Exciting and thoughtful young adult adventure fiction
349802
I enjoyed this book tremendously- this is an exciting old-fashioned adventure story, involving vast jungles, long-dead princesses, mysterious relics and lost cities, all seen through the eyes of our fiesty red-haired teenage heroine Emma and her little brother Joel.  Reminiscent of "King Solomon's Mines" or "Indiana Jones," Emma, Joel, their adventurer uncle and a scientist band together to find a priceless treasure of the ancient Incas, and the story bounds from incident to incident with great energy and momentum- there are plot twists galore, and not to mention some thoroughly nasty and ruthless villains, who try to thwart our heroes at every turn.  What is particularly wonderful about this book is the exploration of Peru and the Incas- the historical angle of ritual sacrifice is fascinating, and the descriptions of the Peruvian cloud forest are lovely and evocative.  After reading it, I wanted to go visit the Manu national forest and Machu Picchu!  I highly recommend this for people who are tired of the usual dull nonsense passing itself off as young adult fiction and want to read a real story.
4931087
As an avid reader of young adult fiction, it's rare for me to find a unique novel. However, Sorcha: Awaken is unlike any other YA novel I've read, and it stands a class above. There are elements of adventure, action, mystery, and romance which combine to create a fast-paced journey of good versus evil which has been elevated to the divine. Beyond the mundane, more significant than fantasy, in a battle as old as time, angels and demons fight for the upper hand in the world of humans. The twelve Sorcha, warriors of the light, must come together to battle on behalf of Elohim, and as I read of their awakening, I became devoted to their cause. Each individual character will claim the reader's heart and devotion, and anyone looking for an exciting and one-of-a-kind story will find all they're looking for and more between the covers of the Sorcha novels.
562328
Ariel's battle with boredom and a sense of disconnect from her everyday life comes to an abrupt and terrifying halt one night when her mother, Nadima, is kidnapped by two horrifying creatures whose existence ought to be impossible, but isn't:  demons with an apparent malevolent agenda, who seem to have targeted Ariel's mother for a reason.  Set on a frightening journey to find and rescue her mum, Ariel soon learns there's another world hidden behind the visible one, where the fight for the human spirit is waged by those who are strong enough and brave enough to face the challenge to see and to discover the true meaning and purpose in their lives.

In this exciting allegorical YA urban fantasy/magical realism novel, author Tahlia Newland weaves philosophical questions about perception, fear, compassion and love into a fast-paced fantasy adventure that is a highly entertaining and metaphysically fascinating tale for readers of all ages.  Much as she did in You Can't Shatter Me, her exceptional novella about bullying, author Newland exhibits great skill in allegorical storytelling, creating a seamless blend of the tale's deeper philosophical considerations and the fantasy adventure and magical realism main story arc, so that the former never comes across as a message added to the story, but is simply an organic part of it.  As such, it is, first and foremost, an enjoyable fantasy adventure quest, but one that also offers more for the reader interested in delving beneath the surface.  For me, this made Lethal Inheritance an even more fascinating read because, while I enjoyed it for all the traditional reasons - strong writing, realistic character development, smooth plot pacing, creative world-building - as someone with a background in Catholic theology and some education in Comparative Religions, I also appreciated the subtle insight into Tibetan Buddhism as Ariel began her journey on the path to enlightenment in this first book of the Diamond Peak series.  Her experience with the Serpentine and her battles against the Emot demons brought to mind concepts, familiar to Judeo-Christian readers, of mastering the negative passions like fear and anger and the idea of sin or evil being "passed down" or strengthened and spread to consecutive generations, and I could easily find similarities between the Buddhist view of the soul and my own Thomistic understanding of the same.

A well-written, yet also easy-to-read, fantasy that I believe will be appealing to YA and adult readers alike, I highly recommend this novel to fantasy readers of any worldview who enjoy an epic adventure with real world symbolism and depth.  I was fortunate to have been able to read an advance copy of the story as its copyeditor and I eagerly look forward to the next book in the series.
2932165
This book will take any age reader for an engaging, exciting, emotional ride.  Written for a younger audience, I was surprised at how moved I was, right from the first chapter. It spoke to the protective mom side of me, which also comes along with its own complexities- like when do I choose to protect, comfort or challenge my child.  It also helped me understand the inner workings of a tween who may not be excited about going to school or performing well.  It addresses hard topics like bullying and learning differences and how they can affect how an 11 year old makes decisions in interacting with their world full of social pressures.  It shifts smoothly back and forth between Jacob's imaginary inner world of zombies to his life everyday.

