucks, and our planet, will never be the same again.

     Babbitt's storytelling is, at first, a little odd on the tongue: lots of "for"s and analogies. After the first chapter, however, it becomes a natural part of the world in which the story takes place. Treegap, the little village where the Foster family lives, is described with the barest physical detail, but the world--the weather, the townspeople's attitude, the constable's pride at his new jailhouse--is crafted with such care it's impossible not to fill in the blanks with realistic colors and scents. Babbitt also works in a bit of humor imaginative children will find pleasantly surprising.

      Winnie is a rather blank character. She's been kept indoors the vast majority of her life, far from the outside world, so it follows that she has never had a chance to develop a personality of her own. Thus, it is a great pleasure to watch her develop over the course of the book. From wanting things because she can to sacrificing a great deal to help a woman she barely knows, Winnie's journey is long and complex, full of ups and downs that will surely keep readers enthralled.

     Tuck Everlasting is about Winnie, but it is also about the Tucks. This charming family consists of a mother, father, and two sons--Jesse and Miles--as well as a horse, all of whom are immortal. Described with loving detail, physical appearances are insightful and bare at the same time, leaving much to the reader's imagination while crafting a solid, very real presence on the page. The Tucks don't change much as the book goes on, but that is all right because it's intentional, a statement. They are, after all, frozen in time. When danger threatens this lovable clan, all must pull their weight to stand against it, and the test of character that follows gives a great view of the characters, as a group and as individuals.

     This book was written for children, but there's no reason adults shouldn't enjoy it as well. Characters don't curse, except for one "tarnation", which can be excused due to extenuating circumstances. There isn't any romance. However, Winnie does have a small crush on one of the boys, who suggests that they get married when she's caught up to his age. Nothing comes of it, however--Winnie is, after all, only ten. There is not much in the way of action, although there is one death. The primary conflict is how to keep people from figuring out the Tucks cannot, in fact, die.

     I would recommend Natalie Babbitt's Tuck Everlasting to anyone interested in a fun, lighthearted children's book about a family who lives forever. With her brilliant writing style and eyecatching premise, Babbitt perfectly reels in readers and keeps them on the edge of their seats with every passing chapter. The theme is explored from all sides with subtle wit and a dynamic cast that interacts beautifully. It is for all these reasons, then, that I give her book five stars out of five.

Review of "Pride and Prejudice"

"He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and every body hoped that he would never come there again."

     Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is one of the best-known books in its genre. Witty, eloquent, and full of heart, Austen's classic story captures the life of Elizabeth Bennet, the second of five daughters who live with their parents in Hertfordshire. Her mother wants nothing more than to have the girls marry well, so when Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy comes to town she can hardly contain herself. What a perfect opportunity! Elizabeth, however, sees things in a different light. He's cold toward her family and refuses to take part in the dancing at the ball where she meets him, and offends her greatly. Meanwhile, other events are conspiring to throw the Bennet family into disgrace. Only an unexpected act of love can save the day. Now Elizabeth must decide whether she is willing to set aside her pride in the name of love, or whether she will cling to it to the very end.

     If you're anything like me, you have probably avoided this book for years. Love story? Check. Classic novel chock-full of old-fashioned language? Check. Action, adventure, and mystery? Forget about it. But if you're anything like me, the future may very well hold a plot twist, because Pride and Prejudice is not at all like the sappy romances that line the shelves. It's a story about two strong-willed, intelligent characters who absolutely refuse to love each other.

     Everyone has heard of Elizabeth and Darcy, the two lovebirds who had a rough start but finished their tale with a romantic "happily ever after". Yawn. Except this isn't the whole story, or even half of it. Elizabeth is a smart, wise young woman who knows her own mind and is determined to marry a man she actually loves. She has a house full of beautiful sisters with heads full of roses and a mother whose favorite sound is that of a wedding bell, as well as a kind, indulgent father who only wants the best for them all. Mr. Darcy is also proud, stubborn, and loyal, with more complexity than meets the eye. Austen colors each character with all the love of an involved author who truly understands her creations. Their personalities are all unique and believable, their interactions dynamic, and their voices distinct.

