Studio Ghibli Blu-ray/DVD Prize Package
Ends Mar 14, 2010
Enter to win the Ponyo Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack, plus three other DVDs from Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli!
DVD Giveaway - Precious
Ends Mar 14, 2010
With six Oscar nominations to its credit, the DVD release of this Lee Daniels film is sure to be highly sought after.
Alice in Wonderland All Over 59Fifty Cap
Ends Mar 14, 2010
What's on your mind? This week, "Alice in Wonderland" is on everyone's minds, and now it can be on yours -- literally -- if you're one of the three winners of this unique "Alice in Wonderland" 59Fifty style cap.
Alice in Wonderland Cheshire Cat 59Fifty Cap
Ends Mar 14, 2010
What's on your mind? This week, "Alice in Wonderland" is on everyone's minds, and now it can be on yours -- literally -- if you're one of the three winners of this unique "Alice in Wonderland" 59Fifty style cap.
She drowned her five children, and shocked a nation. Suzanne O'Malley provides an intensively researched and compelling work that gives the reader a new understanding of Andrea Yates's psychosis, its roots, and what could have been done to save her.
The ancient Christmas carol gets an elegant origami pop-up treatment by master paper sculptor, Robert Sabuda.
52: The NovelBook Review - Sep 28, 2007 - By R.J. Carter
Surgically removing extraneous storylines from the original comic book series, Cox offers a streamlined and coherent version of the big events of the series that changed the DC Comics universe.
A painful look into the near history of our country, as two children try to determine why a water fountain puts out plain old water, when it's clearly labeled "Colored."
With landscapes from Dr. Seuss, characters out of Pokemon, and humor right out of South Park, these Archives will be sure to please older readers who have retained the ability to laugh at fart jokes.
Once upon a time there was a very curious girl who fell down a rabbit hole. Find out what happens when said girl uses a telescope to propel her to the moon and beyond.
Author Tony Mitton turns in a charming, silly story in rhyme about Noah and the ark, shying carefully away from any religious premise in the undertaking.
Putting down All-in is like folding pocket aces with an ace on the turn because your wife insists you get up and call the babysitter just to make sure the children haven't hurt themselves in the last half hour.
Little 'x' has run away! Can the rest of Charley's wooden letters find the missing character and bring him home in time, just when he's needed the most?
Like Bill Watterson, Jimmy Gownley gets the wonder of summer vacation, of an endless tableau of unscheduled days, where imagination was your greatest ally and playing outside after dark was the ultimate adventure.
Timothy Sykes is a self-made millionaire who came to national prominence by way of the reality television series, Wall Street Warriors. His style of trading is brash and exuberant, making him a natural "character" to drive a reality show, as such machines require someone interesting in the mix.
The penultimate chapter in Margaret Peterson Haddix's "Shadow Children" series finds Matthias -- an illegal third child -- hiding under a false name and working for the very Population Police who work to kill kids like him.
Instantly engaging, Kazu Kibuishi creates a gorgeous graphic novel with smooth anime sensiblities.
Anansi BoysBook Review - Dec 31, 2006 - By R.J. Carter
There's a feeling with Anansi Boys -- a feeling of magic and music and menace -- all presented with such a gentle nature that when the going gets rough you can't help but know that everyone's going to be okay. Even the ones who die. Except the ones who really deserve it.
Angel's ChoiceBook Review - Jan 12, 2007 - By R.J. Carter
When teenaged Angel Hansen becomes pregnant following her first sexual encounter, the pressure from all sides to have an abortion is so enormous that it's surprising that the main character feels she has any choice at all.
From members of Spidertangle, an international e-mail list of visual and concrete poetry, this marriage of art and word features an exotic array of styles, and requires a certain anarchic mindset to be thoroughly enjoyed.
The ArchitectBook Review - Aug 14, 2007 - By R.J. Carter
Mike Baron and Andie Tong deliver up a graphic novel that's heavy on coincidence and short on horror.
The ArrivalBook Review - Sep 26, 2007 - By R.J. Carter
Like many intellectual masterpieces, the beauty of Shaun Tan's The Arrival cannot be fully appreciated upon first blush.
There are bits of Winsor McCay, Dr. Seuss, and Bill Watterson to be found, all blended together in this new tale, where science is sufficiently advanced enough to be magic, and the spirit of devil-may-care adventure is alive, well, and looking to kick someone's butt.
While Bruce Wayne is visiting his friend, Leo King, to admire his collection of cat-themed treasures, the Catwoman comes calling to steal the enormous Feline Diamond.
Set in the earlier days of Batman's career, John Shirley's novel pits the masked crimefighter against a powerful white supremacist movement, even as he is still coming to grips with doubts about his chosen mission.
There seems to be a resurgence in Batman novels of late, and so far that has only been a good thing. This latest offering is set early in Batman's career, somewhere around the eighteen-month mark, and pits the Caped Crusader against a new villain, Enfer, as well as his arch-nemesis, the Joker.
Beach MusicBook Review - Sep 17, 2000 - By Yael Rose
"Beach Music" is one of those books, where it is obvious that the movie can't be as good as the book.
When a teenaged boy discovers that his insides are made of plastic and metal, he finds himself on the run from mysterious authorities as he is forced to confront the question: What is human?
J.D. and Daniel are on the run from Dr. Styron and LysenCorp. But J.D. soon finds there are others out to find her, as she begins to question her trust in anyone close to her.
A little Hunter S. Thompson, a little Kurt Vonnegut, and a little J.D. Salinger, author Kevin Brooks delivers a compelling mystery story that will keep the reader guessing right up to the revelation of the ugly truth.
