Archive for category Young adult
Review: TWIN SPIRIT by Matthew Thompson
Posted by Diane in Fantasy, Young adult on December 28th, 2011
Twin Spirit
Matthew Thompson
Paperback: 292 pages
Publisher: Domino Galaxy (1 Oct 2011)
ISBN-10:0956974600
ISBN-13:978-0956974600
book Published by Domino Galaxy for Smashwords
218 pages
Reviewed by Diane Grace
A book, a spell, and a moonlit night allow twins separated at birth to speak to each other for the first time. Lily, a primitive spirit trapped on Earth from the time she was born with no means to make herself heard or felt, is used to disparaging her living twin with no effect. She is totally amazed when her sister, Rose, reads a spell that reveals Lily to her. Lily convinces Rose they must go to the distant world of Kiian to find their mother, the only one that can separate them so Lily can have a life of her own. There just one slight hitch. Neither humans nor primitive spirits are allowed in the alternate galaxy called Domino where the girls must go to find their mom. And the dangerous journey begins. The girls meet those who would help them as well as those who would harm them.
Twin Spirit is an interesting read despite the somewhat disjointed method of delivery. Once the actual journey begins we get the back story of every new entity the twins encounter. It makes for an abrupt stop every couple of chapters while we learn another history.
The main protagonists of this story are reputed to be nine, shortly to be ten. It is my understanding that, typically, readers prefer the main characters to be a little older than themselves which would make the average age of the reader eight to nine. Yet a good deal of the novel is written in a more mature style than that age group would indicate. I would put it in the category of young adult if I had not been told the ages of our heroes in the first chapter.
I no longer quibble about typographical errors, it’s in too many professional publications to be worth the page space to complain. I will say the ebook version of Twin Spirit contains its share.
If your tween likes alternate universes, scary but not graphic violence, she may well like this book.
Copyright 2011 Diane Grace
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy that I can keep for consideration in preparing to write this content. I was not expected to return this item after my review.
Review: The House in Windward Leaves by Katherine L. Holmes
Posted by Agnes in Fantasy, Humor, Young adult, adventure on November 16th, 2011
The House in Windward Leaves
Katherine L. Holmes
Couchgrass Books
ISBN13: 9780615507170
153 pages
$9.95
Reviewed by Agnes Dee
In The House in Windward Leaves , the children are intrigued by a mystery man who has come to the small town. Hired to paint a house owned by the town’s spinster, the painter works to finish the colorful murals in time for a Halloween party that turns into a true fantasy for seven children. Though the storyline is a bit confusing, and the plot slight, it’s a very pleasant read. Each child assumes a character, establishes a new life on the ‘far away star’, and finds that by the end of the book they have developed a new talent, interest, or have discovered something about their life. Marketed for youth, this story is best suited for younger readers. Though set during Halloween, there are only positive characters.
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy that I can keep for consideration in preparing to write this content. I was not expected to return this item after my review.
Review: THE DRAGONFLY PROPHECY by Jacquelyn Castle
Posted by Laura in Fantasy, Speculative Fiction, Young adult on October 29th, 2011
The Dragonfly Prophecy
Jacquelyn Castle
Published by Class Act Books
ISBN-978-1-935048-83-1
281 pages
$17.95 soft cover
Reviewed by Laura Hartman
Lexi Blane has a pretty good life as far as seventeen year olds are concerned. Her parents love her and she mostly likes them. Her gorgeous boyfriend William is as crazy about her as she is about him. The only fly in the ointment is the fainting spells Lexi has been experiencing. To make matters worse, she thinks she must be developing some sort of mental illness because she is beginning to hear voices that no one else can hear.
The undiagnosed fainting spells and mysterious voices ruin the surprise island vacation her parents and William planned for her. After fainting, then experiencing odd dreams, she wakes up in a hospital to find she was only dreaming the vacation and her reality is more of a nightmare. What is the truth? Did she really dream the vacation? If so, why does she have a scar from a cut she remembers getting there. Is she dreaming the new life she woke up to? Could both of them be connected and real?
