Red Riding Hood

Valerie's sister was beautiful, kind, and sweet. Now she is dead. Henri, the handsome son of the blacksmith, tries to console Valerie, but her wild heart beats fast for another: the outcast woodcutter, Peter, who offers Valerie another life far from home.

After her sister's violent death, Valerie's world begins to spiral out of control. For generations, the werewolf has been kept at bay with a monthly sacrifice. But no one is safe. When an expert wolf hunter arrives, the villagers learn that the creature lives among them - it could be anyone in town.

It soon becomes clear that Valerie is the only one who can hear the voice of creature. The Wolf says she must surrender herself before the Blood Moon wanes . . . or everyone she loves will die.

Red Riding Hood was actually written after Catherine Hardwick received the screenplay from the movie. She felt like the story was too good not be be more in depth. I really would like to watch the movie and see if it was set up differently than the book. Not to say the book was horrible, it just wasn't that good. I really liked Valerie,the narrator, but she was very indecisive and when she did make decisions they were confusing. She would spend a large amount of time talking herself in one direction and then actually go against everything she had just said. The ending was also a little haphazard and kind of thrown together. It could have been a whole lot better if the plot would have been clearer and not so confusing. Overall it was an easy read, but not very original. One thing the book did fairly decent was hide who the wolf was. Even in the ending it wasn't officially announced, which was a bit annoying since the reader had been lead in circles. I will probably post again once I see the movie.

Review/Description

The sleepy village of Daggorhorn has been plagued by werewolves for many moons. Animal sacrifices have proved effective in keeping the Wolf at bay, but now human blood has been spilled. Valerie's beautiful sister is dead, killed by the werewolf who is terrorizing the village. Valerie knows that the Wolf wants her; she has known it since she was a small child. She is somehow attached to the creature, enabling her to communicate with the beast. The village is desperate to rid themselves of the monster, and decide that Valerie can be used as bait. Valerie is a willing sacrifice; blaming herself for her sister's death. She hopes that the Wolf will be placated by her willingness to surrender; however, nothing is certain. Blakely-Cartwright has the basis for a wonderful novel; suspense, romance, adventure...but somehow, it falls short. The characters are two-dimensional, making it difficult to find a reason to care about them from the very beginning. There are also elements of the plot that are not explained well in the narrative, including how the houses are built on stilts to help protect them from the Wolf. The third person perspective is annoying at times, especially when trying to figure out which character is being focused upon. Look for the movie version of the novel, released on March 11th. Perhaps watch the film first and then pick up the novel.

Awakened

“My love, speak to me. Tell me everything.” Neferet went to Kalona, kneeling before him, stroking the soft, dark wings that unfurled loosely around the immortal.
“What would you have me say?” He didn’t meet her eyes.
“Zoey lives.” Neferet’s voice was flat, cold, lifeless.
“She does.”
“Then you owe me the subservience of your immortal soul.” She started to walk away from him.
“Where are you going? What will happen next?”
“It is quite simple. I will ensure Zoey is drawn back to Oklahoma. There, on my own terms, I will complete the task you failed.”

Awakened is the 8th book in the House of Night series, and I thought it was actually pretty good. The authors are starting to run a little low on material, so to me it seems like the conflicts are starting to repeat themselves a bit. However, Zoey finally has only one boyfriend, Stark, who she is now devoted to and in love with. The book starts out with them dealing with being back from the Otherworld and then, they sleep together for the first time. Neferet has control over Kalona who now hates her. Neferet has to repay her debt to darkness and to get Zoey to come back to school so she has Jack killed. The rest of the book is about Stevie Rae and Rephraim and Zoey and Stark. I liked the ending because it worked out for Rephraim, Nyx rewarded him with the ability to be human during the night. I didn't like the part about Heath becoming part of the vessel of evil.

Review/Description

Exonerated by the Vampyre High Council and returned to her position of High Priestess at Tulsa’s House of Night, Neferet has sworn vengeance on Zoey. Dominion over Kalona is only one of the weapons she plans to use against Z. But Zoey has found sanctuary on the Isle of Skye and is being groomed by Queen Sgiach to take over for her there. Being Queen would be cool, wouldn’t it? Why should she return to Tulsa? After losing her human consort, Heath, she will never be the same – and her relationship with her super-hot-warrior, Stark, may never be the same either…
And what about Stevie Rae and Rephaim? The Raven Mocker refuses to be used against Stevie Rae, but what choice does he have when no one in the entire world, including Zoey, would be okay with their relationship? Does he betray his father or his heart?
In the pulse-pounding 8th book in the bestselling House of Night series, how far will the bonds of friendship stretch and how strong are the ties that bind one girl’s heart?