I love the lessons he learns in his Young Warriors class, and am delighted to know there is a REAL program that exists where kids are given the space to learn the skills they need to discover the warrior within themselves.  These are good lessons for parents too, as these Young Warrior lessons are excellent skills for all of us to have in how we conduct ourselves everyday.  This is a book that would do well for parents to read alongside with their kids, so they can talk about things that are challenging, empowering or scary.

I was so invested in every character, the trouble makers and the good guys, as each character has such depth that I can picture them clearly.  Looking forward to see what develops and what twists the next book may take.
1491344
A sudden earthquake sends paleontologists into a crack in the earth, leaving the scientific community and loved ones to presume their death. Their eleven-year-old son Davy is staying with his grandmother when he receives the unwelcome news. But without proof, Davy refuses to believe his parents are dead. Then his parent's personal effects arrive, including an unexpected surprise.
Author Fred Yager pens an exciting adventure young readers will revel in REX: A NOVEL. This dinosaur in New York achieves a comedic success even as Rex and Davy outrun evil scientists in a quest for survival. The dinosaur is surprisingly intelligent and loyal, giving him a unique characterization among young adult fiction. A fast paced read filled with friendship and danger, excitement and surprises, REX comes very highly recommended.
4482265
Recently, I've been on a run of books that have challenged my preconceptions that young adult fiction is 'just for kids'.  I'm happy to say that "The Never Prayer" fits right in with the other works forcing me to rethink my views.  It is superbly written, chock full of adventure, and at times branches into philosophical ideas.  When I first started it, I thought it was a cross between "Winter's Bone" and "This Present Darkness", but it is so much more than that.  The prose is pitch perfect and captures the feeling of loneliness and despair so many of us feel at different times in our lives when we think there must be demons lurking everywhere.  Sometimes we just need to be reminded that where there are demons, there are angels too, and that all we might really need is a little push to help us break the cycle.
2732403
Tiger Kingdom and The Book of Destiny is a portal fantasy for young readers that has a Narnia vibe, while still retaining its originality.  The book opens with a scene thats exciting and deeply intriguing:  white tigers running down the street. It seems only Suzie saw them. Did she invent them?  Were they actually there or a vision meant only for her?  And why would such a strange sight appear to a seemingly ordinary ten year old girl?  With these questions circling in my mind, I plunged forward, eager to discover what lay in the pages ahead of me.

I was not disappointed.
As the plot unfolds, more little mysteries are offered up for the reader to solve alongside Suzie and jack.  Plenty of imaginative devices entreat the senses, but many touchstones of reality are sprinkles throughout to help readers make connections.  The addition of circus themes was a good touch and provided an element of whimsy.  Elena and Liam were my favorite characters - Elena for her wistful secretiveness and Liam for his steadfastness and intelligence.  Im eager to see what the next book has in store for them.

Every time I get my hands on a work intended for younger readers, I find myself slipping into teacher mode.  Sometimes books intended for children are dumbed-down, but that is definitely not the case here. Readers are given opportunities to expand their vocabularies, draw conclusions, and make predictions while immersing themselves in world rich with beautiful imagery.  It was maybe a bit short for my tastes and could have used a little fleshing out in some areas, but the length is probably perfectly fine for the intended audience.
2775635
The young heroes of this book have exciting adventures (both good and bad) beginning with a terrifying plane crash that kills their parents. They experience the grieving and healing process for the rest of the book. They leave the island they were stranded on by hot-air balloon. They land in a mountainous land (with a jeweled forest and waterfall passageways) where nearly everything and everyone is frozen in time. They have to unfreeze time and this involves helping the Time Entity to be reborn. The adventure includes battles with goblins and giant snakes, and visits to castles and evil enchanted fortresses. I loved the creatures like the iron ogre and firebird and how these things relate to the themes of the book. (The iron ogre relates to the elemental aspects and the firebird relates to the death theme.) Elves are the bad guys in this and work to block the heroes' efforts. They are nearly immortal (long lived) and this is a big contributing factor to their evil. This ties in with one of the main themes of the books, that time (our limited time) gives our life meaning and gives us part of our humanity. There are a lot of coming of age factors in this book. Aaron is youngest of the three siblings and he has to constantly prove himself to his older brother and sister. Christine almost has to become motherly to her little brother. Patrick feels responsible and puts a lot of pressure on himself for getting the family home. He is constantly frustrated because their journey takes so long. They all have to grow up fast. Some of the characters (the Time Entity for one) make only brief appearances, but this is an introduction because they play larger parts in the rest of the series. I liked the action and adventure of this and I found the characters interesting and fun to read about.
1598124
After reading WATERSMEET by Ellen Jensen Abbott, I couldn't wait to read the second book in this series to know what happens to Abisina. This adventure fantasy is an exciting page-turner featuring an intense physical and emotional journey with equally compelling characters as found in WATERSMEET. Abisina's discovery of her new self, literally, and her need for self-acceptance is something that teen and adult readers can relate to, especially that struggle to find one's place in the world. No spoilers, but you'll want to block out time to read without interruptions, especially when Abisina faces those who know her only as an outcast.
4709468
"Sky Carver" is the finest piece of young adult literature I've read in quite some time. Following in the wake of the Harry Potter juggernaut, it is a skillful tale of magic and adventure that appeals to a more intellectual preteen. The magic in Whitlock's story is not the gee-whiz vaudeville of Harry and Co., but a more subtle and down-to-earth brand of wizardry that seems to have seeped up from the depths of nature. When added with a thrilling quest and winning characters, it makes for quite an entertaining read.

