Haunting Stories for the Older Kids

We cannot leave out the middle grade and young adult readers out there who love a good book to curl up with on a cold Halloween weekend. Here are just a few that I enjoyed and found spooky enough that will add to the chill.  This is just a tidbit of a description; but you can click on the link to find my full reviews.

Happy Halloween......................




A Curious Tale of the In-Between is one of those stories that will leave you with that spooky feeling. Eleven year old Pram has the unique ability to see and talk to ghosts. Her aunts feel she needs to be among other children her own age and decide to send her to school. She meets a boy named Clarence who takes her to a spiritualist with the hope of helping her find answers to questions they both have about past people in their lives; unaware the Lady Savant has some strange plans of her own. This was a fast-paced middle grade read by a wonderful author. I found myself not wanting to put it down. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 11 (mature 11) and up.~

Title: A Curious Tale of the In-Between
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Pub. Date: September 2015, Bloomsbury USA





The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall will give kids spine tingling shivers. It had many exciting thrills for such a short story and I enjoyed this classic styled ghost tale. The words and characters had a wonderful 19th Century English feel to it and I loved the many references of classic book titles and authors.  When Florence encounters Sophia's ghost, it is evident that she was not only nasty in life but it carried over to her afterlife with a vengeance. I know that I really enjoyed this book a while back and think it is a "just right book" for ages 10 and up.~

Title:  The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall
Author: Mary Hahn Downing
Pub. Date: September 2010, Clarion Books




Cryer's Cross was a very unusual story with many eerie elements to it. The main character was a teenage girl named Kendall who had OCD, a best friend who wasn't sure if he was a boyfriend, a new guy that was hard to connect to, the mystery of missing teenagers, a little bit of romance, adults with secret pasts and some supernatural elements. It had a lot packed into this fast paced, easy-to-read book. I found myself reading it in one day because I was determined to find out what was with the creepy desk? I have been meaning to find some other books by this author to read.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 14 and up.~

Title: Cryer's Cross
Author: Lisa McMann
Pub. Date:  February 2011, Simon Pulse





I thought the cover of The Revenant was very striking and definitely caught my eye. I was glad that I found it because it turned out to be a really good book.  This was a simple but chilling historical ghost story that was filled with mystery, murder, plenty of secrets, romance and of course, suspense. It had many twists and turns that were unexpected. Just when I thought I had it figured out, I was pleasantly surprised by another outcome. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 15 and up.~

Title:  The Revenant
Author: Sonia Gensler
Pub. Date:  June 2011, Knopf Books




Imaginary Girls was another beautiful cover but I had a tough time getting into this one. Once I started reading more, I then realized that it was turning out better than I first thought. I picked up on the beautiful writing talents of the author and ended up surprisingly captivated by this supernatural story after all. I found myself eager to read into the next chapter to see what was going to happen. I was glad that I gave it a chance before abandoning it.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 16 and up.~

Title: Imaginary Girls
Author: Nova Ren Suma
Pub. Date: June 2011, Dutton Juvenile

Favorite YA Books for 2012

My Year in review:  As for the Young Adult category, I did not do so well....  Over the course of the year, I remember abandoning a few choices because either the characters were weak or the book was so similar to another that I read that I lost interest and it sat around for too long. I do hope to improve on this part and have two books lined up for the start of the new year already. Maybe they will spark me to find more good reads from last years favorite authors or some new debut ones. The one book that I did read was very memorable and I found that it stayed with me for quite a while. I guess that is what I am looking for when I venture into a young adult read.

I am looking forward to what the new year has to bring my way.....click on the link for my review!





The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margo Lanagan

The Brides of Rollrock Island review

On remote Rollrock Island, men go to sea to make their livings—and to catch their wives. The witch Misskaella knows the way of drawing a girl from the heart of a seal, of luring the beauty out of the beast. And for a price a man may buy himself a lovely sea-wife. He may have and hold and keep her. And he will tell himself that he is her master. But from his first look into those wide, questioning, liquid eyes, he will be just as transformed as she. He will be equally ensnared. And the witch will have her true payment. (goodreads summary)



