Review of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"

"You're a wizard, Harry."

     J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, the first installment in the Harry Potter series, introduces an eleven-year-old boy to a world full of magic. For Harry Potter, a birthday is nothing special. His aunt and uncle, who have taken care of him since his parents died when he was an infant, won't even acknowledge that he's a year older unless he brings it up multiple times at the breakfast table. So when he ends up at a zoo days before he turns eleven, Harry is more than thrilled, even when a snake talks to him, a pane of glass disappears, and a rain forest reptile slithers away to freedom. Things only get stranger, though, when a cloud of owls swarms his house in order to deliver a letter: an invitation to join the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he will spend the next several years learning how to properly use magic. But Harry Potter is no ordinary wizard, and the choices he makes in his first year of school may very well change him, and the wizarding world, forever.

     One of the wonderful things about The Sorcerer's Stone is that it handles not being about magic very well. Though Harry is an eleven-year-old wizard learning how to cast spells and brew potions, the plot revolves primarily around strange goings-on haunting the school grounds. A three-headed dog, a dead unicorn in the woods, and an enchanted mirror all spur Harry to investigate the sorcerer's stone, a rock that grants wealth and eternal life to whoever holds it. Someone is after the stone, someone with enough magical prowess that even impenetrable Hogwarts may not be able to keep it safe. And whispers and discoveries have brought a horrifying suspect to light: Voldemort, the dark lord who nearly brought the wizarding world to its knees and the man who killed Harry's parents.

     This story is full of action. Together with his friends Ron and Hermoine, Harry ventures into a dark and creepy forest, has a run-in with a dragon, tries to sneak past a dog with two extra heads, is challenged to a duel, and joins a sports team whose games take place dozens of feet above the ground. However, there is very little in the way of physical violence and only one death occurs over the course of the tale.

     The only problem I encountered was the total lack of engagement. Though Harry's tale should be fascinating, Rowling's writing style renders the characters, and, by extent, the plot, flat and relatively uninteresting. Harry is a strong protagonist with a very humble heart, Ron is self-depreciating and loyal, Hermoine is a book-smart girl and a stickler for rules--and that is the extent of their characters. Our heroes don't have a whole lot of dimension, and change very little over the course of the first Harry Potter installment. On the other hand, only one minor curse is uttered during the entire novel, and the plot twists are realistic and truly surprising.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun little tale featuring magic, highly intelligent kids, and good, solid themes. Though the protagonists are pretty one-dimensional and the supporting cast is primarily static, Harry and his friends are quickly wrapped up in an intriguing plot that contains some startling plot twists. If it weren't for the distant nature of the characters and the fact that it rubbed off on the narrative, this would be a brilliant book. As it is, J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone stands somewhere in the realm of four stars.

Review of "Article 5: Compliance is Mandatory"

"She's going into rehabilitation."

     Kristin Simmons' Article 5: Compliance is Mandatory takes a close look at the admittedly extreme results of shoving morals down others' throats. In Ember Miller's future United States of America, the Bill of Rights has been removed from the national vocabulary. A state-enforced religion has been in place for years. Students must dress according to gender roles--a collared shirt and slacks for boys, and a skirt and button-up shirt for girls. Now, in an attempt to further clean up the apparently immoral state of the country, the Federal Bureau of Reformation has altered Section 2, Article 5, of the Moral Statutes to include children born out of wedlock before the Statutes were instated five years ago. That includes Ember, who is quickly shipped off to a brutal "rehabilitation" camp where disobedience results in painful punishments. Ember has no idea where her mother is, but she's determined to break out and save her from an unfair trial. Her only ally? Chase Jennings, the boy responsible for her arrest--the boy she once loved.

    Article 5 is very different from other books in its genre. The dystopian government branch, the Federal Bureau of Reformation, came into existence at the end of a long war, not a series of natural disasters, bombings, or nuclear strikes. Ember is neither a hardened survivor nor the sole provider of income for her two-person family. Her only act of defiance is putting up with her mother's illegal pirate novels and prewar fashion magazines. Still, she is a sympathetic character with plenty of spirit, and her journey from compliance to rebellion is fascinating to watch. It is especially interesting to note that Ember's story includes features other authors might have saved for later installments, which strengthen the narrative and lend the novel a unique, refreshing atmosphere.

      This story plays host to a relatively small principle cast that is remarkably realistic. Rebecca doesn't get a whole lot of page time, but she is a complex person who fits her role in the narrative well. Then there is Sean, who is a marvelous character in his own right; Chase, who does some horrible things, though he is, at heart, a genuinely good person; and Ember herself. Ember is strong-willed, feisty, and, at times, a little too emotional for her own good. She makes some pretty stupid mistakes as her story progresses, though with all the pressure to conform and, alternately, rebel, that is not entirely unexpected. Still, while some of her actions are questionable, most are actually rather smart. It helps that her mind is so easy to sink into, her character and emotions so authentic.