In this world, the landscape is divided into huge plateaus, or "reaches," and five major rivers provide the native people with trade and commerce. The folk of the higher reaches lead a more primitive lifestyle, while those at the bottom rely on industry and have almost crushed magic out of existence. In a small village in the Upper Reach lives Thomas Painter, who is terrible at painting but loves to carve wood. Unfortunately, Thomas' father was a celebrated painter and everyone expects him to follow suit. One day, a raven flies overhead and drops a willow branch -- a magic wand -- on Thomas' head. With the wand, Thomas discovers that he can "carve" the sky itself, thereby controlling the weather. Long story short, the wand becomes his to keep and he sets off downriver to find someone who can help him use it. He is accompanied by the raven who dropped the wand, and who is really a transformed girl (also named Raven). Grouchy, acidic, and cantankerous, she makes the perfect foil for Thomas (now calling himself "Carver") and is by far the most entertaining character. Their other sidekick is Fireboy, a wage slave who runs a steamboat and helps them flee various bad guys and make it to the sea. The final act of the book deals with Carver's encounter with a sinister mage named Krimm who has dire plans for Carver, his friends, and the world in general. Does Carver thwart the forces of evil and discover how to unelash his magic talent? Read for yourself.

Whitlock's contrast between magic and technology is fascinating, his prose simple but elegant. Unlike all the condescending YA novels that assume preteens are idiots, "Sky Carver" challenges the reader. Everyone I know who has read the book has loved it. I was fortunate enough to meet the author at a reading, where I was thrilled to learn that a sequel, starring Raven, is on the way. Anyone who reads "Sky Carver" will agree that she deserves her own book.

I highly recommend "Sky Carver" for young fantasy fans...and grownup fantasy fans. Whitlock's book should win an award.
522428
'The Lion Awakens' is a complex, intriguing fantasy that will keep the interest of teens and adults who enjoy the genre. I know it did mine! Woven into the parallel universe/amazing powers plot are universal themes of loss, friendship, and sacrifice. The teen protagonists face overwhelming challenges as they work to save the world while trying to navigate the almost equally difficult issues of high school life.
Buffy Andrews has written an exciting novel peppered with memorable characters and nail-biting adventure.
2960892
True Life is the first entry in the Legends of Tye Series by R.J. Tolson, an adventure that will delight young adult readers and fans of comics. The reader is introduced to a magical setting and a clan known as the Astra Clan, comprising people gifted with the ability to see the Aura, the mystical energy. But the Astra has suffered a lot from powerful neighbors who would capture and enslave them to exploit their magical abilities, so they found a small community in a hidden village in which to conceal the stones from which they derive their abilities. Seventeen-year-old Venn isn't one of the powerful ones in his clan, and is often derided as the weakest link, but things change for him when a dark figure captures his sister and uses an ancient dark power to curse his people. Now Venn must rescue his sister and his clan, and as he goes off on this dangerous mission, he has only one thing that gives him hope; the legendary book of secrets: True Life.

This is a great story, well-written and the perfect length. It feels like the author crafted this story just to have readers teased and longing for what is to come in the next installment in the series. I enjoyed the compelling cast of characters and loved the fact that Venn, the protagonist, isn't the toughest guy in his clan. It is interesting to see how he grows, thanks to necessity. True Life is fast-paced and engaging, featuring awesome illustrations and intelligently crafted dialogues. R.J. Tolsons tale is a breezy read for those who enjoy well-crafted and beautifully illustrated work.
4142029
From the beginning, I was plunged excitedly into a cannot-put-down, do-not-want it to end fantasy tale. The story itself is quite thrilling, an intricately woven one that portrays a girl with ordinary teenage issues suddenly being catapulted into an intriguing, perilous adventure involving a griffin and a being from a twin world.