Misskaella, the sea-witch was not a beauty herself.  But she did have the power to bring beauty in the form of a sea-wife summoned from the seals of the ocean and beaches for the men of Rollrock Island.  They knew of her magic and for a price could have the most beautiful woman for their own.  The men rolled up the seal skins that were shed and stored them in a locked closet preventing the women from ever going back to their original form and returning to the sea.  As the temptation grew stronger from man-to-man, to be with these perfectly beautiful and obedient beings, the women of the island slowly left for the mainlands. Marriages were broken apart, families separated and women were rejected as outcasts as the sea-wives were brought one-by-one by Misskaella's magic. As generations passed, the only ones inhabiting the island were men, sea-wives and their sons.  Did this bring them the happiness they imagined it would?  Little do they know that Misskaella will profit in more ways than one as she stands by watching her revenge unfold so easily.

I wasn't sure how I felt after I read this story... The writing evoked so many feelings and emotions that it took a while for me to realize that "yes",  I think I did like it after all.  Based around Selkie folklore, it definitely was not a light hearted story and actually had me feeling gloomy and sad throughout.  It was almost like being on a small island that rains constantly for days and days, waiting for the sun to peek out any moment now. The setting and time were not clear but I was able to come up with my own image through good character description, descriptions of life on the island and vocabulary like "lad" and "mam" for mom. The story unfolds with Misskaella's childhood. She knew that she was different and that difference lead her to become the magical sea-witch. Each chapter is then based on a specific individuals point-of-view and how their story circles around Misskaella's magic and the consequences of choices. The sea-wives were truly unhappy and always felt the longing of the sea although they stayed committed to their new life. What I took away most from the story were questions like: what was true happiness, how far will one go for happiness and most of all what things would we do for love? One son in particular who has a strong bond for his sea-mam shows great courage to do the unthinkable that changes many lives on the island. There were several pages in the chapters that I found myself reading over again to try and connect with the story and understand it. The story and writing style is unique but once I finally got to the main climax, it captured my attention to get to the end of the book quicker.  This book is a dark, folklore tragedy and will not be for every reader.  Sometimes you walk away with uncertain feelings that will stay with you for a few days. This book will do that to its' reader. I felt haunted and not sure I will be able look at a seal without being reminded of this book. But then again, good writing is suppose to stick with its' reader and will give me something to talk about over coffee.   I think this is a "just right book" for a mature reader over 16 as it does have some sensuality.~

Title: The Brides of Rollrock Island
Author: Margo Lanagan
Pub. Date: September 2012, Knopf Books for Young Readers
Genre: fantasy, young adult
Hardcover, 305 pgs.
Originally published as Sea Hearts

Cryer's Cross Review

The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. (goodreads summary),

The story opens with the end of Kendall's junior year and the community is searching for Tiffany Quinn. Eventually over the summer people stop talking about the disappearance and a new school year resumes. Kendall, who also has OCD, tries to manage her challenges on a daily basis living on a small farm in Montana and starting her senior year.  She arrives the first day of school doing her usual routines but finds it more difficult with Tiffany's desk sitting empty and new changes ahead. The only one who understands her is Nico Cruz her best friend whom she has known her whole life.  In the meantime, two new students Marlena and Jacian Obregon move to Cryer's Cross from Arizona. Marlena is happy about the move but her brother Jacian is not thrilled with the new transition to such a small town. He is hard to reach and seems very withdrawn. Kendall moves on with her new school year and one day notices some changes developing with Nico. He seems to be in a sleepy state and one day turns up vanishing just like Tiffany had months before. The community issues a curfew and a buddy system for all students and Kendall's buddy ends up becoming Jacian. As she tries to deal with the grief and loss of Nico, she also finds herself fighting feelings for Jacian. One day, she notices strange messages appearing on the desk that Nico once sat at during school asking for help. She also pieces together that it is the same desk that Tiffany sat at as well. Kendall finds herself becoming entranced with the eerie messages and soon believes that she hears Nico's voice calling to her for help. Will she find what is behind the strange feelings and messages to possibly save Nico from being lost forever if he is truly trying to reach her?