     There are a couple potential flag-raisers in Article 5. One is language--characters tend to curse as a matter of habit, possibly because it is illegal and possibly because that is just who they are. While the F-bomb is never dropped, "a--" is a common insult, and other unpleasant terms are applied slightly less liberally. Crudeness is not quite as common, but crops up every now and again. Violence is also quite present, from knuckle-rapping to throat-punching to a few somewhat gory deaths. Thankfully, the author does not top this off with an exceptionally steamy romance, though what is there is a result of an "in love since childhood" backstory that eats away at the realism a little too much.

     I would recommend this book to mid- to older teens interested in a dystopian tale featuring a strong female protagonist in an anti-feminist world. Ember must battle fear, unpleasant "Moral Militia" officers, and looters if she is to reach her mother in time. Here is an example of a good character living in a great, delicious-to-read world that is very, very possible. Kristin Simmons' Article 5: Compliance is Mandatory sets itself apart from its counterparts with an unapocalyptic setting, a single love interest, and a journey that spans acres of the protagonist's character arc in a single book. Though Ember makes a few less-than-genius choices and the violence and language could be more pleasant, Article 5 is a great book fully deserving four stars and a trip to the library.

Review of "Dear Killer"

"I am everyone's assassin."

     Katherine Ewell's YA novel Dear Killer gives readers a front-row seat to the mind of a professional serial killer. Seventeen-year-old Kit Ward has been the Perfect Killer since she was twelve, when she took over her mother's secret mailbox and started killing on a regular basis. Her mother, a former serial killer herself, brought her up as a moral nihilist and trained her to execute her assignments perfectly and without evidence. All one has to do is leave a letter addressed "Dear Killer" in a restroom cubby, and, for a fee, Kit will kill the requested target. She's the most famous murderer since Jack the Ripper, and with absolutely no evidence to lead back to her, she is set to keep going until she has a child of her own. But when she befriends both her next target and the man in charge of her investigation, Kit may find that even killers can be caught.

     Kit is a brilliant protagonist. From the very first page, when she outlines the first of her five unbreakable rules--nothing is right, nothing is wrong--we are pulled into her world with breathtaking force. From there we are introduced to her mailbox, where people leave requests for others' deaths and a monetary donation; her mother, a charming woman with insatiable bloodlust; her school; and her next target: someone she knows, whom she decides to befriend before murdering. But the most fascinating thing about Kit is the motive behind her actions. Though she never admits it, the Perfect Killer is bored. She craves attention, and what better way to satisfy that urge without getting caught than to take bigger risks? This leads to mistake after mistake, problem after problem, and Kit's struggle to deal with the mess she has made is both intriguing and satisfying.

     The characters in Dear Killer are a mixed bag. Mrs. Ward is a sociopath who is terrifying in her wealthy mediocrity. Mr. Ward is usually absent, interested in little beyond his working life. Maggie, Kit's only friend, is a bubbly teenager with plenty of spirit, which is smothered almost entirely by a mentally unstable classmate. When Kit decides to take matters into her own hands, the result is more than chaos--it is the complete destabilization of her moral foundation. Watching her battle her doubts and guilt is wonderful, as is the new, improved version of herself that emerges. Meanwhile, some of her supporting cast are a little two-dimensional, though Maggie, especially, is very likable.

     Plot-wise, Ewell's debut is brilliant. Her protagonist makes bad decisions thanks to worse motives, or so it seems. In reality, Kit is slowly becoming someone she isn't sure she likes--someone who has a moral compass, however skewed it may be. What makes her sympathetic is the small moments when she has the courage to question her place in the world, to wonder if she is truly doing the right thing. While there are a few plot holes, the overall story is cohesive and flows naturally.

     Kit is not a good person. She just isn't. And the murders she commits are not always acted for the best reasons, though she tries to justify them by extensively researching the people she is hired to kill. Some of her killings are relatively clean, while others are definitely not for the faint of heart; many are violent, but those sensitive to gore shouldn't be much affected. Language is another problem. Characters utilize a number of offensive expletives, though they use them sparingly. The only "romance" is a childlike crush Kit has on a twenty-some man, which she knows is ridiculous even as she entertains it.

     I would recommend this book to older teens and young adults looking for a serial killer whose normally stable life is thrown into chaos. Although Kit is not a pleasant character, her mind is almost addicting in its closeness to her fight for moral understanding. As things get worse, the Perfect Killer must come to terms with who she is and who she wants to be while simultaneously maintaining an insider's eye on Scotland Yard. While not for readers with weak stomachs, Katherine Ewell's Dear Killer is a wonderful novel written with a magnificent voice, and deserves five gold stars.

Review of "The City of Ember"

"There may be no one left in the city by then or no safe place for them to come back to."

