Everyone's a Critic by Paul Ruditis

Name of Book: Everyone's a Critic

Published: October 2nd 2007 by Simon Pulse

Author: Paul Ruditis

Age Group: 13-16

Number of Pages: 288

Series: [You can never have too much...] DRAMA!

Summary
School's out, but the drama never stops at the superposh Orion Academy.
Hartley Blackstone -- the famous director, producer, choreographer, and
genuine Broadway icon -- has chosen Orion to hold auditions for one
lucky guy and girl to attend his summer theater program in New York City.

 
Naturally, every wannabe-It girl and boy at Orion is going mad, prepping
to win Blackstone's approval. With any luck, it could be Bryan and his
BFF, Sam, stepping onto a Broadway stage.

 
But Mr. Blackstone, known for his notoriously harsh critiques, is capable
of crushing hearts and shattering dreams with a single word. Bryan will
need more than his snarky wit and cute smile for this one. He's got to
bring it!


Now if he could just figure out exactly what it is....

Review
The book starts of with Hope and Drew breaking up for some unidentified reason. Bryan and Suzie are sitting on a "patch of sand" and sitting back and watching the lunch time "entertainment". Bryan Stark and his group of friends are at Eric Whitman's house for his summer party. The first chapter ends with Bryan stuck between his former friend Drew and his former best friend's new best friend and Sam and Hope. Orion Academy has a yearly summer Theatrical Progam-and this year, it has something new to it. Mr. Blackstone, the headmaster of the super-super exclusive school (that makes Orion look like its normal) called Hartley Blackstone Acting School, has left two spots open for one Orion Academy girl and boy.

Except..it won't be as easy as everyone thinks.

Mr. Blackstone is known for being absolutely harsh when commenting on somebody's work. But through the midst of the excitement, Hope's break-up with Drew is ruining Sam, Bryan and Jason's performance for the audition. Will they be able to pull everything back together in time?

Rating

Cover-3 stars

Plot-3 stars

Characters-2 stars

Fantasy/fiction/magical meter-1 star

TOTAL STARS-9 STARS=2 STARS

Lose yourself in the world of fantasy!
Until next time!
Bethany

The Four Dorothys by Paul Ruditis

Name of Book: The Four Dorothys

Published: February 6th 2007 by Simon Pulse

Author: Paul Ruditis

Age Group: 13-16

Number of Pages: 256

Series: [You can never have too much...] Drama!

Summary

Spawned from Hollywood's A-list glitterati, nearly every student at the exclusive Orion Academy is a singer, dancer, model, or actor -- with the ego to match. So how do you fit so many budding stars into one school musical?

 

Multi-cast, of course. It's a Wizard of Oz like no other: four Dorothys, two Scarecrows, two Glindas, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. Every "star" gets a moment in the spotlight.

Meanwhile, Bryan Stark, narrator extraordinaire, needs to shed some light on a more scandalous plot. Dorothys are mysteriously dropping out of the show, one after the other. If Bryan doesn't figure out why, there may be no one left to click her heels by opening night. . . .

Review

The Four Dorothys is set inside Orion Academy-an exclusive school for actors, dancers, singers and models. The Spring performance that Orion Academy hosts has a huge reputation-that they have to protect. Except...this time, it won't be as easy. Bryan Stark, #2 scarecrow and best friend of #2 Dorothy, has to find out the truth about who's attacking the former Dorothys. Who planted the shrimp taco that Suzie was allergic too? Who tripped Wren? And who comitted all of the crimes that made all of the Dorothys drop out?

The beginning is confusing-at first. It starts out in the audotorium for the Dorothys costume fitting. As it goes on, the plot thickens and starts to get more thrilling and exciting. This book fits best for the age group of 13-16, as listed above. I do not recommend this book for anyone younger than that. (I guess it's sort of odd for me to be saying that when I am 11 myself. :))But anyway, if you love reading about the life of movie stars and etcetera, etcetera, than this book is definitely for you.