Shiver

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again.
Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

I really like the theme of Shiver. I aslo like the characeters personallities. Sam was awesome and I thought he balanced Grace out perfectly. However, I thought the plot was a little lacking in exceitement. It got better toward the end when Grace is trying to save Sam, but during the middle it was just about them being in love. All the information about wolves was cool too. It was interesting that Grace's attack played such a large part and I liked it. The ending was extremely good, since I'm all about how books end and I like happily ever-after. I kind of don't want to read the sequels because I think they are going to make me mad, but I will probably read them anyway.

Review/ Description

Stiefvater leaves the faeries of Lament and Ballad for a lyrical tale of alienated werewolves and first love. For years, Grace has been fascinated by the yellow-eyed wolf that saved her from its pack when she was a child. Sam, bitten by a wolf as a boy, is that wolf. Long obsessed with each other at a distance, they finally meet after a wolf hunt (inspired by the apparent death of a local teen) sends a wounded and temporarily human Sam into Grace's arms. Their young love is facilitated by Grace's hands-off parents (“Once upon a time, I would've leaped at the rare opportunity of curling up with Mom on the couch. But now, it sort of felt like too little, too late,” Grace muses), but threatened by two linked crises: the fact that Sam will soon lose the ability to become human and the instability of a new lycanthrope.

Animal Farm

I actually read this book for english class a few months ago and forgot to post it. I really like it though, and I definetely reccomend it for any book report. Discussing the Russian revolution in the form of animals, it showed how power slowly corrupts those who possess it. The animals of Mr. Jones's farm decide to hold a revolution in which they assume all power of the farm. Once they run off the farmer, the pigs assume a leadership position. The pigs in general represented the Bolsheviks, but Napoleon represented Joseph Stalin. Snowball represented Leon Trotsky and Boxer the hard working horse epitimized the working class. In the end, the animals couldn't tell the difference between the pigs and the other farmers.

Review/Description

When you open up to the first page, you read about a farmer who owns a farm, animals, and has hired helpers to work on the farm. Typical farm, right? Wrong. There is something majorly different about this one compared to others you may visit. The animals here can talk, and even more, they are plotting to take over the farm. Throughout the story, read about the many difficulties that result from this action on their part. Read of the changes that happen because of this shift of power. When George Orwell wrote this book, many people were willing to accept the Communist ideals held by the Soviet Union. The Soviets had earned a lot of friends after they helped give the Allies an edge against the Nazis. However, others like George Orwell saw that a totalitarian government had actually risen behind the scenes. That is why he wrote Animal Farm, to show people the real situation and threat behind the Soviet government. In the story, Orwell emphasized the factor of too much power. As you read the book, watch to see what happens to those who are given the power of leadership. Watch to see the way they use and misuse it. Orwell also uses many symbols that relate to the real world situations. He used many of the animals to represent things like the workers in Russia, the religion, propaganda, and the influences of power. In the story, the animals build a windmill as a symbol of their ability to accomplish things on their own. This was Orwell's representation of the Communist ideals that were initially made to benefit the Russian people. This book is very valuable in its ability to show the consequences that come from abusing power. Orwell makes it very clear where his standing is on the issue of absolute power and influence. As you read Animal Farm, look for the instances where he shows how propaganda can influence people to do things only from the viewpoint of the person that it solely benefits. Why not try to look for ways that show the similarities between the story and the Russian Revolution? If you do, you could get a better understanding of the way Animal Farm plays out. Will the animals and their ideals hold true? Or will the humans take back the farm? Will the conditions get better on the farm after the animals take over?

Imposssible

I didn't think this book was as good as i thought it was going to be. The story was about a girl who was born into a curse. The whole line of women in her family has been doomed to have a daughter at 18 and then go crazy during which time they belong to the evil Elfin Knight, to get out of the curse they must accomplish three impossible tasks. Lucy lives with her foster parents, and her next door neighbor Zach lives with them. The whole book is about the relationship between Lucy and Zach and how their love helps Lucy achieve her goals. The end is good, but the whole plot just seemed a little lacking. The three tasks only counted for a small portion of the book and kind of lost focus throughout the middle. Overall, the book was ok and I don't think it was a waste of time.