     The plot of this novel is not what one might call "fast-paced", but it is very interesting. Something is always going on, be it wedding, a trip to the countryside, a heated argument, or an eloping couple. Austen balances the pacing of her story with the ease of a fish in water--first something large, then a moment to breathe, something interesting, and now another major plot point. Readers interested in an action-packed book will be sorely disappointed, but anyone looking for the gradual development of intelligent love will be hard pressed to find a more suitable book.

     One of the downsides to Pride and Prejudice is the era in which it is written. Although the prose is beautifully written, Austen has a very old-fashioned writing style that soaks her book with authenticity. Readers with a low reading level or little patience for antique literature will almost definitely have a difficult time with this story. Characters conduct themselves with gentlemanly behavior at all times, which means no cussing or inappropriate behavior.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a smart, complex story about two proud individuals who slowly fall in love. Although some may find the prose hard to decipher, the characters and setting are nicely described and the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy is full of complex realism. For a well-paced plot, believable characters, and a suitable writing style, I give Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice four stars out of five.

Review of "Beyond the Reflection's Edge"

"The mirror's reflecting what you're thinking again."

     If music, photography, and alternate universes suit your fancy, Bryan Davis' Beyond the Reflection's Edge may be the book for you. Meet Nathan, son of renowned violinist Francesca Shepherd and her husband, investigator Solomon Shepherd. Nathan, a talented musician himself, is scheduled to perform a duet with Francesca at her next concert. He gets onstage, they begin the piece, and then she fades away...and doesn't return. When Nathan returns to the wings, he finds his parents dead, their bodies tucked away in stage prop coffins. He seeks refuge from their killer in the home of his father's college friend, Tony. But he and Tony's teenage daughter soon realize that this isn't merely a case of professional jealousy. Solomon Shepherd has stumbled onto something groundbreaking, and powerful forces are out to silence him. Which means the Solomons may be alive after all.

     Fans of Bryan Davis' previous works will walk into this trilogy with high expectations, and this opening title does not disappoint. With his descriptive prose and insightful knowledge of his characters, Davis fills his writing with a sense of reality. The magic of the Quattro mirror, which awakens at the sound of music and acts as a window into alternate worlds, is mysterious and understandable at the same time. The characters gradually learn about this slowly, through clues and discoveries revealed every few chapters. They meet their counterparts in another dimension, and together work out a conclusion that is truly terrifying: now that the worlds are out of balance, it is more than likely that they will collide. Violently.

     The characters in Reflection's Edge are beautiful. Nathan is a very strong, capable, and yet self-conscious person, often described by others as a "perfect gentleman". Kelly, Tony's daughter, is a sweet girl struggling to piece together the shards of her broken life. Daryl, her best friend, isn't quite as deep as the protagonists, but she brings plenty of smarts and a boatload of movie references to diffuse the tension and make readers laugh. And Mictar, the ultimate villain in this piece, is absolutely chilling. The cast of this novel is enormous, especially when their other-dimensional counterparts are taken into account, but Davis writes everyone with beautiful attention to detail that really brings them to life.

     One of the great things about Davis' books is the utter lack of profanity. Everyone is clean-mouthed--at least, on the page--and there isn't any romance. As they get to know each other, Nathan and Kelly slowly grow to love each other as the siblings they have become. That isn't, however, to say everything is clean. Girls at Kelly's school are prone to suggestive comments and low-cut T-shirts, and Kelly's history isn't everything it could be. One of Nathan's challenges is to accept her faults and his own standards, then learn to look past them at the person beneath the past. This is a Christian book, with a couple of parts that are kind of preachy and over-poetic. However, this works well with Nathan's character and doesn't crop up too often.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a story about teenagers from all walks of life who are thrown together in an inter-dimensional conflict that may or may not decide the fate of the world. No pressure or anything. Although there are some cheesy, poetic moments and a few preachy scenes, the characters are very lovable and the prose is full of warmth. The villain and supporting characters are also great, the plot is engrossing, and the premise is fleshed out intelligently. Thus, despite its faults, I give Bryan Davis' Beyond the Reflection's Edge five stars.

Review of "Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days!"

"Milo Crinkley wanted to be perfect."