The story is quite exhilarating throughout, with zesty dialogues between characters and vivid descriptions of people, places and things. Several segments were so skillfully written that there was a strong sense that I was there, in the story itself. There is a harmonious flow throughout the story as it moved me to and fro, from Frankies rich, zesty day-to-day life situations into the perils undertaken with the griffin and his companion.

I found Frankie to be an engaging and fascinating character. She is not cast as one of the cool kids at school. Frankie appears to be rather ordinary; a girl who is struggling to maneuver through the throes of middle adolescence towards adulthood. I was delightfully engaged during the segments involving Frankies encounters and foibles at her school. Her discoveries about friendship and enemies, and the humanness of teachers, brought me back into memories of my own teenage years.

There was for me an element of complexity that added psychological depth to the story, flowing beneath the storyline itself. I resonated deeply with the authors ability to script Frankies coming-of-age maturity, as evidenced by her reactions to ordinary yet often intense life events; they are in counterpoint to the daring challenges that she takes on with new friends, those other-worldly beings.

One of the most moving scenes for me related to an unexpected, fascinating purpose for Frankies encounter: her ability to call forth a griffin from this parallel universe ends up serving her familys tragic circumstances in a unique mysterious way.

There are exhilarating scenes involving flight and deeply moving ones that relate to mystery. I consider the writing to be masterful; the story to be extraordinary.
3858745
Very well written, which is rare for a new author, and it's greatly appreciated! The characters and world is rich, you will get immersed immediately. The adventures start almost immediately, and continue to branch and evolve to keep the pages turning furiously. I couldn't put it down, and immediately wanted to give my copy to my nieces to enjoy as well. There is a moment of graphic battle story that might not be great if you're reading this to your 6-8 year old, but that one scene is really the only thing that my younger family might get too scared reading/hearing it. Otherwise it's definitely an 11+ age group, excellent young reader with all of the joys of this type of novel. Sometimes adults just want to go on an adventure and live a fantastic journey, and this young reader did just that for me. Highly recommend, and definitely recommending this to my friends and family. Fresh, energetic and clearly ends with another adventure awaiting in the winds of tomorrow! I hope the author keeps going and continues to craft this series for more editions sooner than later. Patiently awaiting book 2 of Hastings Hound.
2994809
I was lucky enough to be able to get the book through Chris Carter's Kickstarter project, and so I was one of the first to read this wonderful adventure. I thought the premise of the book sounded fun and exciting--a sort of Harry Potter meets Percy Jackson at summer camp ;) Kids with awesome powers learning how to use them (and get along!).

The story is fast paced and clever with fun characters who are easy to relate to. Carter avoids some of the cliches that we've come to expect and gives us a fresh new take on mythic kids. For instance, instead of a main character who doesn't know his own past and origin and comes to discover it, we meet Felix--a young Fae who is well aware of who he is, but is curious instead about OUR world, and rejects his own powers in the beginning.

Carter touches on some deep themes of growing up, getting along and being true to yourself and your friends--but with a fun, well-written touch. The humor, characters, and creative new adventures will have kids And adults clamoring for their next summer at Camp Myth.
1260971
As a megafan of the Young Adult fiction, it's hard to believe this is Stokes's debut novel.  She brings a freshness and authenticity to the genre that stands out amongst the derivative works of vampire romances and dystopic, post-apocalyptic metaphors for adolescence. Taylor's voice comes out so clearly that I'm surprised Stokes isn't a high schooler sharing her diary.

Stokes writes with a such a balance of pressing intrigue and natural fluidity that I often found myself pushing forward at 3am even though I had made unkept promises to stop reading since 10pm.

It was well worth taking the trip to find where the staircase ends.  It's a reminder that our lives are not permanent and that the internal journey is often the most adventurous and rewarding one in our lives.
4109689
First in an adventure series with great appeal for middle-school, high-school,
and older readers.  This is the kind of book that continues in your dreams
once you have put it down.  Great for reluctant readers, as well as ESL learning
Gary Paulsen is never consdescending or obviously trying to simplify his
stories.  They are simply remarkable at all levels.  This would be a great
gift or prize for any boy or girl.  Adults seem equally enthusiastic about
this unforgettable book.  It does not involve sex, seduction, or ramance,
except the romance of the wild and breathtaking adventure and survival
skills.  This story inspires readers to think about our
innate intelligence to survive under difficult circumstances.
A fast-paced, but thoroughly modern Robinson Crusoe adventure.