I was very uncertain about this book when I finished the last pages. It will probably be viewed differently to other readers. It had a teenage girl with OCD, a best friend who wasn't sure if he was a boyfriend, a new guy that was hard to connect to, the mystery of missing teenagers, a little bit of romance, adults with secret pasts and some supernatural elements. It had a lot packed into this fast paced, easy-to-read book. I found myself reading it in one day because I was determined to find out what was with the creepy desk?  It was definitely written with a small town feel making the townspeople and families seem realistic as well as Kendall's daily struggle with OCD. It was not that extreme but just enough for me to feel what it would be like to be the character. As the days move on, Kendall also finds herself having unsure feelings about Jacian. I didn't connect with this part of the storyline and wasn't sure if it was going to lead into him being a likely suspect in Nico's disappearance. When the end finally revealed the paranormal side of the story, I felt like I just read a John Saul book. I will say it was chilling and creepy with a bit of a disturbing twist with that desk that kept my wondering thoughts alive. Reading about the lost souls in the book were sad and the thought of how they became that way was even sadder for my soft heart. It did have a few profanities but it wasn't anything out of the norm. I usually enjoy a good ghost story and will say that this one was unique.  It's a book where either you'll like it or not. I'm glad that I did give it a try and I probably would look for other books by this author just to get a feel for her talents. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 14 and up.~

Title: Cryer's Cross
Author: Lisa McMann
Pub. date: February 2011,  Simon Pulse
Genre: young adult, mystery/supernatural
Hardcover, 233 pages

The Name of the Star review

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago. Soon "Rippermania" takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities. (goodreads summary)

Rory is spending her senior year in London attending the Wexford Boarding School while her parents teach American Law at the University of Bristol in England.  She is anticipating the many new things awaiting her in London. She finds the school is quite different than back home in Louisiana but adjusts easily and fitting in with her new roommate Jazza. Upon her arrival though, the city of London and its residents are caught up in the frenzy of a copycat serial killer mimicking the gruesome murders of the once famous Jack the Ripper of 1888. Rory finds herself a main participant as well as she becomes a witness to a strange man lurking about the area of a recent murder.  Rory begins to question what she believes to be true as her friend Jazza did not see the same man.  She soon discovers that she has developed a rare ability to see people (mainly ghosts) who others cannot see. She finds there is a small group of others that have the same unusual capabilities but who are connected to a secret underground ghost police force. Is the man that Rory eyewitnesses really a copycat killer or could it actually be the ghost of Jack the Ripper himself? With Rory's sudden unexplainable ability, she finds herself  involved in a crime solving mystery and becomes a link between the supernatural world and the real world.

I first saw this at my local bookstore where they have the young adult section divided up between books for ages 12/up and 14/up.  It was under the 12+ section and I was curious if the age recommendation was correct.  The mystery of Jack the Ripper and his crimes are terribly shocking and turning the history of this into a present day paranormal story was quite interesting. The first half of the book was slow going and it took a while to get exciting. But since this was the first of a new series, I realized there was a lot of focus on character developing and I enjoyed it. I liked the wide variety of characters with each one given a unique personality and back story that made them fit well into the happenings of the book.  I also appreciated the descriptive details put into the London setting. It gave me the sense of being there, taking in the sites, sounds and all of the activity surrounding the Rippermania frenzy. There was a love interest for Rory with an English boy named Jerome, which I questioned why it was there though. I think it got lost in the real story.  Towards the middle of the book, it finally became exciting when Boo, Stephen and Callum were introduced. I gained a better insight to their purpose as the underground ghost police and how their abilities connected them to protecting Rory.  From there it developed into a paranormal thriller centered around solving a mystery of the copycat murderer and stopping a ghostly serial killer before he strikes again.  The author included many grisly details of the murders and history of the Ripper that gave me some shivers after reading them. All the murders were re-enacted in the same style and on the same dates as those of Jack the Ripper giving the impression that he has returned. Because there were so many different characters, I had a couple of conclusions in mind myself but in the end proved that I'm not a crime solving sleuth.  I thought this was a good introduction to the series and definitely left the door open for more. I gained good understanding of the characters and how their roles will used in the future. Do I agree that it is for age twelve? No.....a murderer dismembering victims like Jack the Ripper did to prostitutes is another can of worms I am not ready to open up just yet for my child. I think that this would be a "just right book" for ages 16 and over.~

Title: The Name of the Star (Shades of London #1)
Author: Maureen Johnson
Pub. Date: September 2011
Genre: paranormal,  young adult mystery
Hardcover, 372 pgs.