Rating

Cover-3 stars

Plot-4 stars

Characters- 2 stars

Fantasy/fiction/magical meter-2 stars

TOTAL STARS-11 STARS=3 STARS

Lose yourself in the world of fantasy!
Until next time!
Bethany

Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin

Name of Book:Extraordinary

Published:September 7th by Dial books (imprint of Penguin)

Author: Nancy Werlin

Age group:11-15

Number of Pages:390

Summary

Phoebe finds herself drawn to Mallory, the strange and secretive new kid in school, and the two girls become as close as sisters . . . until Mallory's magnetic older brother, Ryland, shows up during their junior year. Ryland has an immediate, exciting hold on Phoebe, but a dangerous hold, for she begins to question her feelings about her best friend and, worse, about herself. Soon she'll discover the shocking truth about Ryland and Mallory: that these two are visitors from the faerie realm who have come to collect on an age-old debt. Generations ago, the faerie queen promised Phoebe's ancestor five extraordinary sons in exchange for the sacrifice of one ordinary female heir. But in hundreds of years there hasn't been a single ordinary girl in the family, and now the faeries are dying. Could Phoebe be the first ordinary one? Could she save the faeries, or is she special enough to save herself?

Review
In the beginning of this book, it sounded like the basic story about popular girls wearing prada high heels, Juicy Couture clothing and holding Coach bags, but as you go into the story it changes slightly. I can't say that I particularly liked this book. Phoebe, the main character, is a Rothschild, the daughter of one of the most influential families in the world. She meets Mallory in school one day, being made fun of, and Phoebe gives up her somewhat fake friend named Colette. Phoebe was just meeting Mallory and I was just starting to know her myself, when all of a sudden, its four years later.

Maybe if Nancy Werlin waited until the middle of the book to say that it had been four years later I would have liked this book much better. Personally I think the cover doesn't symbolize any parts throughout the story or any of the characters. When I first saw the cover of this book, it seemed like to me that this was a story about kidnapping or something of the sort since the cover of "Extraordinary" is a picture of a girl running through a forest. I honestly think that this book was a little too quick, cutting off important details and the like.

Rating

Cover-2 stars

Plot-2 stars

Characters-1 stars

Fantasy/fiction/magical meter-2 stars

Suspense-2 stars

TOTAL STARS-9 STARS=2 STARS

Lose yourself in the world of fantasy!
Until next time!
Bethany

This book is available at:
http://www.amazon.com/
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
http://www.half.com/
http://www.abebooks.com/
http://www.alibris.com/
http://www.betterworldbooks.com/

Savvy By Ingrid Law

Name of Book: Savvy

Published:May 1st by Dial

Author: Ingrid Law

Age Group: 9-13

Number of Pages: 342

Summary

A vibrant new voice . . . a modern classic.

 
For generations, the Beaumont family has harbored a magical secret. They each possess a "savvy" -a special supernatural power that strikes when they turn thirteen. Grandpa Bomba moves mountains, her older brothers create hurricanes and spark electricity . . . and now it's the eve of Mibs's big day.

As if waiting weren't hard enough, the family gets scary news two days before Mibs's birthday: Poppa has been in a terrible accident. MibsMibs finds herself on an unforgettable odyssey that will force her to make sense of growing up -and of other people, who might also have a few secrets hidden just beneath the skin.

Review
Mibs, (Missouri), is about to turn 13-the day that she will receive the legendary powers of her family's legacy. The only problem is...her Mama and Rocket are gone and Miss Rosemary, Pastor Meeks wife, is throwing Mibs a birthday party at church. Rocket and Fish, Mib's two brothers, revolt, knowing that Mibs's 13th birthday party is no public affair. Savvys can be overwhelmingly powerful, and people can get hurt when Mibs receives hers.  Mibs finds out that her Savvy gives her the power to understand people's inner thoughts if they have something drawn on their hand or if they have a tatoo.

