Jerry's Madness MG

This is a fast paced, action packed book about Jerry, a eleven year old with some anger issues he is working on thanks to his good friend Wilcox.  But when different situations cross his path, including his good friend nearly committing suicide from being bullied so much, Jerry learns how forgiveness, kindness, and understanding can even change the enemy, as well as help friends.
This was a pretty good book, it just seemed at times old fashioned and other times very modern.  I am not entirely sure the time period it was supposed to be written in.  But the message and how it was dealt with was done really well, there aren't many books written for this age group about the affects of bullying.

4 STARS

The Witch Hunter YA

Elizabeth Grey, kitchen girl who worked hard along with her best friend, Caleb, both became witch hunters.  Elizabeth believes in what she is doing, after all she is just upholding the law, until the day she is caught with the witches herbs and sent to prison and ultimately sentenced to burn at the stake.  Elizabeth doesn't even try to escape thinking the whole time that Caleb will come for her, but it is not Caleb that comes but Nicolas, the greatest sorcerer in the world, and that can't be good can it?
This was a good book.  The pace was fast and the characters were believable but sometimes jumped  between the time then and the more modern times, but it seemed to work out ok in the end.  There are no huge surprises, but still had enough suspense to keep you reading until the end and looking for another book to see what happens next to Elizabeth and her friends.

4 1/2 STARS

Restore (YA/AUDIO)

This is a awesome short story by Susan Kaye Quinn set in the world of her singularity series.  Restore is told from the point of view of a medical (AI) robot, that is suppose to provide restorative care to humans.  But how much can a AI feel?

Like I said this is a awesome short story, very interesting from the point of view chosen, the perception of the relationship and how it works its way through as the story progresses.  Not to mention, how the robot changes and progresses as the story is told and end up being the one in need toward the end, makes this story very thought powerful and thought provoking. The story will definitely leave you wanting more.  

I Am Traitor YA

Zach is back and he has two objectives and nothing and nobody will get in his way.  He wants to find out the truth about his father, and he wants his friend Howard back, and Zack is prepared to give everything he has to get these things from the Program.

This the third book in the Assassin series, and is jammed packed with high octane, non stop action, this story just keeps on coming.  The characters, old and new, are awesome and very believable.  Since this is the third book in the series the characters have had time to build and evolve, it has been great to watch them grow.  This is a great young adult series for anyone who loves action and suspense.  The only bad part is having to wait for the next book to come out to see what happens next.

5 STAR

EKHO (Evil Kids Hunting Organization) MG

This is a awesome book about a diverse group of friends that are tired of being bullied and tired of seeing others in their school being bullied, so they decide to use their talents to make a stand.  But when DEKE (Destroy EKHO Kids Everywhere) shows up, things change for EKHO. But who will come out on top after the big field day clash between the two factions.

This is a really great book that not only shows great diversity among the children and adults, but also in the way it handles the problem of bullying.  Yes, the school has a no bullying policy, and yes, the school had a anti-bullying assemble, but when the EKHO kids first brought the problem to the principal it was kind of swept under the carpet probably like a lot of schools still do.  That is why Elvis and his friends decided to take a stand and formed EKHO, a peaceful way to deal with the bullies, through sound and video recordings (to use as proof), and sheer number members to show up at the scene of the bullying to defuse the immediate situations.

I found the whole concept of this book just so cool I wanted to know where EKHO was when I was being teased in elementary school, I would have joined right up!  I really can't wait to see what 5th grade brings for Elvis and his friends, and of course EKHO.

5 STARS!!!

Masterminds MG

The town of Serenity is serene or is it? Eli has never left Serenity, why would he, everything in Serenity is perfect.  All the adults have jobs, everyone has a place to live with a pool (that is important in New Mexico), there is no crime, and only thirty kids in the whole town.  But the day Eli's best friend, Randy, talks him into biking just outside of the town limits to a barn where Randy and his dad had seen a alfa romeo, things change for both of them drastically.  What are the adults of Serenity trying to hide, and how do the purple people eaters fit in?

This is a well played, and strategically crafted adventure.  Masterminds has many twists and turns that will keep you guessing but surprise you just the same.  You will cheer for these very real characters while laughing at the same time.  Be prepared to sit for awhile because you will not want to put this book down.

5 STARS