The Revenant review

When Willie arrives in Indian Territory, she knows only one thing: no one can find out who she really is. To escape a home she doesn't belong in anymore, she assumes the name of a former classmate and accepts a teaching job at the Cherokee Female Seminary. Nothing prepares her for what she finds there. Her pupils are the daughters of the Cherokee elite—educated and more wealthy than she, and the school is cloaked in mystery. A student drowned in the river last year, and the girls whisper that she was killed by a jealous lover. Willie's room is the very room the dead girl slept in. The students say her spirit haunts it.  She's also not sure what to make of a boy from the nearby boys' school who has taken an interest in her—his past is cloaked in secrets. Soon, even she has to admit that the revenant may be trying to tell her something. . (goodreads summary)

It is August, 1896 and seventeen year old Willemina Hammond is doing the unthinkable. She is boarding the railway to the Cherokee Female Seminary under a false identity accepting a teaching position that is truly not hers for the taking.  She has assumed the name of a former classmate and will be teaching English classes at the Seminary as Angeline McClure. She finds she is not much older than her students and pretending to be someone she is not becomes quite the challenge for her.  She would much rather be an impostor than return home from her own schooling to her mother's plea for help with the family. Willie's father had passed away and not soon after his death, her mother remarried a neighbor and had children with him. Willie feels betrayed by her mother's choices but finds an opportunity to escape them by taking this teaching job under false pretences.  As the new school year begins, strange things are happening at the Girl's Seminary. There is rumor that a ghost of a student who drowned in the nearby river is haunting the Seminary but for reasons unknown.  There may be more to this death than just accidental. Willie has also captured the eye of a local schoolboy, Eli Sevenstar, who also seems to have unexpectedly captured her heart as well. Not only does she need to cover up her identity but also her feelings for him to keep from being exposed as the fraud she truly is. As more and more ghostly incidents occur at the school, Willie finds herself becoming intensely involved in the mysteries unraveling behind the truth of the Revenant that may bring her more than she bargained for.

Willie and her friend Olivia are determined to find the source of the ghost and why it is haunting with a vengeance.   There are girls in the school who seem to be targets for the ghosts outbursts that cause injury and fear amongst them. They feel it is the ghost of Ella, the student who drowned, because they treated her unkindly during her life. Ella was also the girl who had every boys attention and wishing for her love. There are many diverse characters that make this story appealing and added to the mystery of Ella's death. But, dealing with spooky ghosts is not the only thing Willie is trying to sort out. Her feelings for Eli come into conflict while hiding her identity. Any relationship is forbidden because she is a teacher but her feelings are actually one of a smitten school girl.  This was a simple but chilling historical ghost story that was filled with mystery, murder, plenty of secrets, romance and of course, suspense. It had many twists and turns that were unexpected. Just when I thought I had it figured out, I was pleasantly surprised by another outcome. Passionate feelings and pregnancy before marriage are portrayed but not in too much detail. I did find myself enjoying this debut novel because it had a mysterious and suspenseful plot that kept me interested until the end.  It gave me vivid imagery of the setting because the writing style presented Victorian eloquence and a detailed feeling of an 1890's time period. The cover was quite beautiful, too. I do look forward to reading more books by the author and I think this is a "just right book" for ages 15 and up.~

Title: The Revenant
Author: Sonia Gensler
Pub. Date: June 2011, Alfred A. Knopf - Random House
Genre: young adult fiction
Hardcover, 322 pgs.

Imaginary Girls review

Chloe's older sister, Ruby, is the girl everyone looks to and longs for, who can't be captured or caged. When a night with Ruby's friends goes horribly wrong and Chloe discovers the dead body of her classmate London Hayes left floating in the reservoir, Chloe is sent away from town and away from Ruby. But Ruby will do anything to get her sister back, and when Chloe returns to town two years later, deadly surprises await. As Chloe flirts with the truth that Ruby has hidden deeply away, the fragile line between life and death is redrawn by the complex bonds of sisterhood.(goodreads summary)