Because Samson's (her little brother) turtle woke up this morning and Gypsy did,too, Mibs believes that she has the power to wake people up. Along with Bobbi and Will, (the son and daughter of Miss Rosemary and Pastor Meeks), Fish and Samson, Mibs hops on the pink Heartland Bible Supply bus to Salina, where her Father is so she can wake him up. On the journey to find her Father, Mibs learns the true power of friendship and the secret behind Will.

Savvy is a powerful, emotional story not just about the magical power of ficticious savvys, but a story about a girl who will do anything, even ride on a pink bible delivery bus to go find her Father and revive him. Savvy definitely deserves the Newberry Honor Medal it has received.

Rating

Cover-5 stars

Plot-4 stars

Characters-4 stars

Fantasy/fiction/magical meter- 3 stars

Suspense-3 stars

TOTAL STARS-19 STARS=4 STARS

Lose yourself in the world of fantasy!
Until next time...
Bethany

This book is a available at:
http://www.amazon.com/
http:///www.barnesandnobles.com
http://www.worldcat.com/

Immortal by Gillian Shields

Name of Book: Immortal

Published:2009


Author: Gillian Shields


Age Group: 11-13

Number of Pages: 360

Summary

Wyldcliffe Abbey School for Young Ladies, housed in a Gothic mansion on the bleak northern moors, is elite, expensive, and unwelcoming. When Evie Johnson is torn away from her home by the sea to become the newest scholarship student, she is more isolated than she could have dreamed. Strict teachers, snobbish students, and the oppressive atmosphere of Wyldcliffe leave Evie drowning in loneliness.

Evie's only lifeline is Sebastian, a rebellious, mocking, dangerously attractive young man she meets by chance. As Evie's feelings for Sebastian grow with each secret meeting, she starts to fear that he is hiding something about his past. And she is haunted by glimpses of a strange, ghostly girl—a girl who is so eerily like Evie, she could be a sister. Evie is slowly drawn into a tangled web of past and present that she cannot control. And as the extraordinary, elemental forces of Wyldcliffe rise up like the mighty sea, Evie is faced with an astounding truth about Sebastian, and her own incredible fate.

Gillian Shields's electrifying tale will dazzle readers with suspense, mysticism, and romance.

Review
Sadly,I had to rewrite this review since blogger somehow deleted everything when I posted it. I happened to find this book when I was writing down a list of books I wanted to read at my school's book fair. I didn't buy it, though. So when I walked into the library one day, I found Immortal and immediately grabbed it. A day after, I also found Betrayal, also by Gillian Shields, the sequel to this book. Immortal is a story about Evie Johnson, a girl whose grandmother just recently died. Evie starts meeting a mysterious boy named Sebastian at night and finds out secrets about him and herself. Stories about her ancestors, her true identity and who she is encircles her. Evie meets Sarah and Helen, and together, they call the elemental powers and interweave them to form one powerful force. Soon, Evie finds out the truth about the amulet she wears that was given to her from her grandmother. Either Sebastian will kill her to get the amulet that will make him immortal, or he will spare Evie from a horrible fate that will end her life forever. It's up to Sebastian to save Evie-or doom her.


Rating

Cover-5 stars

Plot-3 stars

Characters-3 stars

Fantasy/fiction/magical meter-3 stars

Suspense-3 stars

TOTAL STARS-17 STARS=4 STARS

Lose yourself in the world of fantasy!
Until next time,
Bethany

Dark Visions by L.J. Smith

Name of Book: Dark Visions

Published: September 2009

Author: L.J. Smith

Age Group:11-17

Number of Pages:732

Summary
Kaitlyn Fairchild has always felt like an outsider. Her haunting eyes and prophetic drawings have earned her a reputation as a witch. But Kait's not a witch: she's psychic. Tired of being shunned, Kait accepts an invitation to attend the Zetes Institute, where she can study with other psychic teens and have a fresh start.