Review/Description

Werlin (TheRules of Survival) melds fantasy and suspense in a contemporary setting for a romance with plenty of teen appeal. Lucy Scarborough, raped on prom night, is pregnant. Committed to keeping the baby, she nonetheless sees disturbing parallels to her mentally ill mother, Miranda, who had Lucy as a teen, then left her in the care of the Markowitzes-Soledad, a nurse-midwife, and her husband, Leo. Boy-next-door-type Zach, home from college and living with the Markowitzes, happens upon Miranda's teenage diary, which outlines a curse placed on Lucy's family generations earlier by the evil Elfin Knight: the women all give birth as teens before descending into madness. Lucy can break the curse only by performing three impossible tasks set forth in a variant of the ballad "Scarborough Fair." None of her forebears have come even close, but then none of them had help from the selfless Markowitzes, the love-struck and self-sacrificing Zach or the Internet, where items like goat horns can be easily located: Lucy is the luckiest accursed girl ever.

A Bride in the Bargain

In 1860s Seattle, a man with a wife could secure himself 640 acres of timberland. But because of his wife's untimely death, Joe Denton finds himself about to lose half of his claim. Still in mourning, his best solution is to buy one of those Mercer girls arriving from the East. A woman he'll marry in name but keep around mostly as a cook.

Anna Ivey's journey west with Asa Mercer's girls is an escape from the griefs of her past. She's not supposed to be a bride, though, just a cook for the girls. But when they land, she's handed to Joe Denton and the two find themselves in a knotty situation. She refuses to wed him and he's about to lose his land. With only a few months left, can Joe convince this provoking--but beguiling--easterner to be his bride?

In keeping with the other Deeanne Gist books I've read this one was exquisite. A Bride in the Bargain had characters that by the end of the book it seems like you know them personally. I loved Anna and Joe, they were so perfect for each other. Joe was every girls fantasy he had sensitivitey, strenth, and sex appeal. The plot always has challeneges and towards the end I was afraid it wasn't going to work out the way I had hoped, but then it twisted and did. This book will make you fall in love with Seattle and wish it went on longer when it was finished. I recommend every true romantic read this book.

Review/Description

In the land replete with timber but few women, widower Joe Denton signs a contract with Asa Mercer to deliver the wife he needs to ensure his land rights. Unfortunately, 19-year-old Anna Ivey doesn't realize she's signed on for marriage; she only wants passage out West and a job. Sparks fly as tempers flare when Joe and Anna discover they are at cross-purposes. Acquiescing to common sense as well as a sense of desperation, the two agree to work together temporarily. As Anna cooks up a storm in payment for the traveling debt Joe incurred on her behalf, Joe cooks up his own scheme for wooing Anna into marriage.

Beastly

A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright—a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster.
You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll stay this way forever—ruined—unless I can break the spell.
Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night?

I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly . . . beastly.

Beastly as the name probably implies is about a Beast. Well, it's the classic story of Beauty and the Beast with a modern day twist. I think Alex Flinn did a really good job of adding in the technology without belittling the actual story. And it wasn't boring either. I actually enjoyed it a lot even though I've seen the disney version of this story a hundred times. He added a few plot twists and some background history on Kyle(the beast) A.k.a Adrian and on Lindy(Beauty). I think this is a good story for all romance, happy ending, fairytale addicts like me.

Review/ Description

Kyle Kingsbury is a gorgeous high school freshman, spoiled rotten by his famous anchorman father, a man who'd rather dole out cash than affection. Kyle attends the exclusive Tuttle School in New York City and torments those poor unfortunates who lack his looks and wealth. When he humiliates a girl at school, she transforms him into a horrific-looking creature. Kyle's only hope for breaking the spell lies in finding true love-as he reports online in meetings of the Unexpected Changes chat group (other members include Froggie and the mermaid Silent Maid). Flinn follows the fairy tale's original plot points closely, but falters in her depiction of the story's bad guys, over-the-top caricatures that simply ring false in her up-to-date setting. Kyle's father, for example, spends literally three minutes with him each day, the time it takes him to heat his dinner in the microwave