Ruby and Chloe are separated when the tragic death of a classmate is questioned and she moves in with her distant father miles away. The reservoir is a place where kids would go for parties and swimming but there are also many other secrets that it holds. Two years after the discovery of London's dead body, Ruby finds Chloe and insists she returns to her hometown to be reunited so she can take care of and protect her just like before. Ruby and Chloe share the same mother who was non existent in their lives growing up.  Ruby was always the popular, daring and outrageous sister. All the girls want to be like her and all the boys want to be with her. Upon her return, Chloe now finds things are more different than usual with Ruby.  She seems to hold an unexplainable power over the small community and the people around her.  She is manipulative and will use others as a pawn to get what she wants whenever she wants, especially with ex-boyfriends.  Being influenced by Ruby's unnatural force, some almost seem to be in a trance like state at times in her presence. Both sisters also have an incredible needy bond but hold a strong love and trust for each other.  Ruby is very protective of Chloe and insists that she does not go near the reservoir or leave the outskirts of town.  Ruby would tell Chloe stories of the flooded Town of Olive that was laying underneath the reservoir giving it a ghostlike quality. As Chloe adjusts to the many unusual changes around her, she unfolds answers to the secrets that lay at the bottom of the mysterious watering hole which determines what is real and what is not.

When I first started reading this book, I had a hard time getting into it. I wasn't sure what direction this story was taking. I found myself confused in the beginning and almost gave up on it.  It took me until the first 80 pages to realize this was becoming more exciting and I was liking it.  I picked up on the beautiful writing talents of the author and ended up surprisingly captivated by this supernatural story after all. I found myself eager to read into the next chapter to see what was going to happen. The haunting words flowed so easily and they gave me such an eerie visualization that I had the heebie jeebie's for a couple of days.  Good writing is suppose to do this for the reader and I found myself hooked on the spookiness.  The relationship of the two sisters seemed quite strange but it was a story about the strong bond of sisterhood and how far someone would go for the one they loved.  What Chloe had to figure out was the truth behind Ruby's powerful force and how it connected with the death of London which turned out to be a surprise as well.  I enjoyed the twists and turns at each new chapter keeping my attention until the very end. I admit I was left with questions lingering in the end  but I suppose that was the author's intent, so I would reflect on what I just read.  There is drinking and Chloe does have a sexual encounter but is not written in too much detail and is brief.  This book may not be for the reader looking for a wrapped up plot in the end but I was glad I gave it a chance with an open mind.  It will make for a good supernatural story to curl up with now that the chilly fall nights are fast approaching.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 16 and up.~

Title: Imaginary Girls
Author: Nova Ren Suma
Genre: young adult, paranormal
Pub: Date: June 2011, Dutton Books
Hardcover,  348 pgs.

Close to Famous review

Foster McFee dreams of having her own cooking show like her idol, celebrity chef Sonny Kroll. Macon Dillard's goal is to be a documentary filmmaker. Foster's mother Rayka longs to be a headliner instead of a back-up singer. And Miss Charleena plans a triumphant return to Hollywood. Everyone has a dream, but nobody is even close to famous in the little town of Culpepper. Until some unexpected events shake the town and its inhabitants and put their big ambitions to the test. Full of humor, unforgettable characters, surprises, and lots and lots of heart, this is Joan Bauer at her most engaging. (goodreads summary)

Twelve year old Foster and her mother live a life "making the best of it".  Foster lost her father in the Iraq War and her only memories she has left of him is a pillowcase of letters and his dog tags. One night they suddenly find themselves fleeing Memphis from her mother's abusive boyfriend and end up in the small town of Culpepper, West Virginia. Upon their arrival, they are welcomed by the many friendly citizens of the rural town.  The eclectic characters of the small town are plentiful and the two settle in for the time being. Foster also has a learning disability but she is extremely gifted in baking muffins, cupcakes and breads. She has a dream of having her own cooking show and "making the world a better place, one cupcake at a time."