Blade of FireBook Review - Jul 24, 2007 - By R.J. Carter
Stuart Hill exhibits a number of reasons why he's one of the best authors you've never heard of.
Armed with her dead father's voice for guidance, a wooden swan for protection, and a ghost-killer named Wyatt for friendship, Hanna struggles to make a home for herself in the bizarre and twisted town of Portero, Texas.
Blind FaithBook Review - Jul 10, 2006 - By R.J. Carter
When Liz's grandmother dies, she finds herself caught up in a struggle between her parents over atheism and spiritualism.
When I first saw that Scott Westerfeld was releasing Bogus to Bubbly: An Insider's Guide to the World of Uglies, I have to admit that I experienced a pang of disappointment...
The sixth installment of Graphix' Bone stories finds the Bone Cousins and Thorn in a climactic battle with the Hooded One and the army of rat creatures.
When a kid and a chimp get switched during a class field trip, things start to get very wild.
The BreachBook Review - Jan 7, 2010 - By R.J. Carter
The Breach is the type of brain-bending science fiction that blends secret research agencies right out of Dean Koontz with the near-future, nigh-magical technologies of Scott Westerfeld.
Randles is not so bold as to declare that time machines exist. But she does present some rather convincing evidence that they could exist, and maybe even soon.
A story beautifully told and beautifully rendered, this graphic novel from Aimee Friedman and Christine Norrie ought to be a shoe-in for the next Eisner Awards.
When a horror writer and his odd pet crow visit the Monroes, will that Desmodus cuniculus, Bunnicula, remain with the family, or will they see him... nevermore?
Richard Matheson is enjoying a resurgence in popularity, partly due to the release of "I Am Legend." This short story collection is guaranteed to make you think, "What if?"
Boy meets girl. Girl changes boy's life--forever. Kevin Brooks's harrowing tale of love and addiction will engross and repulse as it keeps you turning pages.
Beyond another chronicle of the popular band, this impressive work is a successful convergence of "group" biography, detailed look at their music, and explanation of the historical context that caused Beatlemania.
Yes, we know that Nemo was a fictional character of Verne's. But... what if he weren't? What if he really did helm the Nautilus and take her 20,000 leagues under the sea, and a score of other adventures?
Castaway CatsBook Review - May 29, 2006 - By R.J. Carter
The boat has gone down, and fifteen cats suddenly find themselves lost on a deserted island, forced to work together.
Catching FireBook Review - Aug 7, 2009 - By R.J. Carter
In The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen became known as "The Girl Who Was On Fire" when she won the games and rebelled against the unjust Capitol. In a time of political upheaval, her spark has lit a flame...
CatwingsBook Review - Jun 9, 2003 - By R.J. Carter
A simple tale of the adventures of four kittens on their own may be charming enough. But give them wings, and you transcend charming and enter the world of Ursula K. Le Guin.
Stolen artwork and fortean coincidences rule the day in this juvenile mystery.
ChiggersBook Review - Jun 21, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
The latest volume from Eisner Award-winning Hope Larson is a lazy summer tale of magical realism, geared toward girls who've embraced their inner geek.
P.B. Kerr's newest novel and first foray into children's literature is a magical tale about twin djinn that will be disappearing off shelves next October.
Glenn Beck condenses and adapts his prose novel, The Christmas Sweater into a brief children's story that brims over with a bit too much sweetness and sentiment to be believable.
Full of hidden surprises, The Chronicles of Spiderwick will keep the young reader actively pursuing sprites and boggarts, as they take the next interactive step into the world of The Spiderwick Chronicles.
This first in an all-new, original fiction series titled "Hannah Montana on Tour" is a thoroughly average adventure in an eventful city, unless you count shopping as the height of excitement.
Weaving elements of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Supernatural with Holly Black's modern faery stories, the author has crafted a new classic of contemporary fantasy that has raised the bar for other writers in the genre.
Losing no momentum from the ending of City of Ashes, City of Glass opens up full throttle and gets faster and more thrilling with the passing of each chapter.
Chock full of barbed wit and wonderful wordplay, JT Petty's heroine is the focus of one of the most entertaining stories I've read in modern children's literature.
J.T. Petty's fairy-killing heroine is back to face down a renegade changeling who threatens all of the Make-Believe. But can she save her parents' marriage?
Club MedsBook Review - Jul 7, 2006 - By R.J. Carter
Katherine Hall Page has deftly tapped into the mindset of young teenagers, writing with a clarity of thought and an honesty of expression that tops many of her peers in the genre.
Frank and Joe Hardy are sent to uncover an art forger at the world's largest comic book convention in California. But when bullets start flying, will they bag their suspect or will they end up being bagged and boarded themselves?
Kazu Kibuishi's Copper is a magical foray into comics fantasy, blending together the best elements of Winsor McCay and Bill Watterson.
CoralineBook Review - Aug 19, 2002 - By R.J. Carter
Like Lucy and Edmund entering C.S. Lewis's Narnia through the wardrobe, like Lewis Carroll's Alice crawling through the parlour looking-glass, Coraline opens a door that should rightfully go no place at all and discovers a path to... ...elsewhere.
Crisis on Infinite Earths does not explain the events that transpired in the comic book series, nor does it provide a continuity that could serve as a springboard into the Infinite Crisis adventure that was so closely tied to the events of the first saga. It doesn't even try to explain itself.
The Cry of the Icemark is more accessible than The Lord of the Rings, more engaging than His Dark Materials, richer than Narnia and cooler than Harry Potter.
If you're a fan of seeing the CSI teams do their thing, then you'll really enjoy digging into this novel with both hands, unearthing the plot, studying the story structure -- even doing voice analysis as you let the actors speak their lines in your head while you read.