When she begins to reacquaint herself with old friends, something seems out of sync. Then she begins to dream of meeting each night with William, whom everyone says does not exist. Lexi can’t tell friends from enemies or who is lying and who is telling the truth. Something mysterious and possibly magical is happening to her that she doesn’t understand it. Even worse, she may not survive it.
Author Jacquelyn Castle’s bio states she worked in finance but has written stories since she was a teenager. She has dozens of incomplete manuscripts sitting on her computer waiting to be finished. It is our good fortune that she listened to her inner calling and followed her passion for writing magical stories. The Dragonfly Prophecy is her debut novel, and we can only hope she is typing feverishly right now if her other manuscripts in progress are as good as this one.
It has been a long time since I read a book in one day. I literally could not put down this book. Multilayered characters with an unusual and interesting plotline kept my interest from the first paragraph to the last page.
Copyright © 2011 Laura Hartman
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy that I can keep for consideration in preparing to write this content. I was not expected to return this item after my review.
Review: WAITING FOR POPS by John Philip Riffice
Posted by Laura in Young adult on June 10th, 2011
Waiting for Pops
A Journey From Boy to Man
John Philip Riffice
INDI Publishing Group, LLC
ISBN-978-1-935636-95-3
331 pages
$9.99
Reviewed by Laura Hartman
Growing up is tougher for some children than others. Looking in from the outside world, it seemed as though Johnny Ryba had typical 1950’s family life. From all appearances, he lived in a nice home, had a stay-at-home mom, an adorable little sister and dad who loved him. In the days of don’t ask, don’t tell, everyone who knew Johnny and his family turned a blind eye to the problems that tore his family apart.
His little sister Rosie was diagnosed with Autism when she stopped talking and withdrew into herself at the age of four. Johnny’s mother turned to alcohol and his father began to work later each day and on the weekends, leaving the young boy alone with his abusive mother. After a late night car accident took his father from him, Johnny and his mother had to move out of their home and into a small apartment. As her life unraveled, his mother became more and more unpredictable.
Johnny matured quickly, taking on adult responsibilities at a very young age. Alone while his mother worked or drank, he kept the household running while trying to appear normal to his friends.
At first I was doubtful this was a YA novel, due to the language and adult situations of neglect and the abuse of Johnny. But upon finishing the novel, I feel it would be appropriate for older teens. It was a thought-provoking view inside the life of a boy whose world was tipped upside down by circumstances beyond his control and how he learned to cope and grow into a responsible adult without parental guidance.
At times the writing wasn’t as tight as I would have liked it. Riffice often began sentences with; “Well…” making the narrative unnecessarily conversational. He also added unneeded explanations to dialog, such as stating that boys like potty humor after an exchange between Johnny and a friend that left both of them laughing.
All in all, it was an interesting tale with compelling characters that were easy to connect with. I would recommend this book for teens and adults.
Copyright © 2011 Laura Hartman
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy that I can keep for consideration in preparing to write this content. I was not expected to return this item after my review.
Review: SUMMER AND SHINER by Nolan Carlson
Posted by Agnes in Young adult, adventure on February 7th, 2010
Summer And Shiner
Nolan Carlson
Vintage Expressions, a division of
Vintage Romance Publishing, LLC
ISBN 978-0-9819896-2-4
$12.99
162 pages
Reviewed by Agnes Dee
Summer And Shiner, by Dr. Nolan Carlson tells the story of a boy, 12-year-old Carley, his best friend, Troop, and the raccoon Carley adopts as a pet. Almost every chapter is a story to itself, tied together by the boys‘ summer vacation in the late 1940’s Randall, Kansas.
It’s an idyllic small town life: no crimes are committed, and even the worst people have a good side. However, this book is not sugar-coated. The boys get themselves into some genuinely dangerous situations. At one point, Troop tells of his time spent living on the reservation, and it’s a bit sobering.
The middle-grade child who reads this book will get a good picture of what life was like during the 40’s, living in a small town, while the adult will enjoy the author’s descriptive prose. I’d recommend this to any parent or teacher looking for a wholesome, yet interesting, book.
Dr. Carson has written five books in this series, as well as ten other books, with the goal of writing adventures for the young adult market.
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION
I have a material connection because I received a review copy that I can keep for consideration in preparing to write this content. I was not expected to return this item after my review.
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