Please enable JavaScript
All Books | Page 102 | LitPick Book Reviews
All Books
Sara and the Chimera (Book 1) - A Prison of Light (eBook)
Todd Morasch, Greg Dent, Todd Morasch, Greg Dent
Synopsis: What if you knew everything there was to know? What if the true answer to any question was ready in your mind the moment you asked for it? What if the answers always came every time, and were never wrong? What questions would you ask? What would you do with the answers? And who would you trust?

Sara Starbright has exactly that problem. Being eleven is hard enough, but not having anyone to confide in is even harder. What's the point in getting to know someone if you already know everything about them? Sure, Sara's single mom tries her best to understand her daughter, but making ends meet is about all she seems to have time for these days. And Sara has bigger problems on the way too, problems that even she can't see coming, for having all the answers is nice, but asking the right questions is the real talent.

Sara Starbright has the most important gift the universe has ever given, and all manner of creatures from all realms of the imagination want to take it for themselves. What can one small girl do to protect herself from the deadliest and most impressive force creation has ever amassed? Yet in her darkest hour, Sara may have just met the one person in the entire universe capable of being her friend. Stifled and stunted in the deepest inner chambers of the Fish Man's worldship prison colony, a boy named Jonathan Wheeler lies in a state of suspended animation. Through an unlikely twist of fate, he has found himself in the body of an ever-growing and ever-changing monster, the Chimera. With boundless energy and strength at his command, all he needs is the right bit of knowledge to get himself out of his cell and to freedom.

As they escape from one world to the next, Sara and Jonathan find that together they make a pretty good team. But when you can't trust anyone, and when the universe turns out to be quite a bit bigger than you could have ever imagined, who can you count on to guide you towards somewhere you actually want to be?

Meow.
Publication Date: 07/27/10
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
The Prophecy of the Shalforen: Hangman's Hole
Synopsis: "I know you are not so brave, Anna Spencerford. You will do as I say."-The savage voice haunted Anna's mind. Crammed in their old red ford escort, the five Spencerfords, Alfred, Penelope, Anna, Dick & Alex, set out for the South of England to a very quirky wedding and to visit their elderly relatives. There they will meet the Jojoes, a cheeky pair of twins that will help them escape the boring household and introduce them to the wonders of their woods, camp and hidey holes and a ruined cottage. In the midst of a family drama, Anna finds that the discovery of the cottage will lead to much more than a simple game, as the ghostly figure of the Hangman will creep slowly into her life.
Publication Date: 07/23/10
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Xisle
Steve Augarde
Synopsis:

Ever since the floods came and washed the world away, survivors have been desperate to win a place on X-Isle, the island where life is rumored to be easier than on what's left of the mainland. Only young boys stand a chance of getting in, the smaller and lighter the better. Baz and Ray are two of the lucky few to be chosen, but they soon discover that X-Isle is a far cry from paradise. Ruled by Preacher John, a dangerous religious fanatic, it's a violent, unpredictable place, where terrible things can happen at any moment. The boys hatch an extraordinary plan in order to protect themselves-the construction of a mighty weapon of defense. But can they complete this weapon in time, and are they really prepared to use it to secure their freedom?

Powerful and compelling, X-Isle is a fast-moving thriller and a great read for boys. Filled with suspense, fights, adventure, and mystery, this is a book that will keep you guessing right to the very end.

Publication Date: 07/13/10
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Dracula
Anne Yvonne Gilbert, Nicky Raven, Bram Stoker
Synopsis: Enter the realm of Count Dracula! Bram Stoker’s masterpiece is adapted for a younger audience with all the sinister intrigue of the original novel. (Age 12 and up)

English solicitor Jonathan Harker is on a journey to see a new client—the enigmatic Count Dracula. But when the unfortunate Harker finds himself held prisoner in the count’s remote castle, he must use all his faculties to escape. With the help of Professor Van Helsing, can he prevent the evil that has been unleashed from destroying his world? Illuminated in all its gothic majesty through the vivid artwork of Anne Yvonne Gilbert, this rich new edition is adapted for younger readers but retains the mystery and shocking twists of Bram Stoker’s classic.
Publication Date: 07/13/10
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Solid
Shelley Workinger
Synopsis: Clio Kaid may be 17 and just beginning the last summer before her senior year, but her life is anything but typical.