Witch and Cat go head to head in a battle of wills -- but when Witch has finally had enough, Cat had better watch out! This book is perfect for some little ghoul or goblin's Halloween treat.
In the last desperate days of the Civil War, an assassination plot against Abraham Lincoln is concocted, and Confederate officer Jack Tanner is assigned to thwart it.
In the 1930s, Finns were emigrating from an America in a depression to the new promise of Socialism in Russia, unaware of the trouble they were headed toward.
DarklightBook Review - Feb 14, 2010 - By Paulette Suhr
It's tough being a teenage faerie princess.
Darkness FallsBook Review - Dec 6, 2002 - By R.J. Carter
Her husband was taken by the sea. Her beauty was taken by fire. Her life was taken by a town instilled with fear. Now it's her turn...
DarksideBook Review - Apr 2, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
There's a part of London that's not found on any map -- and with good reason! Enter the world of Tom Becker's Darkside.
Michael Cadnum claims another piece of history for himself in this period piece. War brides, berserker warriors--Daughter of the Wind is an edge-of-your-seat education in the ancient Nordic lands.
Dexter the Tough is a poignant tale of a fourth grade boy coming to grips with an emotional situation in his family.
Dirty LiarBook Review - Oct 25, 2005 - By R.J. Carter
Brian James's tale is replete with profanity and features the occassional bit of drug usage. However, the book would not -- could not -- have been anywhere near as honest without it.
The DivideBook Review - Jun 28, 2003 - By R.J. Carter
There's a world of science that we inhabit, and a world of magic that we consider mythology. Between this world and that one, there is The Divide.
CHERUB is a division of MI5, the British intelligence agency. Its agents are between the ages of 10 and 17, operating on the premise that children can get away with things and get into places that would draw too much attention for adults.
This tenth entry in the junior novel series based on the hit Disney Channel show takes the potentially creepy scenario of Miley and Jackson dating and brings out the humor.
Abandoned by her parents with an estranged aunt, Bethany must unravel the mystery of Elizabeth, a girl who died years ago -- and who looked and acted exactly like Bethany.
The producer of "An Inconvenient Truth" joins forces with a children's author to bring the "facts" about global warming to a more credulous audience.
The DwellingBook Review - Feb 27, 2003 - By R.J. Carter
362 Belisle. It's probably no coincidence that the street name sounds like 'Belial,' for there's certainly something sinister about the two-story three-bedroom home. Oh, nothing that you would notice right away, of course. It doesn't jump right out and advertise itself as a haunted house a la 1313 Mockingbird Lane. But once you get to know the house, there's definitely something amiss.
For caring and concerned parents, Easy will be hard. It's an honest, hurting look at sexuality and one young girl's craving for male attention. Any male attention.
They may look like they'd be right at home with the Addam's Family or J. Evil Scientist, but Edgar and Ellen enter territory frightening to even them -- the comics!
Eloise gets invited to Hollywood to "star" in a major motion picture. Beverly Hills is used to earthquakes -- but can they withstand the full-on assault of an irrepressible six-year-old Eloise?
Yet another rising tween star must endure the embarrassment of having books written about her which are nothing more than fawning statements puffed up with collected quotes from other sources.
A visit to a mining colony goes horribly wrong, and the ensuing catastrophe could spell the end of Starfleet's exploration before it could even begin. Was it a flaw with the shuttlepod? Or was it a battle in the ongoing mysterious temporal cold war?
EverlostBook Review - Aug 28, 2006 - By R.J. Carter
When Allie and Nick die, they don't make it where they were intended to go in this inventive story from Neal Shusterman.
Evil StarBook Review - May 1, 2007 - By R.J. Carter
The second book of Anthony Horowitz's Gatekeepers series finds Matthew Freeman lost and alone in Peru -- until he meets another boy who is also one of the five who will stand against the Old Ones.
Exploring The Matrix: Visions of the Cyber Present is a collection of essays from some of the finest thinkers in their fields, approaching The Matrix from different facets: as a movie, as science fiction, as philosophy--and as a quite possible reality!
In this, the third thrilling installment in the Fablehaven series, author Brandon Mull expands the world of Fablehaven, ups the threat levels, and takes the readers on the wildest ride ever.
The student-by-day, pop-star-by-night contemplates the consequences of a pair of decisions she's made in this ninth entry in the junior novel series based on the hit Disney Channel series.
Following in the squishy footprints of Dahl, Addams, and Gorey, Philip Ardagh is walking boldly where those with a more refined sense of propriety fear to tread.
With "Spider-Man 3" burning up the screens, audience expectations will be high for the next superhero flick. Sadly, that next flick will be "Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer", a story so wretched that Jack Kirby's gravestone must be vibrating from all the spinning he's doing right now.
Far From YouBook Review - Dec 23, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
When Alice becomes stranded in a blizzard with her stepmother and newborn half-sister, survival puts teenaged angst and depression on hold.
Thelonious Chipmunk is back in an all new adventure as he and his friends follow the clues from Bill the Human to learn what happened to Earth that made it a world of talking animals.
FartisteBook Review - Jul 22, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
The (mostly true) story of Joseph Pujol, a stage actor of the Moulin Rouge who's act consisted of... farting?!
When the new girl at Shadyside High invites seven students with nothing in common to her all-night Halloween party, a plan of revenge nearly three decades in the making is set into motion.
Fiction has a lot to say, and it takes a heady mind to process just what the message is at times; but that doesn't detract from the fact that, a lot of the time, it's just a heck of a lot of fun to read.