Deep in the Heart of Trouble

Deep in the Heart of Trouble was another wonderful book by Deanne Gist. I read A Bride Most Begrudging a little while ago and I loved it, and this one was no different. Apparently though it is actually the sequel to Courting Trouble, I didn't read the first but they are only tied together by characters I didn't really miss anything by not reading the first book.With charming characters and a lovely storyline I really enjoyed this book. The main character Essie reminds me of an Austen character with all her spunk and vitality. I loved her independence and individuality, as well as all her riding outfits and unique hats. The murder of Darius, Tony's brother made the story more intriguing. With romance and secrets, but also a happy ending this book is any girls fairytale.

Review/Description

Deeanne Gist has written a romance that will touch your heart. Her research into the early oil industry is impeccable. Essie and Tony's story has inspiration, a little mystery and a lot of romance. The characters struggle between being human and waiting on God's direction. This is the same struggle that most of us have when our human emotions get in the way of God's plans. Deep in the Heart of Trouble wraps up Essie's story very nicely. It has a little bit of everything, a well rounded story that will make you laugh, cry and cheer for Tony and Essie.

City of Bones

City of Bonesw is the first book in the mortal instuments series. I really liked it up until the last 50 pages when everything twisted and weird. Throughout the story Clary finds out about the world of shadowhunters and the beings they hunt, demons. She finds out about the existence of vampires, werewolves, faeries, and warlocks. And in the end she finds out the existence of her Brother. Also throughout the story a relationship is building between Clary and Jace, who protects her. Jace, A.ka Jonathan, is also her brother, which is not realized until they are in love with each other. There father is the definition of evil and they are siblings in love, what else could go wrong. I really just wanted the series to end there, but I guess now I have to read the other books and see how everything turns out.

Review/ Description

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder — much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Clary knows she should call the police, but it's hard to explain a murder when the body disappears into thin air and the murderers are invisible to everyone but Clary.
Equally startled by her ability to see them, the murderers explain themselves as Shadowhunters: a secret tribe of warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. Within twenty-four hours, Clary's mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a grotesque demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know....

Burned

So this is the seventh book in the House of Night series and it was a little different than the others. For one it was broken into chapters based on the perspectives of the different characters. There were chapters based on Zoey, Heath, Stark, Aphrodite, Kalona, Stevie Rae, and Rephaim's perspectives. It was also different because it wasn't about Zoey exactly. .It was mostly about how the others were trying to rescue her and also it was about Stevie Rae and her problems. I did really like the parts when she and Rephaim were together and I think that it will be interesting to see how everything turns about between them. I also liked that for once it didn't really meantion all of Zoey's boyfriend problemsThis was actually one of my favorites of this series since the first book.

Review/Description

When friends stop trusting each other, Darkness is there to fan the flames…. Things have turned black at the House of Night. Zoey Redbird’s soul has shattered. With everything she’s ever stood for falling apart, and a broken heart making her want to stay in the Otherworld forever, Zoey’s fading fast. It’s seeming more and more doubtful that she will be able pull herself back together in time to rejoin her friends and set the world to rights. As the only living person who can reach her, Stark must find a way to get to her. But how? He will have to die to do so, the Vampyre High Council stipulates. And then Zoey will give up for sure. There are only 7 days left… Enter BFF Stevie Rae. She wants to help Z but she has massive problems of her own. The rogue Red Fledglings are acting up, and this time not even Stevie Rae can protect them from the consequences. Her kinda boyfriend, Dallas, is sweet but too nosy for his own good. The truth is, Stevie Rae’s hiding a secret that might be the key to getting Zoey home but also threatens to explode her whole world. In the middle of the whole mess is Aphrodite: ex-Fledgling, trust-fund baby, total hag from Hell (and proud of it). She’s always been blessed (if you could call it that) with visions that can reveal the future, but now it seems Nyx has decided to speak through her with the goddess’s own voice, whether she wants it or not. Aphrodite’s loyalty can swing a lot of different ways, but right now Zoey’s fate hangs in the balance. Three girls… playing with fire… if they don’t watch out, everyone will get Burned.