     In Jeanne DuPrau's The City of Ember, the isolated city where twelve-year-olds Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow grew up is no longer a safe haven from the darkness beyond. Ember's storerooms, vast subterranean vaults stocked with precious food, medicines, and light bulbs, are running dry. The generator responsible for powering the floodlights is barely chugging along, leading to sporadic blackouts that cast the entire city into midnight. On Assignment Day, technically-savvy Doon exchanges his job as Messenger for Lina's Pipeworks assignment with the hope that he can repair the electricity-creating behemoth. However, the generator will not give up its secrets easily, and with Ember running on electrical dregs the two face one last lead: a nearly ruined page of ancient Instructions for escaping Ember. They have their way out; now they must convince people to listen.

     DuPrau's world is impossibly realistic. Everything about Ember is thought through, from its layout to its conservation of paper to Assignment Day, when twelve-year-olds leave the classroom behind in favor of a full-time occupation. Whether it's gathering in clumps on the street to talk or belting out Ember's three songs during the Singing, citizens cling to their habits and traditions like a lifeline. Yet, somehow, these worldbuilding factors don't bog down the narrative with extraneous details. Instead, they sculpt an entirely plausible city out of nothing, one where danger is imminent and everything Doon and Lina do contributes to the story. Nothing is wasted, in the tale or the land it describes.

     Lina and Doon are a far cry from the average kids who may get swept up into a rebellion in other books. When Lina discovers the Instructions, everyone around her thinks they are some kind of long-lost recipe, but she is convinced they're more important than that. She recruits Doon, the boy who was once her friend, and he takes on the challenge of discovering the forgotten exit. Each has their own motivation, be it fear or hope or a desire for acknowledgement, that is grounded in human personality and makes them seem fundamentally real. Slipping into their heads is incredibly easy, especially once the stakes grow higher and the emotion rippling off them is practically tangible.

      Our heroes aren't in this alone, either. Helping them are Clary, the greenhouse worker full of sage advice; Lizzie, Lina's morally unsure best friend; Mrs. Murdo, who takes care of Lina's baby sister when Granny falls ill; and Mr. Harrow, Doon's father, who only shows up a couple of times but who marks every page he touches with unmistakable wisdom and strength of character. Though they don't actively participate in the hunt for an escape route, each contributes an action or piece of advice that helps their young friends along. For the most part, adults in Ember are good, fair people who work hard to set strong examples for their progeny, which is a big improvement over those in many other children's novels. This also means there is a distinct lack of foul language, romance, and violence, though the protagonists still manage to land themselves in quite a bit of trouble before the story has run its course.

     I would recommend this book to anyone, young or old, who is interested in a fascinating new world playing host to two smart, sympathetic young people searching for answers. Doon and Lina are great protagonists backed by a broad spectrum of friends and allies who really contribute to their personal arcs and the overall plot alike. Together, they must decode the Instructions and fight to make their discovery heard. With beautiful, easy-to-understand prose, great heroes, and brilliant worldbuilding, Jeanne DuPrau's The City of Ember is by far one of the better children's books in print, and deserves a resounding five stars.

Review of "Time Salvager"

"The Time Laws are there to ensure the integrity of the chronostream."

     In Wesley Chu's Time Salvager, time travel isn't just a topic about which to write fantastic adventures; it's a gritty, rough-and-tumble world with its own business and an arsenal of rules for characters to break. Take James Griffin-Mars for instance. James is a Chronman working for ChronoCom, the politically neutral organization in charge of regulating time travel. Over the years, he has made hundreds of jumps into the past in an effort to salvage energy sources and lost pieces of technology to keep human civilization afloat in the present. There are many Time Laws to remember, but the first is most important of them all: never bring someone back from the past. When James breaks this law on a "golden ticket" trip to 2097 Earth, he finds himself on the run on a decaying planet he's spent his life avoiding. More importantly, he finds the scientist he risked his neck to save may be on track to cure the world humanity thought it'd lost forever.

     In James Griffin-Mars' world, everything is falling apart. Earth is a wasteland, useful only due to its rich history of people owning technology modern humans need. If a Chronman times it right, he can steal what he needs just before it is destroyed, therefore leaving as few ripples as possible within the chronostream. Sure, rural villages may end up with a few more legends and there may be fewer pieces of art to be found in a burning building, but these are acceptable losses. Chronmen travel the solar system in ships called collies, living a nomadic life until they buy their freedom, get promoted, or set their collie on a crash course into Jupiter. Everything in this 2511 is described diligently and realistically, sculpting a future that is quite believable.

     The protagonists here number three, the secondary characters around ten. Such a small cast leaves the author plenty of room to expand his heroes' backgrounds and develop their personalities. Chu definitely takes his time setting up the conflict, and uses every experience and confrontation to alter the way James, Levin, and Elise think and act. By the time the book ends, everyone has morphed into a slightly different version of themselves. It's nice to see that the characters don't become complete strangers as the story progresses.