Find-a-SaurusBook Review - Jul 20, 2003 - By R.J. Carter
Maybe dinosaurs no longer exist. But Marty thinks that maybe they're just really, really good at hiding...
Finding My HatBook Review - Aug 5, 2003 - By R.J. Carter
John Son provides a sometimes funny, often touching, and always insightful look into growing up Korean in 20th century America.
David just wants to rent a quiet room and study. He doesn't plan on an adventure to save an injured squirrel. And he certainly didn't take into account the dragons...
FirethornBook Review - Jun 27, 2004 - By R.J. Carter
Most of the time, I hate epic fantasies. Firethorn is a notable exception. A first novel by a fresh new voice in the genre, this book will have fantasy fans talking for the next several months.
"I'd always promised myself I would never write a talking animal story," says Oppel. "I thought there was something absurd about furry woodland creatures in Edwardian clothing, drinking tea and eating scones. But I made an exception for bats because they just seemed such unlikely heroes, thought by most to be ugly, repellent creatures."
Rocker Mim Bracca has problems other than her alcoholism when dirty pictures of her start showing up on the Internet, and people start turning up dead.
The Flying BedBook Review - Apr 7, 2007 - By R.J. Carter
Nancy Willard's eloquent and flowery storytelling weaves a story that begins with such promise but ultimately cannot find its ending.
Greg Iles offers a riveting look at the development of the ultimate supercomputer and raises unsettling questions about the consciousness of the universe.
When Fuchsia speaks her magic words, a fairy brings her three new friends to play with.
Genesis AlphaBook Review - May 22, 2007 - By R.J. Carter
Rune Michaels presents an intriguing exploration of the concepts of good and evil in this novel about brothers who are responsible for each other's lives.
Carman's continuation of the Skeleton Creek mystery is part geek, part chic, and completely enthralling.
Ghost ShipBook Review - Apr 18, 2007 - By R.J. Carter
Suspense author Mary Higgins Clark makes her first foray into children's literature with this tale of a boy on a beach who has a chance encounter with a ghost.
The Ghosthunters return for a second adventure in Cornelia Funke's series for children, this time facing one of the five most dangerous kinds of ghosts there are.
Whether you're an amateur cook or one of the top chefs in the kitchen, the latest book from Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis proves to be a useful cooking aid.
The giants are waking up, leaving a path of destruction in their wake. Only Nick and Laurie know, and it's up to them to come up with a plan to get rid of the creatures... but at what cost?
In this sequel to Crank, Kristina returns, having battled against the monster of meth addiction. But it doesn't take very long for her to fall back into the same -- and worse -- habits.
Ghosts are disappearing, and the effect is being felt in the physical world. It's up to Tom Golden -- the only boy who can see ghosts -- and his invisible friend Grey Arthur to solve the mystery, with a cadre of would-be invisible friends in tow!
These spies may not measure up to James Bond in stature, but they match him ounce for ounce in courage and adventure. They're the mice of the Spy Mice Agency and MICE-6!
Larry is starting to sprout thick, ugly hair in all the strangest places. Did the bottle of Insta-Tan tanning solution have a strange side effect on him, or is there something more sinister at work?
By the second page of meeting the gunslinger, I could already hear the strains of oohwee-oohwee-ooo, waah-waah-waah out of "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly." It's just slightly fainter in the mind's ear than the constant susurrus of wind blowing over this desert-scape so barren and bizarre that if a monk were to shuffle over a distant dune and proclaim the praises of St. Liebowitz, you'd hardly be surprised.
The first original novel based on the hit Disney Channel show spends a summer with Miley Stewart as a hunky Australian surfer comes to town for a competition, and lessons are learned regarding the illusion of fame.
If you have a daughter, or niece, or granddaughter who is a huge fan of the character that brought Miley Cyrus to the limelight, you now have a handy-dandy hardcover reference to explain the phenomenon of Hannah Montana.
There is more to "Hannah Montana: The Movie" than just the film experience, and this book tie-in focuses on the pop superstar's return to her rural hometown, and efforts to keep it from succumbing to "progress."
As one of many adaptations of "Hannah Montana: The Movie," this one focuses on the persistent reporter trying to find out the secret identity of the teen pop star.
Hard HitBook Review - Oct 27, 2005 - By R.J. Carter
A look, through poetry, at how a teenage boy copes with his father's diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
I've just turned the last page of the last book of the Harry Potter series. And it's with some sadness that I have to force myself to realize that -- it's over. It's really over.
The penultimate chapter to the saga of Harry Potter has now been in the hands of just about everyone, everywhere, read and probably even re-read, with repercussions that have fans absolutely floored.
It's Harry's fifth year at Hogwarts, as the young mage finds his rebellious streak and undergoes a change from adventurous adolescent to subversively cool teen.
Frank Beddor and company continues to explore the life and times of a Mad Hatter in this hardcover graphic novel companion to his "Looking Glass Wars" novel trilogy.
In the course of the Looking Glass Wars, Hatter Madigan lost Princess Alyss on Earth for 13 years. During that time, a lot of curious things happened as he searched for her.
It's Halloween in Elliot's Park, and the Squirrel Scouts are preparing for their annual haunted hike. But is this hike more haunted than usual, when Daisy claims to see a ghost?
There is much skullduggery afoot in the strange town of Ratbridge. Arthur's going to need all the help he can get from the boxtrolls and cabbageheads to escape the resurrection of the illegal Cheese Guild.
Here TodayBook Review - Sep 14, 2004 - By R.J. Carter
Martin's novel delivers an poignancy and quality on par with such literary luminaries as Michael Chabon and Chris Fuhrman.