I really enjoyed this heart warming story....I found Foster's character strong and independent despite her unstable lifestyle.  The many characters throughout the book added humor, support with open arms and their wisdom.  I sensed the closeness of the small town people. They are feeling the effects of a prison being built promising jobs and hope but has failed in delivering. Foster finds a variety of friends such as Macon, a boy her age who dreams of becoming a documentary film maker to the many unlikely adults like Miss Charleena, the reclusive movie actress with many issues of her own.  Although, Miss Charleena played an important role for Foster with acceptance of her learning disability and offering help she never seemed to receive from her previous school. Foster also finds she is not the only one that has big dreams among this community and she helps others as they help her.  Foster develops her cooking talents into a small business selling her muffins and cupcakes to the local Bar and Grill.   I liked the many subtle messages and life lessons I found throughout the book.  The story does touch on domestic abuse more than once. Foster's mother has a black eye and later meets up with the same ex-boyfriend again in Memphis and returns with a bruise. She tells Foster she has fallen but does not believe her mother and eventually confronts her for the truth.  This realistic fiction was touching and focuses mainly on following your dreams and finding a way to achieve them despite the things that get in the way.  I did find this book located in the Young Adult section of my library but I think this could be a "just right book" for ages 11 and up.~


you may also like:

     Almost Home by Joan Bauer


Title: Close to Famous
Author: Joan Bauer
Genre: Realistic fiction
Pub. Date: February 2011, Viking Juvenile
Hardcover, 250 pgs.

Death Cloud review

It is the summer of 1868, and Sherlock Holmes is fourteen. On break from boarding school, he is staying with eccentric strangers—his uncle and aunt—in their vast house in Hampshire. When two local people die from symptoms that resemble the plague, Holmes begins to investigate what really killed them, helped by his new tutor, an American named Amyus Crowe. So begins Sherlock’s true education in detection, as he discovers the dastardly crimes of a brilliantly sinister villain of exquisitely malign intent.  (goodreads summary)

Young Sherlock Holmes is awaiting his father's arrival to take him home from the Deepdene School for Boys. He finds his older brother Mycroft in his place instructing Sherlock that he will not be returning home as planned. To his dismay he will spend the summer with unknown relatives, an Uncle and Aunt in Farnham he has never met. Upon his arrival, it is obvious he is not a welcome guest. It is up to Sherlock to try and make the best of it for the next couple of months. He meets a fourteen year old vagabond named Matthew Arnatt and the two become quick friends. Sherlock's brother also arranges for a tutor from America to keep up his education during break. Stumbling upon the mystery of two dead bodies in the first days of his arrival, this summer will definitely be one Sherlock will not soon forget.

The first story in the young Sherlock series has everything a good adventure book for young teens should be. It was filled with action, mystery, heroes and villains, problem solving and all around an enjoyable read. The characters blended well as they pieced together a puzzling mystery all lead by a very unusual suspect.  Sherlock's tutor turns out to be more than just a teacher teaching math skills. Amyus Crowe is from New Mexico and has a background in tracking criminals that have escaped justice and hunts them down.  He is instructing Sherlock on using logic, reasoning and deduction skills that will help aid in cracking the case of a dark cloud that was seen leaving the bodies of the two dead men. He has a feisty, independent daughter named Virginia who also plays a strong role.  When Sherlock finds a yellow substance around the bodies, he takes it to a professor for identification.  He puts two and two together and comes up with an answer that leads them on one adventure after another. As the story unfolds, Sherlock and Matt find themselves knowing more than they should and not to the liking of the mastermind behind the deaths. They travel to area towns and must run from henchmen on their trail finding themselves in many dangerous situations along the way.  There were a few scenes depicted that involved street fighting and a stabbing in an alley. Also, when the villain and his plot were finally revealed I did find this part a bit creepy and macabre. But I liked the feel and fluency of the descriptive sentences and word choice throughout the book that made it Sherlock Holmes.  The book kept going up and down with excitement holding my interest until the end.  There is a second book coming in the Fall of 2011 that takes Sherlock and Matt to America and I believe a third one next. This series could probably go on forever and capture a reluctant teen reader in the process.....I think this is a "just right book" for ages 14 and up.~

Title: Death Cloud-Sherlock Holmes The Legend Begins
Author: Andrew Lane
Genre: Mystery, young adult
Pub. Date: February 2011, Farrar Straus Giroux
Hardcover, 311 pgs.