     Despite this, however, Chu's writing leaves something to be desired. Whether James the Chronman, Elise the scientist, or Levin the Auditor are drinking whiskey, trekking through a crumbling city, or fighting for their lives, the scenes in which they partake are written with the same sense of pacing and similar tension levels. This makes for some pretty bland fights, which is sad because the characters and their world are actually rather interesting.

     If this was a movie, it would definitely be rated R for its use of crude language. Commonly used curses have become "black abyss" and "by Gaia", but others remain the same. "Sh--" and the F-bomb are used frequently, both utilized in their original context on a regular basis. This neither adds to nor detracts from the story, shaping the culture in which James lives through dialogue alone. Though scenes that actually involve romance are detail-free, certain characters are prone to making crude remarks.

     I would recommend this book to older readers interested in a straightforward time travel novel with intriguing protagonists in a sturdily built world. Though the writing style saps much of the excitement from the story, Elise, Levin, and James are well-crafted and relatively easy to read, which is always a plus. Add that to the worldbuilding and fascinating premise, and you get a good, thought-provoking book with plenty of adventure to boot. It sits squarely at four stars.

Review of "An Old-Fashioned Girl"

"Boys are all horrid; but he's the horridest one I ever saw."

     From author Louisa May Alcott comes An Old-Fashioned Girl, a story about a fourteen-year-old country girl caught up in city life for the first time. Polly Milton's friend, Fanny, has invited her to spend a couple months living with her and her family in the city. Fanny, Maud, and Tom live a relaxed life in a nice house with their parents and grandmother, three anchors that hold them together when these siblings step on each other's nerves. Poor Polly only wants to see and do everything she can in the time she has, and charges blindly into the rich, modern lifestyle of her friends with little to no regard for the "proper" values she was raised with. But it soon becomes clear that Fanny's world and Polly's are quite different, and if Polly is to survive in society she must choose between the old-fashioned life she knows and the temptingly beautiful world of the city.

     Polly is such a lovely little creature. She starts her journey as a pleasant, well-mannered girl with strong morals and an innocence that ripples off her in every scene, affecting those around her without their knowledge. Fanny is constantly disobeying her parents and Tom is constantly pranking her and her sisters, and Polly's presence in these scenes greatly influences the way they turn out. She also has a great impact on little Maud, who is a terrible little girl when she wants to be but who learns to love and accept plain old Polly with all the adoration a young child can possess. Madam, as Fanny's grandmother is called, serves as a firm anchor in Polly's life, reminding her of her beliefs and modest, old-fashioned habits whenever she begins to waver. Grandmother is a lighthouse in the confusion Polly has been thrust into, holding her steady when no one else will.

     Of course, Polly does not stay young forever. Her visit with Fran eventually ends, and she returns home to the country. When we next see her, she is a young lady intent on teaching music in the city. Now she must deal with living on her own, finding a job, and romance--for Miss Milton will go through much heartbreak and sorrow on her way to true love. Through it all, she sticks to her ideals and refuses to let them slip even once, much to the admiration of her friends. This means no cursing or otherwise inappropriate conduct, in public or in private; she is loved by all for her simple manners and pleasant personality. Alcott doesn't go over the top with her character, however; Polly has a temper as well, and struggles with it throughout the tale. This grounds her in reality in a way nothing else could, making her relatable and human in every possible way.

     I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the trials of a kindhearted girl thrown into the "modern" world, where her old-fashioned ways keep her cemented in reality and better those around her. Polly is a very realistic character surrounded by a hundred beautifully depicted temptations, and her emotions are practically tangible. Her friends are flawed but lovable, and it is wonderful to see how her habits and morals rub off on them. When she finally falls for "the one", it is easy to see how good for each other they are. Louisa May Alcott's An Old-Fashioned Girl is a story for the ages, fully deserving of five brilliant stars.

Review of "The Vanishings"

"I don't know what I'm going to do."

     Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye's The Vanishings, the first chapter in the forty-book-long series Left Behind: The Kids, addresses the Biblical Rapture from the point of view of four kids. Judd, Vicki, Ryan, and Lionel are complete strangers, their only real connection a church their parents all attend. Vicki's "trailer trash" who hangs out with smokers and drinkers; Lionel is the only one in his family who isn't a devout Christian; Ryan's best friend has gone "religious" on him; and rich-boy Judd has just stolen his father's credit card and bought the next plane ticket out of Chicago. Each protagonist is knee-deep in their own problems, but when millions of people disappear off the face of the earth in the same instant, they are forced to deal with the aftermath together. With the help of a pastor faced with the reality of his lifelong deceit, these teens may just find that hope exists in the darkest places--if only they know where to look.