     Stephen Manes' Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days! is a humorous story for kids about being who you truly are. When a library book promising to make him perfect falls on Milo's head during school, he can't believe his luck. Perfection at last! The author's photograph is a little intimidating--after all, how can a man in zebra-print pants, a palm tree shirt, a mitten, and a clown nose, eating an incredibly messy hot dog, be the leading expert on being perfect? But the first few pages prove just how smart Dr. K. Pinkerton Silverfish really is, and soon Milo is ready to become the boy he never thought he could be...if he can survive the training!

     Although the book is only eighty pages long, it's packed full of tips and challenges that will shape Milo into the person he wants to be. For example: to make him immune to teasing, Milo must wear a stalk of broccoli around his neck for twenty-four hours straight. How crazy is that? But Milo keeps reading, intent on perfection. His parents are fully supportive of his mission, having read the book and knowing how it ends. Dr. Silverfish's mission is ostensibly to make every child as perfect as possible, but his true quest is to make kids realize that nobody is flawless, which is okay because perfection is overrated anyway.

     One of the great things about this book is the writing style. It's obviously written for kids, with its short sentences and simple language, but it's far from condescending. This makes it a great choice for younger readers who may not be interested in books as a general rule. However, teenagers may find themselves wishing for a little more meat around the binding. Manes doesn't bother to mask his moral, but he also doesn't slam the message on the table. It's all very well balanced, with just enough humor and conflict to keep the plot moving.

     Conflict: one of the few ingredients essential for a successful story. Even an eighty-page book must feature at least some form of conflict, and Be a Perfect Person is rich with it. From teasing classmates to an apparently perfect sibling, Milo's life is full of problems. He's clumsy, makes lots of mistakes, and is basically average. He gets lots of negative attention for his perfection boot camp antics, as well. However, despite this Milo perseveres, and readers may find themselves imagining themselves alongside him, cheering him on in his nearly impossible task.

     The downside to Manes' book is the lack of length. Despite its fun, upbeat, and exciting attitude toward becoming perfect and its engaging characters, readers who are used to longer pieces will almost certainly be saddened by the shortness of this story. Older readers may not be very amused by the simple, straightforward humor, but kids--the intended audience--will almost certainly love it. Characters are also very two-dimensional, as there isn't time to develop them over the course of a story so short. However, this leaves plenty of room for the plot to maneuver in, and lets the reader fill in the blanks with their imagination.

     I would recommend this book to any younger reader who wants to be perfect, and any teacher whose class consists of eight- to twelve-year-olds. With its relatable protagonist and easy-to-grasp humor and moral, Stephan Manes' Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days! is certainly a must-read for early readers. Although I certainly wouldn't suggest it to a teen or adult, it is a fun story for elementary students and deserves, on that scale, four stars.

Review of "Being Friends with Boys"

"I could have tried to argue or beg, but I know--better than anyone--that once someone's made up her mind to leave you, there's nothing you can do to make her stay."

     Terra Evan McVoy's Being Friends with Boys turns high school girl drama on its head. Charlotte is done with girls--a history of backstabbing BFF's and a house full of stepsisters have sworn her off female relationships entirely. Instead, Char spends her time with Sad Jackal, an all-boys band made up of her best friends: Oliver, Trip, and Abe. Together, the foursome have made it through a golden summer of guitars, drums, and beginner gigs. Then, just when they've got their sights set on the Halloween dance, Trip drops the band, leaving Sad Jackal scrambling to find a replacement. To make matters worse, the new guitarist is hot, and he seems to like her. With the pressure on to revamp Sad Jackal completely, can Char hold it all together? Or will being friends with boys prove to be just too complicated?

     Can I just take a moment to note how refreshing this premise is? In almost every book featuring a female protagonist in high school, two factors can be found within the first five chapters: a female BFF and a super-cute boy. If she does have a guy-friend, it's almost a given that they'll fall for each other. Not so in McVoy's novel. From the first chapter, the characters make it obvious that Char is one of the guys. She writes their songs, hangs out at Oliver's house, and has deep conversations with Trip in a spiral-bound notebook. No romance, no drama. Just honest, meaningful friendship.