On the NIght of the Seventh Moon

I have become an avid Victoria Holt reader. Her books are delightful with wonderful endings, but full of twists and mysteries. On the night of the seventh moon was very different from the mistress of mellyn. It started out kind of slow and was very odd until the middle when it started to get better. It was the story of a girl who met a mysterious man in the forest of germany and then met him by chance again and was married to him. But an untruthful act by those closest to her makes her believe she imagined the romance. It took her nine years to discover the truth and finally live her happily ever after. Betrayal, mystery, and chance all come together to make a book full of twists that will suprise you till the end. I did however guess at some of the things that were going to happen and proved myself correct. This was a good read and i recommend it to any romantic.

Review/Description

On the night of the seventh moon, according to ancient Black Forest legend, Loke, the god of mischief, is abroad in the world. It is a night for singing and dancing. And it is a night for love.
Helena Trant was enchanted by everything she found in the Black Forest—its people, its mysterious castles, its legends and lore. Especially its legends of love. Until the day she started to live one of them and the enchantment turned suddenly into a terrifying nightmare….

Nine Coaches Waiting

This book reminded me alot of the Mistress of Mellyn, but it was a little more difficult to understand. The book is based in France so there are a variety of different french words, or conversations that aren't translated into English. It had a very interesting plot, but it took a while to get going. The romance through a loop, with the book trying to convince you that Raul is a bad guy, but Linda reassuring herself until the end that he isn't despite all the evidence. The ending was surprising, but I liked it very much. It is a slower read, howver it is still a decent book.

Review/Description

A governess in a French château encounters an apparent plot against her young charge's life in this unforgettably haunting and beautifully written suspense novel. When lovely Linda Martin first arrives at Château Valmy as an English governess to the nine-year-old Count Philippe de Valmy, the opulence and history surrounding her seems like a wondrous, ecstatic dream. But a palpable terror is crouching in the shadows. Philippe's uncle, Leon de Valmy, is the epitome of charm, yet dynamic and arrogant—his paralysis little hindrance as he moves noiselessly in his wheelchair from room to room. Only his son Raoul, a handsome, sardonic man who drives himself and his car with equally reckless abandon, seems able to stand up to him. To Linda, Raoul is an enigma—though irresistibly attracted to him, she senses some dark twist in his nature. When an accident deep in the woods nearly kills Linda's innocent charge, she begins to wonder if someone has deadly plans for the young count.

Mistress of Mellyn

Mistress of Mellyn was a very surprising book. It surprised me that I like it so much and had an interesting twist in the end. Everyone isn't as they seem. It was similar in plot to that of Jane Eyre, and the main characters had similar personalities. However, I like this book a lot better and it was easier to read,lacking all the old language styles. It is an older book that you would probably not usually pick up, but I definitely recommend that you do. It has some plot flaws, but is still interesting throughout in my opinion.

Review/Description

Mount Mellyn stood as proud and magnificent as she had envisioned...But what bout its master—Connan TreMellyn? Was Martha Leigh's new employer as romantic as his name sounded? As she approached the sprawling mansion towering above the cliffs of Cornwall, an odd chill of apprehension overcame her.
TreMellyn's young daugher, Alvean, proved as spoiled and difficult as the three governesses before Martha had discovered. But it was the girl's father whose cool, arrogant demeanor unleashed unfimiliar sensations and turmoil—even as whispers of past tragedy and present danger begin to insinuate themselves into Martha's life.
Powerless against her growing desire for the enigmatic Connan, she is drawn deeper into family secrets—as passion overpowers reason, sending her head and heart spinning. But though evil lurks in the shadows, so does love—and the freedom to find a golden promise forever...

The Lovely Bones

Lovely Bones was not exactly what I expected it would be. I thought it would be the typical murder mystery kind of book, which it wasn't really. Suzie, the narrator starts off telling how she died and who killed her. The rest of the book is aobut her family coping with her death and her coping with letting them go in her heaven. She basically watches their progressing lives from her own heaven world. The story is slightly interesting, but a bit confusing at times because it bounces around to what she is seeing different people doing. The ending kind if surprised me, it didn't end how I expected it to. I guess it was a fairly decent read and is now made into a movie.