     The writing style in this novel is simple and straightforward. Utilizing a vocabulary readers of any age can understand, the authors sketch out a very basic, yet believable, picture of what the world would look like in the wake of the Biblical apocalypse. The authors' voice is very distinctive, and is just mature enough that older teens should enjoy it just as much as their younger counterparts. There is just enough detail tucked away in the hidden pockets between words to give readers a clear image of what is going on, physically and within the characters' heads. The one downside is the shortness of the story, as it comes to a close just when it seems like the plot is picking up speed, leaving it up to the remainder of the series to answer the burning question of what happens next.

     Sixteen-year-old Judd Thompson Jr., the oldest of the foursome, is on a mission to hit his parents where they'll hurt most and enjoy the privileges of adulthood at the same time. Vicki Byrne, fourteen, hates life and God and cares only about doing drugs with her friends, especially since it breaks her parents' hearts to hear about it. Lionel Washington is thirteen and wants the security his family has in their faith, but feels more at home with his anti-theistic uncle than anyone else. And twelve-year-old Ryan is far more interested in playing games with his best friend, Raymie, than reading the Bible or praying to a God he knows next to nothing about. These characters don't start out as Christians, and aren't all magically converted by the end of the text. Instead, they struggle with family trouble and fight to reconcile beliefs with fact, even as they work to recover from their families' disappearance from their lives.

     Though this is a Christian book, it manages to balance preachiness with logic and sound storytelling quite nicely. Judd and the others are remarkable characters who flourish under the pens of the authors, and don't talk to many people of faith until they near the end of the book. Until then, they must work out for themselves what has happened, using vague recollections of Sunday school lessons and arguments with parents to piece everything together. Although there are times when it does get a little in-your-face, the message is generally pretty subtle, hiding behind characters' decisions and deductions. Action also plays a solid role, making this more than a few kids discussing philosophy while terror rains down destruction outside. Despite this, violence doesn't make much of an appearance and the protagonists' few curses are hidden by description.

     I would recommend this book to tweens and teens who are interested in an exciting Christian book about teenagers living in a world flipped upside-down. Lionel, Ryan, Judd, and Vicki are great characters whose stories are strongly written and very relatable. They live in a Chicago that is extremely realistic, surrounded by people who could very easily live next door to anyone, even readers. Sadly, however, the book is very short, stopping at the precise moment when things are getting truly interesting. Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye did a pretty good job with The Vanishings, a book that deserves three stars for its sympathetic protagonists, believable writing style, and a plot that is brief but relatively glorious. 

Review of "All Our Yesterdays"

"You have to kill him."

     Cristin Terill's All Our Yesterdays takes YA time travel to a whole new level. Twenty-year-olds Em and Finn have been imprisoned by the doctor, a horrible young man with direct control over a time machine that is tearing their world apart. They have tried fourteen times to stop him, each ending in failure and a struck-out possibility on the list previous Ems have hidden in a cell drain. Their only remaining option is to kill the doctor before he can create his machine, and though the three of them are linked by a powerful past of their own, Finn and Em are determined to go through with it. Meanwhile, in the history they intend to visit, a girl named Marina is struggling with her attraction to her best friend, James Shaw, a teenaged genius who is already working on a PhD at a big-name college. James seems to be noticing her at last, but when an attempt on his life sends them into hiding with his new friend Finn, she will have to choose between the boy she loves and the rest of humanity.

     Terill's take on time travel is instantly refreshing. Em and Finn are trapped in a world where Cassandra, the doctor's machine, has destroyed the delicate balance between chance and control, thanks in part to their own actions. Now they must set right their mistakes before the doctor catches up to them, while confronting the past versions of themselves that helped put him on the path to darkness. Em, Marina, James, and both Finns are brilliant, incredibly sculpted characters with remarkable depth and a strong sense of roundness that makes them startlingly real. Even the doctor is sympathetic and even likeable, in a way, which makes the ending that much more complicated. The bad guys are still the bad guys, but that doesn't mean the characters don't struggle to put an end to the mess he's created.

     The conflict in this novel is intense. Characters shoot, get shot at, and escape from a terrifying prison by the skin of their teeth. There is a bit of gore, though it isn't overdone, and strong language does slip past our heroes' lips every now and then. Although each side of the story includes romance, only one truly gets physical, and that is not described in great detail; however, Marina's friends begin the story by telling her to sleep with James. The only major point of concern here would be the violence, as assassination attempts, torture, and death share the pages with these lovable characters and their heartbreaking quest to save the world before it is lost for good. Time travel is described in a way that makes sense without turning everyone into scientists, and time itself is much less fragile than other books paint it, which adds to the story nicely.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a wonderfully written time travel book featuring a cast of determined, unique characters who make intelligent decisions about the problems they face. The themes of knowing one's limits and unconditional love are fundamental here, and though readers would be hard-pressed to find them in other titles, Cristin Terill has done a great job integrating them into All Our Yesterdays. This is truly a five-star novel worthy of any reader's bookshelf.

Review of "Taken"

"Today is the last day I will see my brother."