There are precious few stories like Here, There Be Dragons, stories that do more than pay tribute to the roots of modern fantasy but actually take those fantasies themselves and blend them into a wholly new adventure.
Hellblazer meets Delta Force by way of George Romero in this guns-and-gore drama from Joseph Nassise.
Hi! Fly GuyBook Review - Aug 27, 2005 - By R.J. Carter
When a hungry fly meets up with a boy hunting for a pet, they develop a special bond.
Hidden RootsBook Review - Nov 15, 2003 - By R.J. Carter
Hiding in plain sight was the only option to many Indians after Vermont passed a eugenics law in 1932.
The Hinky-PinkBook Review - Sep 17, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
"Dear oh dear!" cried Mag. "I dare say you've got yourself a Hinky-Pink! The dress will never be done in time for the ball! Not with a Hinky-Pink!"
Hocus PocusBook Review - Jun 25, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
Paul Kieve, magic consultant for "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," spends a year among the ghosts of great magicians past, learning some of their secrets and passing them along to us.
Greg Garrett's theological odyssey into comics is revised to include more recent comic events like "Civil War" and "Infinite Crisis," and references those titles as examples of the spiritual and moral concepts of his book.
In a near-future North America, the Capitol of Panem demands two teenaged tributes from each of the twelve districts to compete to the death in a televised game of survival.
Lisa Schroeder's verse novel is a fast, densely packed exploration of grief and guilt, as a teenaged girl loses her boyfriend in an accident, only to have him return to her in dreams and reflections.
When Ben's older brother Sam goes off on a class trip, Ben expects it will be nice to have their room all to himself for a while.
IdenticalBook Review - Sep 15, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
How to describe the Gardella family? "Effed up" doesn't even begin to cover it, in this newest offering from Ellen Hopkins that's guaranteed to get under your skin.
Find out how the web phenomenon known as iCarly all began with this adaptation of the first two episodes of the hit Nickelodeon show.
ImpulseBook Review - Jan 26, 2007 - By R.J. Carter
Three social misfits from different strata of society discover the things they have in common -- aside from their suicide attempts -- in this haunting and gripping drama, set in verse, from the author of Crank and Burned.
Owen weaves together disparate continuities and fables, grafting one to the other in a seamless fashion until it must be believed that there is, after all, only one great mythology.
The DC Comics event of 2006 gets the novelization treatment from master wordsmith Greg Cox. Even if you've already read the comics, you won't have the full story experience until you've picked up this book.
InkdeathBook Review - Nov 3, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
Cornelia Funke puts the final wraps on what may be the most definitive fantasy series of the decade.
InkheartBook Review - Aug 23, 2003 - By R.J. Carter
Ever get dragged into a good book? Ever have the characters get dragged out of one?
InkspellBook Review - Oct 15, 2005 - By R.J. Carter
Cornelia Funke returns to carry her readers -- and her characters -- into the world of the Inkheart story.
Interviews with over thirty movie composers are meant for aspiring musicians interested in feature-film scoring, as well as for the music fan in general to listen to soundtracks with a new ear.
Artful, sophisticated, and gracefully intriguing, "The Intelligencer" is a fascinating espionage thriller that ranks among the best books of the past year.
I believe in faeries now -- and it's all Holly Black's fault. The third and perhaps final book of Black's modern faery tales finds the Seelie and Unseelie courts at war, with the pixie Kaye Fierch caught in the middle.
A little boy isn't afraid of the witches, monsters or mummies that trick or treat at his house. But what does scare him... and why... is the humorous payoff in this delightful book for younger readers.
Felix Gomez is an Iraq War veteran, a private investigator... and a vampire. His latest case: destroy all zombies before humans learn there's a supernatural element in their world.
Jennifer Government is billed as Catch-22 by way of The Matrix. And while I didn't find anything in there to indicate that the world was a huge computer simulation, I do find the writing is very similar in feel to the Joseph Heller classic. More accurately, Jennifer Government is Wall Street by way of Brazil. It's what Lewis Carroll might have written had he listened too long to the Rush Limbaugh program.
The face of Pollyanna, the soul of Wednesday Addams, Joy Wells is a study in contrasts, and the type of guileless heroine that children's lit begs for.
He may look like an overimaginative eight-year-old to everyone else, but Julian Rodriguez is a first officer of the Federation, observing the phenomena known on Earth as Thanksgiving.
When Wonder Woman finds an island where the population is all male, she has no idea that her rescue mission is about to encounter an unexpected hitch. That hitch is Ares, God of War, and she'll need her friends in the JLA to combat her Olympian enemy.
After a few disappointing books in the Justice League of America novel series (neither by Golden), readers are finally given a JLA story that captures not only the various characteristics of the League members, but is also told from the right perspective and with all the right kinds of action.
When a bizarre killer storm threatens Alaska, the Justice League is there to help. But when the world's weather patterns become a terrorist weapon, are the Justice League powerful enough to help?
When The Flash runs up against a force faster than he is, it's cause for alarm. But when every move the force makes results in death and destruction on a cosmic scale, it may be beyond even the capacities of the Justice League to deal with.
Eisner-nominee Frank Cammuso has a flair for the extended setup. He's a master at creating a domino effect of events that topple like a well-designed Rube Goldberg machine, and he uses comic panels expertly to control the timing of these events.
Alexa Daley dreams about the world outside the walls of her city. When an opportunity presents itself, she discovers enchantment, danger, and a secret growing threat to all who live in Bridewell!
The military divisions responsible for protecting Earth from the potential of hostile aliens watched the skies diligently. It never occured to them that it would be a ground force invasion.
