THE NEW KID by Temple Mathews – REVIEW

 

 

Teen Libris – March 2009
(Borders Exclusive)

Will Hunter is no stranger to moving.  He has been to five schools in three years.  You might think his parents are the ones uprooting him all the time, but you’d be wrong.

Will is a demon hunter like his father and grandfather before him.  He has developed a way of making enough money to support his development of new weapons while at the same time providing a cover for his mother being “transferred” wherever he needs to go next.

Will spends his time monitoring demon activity, constantly looking for the tell-tale signs of evil.  His latest stop is Harrisburg, WA.  This once quiet town has recently suffered from disappearances, instances of severe bullying, and outright deviant behavior.

The only trustworthy person Will meets is Natalie.  Natalie’s sister is one of the teens to recently disappear.  She has always had a feeling something sinister was involved and once she sees the things Will deals with on a daily basis, her suspicions are confirmed.

In spite of his better judgement, Will decides to let Natalie into his world.  Never before has he trusted someone with his secret.  Doing so would put an innocent person in danger and as his feelings for Natalie grow, he realizes just how dangerous it can be.

Will and Natalie face the ultimate evil on their journey to find the people they’ve lost.  Will is confronted with knowledge that threatens his sense of self and is forced to make some big decisions.

Can Will face his demons and rid Harrisburg of its evil?

Personal Note:  I had a hard time debating between a 3 glasses rating and a 4 glasses rating.  On the one hand, I don’t think the writing was spectacular, but on the other hand, I wanted to keep reading.  I really enjoyed the story.  So, I went with the higher rating.

 

THE ROAR by Emma Clayton – REVIEW

 

The Chicken House – April 1, 2009

It’s been forty-three years since the Animal Plague forced everyone to move behind the safety of The Wall. Every animal on the planet was effected by the plague, causing them to turn viscious and kill anyone that got in their path. People still have nightmares and are afraid to even look at pictures of animals.

Space is definitely a problem since the construction of The Wall. Only about a third of the planet is available for living space since everything outside The Wall is dead from the poison gas used to kill the animals and their habitats. Every available space is covered with concrete to make room for people. There isn’t any “real” food anymore since animals don’t exist and there isn’t any place for food to grow. People have to live on top of each other and those unfortunate enough to live on the lower levels have to battle the mold that grows everywhere because of the moisture and lack of sunlight. Life is dreary in the Shadows (the lower levels).

Mika is a good kid, but He has been having a tough time lately though because he can’t get over the fact that his twin sister, Ellie, has disappeared. It’s been a year and everyone thinks she is dead – except Mika. He refuses to believe Ellie is gone.

Mika has even more to think about when the government introduces a new game and fitness program in the schools. He has an unexplainable distrust of anything to do with the Fit For Life program, but when he learns that participating in the games might lead him to Ellie, he puts everything he has into winning.

Emma Clayton does a great job of creating this post-apolcalyptic world for the reader. Science Fiction elements like Pod Fighters, space travel, and mental telepathy quickly draw the reader into the story. Mika is a loveable character and you’ll be on the edge of your seat as he and his gaming partner, Audrey, navigate their way through a sinister plan cooked up by an evil government.

The ending definitely leaves room for a sequel.

 

 

Roar

 

COMPOUND by S.A. Bodeen

Eli has been living with his parents in The Compound for six years.  The Compound is an elaborate nuclear bomb shelter his father spent an enormous amount of money to build in order to keep his family safe from nuclear fallout.  The plan is to stay underground for fifteen years until the radiation danger has passed.

Eli has had the hardest time adjusting to life in The Compound.  In his six years there he has steadily distanced himself from everyone in the family.  He maintains a strict schedule of exercise, studying, chores, and reading.  His lonliness comes from the fact that not everyone made it to The Compound. During the nuclear attack that led his family to The Compound,  Eddy, his identical twin, was accidently left behind.  Eddy snuck away with their Grandma without his parents knowing when their father chose to take the family underground.  Their father had already locked the door when he realized Eddy and Grandma didn’t make it.  The locks were set for fifteen years and there wasn’t any way to go back for them.  Eli feels a hole in his life that no one or nothing can fill.

Eli starts to take a hard look at what is going on in The Compound and he doesn’t have a good feeling.  Food is running low, supplies are being depleted, and his father’s behavior is changing.  Eli suspects there is more going on than his father leads them to believe.

Shocking suprises are about to be uncovered.  Secrets never meant to be revealed are exposed.  Eli is left with the job of saving his family.  He will have to break the shell he has created around himself and build connections with the people he has tried to keep away in order to find the truth and survive.

THE COMPOUND will remind you of the movie Blast from the Past, just without all the quirky, fun-loving humor.

 

THE COMPOUND by S.A. Bodeen – REVIEW

 

 

Eli has been living with his parents in The Compound for six years.  The Compound is an elaborate nuclear bomb shelter his father spent an enormous amount of money to build in order to keep his family safe from nuclear fallout.  The plan is to stay underground for fifteen years until the radiation danger has passed.

Eli has had the hardest time adjusting to life in The Compound.  In his six years there he has steadily distanced himself from everyone in the family.  He maintains a strict schedule of exercise, studying, chores, and reading.  His lonliness comes from the fact that not everyone made it to The Compound. During the nuclear attack that led his family to The Compound,  Eddy, his identical twin, was accidently left behind.  Eddy snuck away with their Grandma without his parents knowing when their father chose to take the family underground.  Their father had already locked the door when he realized Eddy and Grandma didn’t make it.  The locks were set for fifteen years and there wasn’t any way to go back for them.  Eli feels a hole in his life that no one or nothing can fill.