     Erin Bowman's Taken is a novel where answers are worth any price. In Claysoot, a boy's eighteenth birthday is the last one he will ever experience. At exactly midnight, a flash of light and an earthquake shakes the tiny village, and when the townspeople recover, the kid is gone. Gray Weathersby has a year to go, but his brother, Blaine, is scheduled to be Heisted tomorrow. Blaine is a father, a hunter, and a prominent member of society, and he leaves behind a void that threatens to never heal. When Gray discovers a shocking secret his brother kept from him, his first thought is to tear Claysoot apart in search of answers--and search he does, only to discover that every truth he once held dear is, in fact, a lie. With the help of Emma, the girl he's liked for years, Gray sets out on a journey to cross the enormous Wall surrounding the town. But if he is to succeed, he must learn to trust no one, least of all the people he cares for.

     Bowman's writing is truly incredible. She captures Gray's weary, irritable personality perfectly, painting him with colors that make him simultaneously sympathetic and unlikable. Though Gray is tired of playing by the rules--especially "slatings" with random girls and avoiding the Wall at all costs--he knows no other life. He's a complex character with incredible depth, and although he doesn't have the warmest personality, he is definitely realistic and easy to connect to. Bowman does a great job of writing the inside of a boy's head, which many female authors can't seem to master. Taken could have easily been headed by a female protagonist, but the filter of Gray's mind lends everything a  unique perspective that makes the story that much better.

     This book is a great example of pacing. Despite the ease with which many plot twists can be spotted, Bowman's narrative is shockingly well-balanced and flows naturally, like a living thing. Riots, Heists, and desperate battles are checked by trips to the pond, touching reunions, and well-written new friends. Sadly, a great deal of the characters we meet are pretty flat, or at least static, though Gray goes through a good amount of development as the story progresses.

     Taken has plenty of action and conflict, but it's also a romance. Emma is a sweet character with surprising grit, and it is fun to watch her and Gray get to know each other, especially since they take their relationship slow. She brings out a side of him readers would otherwise miss: a protective, loyal boy who would do anything to keep her safe. There is a love triangle, though it feels rather forced and unnecessary to the story. Thankfully, characters cuss very little, if at all, and don't actually participate in slatings during the plot. They do, however, come close, and stop themselves only because they don't want children.

     I would recommend this book to teenagers with an interest in strong male protagonists who will not take half-truths and evasions for an answer. Gray Weathersby is a great character with lots going on in his head, and is surrounded by well-written characters who are round enough to keep readers going, even if they are relatively static. His quest for the truth is believable and fascinating, and even the most fantastic aspects of his world are painted with realistic colors. Erin Bowman's Taken is a great book with more beneath the surface than the cover suggests, full of well-forged characters and an absorbing plot. It has easily worked its way to four-star status.

Review of "The Bobbsey Twins of Lakeport"

"Let's get on with the Marden mystery!"

     In Laura Lee Hope's The Bobbsey Twins of Lakeport, a family of twins is swept up in a mystery that will set them on the course of years of sleuthing. Meet Nan and Bert Bobbsey, the twin children of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bobbsey, and their younger twin siblings, Freddie and Flossie. Together with their parents, cook, and family handyman, the Bobbsey Twins live an easy, carefree life in the small town of Lakeport. But when a supposedly haunted house scheduled for destruction begins to feed rumors of a priceless treasure hidden in its depths, the Bobbsey children become immersed in an adventure they could never have anticipated, racing the clock to solve a mystery that will change their lives.

     When it comes to the twins, everything is believable. They act their respective ages--twelve and six, if you're reading the revised editions--interact with their parents just like kids, and treat each other with a believable mix of kindness, empathy, and good-natured teasing befitting a group of siblings. Dinah and Sam, the Bobbsey clan's cook and handyman, are equally lovable characters with a great deal of warmth to them. Though they are all interesting and relatable, characters in this novel go through very little development, rendering them pretty flat. They do, however, have very distinct personalities that make for a good read with plenty of humor and a fair amount of conflict.

     Writing-style-wise, this is a juvenile book. It has no cursing and a great deal of exclamation points, which younger readers may find appealing but which could easily get on their older counterparts' nerves. However, those willing to put up with writing that sounds overexcited and a great deal of hyperbole from Freddie and Flossie will find a sound, credible plot hidden beneath.

     The Bobbsey Twins of Lakeport may not be an action-packed thriller, but it's got its fair share of tension in conflict. From ghosts to break-ins to a disappearing twin, the Nan, Bert, Flossie, and Freddie run into plenty of trouble in their attempts to recover the obsidional coins and cameo brooch old Mrs. Marden hid in her crumbling mansion. Heartbroken at the thought that the old woman may never see her treasures again, the twins promise to recover them before the house is torn to the ground. Unfortunately for them, they aren't the only ones looking, and charity is the last thing on their opponent's mind. Still, there's next to no violence; school bullying is the greatest source of displeasure for these kids, and even that is relatively minor.