Favorite review

Angie Favorite was just eleven years old when her mother disappeared, leaving Angie and her brother Jason to be raised by their grandmother while their rock-star father hit the road with his band. Since that day, Angie has gone through the motions of everyday life. She thinks she has everyone fooled — until the summer morning when she’s abducted from a mall parking lot. She narrowly escapes and her attacker, Scott Bittner, is arrested, but the weirdness has just begun. When Angie receives a letter from Scott’s mother, entreating her to meet so that she can apologize for her son’s actions, the girl reluctantly agrees. But it is soon obvious that Scott’s attack wasn’t random at all and that there is more to the strange Mrs. Bittner than meets the eye. (goodreads summary)

Angie will never forget the feeling of loss from the sudden disappearance of their mother five years ago.  Angie's grandmother believes that her father had ruined her daughter's life by marrying him. But yet, Angie has hope that she will return to them someday because they were a very happy family once upon a time. While running errands one morning, Angie is attacked by a stranger named Scott Bittner.  Luckily, she escapes and he is arrested.  She soon finds that he took his own life before she could find out why he tried kidnapping her and leaving her with no closure on the attack.  Scott's mother writes Angie a letter asking for her forgiveness of her son and offering anything to help ease her suffering by opening up her heart and home.  Angie decides to make contact and after that moment the story twists and turns into a thriller. 

When Angie and her brother accept a dinner invitation, it turns into an abrupt weekend stay when she unexpectedly sprains her ankle.  It seemed a little to easy for Angie to get caught up with Mrs. Bittner, especially since she was traumatized by being attacked by her son.  Her thoughts and actions were a bit immature for a depicted age of sixteen but maybe there are teens who would think different.  Mrs. Bittner is a wealthy widow who uses her money to get what she wants.  She lives on a huge estate and has a son and grandson that live on the other side of the lake. She comes off as sweet but as the story unfolds she shows another side.  I had the feeling there was a mystery between Scott and the disappearance of Angie's mother.  As I kept reading, I found out things were not what I thought and actually became more thrilling. There were many surprises and twists with the characters in the story leaving me satisfied with the outcome.  At first, I wasn't sure how this book was going to turnout but I did like it. I read other reviews and they were not good so it left me wondering. I will say though that it had a beginning, suspenseful climax but the end seemed to wrap up too quickly. Then again, it may be perfect for a teen looking for a short and fast read.   It did keep my interest though and I found myself picking it up frequently because I wanted to finish and find out what was going to happen in the end.  I would read more books by this author to see how they would compare. I think this would be a "just right book" for ages 14 and up.~

Title:  Favorite
Author: Karen McQuestion
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Pub. Date: April 2011, Amazon Encore
Paperback, 162 pgs.

Trapped review

The day the blizzard started, no one knew that it was going to keep snowing for a week. That for those in its path, it would become not just a matter of keeping warm, but of staying alive....
Scotty and his friends Pete and Jason are among the last seven kids at their high school waiting to get picked up that day, and they soon realize that no one is coming for them. Still, it doesn't seem so bad to spend the night at school, especially when distractingly hot Krista and Julie are sleeping just down the hall. But then the power goes out, then the heat. The pipes freeze, and the roof shudders. As the days add up, the snow piles higher, and the empty halls grow colder and darker, the mounting pressure forces a devastating decision....(goodreads summary)

A very unlikely mix of teens are thrown into a survival mode situation when a blizzard hits part of a New England area and stalls for a week. Each one has their own diverse personality that they will need to manage with as well.  Scotty is the basketball athlete, there are his best friends Pete, who is just an ordinary guy and Jason who has a weird fascination with anything military, Les is labeled as the school thug who is the last person you'd want to be alone with, Eli is the creepy antisocial guy and Krista and Julie are the freshman cuties. But as the days go on,  Scotty is realizing that labels aren't always what they seem to be.  One nights stay turns into another as the mounting snow covers the schools windows and doors. They must do what they can to survive the next day or the question is will they? I thought it made for a good survival against-all-odds read and I liked how it was told in Scotty's voice.  The characters were placed in a do-or-die situation and I felt they handeled it quite maturely for their ages. Nobody came across as panicky or whiny but instead  level-headed enough to think in order to work out the situations of no heat, water, or food without any adult involvement.  This is a quiet book throughout and you will have to read to the end to find some excitement.  I am glad that I don't recall any offensive language (which is rare in today's YA books) There were a couple suggestive references, nothing acted on early in the beginning but that was skimmed over quickly enough.  Unfortunately, I was left feeling disappointed that the ending wrapped up fast and leaving me with many lingering questions.  All-in-all, it wasn't the greatest read for me but it did turn out to be a good realistic, survival story and with the authors writing he did give it a serious "what if" feel to the novel.  Kids may relate with the high school scene and social aspects portrayed.  I think this would be a "just right" book for ages 14 and up.~

Title:  Trapped
Author: Michael Northrup
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Pub. Date:  February 2011, Scholastic Press
Hardcover, 232 pgs.