     But drama is heading their way. At first, it's a little thing: Trip leaving the band. This gives readers a chance to explore the characters in a slightly agitated state, which casts more insight into their personalities. Then, after a few chapters, we're thrown into the plot. McVoy's writing perfectly captures each boy's presence and the niche in which Char easily fits. It turns out that having a bunch of boys as friends isn't as drama-free as it sounds, and Char experiments with a couple different friend groups before finally settling on one. She also doesn't stick with one guy, and gets to know the various stereotypes at school. Char is the ultimate average girl, which makes her easy to relate to and fun to read.

     The plot in this book is spellbinding. Sympathy for Charlotte, along with curiosity about her odd role as best friend/songwriter/mother duck in a pack of boys, catches the reader’s attention, and the rest of the story doesn’t disappoint. From bickering stepsisters to a tangible relationship with three boys who leap off the page, it’s natural to get swept up in this novel. Sad Jackal goes through a lot of development over the course of the book, as a whole and as individuals. It’s easy to feel the tension as they struggle to make things work in the face of hardship and deadlines. There is romance, both sweet and awkward, which never goes beyond kissing. Characters swear a bit, but the worst is a written “WTF?” Everything is well-balanced and supports the plot nicely.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an unconventional look at boy-girl friendship. Although there's some mild romance, it primarily focuses on fitting in with the people who understand you, regardless of gender. Family life and friendships are balanced nicely, and the presence of the band grounds the story a reality while also providing something for the plot to revolve around. The prose is simple but fitting, and Terra Evan McVoy's grasp of her characters is astounding. All in all, Being Friends with Boys fully deserves five out of five stars.

Review of "An Ember in the Ashes"

"There is nothing out there but the quiet shifting of sand."

     Sabaa Tahir's An Ember in the Ashes stands out among its YA counterparts. For one, it isn't a romance. For another, the protagonist--or one of the protagonists--is a coward. Meet Laia, seventeen-year-old daughter of resistance leader the Lioness. When a Martial patrol kills her grandparents and takes her brother captive, Laia knows exactly what her mother would do. The only problem is that Laia isn't the Lioness; she's a coward, so she does the only thing a coward can do. She runs. Plagued by guilt, Laia turns to the resistance for help. In exchange for their breaking Darin out of prison, she poses as a slave and infiltrates the infamous Blackcliff Academy, schooling ground for the deadly soldiers known as Masks. There, Laia will be forced to decide just how much she is willing to put on the line for her brother, the consequences of which will teach her the true meaning of courage.

     Laia isn't the only star of Tahir's novel. Elias, top student at Blackcliff, is days away from graduation--and freedom. Before he can desert, however, he's stopped by an Augur, a mysterious prophet who can read minds and predict the future. According to the Augur, Elias will not find freedom in escape from Blackcliff; instead, he will only find bloodshed and torment. However, if he stays he will have a chance at true freedom "of body and soul". Before he can decide, Elias and his best friend, Helene, are thrown head-on into the Trials, a series of challenges designed to weed out the next emperor of the Martial Empire from his fellows. He quickly finds himself battling friend and foe alike, and he can only wonder--is freedom worth it if his life is a living nightmare?

     The characters in An Ember in the Ashes are fascinating. We have Elias and Laia, two remarkably rounded and unique individuals fighting for a future in an uncertain world. Alongside them are Helene, Demetrius, Faris, Cook, and Kitchen-Girl--each a member of Elias' platoon or one of Laia's fellow slaves. Although the protagonists and Helene are beautifully structured and leap right off the page, the secondary characters, particularly those in Elias' platoon, are rather two-dimensional. Despite this, each character has a backstory and a distinct set of traits that set them apart as their own person. And the protagonists, especially Laia, develop on an unbelievable scale. By the end, it's like she's a whole different person.

     If there's one thing this book is not short on, it's action. Throughout the four Trials, Elias and Helene must face horrible tasks that test their morality and threaten their very souls. From the start, they decide to work together. If they win, one will be emperor and the other second-in-command. They face everything as a team, whether it's a nightmare battlefield or a real one with deadly consequences. Meanwhile, Laia faces the impossible task of spying on Blackcliff's commandant, and the growing feeling that something isn't right. Although one of the major plot twists can be spotted from a distance, it's buried under a thousand other scenes and foreshadowed nicely. The others are more startling, and lend a nice feeling of surprise to the book.