As Kaitlyn learns to hone her abilities with four other gifted students, she starts to discover the intensity of her power - and the joy of having true friends. But those friendships quickly become complicated when Kait finds herself torn between two irresistible guys. Rob is a healer - kind and gentle, he's surrounded by good energy, while Gabriel is aggressive and mysterious - a telepath concealing his true nature.

Together, Rob and Gabriel's opposing forces start to threaten the group's stability, and when an experiment traps the five teens in a psychic link - a link that threatens their sanity and their lives - Kaitlyn must decide who to trust and who to love...

Review
Just finishing this book has take off at least a quarter of my huge TBR stack. Just as humongous as this book was, it only took me about 3-4 days since it was so spellbinding.  Kaitlyn, Anna, Lewis, Rob and Gabriel are the protagonists of the story-and Gabriel is temporarily the antagonism. Kaitlyn gets a chance to become a different person-and to reshape her personality. When she takes the chance, suddenly life as she knew it is changing.  Her reputation as a witch was caused by her drawings that always came true. Taken into the group because of her special talent, they have to learn how to work together-or die trying. one flaw with this book was that Kaitlyn's mid changed to quickly-Rob, Gabriel, Rob and then, finally, Gabriel. Instead of an immediate change, there should have been a gradual one-it would have made more sense. Just completely changing her love for Rob and Gabriel so erratically unbalances the whole book. But if you overlook that, this book is great-a astounding thirst quencher for paranormal.

Rating

Cover-3 stars

Plot-4 stars

Characters-4 stars

Fantasy/fiction/magical meter-3 stars

Suspense-5 stars

TOTAL STARS-19 STARS=4 STARS

Lose yourself in the world of fantasy!
Until next time!
Bethany

The Tenth Power By Kate Constable

Name of book: The Tenth Power

Published:2005

Author: Kate Constable

Age Group:10-16


Number of Pages:306

Summary

Calwyn used to be exceptional. She was the most talented of all the chanters of Tremaris, , and she’d fought hard to become their leader. But then there was an accident, and the magic inside her went silent. Where there once was power, now there is nothing. Her whole life–the future she had planned with Darrow–has somehow slipped away.
All Calwyn wants to do is limp home and hide. But she can’t, because although her power is gone and taken all happiness with it, her responsibilities seem to grow every day. There’s a sickness attacking the chanters of Tremaris, a sickness that seems to have infected the land itself. And even though Calwyn is now just an ordinary girl with no magic left in her, she can’t sit by and watch the world die.
This is a story about tremendous courage and the strength of spirit that life sometimes demands. But it’s also a story of hope, because sometimes when everything you know has failed you, there is another way. Sometimes there is a tenth power–if only you can find it.

Review

I was completely dying to read this book, but since my TBR stack is huge, I had to wait several days, which honestly killed me. This book is the third book of The Chanters of Tremaris Trilogy. Calwyn was once on her path to become the singer of all songs. But suddenly, when she reaches far beyond what her magic can do and heals the dead lands, every single trace of magic in her is gone. Sadly enough for Calwyn, so is Darrow. Separated from each other, one in Antaris, another gone to find Samis. Calwnyn goes to Antaris,her homeland,in order to try to revive her magic powers. When she arrives there, horrible things happen, and the evil disease called snow-sickness spreads to Calwyn's beloved Hgh Priestess-Marna. Eventually Darrow catches the disease, and that is the only thing that seperates them. For Darrow cares deeply for Calwyn, and she him, but if a chantment singer touches a person with snow-sickness, it is death. Will they ever be together again? And will they defeat Samis in time to Save the whole world of Tremaris?

As intriguing as this book was, there were some downsides to it. How Calwyn changed her mind so quickly and became temporarily evil doesn't make any sense-and kissing Samis doesn't make it any easier. Overall, this book was great, but Calwyn would look better as NOT fickle.

Rating

Cover-3 stars

Plot-3 stars

Characters-2 stars

Fantasy/Fiction/magical meter-4 stars

Suspense-3 stars

TOTAL STARS-15 STARS=3 STARS

Lose yourself in the world of fantasy!
Until next time,
Bethany