     I would recommend this book to younger readers looking for a good mystery novel at the head of a series countless installments long. Though the protagonists and their companions are relatively flat and undergo next to no development, they're very fun, interesting, and sympathetic, three traits that are a good sign that their story will turn out well. It's not necessarily a tale that will attract adults, mostly because the writing style is aimed directly at kids. Laura Lee Hope's The Bobbsey Twins of Lakeport is a great story for beginning readers interested in a mystery investigated by kids just like them. It has plenty of heart and a great message, and definitely deserves four stars.

Review of "The Darkest Minds"

"Why can't you stand up for yourself, just once?"

     Alexandra Bracken's The Darkest Minds is a YA novel about fighting the monster within you. Ruby Elizabeth Daly is a normal kid, or as normal as a nine-year-old girl can be when her classmates are dropping like flies around her. Thanks to IAAN, the disease that has swept America into a panicked, chaotic mess, Ruby doesn't even have enough friends for a birthday party. But when a kiss goodnight makes her parents forget her existence, things turn from bad to worse frighteningly fast. She's quickly taken to Thurmond, a government "rehabilitation" camp where those who survived IAAN are forced to do hard work and endure harsh punishments. The inmates are forbidden to speak and, most importantly, forbidden to use the powers that put them there in the first place. Six years later, Ruby has a chance to escape. The only problem is, the people who take her in don't know what she is capable of--and Thurmond wants her back.

     The Darkest Minds starts out in a brutal setting. Thurmond is full of strict rules, cruel Psi Special Forces guards, and terrible mistakes. Ruby's only friend, Samantha, is a strong-willed character who stands up for her at every turn, often at the expense of her own safety. Unfortunately, Ruby is too scared to stick up for anyone, least of all herself, which makes her a difficult character to like. She's spent the past six years hiding among the Greens, those IAAN left with a knack for codes and logic, when she really belongs with the Oranges, mind-readers who can control everyone around them. Ruby's power is confined to those she touches, but she's taking no chances: when she runs into a group of brilliantly crafted, lovable, and well-rounded runaways, she conceals her true abilities behind the Green mask again, causing plenty of humor and conflict for readers to eat up like candy.

     Thurmond may be where this story starts, but Ruby doesn't stay there long. She spends just enough time describing her experiences there to set the scene, then takes off with a daring breakout and an encounter with a very unpleasant Orange. By the time she meets Liam, Chubs, and Suzume, three renegade Psi--IAAN survivors with special gifts--she is stuck in the middle of an unknown East Coast state with nowhere to go. Together, they set off on a road trip across the state to East River, a mythical place where Psi can allegedly gather in safety. This means lots of travel, well-written settings, and a good deal of bad jokes that shape their moods nicely. Unfortunately, it isn't until Ruby finally reveals her age that she stops acting like a thirteen-year-old and actually lives up to her sixteen years.

     Once she starts acting like a sixteen-year-old, Ruby's story snaps into focus with a clear lens. She, along with Liam, Zu, and Chubs, are in constant peril, as the US government has posted a bounty on the heads of every escaped Psi. The bounty hunters are armed with guns and incapacitation devices alike, and aren't afraid to use them. Though there's fighting and death, there isn't much in the way of gore. The romance is subtle but strong, though why the love interest is into Ruby is unclear. What may catch critics' eye is a single scene where one character may or may not take advantage of another; the details are unclear to characters and readers alike. Readers sensitive to "feels" will definitely have a rough time with the ending; it is, however, worth the pain.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a strong, fast-paced YA novel about a protagonist who must learn to love herself if she is to succeed. With great worldbuilding, relatable characters, and wonderful conflict on every level, Alexandra Bracken's The Darkest Minds is perfect for any teen's must-read list. Aside from the somewhat rough beginning and Ruby's apparent age confusion, everything in this book is focused and easy to understand. And while it does have one scene with minor trigger potential, it's pretty clean otherwise. It definitely rates a solid four stars.

Review of "Incarceron"

"Finn had been flung on his face and chained to the stone slabs of the transitway."

     From author Catherine Fisher comes Incarceron, a science-fiction novel so unique it's like she rediscovered the genre. Finn has lived in Incarceron for as long as he can remember, but the tattoo on his wrist and a smattering of almost-memories have him convinced he's from the Outside. He and his oath-brother, Keiro, survive by working with--and sometimes double-crossing--a scum gang within the prison. Though he yearns to escape, Finn knows it's impossible...until he comes to possess a key etched with the image on his wrist and a direct line to the Warden's daughter. Armed with the key and several compatriots, Finn sets out on an epic journey to escape Incarceron forever.