Just when one thinks that Authors Anonymous have plumbed the depths and expurgated themselves of all the different ways to tell the story of the boy hero given a quest to save an otherworldly plane, along comes Obert Skye with the most unlikely hero of them all: Leven Thumps.
Lips Touch: Three Times is an exquisite work of literature, as charming as it is frightening -- much like any original work of the Brothers Grimm. These are tales of the rarest, most exciting treasure -- first kisses -- and the consequences such kisses can bring about.
Ray is an uncommon animal. Genus: pedophile. Species: girl-lover. Common nomenclature: monster. Author Elizabeth Scott has done her homework on this one.
Voluminous in title and content, this is your one-stop source of information for Disney's darling, with rarely-seen photos and a thorough examination of all aspects of Miley's rise to public consciousness.
The trilogy concludes with a deposed Alyss Heart forced to ally with her sworn enemy: her Aunt Redd.
A Loop in TimeBook Review - Mar 9, 2007 - By R.J. Carter
There are so very many interesting ideas that could make for an intriguing, exciting, and world-building saga; but they're all trapped in a drier-than-papyrus narrative that passes too slowly to hold the reader's attention from chapter to chapter.
Lunch MoneyBook Review - Jul 1, 2007 - By R.J. Carter
Greg and Maura are rivals in the comic book industry, selling their minicomics to their classmates. But by working together, they develop something even greater than either of them could do on their own.
As with any biography of an on-going career, this work gets more dated as time goes by, but it still operates as a fine -- if unreliable -- introduction to the teen sensation.
Magic PickleBook Review - Apr 30, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
Weapon Kosher -- aka the Magic Pickle -- dispenses dill justice against the Brotherhood of Evil Produce in Scott Morse's graphic novel for younger readers.
MaliceBook Review - Nov 17, 2009 - By Paulette Suhr
Chris Wooding's book-graphic novel hybrid is a work of art, from its shiny three-dimensional cover to the intricate world built within its pages to its twisty yet satisfying conclusion. The last book that left me this giddy for the sequel involved a certain boy wizard...
Whether you're a movie buff who wants an inside look at the filmmaking process or a fan of Shyamalan's work who's interested in a character study of this enigmatic individual, this book is a must-read.
With the impending release of Steven Spielberg's re-envisioning of War of the Worlds, Gesta could not have bette timed the release of this cornucopia of Wellsian characters and adventures.
Math FablesBook Review - Nov 27, 2003 - By R.J. Carter
Lessons that count for ages 3 to 6.
Max's LogbookBook Review - Apr 5, 2003 - By R.J. Carter
Max's Logbook is a story that is amusing as it is impacting, relating through the fantastic those real-world elements that many kids have to face and deal with every day. Check this one out, and your whole family--no matter how it's structured--will be cheering for Max as he learns how to cope with the changes in his life.
The girls from Narnia, Oz, Wonderland and the world of the fourteenth door discuss whether May Bird is eligible to join their literary fantasy girls' club.
Medusa JonesBook Review - Dec 15, 2007 - By R.J. Carter
Author Ross Collins takes Bullfinch's Mythology and injects it with a healthy dose of cute in this unique and fun look at some familiar characters.
That lurid librarian, that bilious bibliophile, that dreadful dabbler in a deadly Dewey Decimal system, is back with another collection of tales too terrible to tell!
This particular edition of the Damien Graves series is, in general, less than impressive; and yet it contains one story that is perhaps the best the franchise has produced thus far.
This slim contemporary biography is ridiculously overpriced, but is otherwise a fine introduction to the young starlet's life for the curious juvenile.
Sort of a magazine in book form, this unauthorized celebrity bio fills its glossy pages with splashy graphics, colorful captions, and full-page photos. It is somewhat light on substance, affirming the name of the series it is a part of.
This brief biography of the young entertainer is geared for reading aloud or independent reading, and will prove to be a quick read for a prepubescent interested in the world of Miley Cyrus and her alter ego Hannah Montana.
Selected by survey as one (or would that be two?) of the people kids want to read about, this third-grade level reader is an easy-to-understand biography accompanied by well appointed full-color photos.
Yet another biography of the Disney star, this time focusing on her position as a "modern role model," with a good selection of little-seen photos, context enriching sidebars, and impressive vocabulary.
For ages 9-12, this part biography, part scrapbook is one of those books that gleans all it can without any engagement of the principles, and is a fairly informative look from the outside at a career on the rise.
A Million DotsBook Review - Jul 23, 2006 - By R.J. Carter
How much is a million? Count the dots, and learn other interesting number facts along the way.
Shana Corey's semi-fictional origins of the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade centers on a young girl named Milly, a Polish immigrant who was still new to America in the year 1924.
After reading some of the essays in this offering from Benbella Books' Pop Smart series, I had to ask myself: Did I really read Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series, or did I just think I did?
The reader's heart will be touched -- and bruised -- by the saga of a china rabbit who, after enduring the most soul-wrenching tragedies, manages at last to open his heart to the possibility of being loved and the apprciate just what that means.
Move over, Mighty. There's a new mouse in the house, and he's a ball of furry fury.
Mister MondayBook Review - Apr 22, 2003 - By R.J. Carter
Mister Monday is a very gaimanesque book, mixing equal parts of Neverwhere and American Gods with legendary elements from The Once And Future King, The Chronicles of Narnia and various creation myths. The result is a wholly unique entity that stands on its own as Scholastic's next potential cross-generation breakout hit.
When Jenny and Allie move in, they discover their new neighborhood has an old history, one which is about to have grave consequences for her neighbors.
Santa's wife is tired of being left home alone in the snow all the time. This year, she's determined to see the world -- but can Santa cope on his own?