Review/Description

When we first meet 14-year-old Susie Salmon, she is already in heaven. This was before milk carton photos and public service announcements, she tells us; back in 1973, when Susie mysteriously disappeared, people still believed these things didn't happen. In the sweet, untroubled voice of a precocious teenage girl, Susie relates the awful events of her death and her own adjustment to the strange new place she finds herself. It looks a lot like her school playground, with the good kind of swing sets. With love, longing, and a growing understanding, Susie watches her family as they cope with their grief, her father embarks on a search for the killer, her sister undertakes a feat of amazing daring, her little brother builds a fort in her honor and begins the difficult process of healing.

Tempted

Tempted is the sixth book in the HoN series. It was like all the others, meaning same circumstances just different situations. Zoey has too many boyfriends still and has to save the world again. However, Zoey and Eric break up realtaively early and I think they might actually be over this time. Stevie Rae and Aphrodite's imprint gets broken. Stevie rae finally reveals what she has been keeping from Zoey. While she develops a new secret when she saves Rephraim the head Raven Mocker. Zoey and the gand go to Venice to appear in front of the Vampyre High Council, to prove Kalona and Neferet are bad. The end has a suprising and very upsetting twist.

Review/Description

So…you’d think after banishing an immortal being and a fallen High Priestess, saving Stark’s life, biting Heath, getting a headache from Erik, and almost dying, Zoey Redbird would catch a break. Sadly, a break is not in the House of Night school forecast for the High Priestess in training and her gang. Juggling three guys is anything but a stress reliever, especially when one of them is a sexy Warrior who is so into protecting Zoey that he can sense her emotions. Speaking of stress, the dark force lurking in the tunnels under the Tulsa Depot is spreading, and Zoey is beginning to believe Stevie Rae could be responsible for a lot more than a group of misfit red fledglings. Aphrodite’s visions warn Zoey to stay away from Kalona and his dark allure, but they also show that it is Zoey who has the power to stop the evil immortal. Soon it becomes obvious that Zoey has no choice: if she doesn’t go to Kalona he will exact a fiery vengeance on those closest to her. Will Zoey have the courage to chance losing her life, her heart, and her soul?

Hunted

So I think there are way too many books in this series, this is the fifth, it's just getting ridiculous. Zoey is still dealing with all her boy drama, and the plot keeps circiling around the same old themes. Yes, Neferet is evil, yes she has too many boyfriends, and yes Stevie Rae is undead. I wish she would hurry up and end the series before it becomes a trashy soap opera sort of book, even though it already is a little. I mean the book wasn't bad it was just monotonous. So I would suggest you keep trudging through the series until it comes to a close.

Review/Description

Zoey is a powerful fledging who is training for her conversion to vampyrism at a private boarding school. Zoey and her circle are currently battling evil high priestess Neferet and fallen angel Kalona, who have taken over the Oklahoma House of Night. She is also dealing with power struggles among the other fledglings along with the usual teenage angst that accompanies multiple boyfriends. The plot is zingy and so, for the most part, is the dialogue. The authors go out of their way to recap previous events, which is great for listeners new to the series, but may be annoying to those who already know the back story. They also unnecessarily emphasize gay characters by attaching the adjective "gay" to all of their actions. Narrator Jenna Lamia does a good job, giving each character a distinctive voice and personality, especially Stevie Rae's Oklahoma twang and Aphrodite's very bored delivery.

Along for the Ride

So, Along for the Ride was actually a good book, not on the same level as The Truth About Forever or Just Listen, but good none the less. It actually had a nice ending, which I don't say a lot, becuase it answered most of the questions posed throughout the story. The main characters were complex, but Auden seemed kind of uncaring until the end. There was a lot of personal development from all the characters, although they kind of all had the same problem. All in all it was a good read, and written in the typical Sara Dessen style.

Review/ Description

Studious good girl Auden, named for the poet, makes a snap decision to spend her summer before college at her father's beach house rather than with her mother, a professor whose bad habits include male grad students. Auden's parents divorced three years earlier, a split she's not yet over. Her remarried father has already produced another heir, a colicky baby named Thisbe (after a tragic figure from Shakespeare), with his young wife, Heidi, who owns a boutique. Feeling sympathy for stressed-out Heidi, Auden agrees to do the shop's bookkeeping, providing her with an instant social circle-the teenage clerks plus the boys from the neighboring bike rental, including hunky, wounded Eli. Both night owls, Auden and Eli bond when he coaxes her to experience childhood activities-bowling, food fights, learning to ride a bike-that her insufferable parents never bothered to provide.

Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre was a ver unusual sort of book, in my opinion. Not in the sense of its material being unusual just the characters. Really there were three stories going on throughout the book. The story of Jane's childhood, the story of Jane and Mr. Rochester, and the story of Jane's life after Mr. Rochester. In the end everything sort of works out, but a few characrers had some life changing events happen. I didn't agree with everything that happened, but I did like the book for the most part. It wasn't a Pride and Prejudice or anything, however it was worthy of being a classic.

Review/Description

Orphaned at an early age, Jane Eyre leads a lonely life until she finds work as a governess at Thornfield Hall, where she meets the mysterious Mr. Rochester and sees a ghostly woman who roams the halls by night. This is a story of passionate love, travail and final triumph. The relationship between the heroine and Mr. Rochester is only one episode, albeit the most important, in a detailed fictional autobiography in which the author transmuted her own experience into high art. In this work the plucky heroine is outwardly of plain appearance, but possesses an indomitable spirit, a sharp wit and great courage. She is forced to battle against the exigencies of a cruel guardian, a harsh employer and a rigid social order which circumscribes her life and position.

Generation Dead

Basically teenagers across the country are dying, but they aren't staying dead. In the United States, zombies are walking around acting like the living, except a little slower. This was a rather weird book, in the zombie fact and that the main girl Phoebe likes a zombie. The ending really made me mad because Phoebe is such an idiot and doesn't realize Adam loves her until it's too late. Adam isn't a zombie by the way. There is a sequel I haven't decided to read it yet.

Review/Description

Phoebe Kendall is just your typical Goth girl with a crush. He's strong and silent.and dead. All over the country, a strange phenomenon is occurring. Some teenagers who die aren't staying dead. But when they come back to life, they are no longer the same. Feared and misunderstood, they are doing their best to blend into a society that doesn't want them. The administration at Oakvale High attempts to be more welcoming of the "differently biotic." But the students don't want to take classes or eat in the cafeteria next to someone who isn't breathing. And there are no laws that exist to protect the "living impaired" from the people who want them to disappear-for good. When Phoebe falls for Tommy Williams, the leader of the dead kids, no one can believe it; not her best friend, Margi, and especially not her neighbor, Adam, the star of the football team. Adam has feelings for Phoebe that run much deeper than just friendship; he would do anything for her. But what if protecting Tommy is the one thing that would make her happy?

The Princess and the Hound

He is a prince, heir to a kingdom threatened on all sides, possessor of the animal magic, which is forbidden by death in the land he'll rule.
She is a princess from a rival kingdom, the daughter her father never wanted, isolated from true human friendship but inseparable from her hound.
Though they think they have little in common, each possesses a secret that must be hidden at all costs. Proud, stubborn, bound to marry for the good of their kingdoms, this prince and princess will steal your heart, but will they fall in love?

A classic love story that isn't really sappy. The prince, which can understand and talk to animals even though animal magic is considered evil, is going to marry Princess Beatrice who loves her hound more than anything. In a lot of eventful situations the true nature of everyone and everything comes into play, and people aren't really who you think they are or what you think they are for that matter. A really good storyline and ending. Both prince and princess realize their true potential and their love for each other at the same time.

Review/Description

Prince George must keep his ability to talk to animals a secret. In Kendel, animal magic is punishable by death, and the fear and loathing toward practitioners is reminiscent of the witch hunts of medieval Europe. Even as royalty, George cannot reveal his secret. Lonely and isolated, George accepts his betrothal to Princess Beatrice as a political alliance, expecting never to trust enough to find love. But when George and Beatrice meet, George is drawn to Beatrice and the beautiful hound, Marit, who is her constant companion. In the pair, George finds not only trust but also others whose lives have been touched by animal magic. George is not a typical Prince Charming, but Beatrice has the feel of a damsel in distress. Both need rescuing in their own ways, and Harrison sets up a story that draws readers into their growing relationship. George, the infatuated prince, is an atypical fairy-tale narrator. His perspective adds depth and insight to his character, but Beatrice's chilly personality is less developed. Her isolation is just as apparent as George's, and he is drawn to her through their shared loneliness. George's growth from prince to king is admirable, especially as he learns to accept his shortcomings and his secret abilities and forgive himself his past mistakes.