She's just discovered she was genetically altered before birth and is now headed to a top-secret Army campus to explore the surprising results of the experiment.

Follow Clio and the other teens as they develop fantastic super-abilities, forge new friendships, find love, and uncover a conspiracy along the way.
Publication Date: 07/09/10
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Betti on the High Wire
Lisa Railsback
Synopsis: Ten-year-old Babo and the other ?leftover kids? live on an abandoned circus camp in a war-torn country. Babo believes her circus-star parents will come back for her any day now, so she is not one bit happy when an American couple adopts her. She hates her new name (Betti) and is confused by everything in America. She?s determined to run away. But as Betti slowly begins to trust her new family and even makes a friend, she decides maybe she can stay just one more day. And then maybe another . . .

Betti on the High Wire is both heartbreaking and hilarious?and completely unforgettable. This brave little storyteller of a girl will wiggle her way straight into your heart.

Publication Date: 07/08/10
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Two for Tee
Tony Rosa
Synopsis: "Two for Tee" chronicles the boyhood friendship between Chad Ashworth, Jr. and Buzzy Odom. A backfiring prank binds the two boys together at an early age and they cope with the lasting effects in their own way. Chad becomes passionate about the only allowable sport, golf, and finds comfort on the course and in his imagination. Buzzy turns into the court jester hoping a dose of humor will make things better. The two boys attend a professional golf tournament, spend a week at golf camp, and play in a junior golf tournament, but their perspective experiences at each event are polar opposites. When the jokes start to wear thin, and only one of them remains committed to golf, will the friendship survive?
Publication Date: 07/07/10
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Two for Tee
Tony Rosa
Synopsis: "Two for Tee" chronicles the boyhood friendship between Chad Ashworth, Jr. and Buzzy Odom. A backfiring prank binds the two boys together at an early age and they cope with the lasting effects in their own way. Chad becomes passionate about the only allowable sport, golf, and finds comfort on the course and in his imagination. Buzzy turns into the court jester hoping a dose of humor will make things better. The two boys attend a professional golf tournament, spend a week at golf camp, and play in a junior golf tournament, but their perspective experiences at each event are polar opposites. When the jokes start to wear thin, and only one of them remains committed to golf, will the friendship survive?
Publication Date: 07/07/10
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Just Another Hero
Sharon M. Draper
Synopsis: Arielle, November, Jericho, and their friends have been through so much: the hazing ritual that left Joshua dead; November finding out that she was pregnant with Josh’s baby. But senior year is going well, and when the fire alarm goes off in English class, everyone assumes that someone is trying to get out of another quiz. But the alarm was pulled for a very different and potentially deadly reason. There’s only a matter of seconds to stop a tragedy, and all eyes are searching for someone—anyone—to step up and do something….
Publication Date: 07/06/10
Age Level: Mature Young Adult
Genre: Fiction
Rules To Rock By
Josh Farrar
Synopsis:

You'd never guess it now, but Annabelle Cabrera used to be a rock star. And not like her mom or dad called her a "total rock star" after she won a spelling bee or something. She was a real rock star, the bassist of Egg Mountain, the most popular band in the New York music scene. But when her parents uproot her from Brooklyn and move her to Rhode Island so they can record their own album, Annabelle feels lost. Starting a new band isn't as easy as she'd hoped, the school's rival band is a bunch of bullies, and her parents are so immersed in recording that they're completely neglecting Annabelle and her younger brother. How can Annabelle truly make herself heard?

Publication Date: 07/01/10
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Conspiracy 365: July
Gabrielle Lord
Synopsis: July is book 7 of a 12 book series. Breaking out of the fishing net is the least of Cal's worries--all kinds of perils await him on deck. He dodges the cops, but becomes indebted to the boat captain. How can he learn more about Piers Ormond's will if he is stuck carting fish to earn back his freedom? Cal may have a chance if he can find his great-aunt Millicent. But with Sligo's thugs hot on his heels, he may not be her only unexpected visitor. A sinister storm is rewing...Should Cal expose another relative to danger? The clock is ticking . Any second could be his last. Callum Ormond has been warned. He has 365 days. The countdown has begun... 12 books. 12 months.
Publication Date: 07/01/10
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
What Momma Left Me
Renée Watson
Synopsis:

Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Author Award winner Renée Watson's heart-tugging debut celebrates one girl's gift for finding joy in dark places.