My AmericaBook Review - Jul 4, 2007 - By R.J. Carter
Coretta Scott King Award winners Jan Spivey Gilchrist and Ashley Bryan team up to provide an artistic look at America.
It probably isn't the kind of book you'll read from cover to cover. It's more the kind that you'll pick up, thumb through, and stop on the first interesting chapter for a bit -- or you'll dogear the pages regarding sightings in places you're familiar with. It's a fun bit of reference that will make for interesting conversation.
If you have a healthy sense of humor, a love of balls-to-the-wall action, and a passing awareness of current events and media figures, any New Destroyer novel will fit the bill. "Dead Reckoning" just does it more than most.
Billy Joel's tribute to the Big Apple is converted into a series of watercolor paintings for children.
Night CatBook Review - Jun 12, 2003 - By R.J. Carter
What parents haven't heard their child declare that she wants to stay up all night instead of going to bed? Margaret Beames's black cat, Oliver, wants to do just that.
Arlie and Ty discover a lost amulet that brings inanimate statues to life. But how do they reverse the process before the town is overrun by garden gnomes and pink flamingos?
A fifteen-year-old runaway, Alvin Rogers, is found wandering the Utah landscape, incoherent, babbling. He's taken to a hospital, where he is incapable of even making the simplest of decisions. "I don't know," is his response to everything. Until his parents come to claim him. That's when he breaks down and mentions the Nightmare Academy.
George Ella Lyon has crafted herself a uniquely wonderful little story here that any kid who's ever been the target of an unjust punishment will quickly relate to.
Ann M. Martin delivers a delicate tale of magical realism, as a little girl must find a point of equilibrium between two realities: Santa Claus and cancer.
Volume number fourteen in the junior novel series based on the hit Disney Channel show adapts two episodes from the show's second season, with plots involving obstacles keeping Miley from traveling to perform as Hannah Montana.
Is Lex Luthor really an homage to Aleister Crowley? Is Batman a remake of the Kabbalist golem? Author Christopher Knowles presents his findings in this alternate look at superheroes.
Outside BeautyBook Review - Jan 3, 2010 - By Paulette Suhr
Sexpot Helen Kimura has taught her four daughters (who have four different dads) how to live life on their own terms. She's taught them how to sneak out the back door when a jilted lover is banging on the front door. What she hasn't taught them is how to cope with being separated.
What sets this book apart from other recipe books for young readers is the complexity of some of the items. This is not a step-by-step guide for making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or cheese crackers with little pimento faces on them.
Each page of this book is exquisitely illustrated, as the story entertainingly and succinctly teaches children about sacrificing for the sake of others.
All is not well in Neverland, and it's up to Wendy and the Lost Boys to return and set things to right. In more ways than one, Peter Pan in Scarlet is a heart-thrilling winner.
Peter Raven Under Fire deserves a place on the shelf next to Mutiny on the HMS Bounty, Moby Dick, and Kidnapped. It's that good, that deserving of an adult readership, and that comparable to nautical classics.
Usually when a publisher issues a companion book to a high budget Hollywood movie, it is simply a trivial attempt to extract a profit. "The Phantom of the Opera Companion", however, offers readers enough substance to validate its purchase.
Lock your brain into a secure position and prepare to be boggled--not least by the concept that Arnold Schwarzenegger may be the greatest philosopher of the 20th century!
This book geared for children ages 8-12 fictionally details the early life in Poland of Karol Józef Wojtyla, who would become Pope John Paul II.
PremonitionsBook Review - May 6, 2004 - By R.J. Carter
Teenaged Grace uses her psychic visions to search for her missing friend. But her powers aren't enough to protect her in this compelling novel from Jude Watson.
PrettiesBook Review - Sep 19, 2005 - By R.J. Carter
Tally Youngblood returns in this frenetically-paced adventure set in Scott Westerfeld's sinister Utopia.
Pretty EvilBook Review - Oct 31, 2005 - By R.J. Carter
Ethnic fiction is a tricky business, but freshman author Lexi Davis dives straight in with this horror / comedy / romance novel.
Accompanied by illustrations successfully projecting the enthusiasm of youth, the long-time Green Bay Packers wide receiver delivers a children's story of encouragement to chase your dreams.
Greanias does for archaeology what The DaVinci Code did for art. But if you're expecting the usual science vs. religion, one-winner struggle, you may be surprised.
The future's so bright, Bo's gotta wear shades. And a mouthguard. And kneepads. After all, since the Child Safety Act got passed, one can't be too careful -- or you'll end up doing jail time!
In 18th century England, a young boy finds his loyalties torn between patriotism and friendship.
Raven's GateBook Review - Sep 8, 2006 - By R.J. Carter
Matthew Freeman avoids juvenile detention by volunteering for a foster position in rural Lesser Malling. But the horror that is to come makes prison seem a picnic.
The First Lady and newly-off-the-market daughter fashion a picture book aimed at fostering youthful literacy. Will their celebrity entice children to read all about it?
There have probably been stories of Jesus Christ tailored for children since AD 37, and Eva Moore's concise Bible-based biography (with gentle illustrations by Duendes del Sur) is but the latest (and certainly not the last).
Read and RiseBook Review - Dec 29, 2005 - By R.J. Carter
Part of the National Urban League "Read and Rise" program, this book by the Pinkneys drives home the need to read.
RelentlessBook Review - Jul 4, 2009 - By Paulette Suhr
Dean Koontz has fun vilifying literary critics and mocking his own hairdo, but in the end his new book lives up to its name.
The graphic novel version of Ted Dekker's novel is solidly illustrated fantasy with a few plot points that make me wonder if something was last in adaptation.