Eli starts to take a hard look at what is going on in The Compound and he doesn’t have a good feeling.  Food is running low, supplies are being depleted, and his father’s behavior is changing.  Eli suspects there is more going on than his father leads them to believe.

Shocking suprises are about to be uncovered.  Secrets never meant to be revealed are exposed.  Eli is left with the job of saving his family.  He will have to break the shell he has created around himself and build connections with the people he has tried to keep away in order to find the truth and survive.

THE COMPOUND will remind you of the movie Blast from the Past, just without all the quirky, fun-loving humor.

 

MUST LOVE BLACK by Kelly McClymer

Philippa doesn’t consider herself a true goth.  She just likes wearing black.  When she sees an ad in the paper looking for a nanny for twin, 10-year-old girls with the stipulation that the applicant “must love black,” she feels like she has found the perfect summer job.  It doesn’t hurt that taking this job will get her out of going on a honeymoon cruise with her father and new step-mother.  She leaves for her new job directly from the wedding reception.  Geoff, the totally hot gardener and part-time driver, shows up to drive her to Chrysalis Cliff, the posh hotel/spa the twins live with their father.

Instructions are very clear when she arrives at work.  Philippa is supposed to keep the kids out of the way of the guests and make sure they have fun.  Fun is even scheduled into their busy day.  The problem is, the kids aren’t necessarily interested in typical fun.  They are extremely practical kids, so Philippa has to approach fun in inventive ways.

During the summer Philippa attempts to improve the kids’ relationship with their father and get to know Geoff a little better.  She isn’t quite sure if he has a girlfriend or not, but the girl that seems to be claiming him is the complete opposite of her.  Philippa’s summer turns out to be very enjoyable despite the fog-enshrouded mansion, tarot card reading twins, and possible ghosts.

Kelly McClymer, author of the Salem Witch series, has written an enjoyable and light novel.  Watching the relationship between Philippa and the girls is touching.  It would be nice to read a sequel and be able to keep up with the characters, but MUST LOVE BLACK doesn’t leave you hanging at the end.  The ending is wrapped up nicely and the reader feels satisfied.

 

MUST LOVE BLACK by Kelly McClymer – REVIEW

Philippa doesn’t consider herself a true goth.  She just likes wearing black.  When she sees an ad in the paper looking for a nanny for twin, 10-year-old girls with the stipulation that the applicant “must love black,” she feels like she has found the perfect summer job.  It doesn’t hurt that taking this job will get her out of going on a honeymoon cruise with her father and new step-mother.  She leaves for her new job directly from the wedding reception.  Geoff, the totally hot gardener and part-time driver, shows up to drive her to Chrysalis Cliff, the posh hotel/spa the twins live with their father.

Instructions are very clear when she arrives at work.  Philippa is supposed to keep the kids out of the way of the guests and make sure they have fun.  Fun is even scheduled into their busy day.  The problem is, the kids aren’t necessarily interested in typical fun.  They are extremely practical kids, so Philippa has to approach fun in inventive ways.

During the summer Philippa attempts to improve the kids’ relationship with their father and get to know Geoff a little better.  She isn’t quite sure if he has a girlfriend or not, but the girl that seems to be claiming him is the complete opposite of her.  Philippa’s summer turns out to be very enjoyable despite the fog-enshrouded mansion, tarot card reading twins, and possible ghosts.

Kelly McClymer, author of the Salem Witch series, has written an enjoyable and light novel.  Watching the relationship between Philippa and the girls is touching.  It would be nice to read a sequel and be able to keep up with the characters, but MUST LOVE BLACK doesn’t leave you hanging at the end.  The ending is wrapped up nicely and the reader feels satisfied.

 

IDENTICAL by Ellen Hopkins

One family – damaged by tragedy.  A father who drinks too much; an absentee, professionally-driven mother.  Twin girls left in the middle. 

Kaeleigh and Raeanne are identical twins – each with their own deep, dark secret.  One daughter attracts the inappropriate attention of their damaged father.  The other daughter, usually ignored, takes part in riskier and riskier behavior just screaming to be heard.  Both girls suffer in silence, living behind the facade of a perfect, all-American family.

Ellen Hopkins has written another gripping novel in verse that will leave you on the edge of your seat.  If you are at all familiar with her work you know to expect the unexpected.  Prepare for your jaw to drop when you reach the end of this gripping tale.  You absolutely won’t believe your eyes.

 

The Midnight Twins by Jacqueline Mitchard

 

Meredith and Mallory Brynn are identical twins – born on different days.  Meredith was born at 11:59 P.M. on December 31st and Mallory was born at 12:01 A.M. on January 1st of the next year.  Merry and Mally share many of the things that other twins do like a special language, sympathy pains, and telepathy.  No matter how much they share with each other and how identical they look, they do have differences.  Merry is the head cheerleader and Miss Popularity whereas Mally is all business.  She is a jock and prefers to spend time alone.

The Brynn twins are known and loved all throughout town but even more so after a New Year’s Eve disaster.  While babysitting their little brother and cousins, a mysterious fire breaks out that nearly takes the twins’ lives.  The physical devastation is nothing compared to the emotional damage they endure.  Merry and Mally notice they don’t dream the same dreams after the fire and begin seeing visions.  Mally sees things that are going to happen and Merry sees what has already happened. 

The girls begin to get disturbing visions of a long time family friend which end up putting them in an extremely dangerous situation.  They must rely on their special “gifts” to survive.

THE MIDNIGHT TWINS is a fascinating novel.  The first two chapters were hard to get into because of the detailed explanation of the twins and their “gifts” but once you get to the night of the fire, the story really takes the reader on an emotional ride.