Reviews on our favorite and newest teen and tween books!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Are you normal!

Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O'Roark Dowell
Genre: YA Fiction
Published: March 2011 (Simon & Schuster)

Janie Gorman (14) is just starting high school. She has always been enthusiastic about everything, especially her family’s move to the farm five years ago (in fact that was her idea!). But now as she is starting her freshman year of high school, she sees how uncool the move really is. Her many mishaps that are caused by the farm leave her just wanting to blend in with the crowd. But she is not the type to blend in, no matter what she does.

I received this book as an ARC from Simon & Schuster. This is a really well written story, and I loved to watch how the main character grows in this short time. Great story about finding yourself and being who you are.

Absolutely loved it!!

---Posted by Kameron S.

Teen Speak

The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles, #1) by Rick Riordan



Genre: Juvenile Fantasy
Published: May 2010

The Red Pyramid is the first book in Rick Riordan’s new series, the Kane Chronicles. Carter and Sadie are not the normal youths of this world. They are descendants of the Egyptian pharaohs. Despite what the general populous may say, Carter and Sadie find out that the Egyptian myths and gods are real, and magic doesn’t only belong at Hogwarts. On Christmas, Dr. Kane, Sadie and Carter’s dad, unleashes five Egyptian gods and as a result, he is dragged into the underworld. Set, the god of deserts, storms and evil, is one of the deities released from the stone and is intent on wreaking havoc on the world and causing trouble for the Kane family. Now Sadie and Carter must embark on a journey to save their father and restore order to the world.

A wonderfully charming mesh of magic, wit, and mythology, Riordan delivers another fantastic book that can charm readers of any age. I absolutely loved the characters, as all of them were well developed and by no means flat. The wit and well written dialogue made this book a pleasure to read. Riordan mixes modern day life and mythology in a way that is brilliant and believable. He breathes new life and fantastic personalities into the Egyptian gods and goddesses. I finally have all of the Egyptian gods sorted out and can remember which is which. After I read this book, I had to get the sequel, The Throne of Fire, and finished it off in no time at all. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a good adventure, mythology, or a fun read. People who loved this book would enjoy the 39 clues series and Riordan’s Percy Jackson series.

 ---Posted by Lauren G.