     This is not a book for the faint of heart. Blackcliff is the training ground for the elite of the elite, the soldiers who can do things no mortal being should be able to consider, much less pull off. Therefore, it follows that the training is brutal--incredibly so. But worse than the fights and the duels and the beatings are the Trials, in which some major character deaths occur and many "feels" await. One scene in particular may send involved readers into a downward spiral, but fear not! All is resolved, and nothing in this book is as its seems. Laia also goes through her fair share of pain, as the commandant is far from kind to her slaves. Our heroine is beaten and scarred in the most unpleasant manner, which is, sadly, not balanced out very much by the rest of the book.

     However, although the book is violent, there is little to no gore. There is one potential "trigger" scene, in which a male student tries to take advantage of Laia, and it is implied that similar situations occur often at the academy. Characters don't, as a rule, cuss, but their insult of choice is "son of a prostitute", although it isn't put so nicely. And although there isn't much in the way of romance, some of the characters are attracted to each other, and there is one brief kissing scene.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a YA novel about courage and loyalty. Though the Trials are brutal and some of Laia's punishment scenes are a little intense, the characters are beautifully crafted and set in a world of fantasy made real through storytelling. Tahir obviously understands her characters on a fundamental level, a trait which gives readers the same ability. Such a connection lends the story a captivating air that earns it five golden stars.

Review of "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH"

"But the fact is, we aren't rats any more."

     In 1971, author Robert C. O'Brien wrote a story that will change the way his readers look at rats. Entitled Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, this two hundred thirty-three-page-long novel documents the desperate attempts of Mrs. Frisby, a widowed field mouse, to save her youngest son from pneumonia. Spring is fast approaching, and Mr. Ages, the local doctor, insists that little Timothy cannot be exposed to cold air for long. But the farmer who owns this field is prepping his tractor and will tear up the land, and her house, in five days. Mrs. Frisby's only option is to go to the rats--a hive of secretive, highly intelligent creatures with a mysterious past. While the other rats prepare to save her family, their leader, Nicodemus, sits Mrs. Frisby down and explains just why they are helping her. In doing so, he reveals a side of her late husband she could never have expected--and a history that will make her reconsider everything she ever thought she knew.

     The rats of NIMH are startling in their relateability. Although they are rats and boast rat-like habits and mannerisms, they're set apart from their kind by their sense of logic, skepticism, and morality. They don't want to steal from the Fitzgibbon farm--food, electricity, or anything else. In fact, they are in the middle of implementing a Plan that will soon release them from such a life forever--if NIMH doesn't find them first. This human side allows readers to connect with each rat on a fundamental level. On top of this, the rats are all unique and dynamic, with their own distinctive personalities, desires, and hopes.

     O'Brien's story may be meant for children, but that doesn't mean the prose is simplified. Rather, he writes as though addressing an adult, utilizing the semi-formal writing style common to fantasy books. He even uses the occasional "big" word when simpler ones won't do, which can be gratifying for a kid who yearns for an author who writes the way well-read children speak. Although the writing style does have its occasional "why would you phrase it this way" moment, it's well-suited to the story and adds a sense of weight to this otherwise light narrative.

     It's a real shame that so much of the plot is centered on their history, and Mrs. Frisby's troubles, rather than what happens after this problem is solved. Mrs. Frisby is a stereotypical mother, with a mother's instincts and a determination to keep her children safe. She and her children are relatively flat characters, as is her crotchety old neighbor, a shrew who provides more comic relief than anything. The characters are clean-mouthed and far from violent, although there is a scene that results in two deaths. There is little action, but what action there is works marvelously. Interestingly enough, despite the role they play in the story, humans are not portrayed in a bad light. If anything, they're looked up to--for their civilization, and for their innovation.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a story about field mice, rats, and a daring escape from a laboratory. Although some of the characters are flat, the majority are dynamic and fascinating, each one a full-blown person in his own right. What appears, at first, to be the primary plot is, in fact, secondary to Nicodemus' tale, and though it would be nice to see this expanded upon, the presentation is such that it can hardly be criticized. Anyone interested in a fantasy story told from a side character's point of view will find themselves very satisfied with Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. It deserves four shining stars.