“Dragoneye” is the first of a two-part story set in Goodman’s universe. Thankfully, Goodman is able to resolve enough of the storylines to keep readers satisfied and make this a complete novel, while creating a cliffhanger and situation that will leave you wanting to pick up the next installment as soon as possible and find out what happens next.
young adult
Review: “The People of Sparks” by Jeanne DuPrau
Hi, first I need to say that there are going be spoilers in my review. I can’t help it, there just no way to talk about it and not spoil the first book for you. So if you have not read it yet, I’m just letting you know.
Cover to Cover #325A: F. Paul Wilson
Interview: We chat with F. Paul Wilson, author of over 40 novels including the seminal Repairman Jack and Adversary Cycle series, about his newest book, a young adult entry about Jack’s teen years, Jack: Secret Histories. He gives us a history on building Jack up by going back to his teen years in the Pine Barrens when he’s slowly discovering his abilities as well as defining his loyalties to his friends.
Review: “Gone” by Michael Grant
Grant has successfully written himself a real suspense-filled saga about a group of small city kids placed in extraordinary circumstances and dealing with problems that would cause any well-seasoned and trained adult to go crazy.
Review: “City of Ember” by Jeanne DuPrau
Have you ever read a book that is SO good, that you can’t wait to read the next one? That’s this book. It’s the best book I have read so far! The City of Ember is far underground. Which I thought, wow this be really cool to read about.
Cover to Cover #309A: Isamu Fukui
Interview: Mike, Summer and Mike talk to 17-year-old Isamu Fukui about his first SF novel, Truancy. He wrote a 100,000 word novel in a summer vacation… don’t hate him, take it as inspiration!
Review: “The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1: The Field Guide”
My best friend Ashley got this book out of our school library and said I soooooooo had to read it. I took it and looked at it and it was like the littlest book I ever seen! But we like same books so I took it home and wow, she was right!!
Review: “Inkspell” by Cornelia Funke
The book is filled with drawing from the person that wrote the book!! Cornella Funke and really helps you to picture all the people in it. There is also two things in this book that wasn’t in the first one, she put in a hand drawn map!! And there is a dictionary, and a place that tells all about the characters. So if you didn’t read the first book, that’s cool. You can read this and you will be all caught up!
Review: “Queen Ferris” by S. C. Butler
The second book in S. C. Butler’s Stoneways Trilogy continues where Reiffen’s Choice ends. The story spans more than seven years beginning with Reiffen’s return to the Three magical instruction. This book focuses equally on the growth of Reiffen, Ferris and Avender to good effect.
Review: “The Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark” by Ridley Pearson
What I will remember about this book is how the kids worked together to find the answer to what is going on in the part at night, and how they all became friends. I loved the sci-fi part a lot! How they made the holograms work and how it couldn’t do some things, and even though I don’t like young adult books too much, I really liked this one.
Review: “Chance Fortune and the Outlaws” by Shane Berryhill
Chance Fortune and the Outlaws is a fun story that pays homage to classic comic books and throws in young people having to deal with more than just learning to use their powers. If you enjoy a good read along the lines of Mr. Potter and his friends, comic book superheroes or just want something different to entice younger readers I would recommend this book.
Review: “Reiffen’s Choice” by S. C. Butler
I really enjoyed the writing style. While the book is targeted for the young adult, descriptions and dialogue do not blatantly point it out. Readers who enjoy writers like Raymond E. Feist and J. K. Rowling will not be disappointed by Reiffen’s Choice.
Guest Review: “Prisoners Under Glass” by R. Patrick
Young readers who love big, bold action, boisterous high jinks and bizarre images, all mixed up with a bunch of people prone to snappy dialog learning to rely on each other in life-and-death situations, will get a kick out of Prisoners Under Glass.
Guest Review: “Lyranel’s Song” by Leslie Carmichael
Lyranel’s Song by Leslie Carmichael is a book that thoughtful children can relax into and enjoy. The action is steady without being relentless, leaving room for characters to lead lives that young girls, in particular, could imagine themselves living. The two young readers (age 11) that I field-tested the book on often interrupted to supplement the commentary or make suggestions for what characters might do, which I always consider a good sign.
Cover to Cover #198: Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell
This week, things change a bit. Michael, Evo & Summer start out talking about The Last Harbinger. A radio drama put out by Crazy Dog Audio Theater. Check them out if you are looking for something a little different to listen to.
Next, Michael and Summer call arcoss the pond and talk with Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell. A couple of guys doing some amazing things in Young-Adult fantasy. Their books, The Edge Chronicles, are making quite a stir.
