Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber

This is a new series by the same Author that wrote the Vampire Kisses series.  While I liked the Vampire Kisses series, I wasn't that thrilled with this one.  It was written in a style that makes everything seem unreal, like you are hearing about the events second hand instead of being right there with the heroine. Although it is written in the first person.  It is also a bit too bubble-gum for me.  I like reading Young Adult books from time to time, but this was just a bit too much.  Maybe it was the way Celeste just let her friends and her old boyfriend boss her around.  It got really annoying after a while. 

The Raging Princess loved the book.  So maybe this is just one of those series that doesn't cross over for adults.



The Vampire Stalker by Allison Van Diepen

This book starts off with an interesting idea, what would happen if the world of vampire and vampire hunters you read about in your favorite books came to life.  The main character, Amy, is attacked by a vampire and is saved by none other than her favorite character in her favorite book series.  Not all that great. The character development wasn't great and the Literary Physics idea seemed stuped. Plus, the Mom character was really underdeveloped and I thought there should have been a lot more discussion between Mom and daughters.

A unique idea and take on vampires, though.



Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter

Book 5 in the Gallagher Girls Series

Young Adult

I really like this series.  For once in a series written for teens, the mother is not dead or somehow unavailable.  The mother is a strong, smart, independent woman and very much involved in Cammie's live and the Dad is missing/gone in the series.  It is a refreshing change.  Cammie goes to a super secret, covert spy school for girls from 7th to 12th grade.  The girls are smart, brave, athletic, and good friends.  There is a love interest for Cammie, but it doesn't take over the story.  Cammie still goes on adventures, still does her own things, still is true to herself.  To top it all off the story line is interesting.  A good mix of action/adventure and friends/relationship. 



Witch & Wizard, The Fire by Janes Patterson and Jill Dembowski

This is the third book in the Witch & Wizard series.  These books are young adult, supernatural thrillers. 

This book is pretty dark.  There is lots of horror, killing of children, mistreatment of animals, etc.  The adults are either absent, evil, or ineffective, leaving the kids to try to take back the world.  The book is full of simple symbolism with lots of children's book staple problems.  I liked the first book in the series and like each subsequent book a little less.

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

Book Four in The Mortal Instruments series.

I loved the first three books.  There was such a long wait between books three and four that I forgot a lot of the plot happenings so it took me a while to get into it.  That said, I still didn't like it as much.  Jace being so vulnerable and his refusal to believe that Clary loves his was getting a bit annoying.  I like Jace's combination of bad ass Shadowhunter and wounded soul, but enough already!  I liked Simon's storyline, but couldn't (and still can't) remember anything about the Mark of Cain.  The back of the book says it's going to be a movie--looking forward to that.  I think my daughter would like it.  Overall, the series is great.  I will read anything written by Cassandra Clare.

The Vampire Diaries, The Return - Nightfall by L.J. Smith

I picked this one up because my daughter loves Vampire Diaries books and t.v. series.  I, however, am not that taken with it.  I find the T.V. series annoying.  There is way too much whining and teenage angst.  The first few books were okay, but not great.  My daughter said that she like the Return Series better than the first series and I think it was, a bit, better.  I still didn't love it and probably won't read the others unless I'm desperate for a vampire story.  Still too much whining and sap for me.  Plus I don't really like the characters much.  Elena is annoying and so is Stephen.  Damon is more interesting, but evil, so I can't like him either.

Hold Tight by Harlan Coben

This is a 2011 Abraham Lincoln Books selection.



This book raises the question when/if parents are justified using some of the technology available today to spy of their children.  It is a thought provoking question.  The plot centers around a high school boy who has been acting strangely.  In a last ditch effort to find out what is going on with their son (who has a computer in his bedroom--a big no no in the first place) they put a spy program on his computer.  Later in the book they use the GPS on his phone to track him. I'm sure the High School set (the age group the Abraham Lincoln Books are aimed for) would side with the boy in the book and be outraged that the parents were spying.  The way the book turned out, the author seemed to be saying that spying was bad.  I'm going to say that children of any age (High Schoolers included) must prove that they are trustworthy by being open and honest about their activities.  If they break that trust they have to deal with the consequences.  Yes, spying is extreme, but if I thought I was about to loose my child to drugs, suicide, etc.  I would do it. 

On another note, there was a side story that seemed weird to me.  It didn't seems to add much to the main plot line and it didn't seem very believable.  There was also what I thought was unnecessary violence.  Not that by High School kids haven't been exposed to this and worse.  It just didn't seem necessary to the story.

Two new Young Adult books

I just finished two really great Young Adult books--Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan and Virals by Kathy Reichs.  They were both really good!

In the Immortal Beloved world Immortals are born to Immortal Parents.  The story focus on 400 plus year old Immortal who spend the last 400 years partying to forget what happened to her when she was 10.  Her life takes a dark turn and she finally seeks help.  The heroine is spunky and interesting.  The first chapter was a bit hard to get into, but then it really took off.  I like reading about someone who has been around for 400 years learning to do farm chores on the organic, rehab farm; learning about her magical abilities; and possibly finding love.  This is the first book of a trilogy.  This is not at all like the other Immortals series out there.  I think I like this one better. 

I have read several of Kathy Reichs' books and they are always good, so I was very excited to read her young adult version, Virals.  It has some science, but now that it is for a younger audience, it is easier to get through.  I like the science geeks, but not nerds angle.  The kids investigate a murder and along the way are exposed to a virus and start to gain abilities.  Interesting, well written, and fun.

Parents note:  Both books had nothing I wouldn't want my 13year old to read!

House of the Night - Awakened

This is the latest in the House of the Night Series by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast.  I wasn't all that thrilled with the last book (#6), so it was with trepidation that I picked up this offering.  I must say, it was better, but I am more than ready for the series to end.  This book is #7 and it isn't the final book in the series either.  The last book was really, dark, boring, and depressing, but this one picked up.  Zoey and her Guardian boyfriend Stark have almost put themselves back together after dying and coming back.  Stevie Rae and Rephaim continue to work on and figure out their relationship. 

I picked up the first book because I thought it was about vampires and it mostly isn't.  Yes, the main characters are vampires, but that fact plays very little in the story.  It is mostly about elemental magic and goddess worship that it is about vampires.  The story does talk about choosing good over evil and tying religions together, something I like.  Because of this and because I am obsessive about books and MUST complete all series once I start them (unless I really hate them), means, yes, I will grab up the next book due out in 11/11. 

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

This in another Lincoln book for 2011. The Story is about Brittany, a popular, rich, white girl and Alex a poor, Hispanic, gang member. I liked the way the author discusses the way the classes did or did not interact. It is a good message for teen to read about. The story is interesting. Brittany's home life is not as perfect as she makes it out to be and Alex has his own secrets. The two getting together and discovering their similarities despite their different backgrounds is great. I do have a problem with the fact that Brittany dates Alex knowing he is a gang member, knowing that he carries illegal guns, and possibly is involved in other illegal activities. Lots of girls and women all ready date boys and men thinking they will change. In the book Alex does change, but in real life that thinking usually leads to heartbreak. Brittany puts herself in danger dating Alex. In addition, they have sex while they are still in high school. Yes, I know that kind of thing goes on, but do we have to put it out their in front of kids so often it seems like the normal thing to do; instead of waiting until they are older. They did practice safe sex, but it still disturbed me.

In all, I think it sends the wrong message. I would not recommend kids in middle school/teens read this book.