     This isn't only a story about Finn, however. Enter Claudia, princess-to-be and daughter of Incarceron's Warden. In the world where she lives, everything is governed by Protocol, a technology-based set of laws that locks the land into a specific Era, preventing the forward motion of time. Claudia was originally engaged to Prince Giles, but after his tragic death in a horse riding accident, her engagement was shifted to the less pleasant Prince Caspar. Claudia doesn't want to get married, least of all to Caspar. Together with her tutor, Jared, she breaks through her father's security in a fit of rebellion, only to discover an old crystal key marked with a holographic eagle. Through it, she has a direct line of communication with Finn, a prisoner she quickly determines to break out. But staging an Escape is harder than it sounds, especially since Incarceron has something major working in its favor: this prison is alive.

     Words cannot express how incredible Fisher's writing is. From the first page onward, she sweeps readers off their feet with fast-paced action, smooth dialogue, and worldbuilding that sucks you right in. Whether it's emotions, physical descriptions, character development, or setting, this author is adept at making everything more realistic than seems possible.

     The characters in this novel are remarkably well developed. Keiro, Finn's oath-brother, is strong-willed and selfish, but also caring and insightful. Claudia is spoiled but kind, with startling depth. Finn is a very round character with lots of thoughts and emotions swirling around inside him, while Jared is calm, analytical, and completely devoted to his student. Together, these characters balance each other out and give the story a firm, solid edge that grounds it in reality. Never mind the fact they live in a prison made entirely of metal, or that the Realm in which Claudia lives is only an illusion. When Incarceron's pages are open, suspension of disbelief comes naturally, and a great deal of it is due to the principle characters.

     The plot of Incarceron is fairly straightforward. Finn and his friends go from Point A to Point B to Point C, following the path of the mythical Sapphique, allegedly the only man who ever escaped the massive prison. They face a magician, thieves, frightening weather, and a monster straight from Sapphique's legends, all in the hopes that getting past these obstacles will lead to escape. Claudia, meanwhile, must keep out of Court politics and search for the entrance to Incarceron if she is to have any chance of freeing her new friend. But when the prison in question is a living thing, nothing is ever as expected.

     As far as ratings go, this is a pretty clean read. Though Finn and Keiro are members of a street gang, the violence is pretty basic and there's no gore to be found. Swearing is nearly a no-go. This makes for a refreshing take on the classic "survivors are thugs with dirty mouths" approach, and actually makes it easier to sympathize with the characters.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an immersive science fiction story about fighting for a better life and the power of change. Finn, Claudia, Keiro, and Jared are great characters neck-deep in their own troubles, with unique personalities and backstories to match. Even Incarceron itself is beautifully written, with a distinct character and amazing worldbuilding to match. Catherine Fisher has done a brilliant job with Incarceron, earning it five stars with remarkable ease.

Review of "Five Children and It"

"Don't you know a sand-fairy when you see one?"

     E. Nesbit's Five Children and It is all about taking care in what you wish for. When Cyril, Anthea, Jane, Robert, and their baby brother "Lamb" discover a sand-fairy in the sand pit by their summer residence, they're thrilled--at least, once they figure out what it is. The Psammead is a grumpy little creature with the power to grant them one collective wish a day, whether it's making them rich or beautiful or ensuring the maids are oblivious. But the children soon discover that while the sand-fairy doesn't corrupt their wishes on purpose, the things they ask for have a very bad habit of turning out terribly, frightfully wrong.

     Though Nesbit's writing doesn't sweep his readers off their feet, his premise is delightful. Cyril, Jane, Robert, and Anthea are children who have been spoiled just enough for it to show in their personalities. Each is distinct and unpleasant in their own way, but they're also incredibly likeable--for their excitement, for their naïveté, and for their practicality. They're joined together by their love for the Lamb, which rings of truth in every scene, and their glee at their discovery of the Psammead. Though many of their wishes are silly, frivolous, or downright ridiculous, each one contributes to the gradual shaping of the children's true characters.

     There isn't much action in this book, but that isn't to say there isn't tension. Thanks to their wishes, the children are tossed from one frightful situation to the next, be it unrecognition by the servants or the possibility of losing their beloved Lamb forever. Together, they have to work out temporary solutions that will forestall all consequences until sunset, when the Psammead's spells wear off. Through this strife, the children draw closer to each other and grow in strength of character, though they'd never guess it.

     As the protagonists of Nesbit's little tale are children, there isn't much in the way of violence or profanity to be found. The only word worth noting is one woman's referral to another as a "s---" in passing, though that's never expounded on and may pass right by reader's noses.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun, relatively short tale about the consequences of reckless choices. Nesbit's characters are interesting, unique, and fit their story well, and the trouble they get themselves into can be simultaneously worrying and funny. With good morals, plenty of humor, and a strong cast tossed in with his great premise and interesting plot, E. Nesbit's Five Children and It is a wonderful read that should definitely make its way onto every reader's "have-read" list. It deserves a solid, entertaining four stars.