Jump review

Jump. That is what P.K. has done. A totally wild, crazy jump from a restrictive life with her family into a life of total adventure—rock-climbing out west with a guy she barely knows. At first, everything's amazing. Not only are they climbing in awesomely beautiful national parks like Yosemite but they seem awesomely made for one another. P.K. is in heaven. And then the cops show up . . . with an arrest warrant. And P.K. has to decide who to believe: this amazing guy whom she trusts with her life—or the cops, who want her to believe that he may take her life.  (GoodReads description)


P.K. is a high school student misunderstood by her parents and is being sent away to a boarding school in the fall. P.K. is not at all happy about this decision. She loves the thrill of rock climbing and devises a plan to run away on a climbing adventure.  Critter escapes from a psychiatric hospital after being placed there by his parents because of his attempted suicide and the lack of support and understanding from them. The two characters meet up accidentally at a local climbing gym and plan to run away together as strangers to Red Rock for the climb of their lives.  The book is told in alternating voices between P.K. and Critter. I liked how the author wrote through their thoughts and point-of-view individually.  The chapters are short and some have just a few sentances.  Anyone who is into rock climbing would understand the lingo between the climbers. (I found myself learning alot about rock climbing that I did not know). P.K. and Critter hitchhike their way to Las Vegas, meet other climbers, run from the cops and some romantic feelings develop along the way between the two. I did feel though that the book made running away with a stranger to easy a choice for a teenager. The idea of meeting a teenage boy that you know nothing about and go on the road with  made me a little uneasy. The author did have a couple of  situations that showed the dangers and consequences of being a runaway which I liked. Also, the thoughts of wanting to be back home came up more than once.   Critter has some unusual life philosophies and is looking for accceptance from P.K.  Along the way, P.K. is trying to figure him out.  Some parts were dragging and I found myself wanting to get past them faster than I was.  I did understand an underlying message that we need to listen to our kids and be more accepting of who they are.  I think this book would be appropriate  and a "just right book" for ages 15 and up.  I would like to read other titles by this author.~

Title: Jump
Author: Elisa Carbone
Genre: Realistic Fiction, young adult
Pub. Date: June 2010, Penguin Group
Hardcover, 255 pgs.
book source: local library

Fat Vampire review


Doug Lee is undead quite by accident - attacked by a desperate vampire, he finds himself cursed with being fat and fifteen forever. When he has no luck finding some goth chick with a vampire fetish, he resorts to sucking the blood of cows under cover of the night. But it's just not the same.

Well, I heard alot of reviews on this one about how funny and hilarious it was going to be. I guess it is a spoof of the recent vampire rage going on.  The first thing I will say is that it disappointed me in more ways than one. I felt the author has a great concept, a 15 year old overweight, unpopular awkward teen turned into a vampire by accident and trying to yet fit it into another skin. It could have gone in alot of directions. Unfortunately, I lacked a connection or any feeling with the main character Doug. I thought when the other characters were introduced it was going somewhere but that also eventually fell flat.  I ended up losing track of the plot halfway (if there is any). I was getting lost with the back and forth narratives between different characters like Stephin the Vampire Mentor for Doug, Sejal the Foreign Exchange Student and the Vampire Hunter TV Show host Alan.  One thing that surprised me most was the offensive language and sexual subject matter. Too much of it and it did nothing for the book or character developments. I wonder if authors feel this attracts young adults instead of a just writing a good story.   I saw that a recommended age group was 14 and up or grade 10 and up. I would not want my 14 or 15 year old reading this book.~

Title: Fat Vampire
Author: Adam Rex
Genre: Fiction-Young Adult
Pub. Date: July 2010, Balzer & Bray
Hardcover, 324 pgs.
BookSource: Local Library