Serenity knows she is good at keeping secrets, and she's got a whole lifetime's worth of them. Her mother is dead, her father is gone, and starting life over at her grandparents' house is strange. Luckily, certain things seem to hold promise: a new friend, a new church, a new school. But when her brother starts making poor choices, and her grandparents believe in a faith that Serenity isn't sure she understands, it is the power of love that will keep her sure of just who she is.

Publication Date: 07/01/10
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
W.S. From Rear-Ender to Slender Brenda
Synopsis: Using humour, W.S skilfully tackles two very topical issues: bullying and obesity. The main storyline involves two 12 year old girls, Brenda and Katie, who over a period of time, find their circumstances reversed. The bully, Katie, gains weight and becomes known as 'Weighty' Katie, whilst the girl she cruelly nicknamed Brenda 'Rear Ender,' loses weight and is subsequently accepted by her peers and renamed 'Slender' Brenda. By cleverly turning the tables on Katie, the author is able to be very real about the destructive and painful act of bullying. Children are loving a book that is making them laugh and cringe, whilst subtly challenging the way they think and behave. Adults who read W.S with their children are transported back in time, whether they were bullied at school, or simply watched it take place. W.S is a big punchy story in a short book; one you'll struggle to put down once you've picked it up.
Publication Date: 07/01/10
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Fatal Circle
Linda Robertson
Synopsis: Destiny sucks. . . .

There was a time when Persephone Alcmedi thought her life was hard to manage, what with wondering how to make sure she took adequate care of both her grandmother and her foster daughter, Beverley, whether she’d end up in the unwanted position of high priestess of a coven, and whether her wærewolf lover, Johnny, would resist the groupies who hang around his band Lycanthropia.

But that was before the fairies started demanding that Seph’s frightening, unpredictable ally—the ancient vampire Menessos— be destroyed . . . or the world will suffer. Seph and Menessos are magically bonded, but that’s a secret she dares not reveal to her fellow witches lest they be forced to reject her and forbid her use of magic. And, despite the strain this casts on her relationship with Johnny, as a showdown with the fairies nears, she and Menessos badly need the wærewolves as allies.

Life, death, and love are all on the line, but when destiny is calling, it doesn’t help to turn away. With the individual threads of their fates twisted inextricably together, can Seph, Johnny, and Menessos keep the world safe from fairy vengeance?
Publication Date: 06/29/10
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Tales from Gundarland
Hank Quense
Synopsis: Tales From Gundarland, won a medal in a recent Readers Favorite competition in the scifi/fantasy category. Laughter is contagious. Enjoy some by reading this book It's filled with delightful entertainment. Without commercial interruption! Gundarland is populated by humans, dwarfs, elves and other races; it's the backdrop for unique adventures, brilliant heroes and cunning villains. You'll meet some of Shakespeare's most famous characters, a warrior-cook, vigilantes and beautiful, lusty princesses to mention just a few of the memorable characters in the stories. Here is a list of the stories and a brief synopsis of each. Romeo and Juliet: Romeo, a dwarf miner, and Juliet, the elfin daughter of a rich gem merchant, have a rocky courtship because Juliet's brothers are avowed enemies of Romeo's family. Chasing Dreams: This novella tells the story of twin yuk brothers on their journey from strong-armed thugs to highway robbers to bawdy house owners to politicians. The brothers are plagued and harassed by vigilantes. Boggerts Blue: A warrior-cook seeks to rescue a kidnapped princess. She refuses to be rescued by someone who isn't noble-born. The Big Bang: A wizard has to eliminate a dragon and his minions. On the way to complete his mission, he is tested by a shape-changer and a pair of trolls. The Queen's Hero: This novella is about a young tinker-warrior as he struggles to save his Queen from a pirate admiral trying to overthrow her and become king. The Queen's three beautiful daughters have their own plans for the young hero. Merchant of Venison: A dwarf butcher borrows money to help his best friend and soon regrets it. The dwelf money lender has bloody ideas about the default payments. Inter-Racial Musical Playoffs: A few greedy wizards attempt to fix a musical competition. Tactical Surprise: A general develops unusual tactics to defeat a rebel army.
Publication Date: 06/25/10
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Tuesday's Child
Carolyn Gibbs
Synopsis: no description
Publication Date: 06/22/10
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction

Pages



RECENT BOOK REVIEWS