Boldly combining science fiction with Christian theology, Gerald Welch's story refrains from preachiness while delivering non-stop page-turning action.
If Return to Wonderland were only a horrific reimagining of the original story, it would be a classic failure. But the creators pull things together by taking things a step beyond...
RevealersBook Review - Sep 2, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
Amanda Marrone does for teenaged witches what Stephanie Meyer has done for vampires.
A young adult superhero novel that gets a little tangled up in it's cape...or lack thereof.
The RoarBook Review - Jul 14, 2009 - By Paulette Suhr
Emma Clayton's book feels more like a blockbuster movie than a novel. It's heavy on chase scenes and explosions, but lacking in exposition and character development.
Juxtaposing simple cartoony figures against a highly detailed background filled with people, critters, monsters and rat creatures, Smith spins an epic that is comfortably paced and yet a compelling page-turner.
This may not be the kind of book you'd read cover to cover, but it's definitely the kind you can open up to any particular page and quickly become engrossed in its contents. This one's a real find for the avid film buff or the budding trivia fanatic.
For ages 4-8, this charming tale follows a Bengal tiger cub on a journey to cross the ocean to reunite with his mother back home. Adding to interest are illustrations that are meant to be colored along the way.
If you love the artwork of Thomas Kinkade, then you'll absolutely fall for the illustrative work of Jason Cockcroft in this quiet, peaceful tale of the Nativity, told through the perspective of animals.
There's a thin line between reminescent and derivative. William Asher deserves more than a small check after this overly derivative novel from Kelly McClymer.
Sam I AmBook Review - Sep 1, 2004 - By R.J. Carter
Rarely, very rarely, a book comes along that is more than just a story. It becomes a Very Important Book... Ilene Cooper has written such a book.
Same DifferenceBook Review - May 11, 2009 - By Paulette Suhr
Friends, romance, Starbucks, and esoteric Dadaist art--summer reading at its finest.
This graphic novel collection of Guibert and Sfar's spunky heroine will be right up the alley of fans of Captain Underpants and other gross-out comic stories.
While declaring itself to be an evenhanded, scientific study of the evidence, Meldrum clearly exhibits his bias towards the existence of Bigfoot, lauding the scientists who interpret the evidence toward his conclusion, while almost sneering derisively at those who declare it a hoax.
Peter Pan, the Argonauts, the lost Roanoke colony and Dante's Inferno are just some of the myths all overlayed into a singular epic in this second novel in the thrilling series by James A. Owen.
Spizman and Johnston excel at delivering fast paced action set against a cityscape so vividly described that it could almost serve as a Fodor's Guide for younger readers.
Part Once and Future King, part The Dark Crystal, The Secret Prince is still a tale wherein you will find the pages quickly turning and the hours slipping silently away from you as you begin to read.
The eighth entry in the junior novel series based on the hit Disney Channel series centers on Miley's budding romantic interest in fellow student (and fellow celebrity, though he doesn't know it) Jake Ryan.
The fourth installment of this literary adventure finds J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and Charles Williams joined by Don Quixote de la Mancha and others as they work to fulfill a prophecy and save two worlds from destruction.
In the spirit of Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators series comes this new addition to the Sherlock Holmes legend from husband and wife team Tracy Mack and Michael Citrin.
Now in paperback edition, Shutter Island is a brilliant psychological thriller that inspires emotions that few pieces of literature have the power to produce.
The adventures of Arthur Penhaligon continue in Garth Nix's supernal exploration of the seven deadly sins.
Skeleton CreekBook Review - May 25, 2009 - By Paulette Suhr
Patrick Carman's ghost story is part print, part video, and part internet. It's innovative, groundbreaking, and techno-cool. But enough about the format. What about the story?
SkinnedBook Review - Jul 21, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
Robin Wasserman returns with a future-set tale that will reinvigorate philosophical debates over existence and spirituality.
The Sky InsideBook Review - Apr 29, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
The Sky Inside combines the governmental oppression of 1984, the totalitarian consumerism of Jennifer Government, the technological wonderland of Uglies, and tops it all off with a bow taken from "The Truman Show."
Slave MastersBook Review - Mar 10, 2004 - By R.J. Carter
Rose Rico recaptured; alien sex slave trade continues to thrive.
Slave TradeBook Review - Mar 21, 2003 - By R.J. Carter
Rose Rico is a carefree Latina who lives for parties, drugs, and the opportunity to embarrass her highly politically-placed mother. But the world Rose lives in is one that has been in contact with alien species for some years now. The aliens provide the Earthers with advanced technology, asking very little in return. All they want are some humans now and then to serve as sex slaves.
Already slated to get braces, young Raina's self esteem takes a huge hit when an exuberant run turns into a faceplant into the sidewalk, kicking off middle-school drama.
Snow BearBook Review - Sep 6, 2003 - By R.J. Carter
This tale of a baby polar bear's first exposure to the world is filled with soft-to-touch pictures.
The third installment of Robert J. McCarty's "Planet of the Dogs" series finds Christmas in trouble. Can the gentle ways of the dogs turn the King of the North toward goodness and save the holidays?
SpecialsBook Review - Apr 8, 2006 - By R.J. Carter
Author Scott Westerfeld caps off his Uglies trilogy with this rousing action-adventure. The government made Tally Youngblood a Special -- they don't know how special she really is.
Christopher L. Bennett demonstrates that he has a strong grasp on Spidey canon, delivering a compelling action tale that's also an engrossing character study. If you're a fan of the classic Spider-Man, Drowned in Thunder is definitely something you want on your bookshelf.
Do you wish to follow in the footsteps of the brave and daring Grace siblings? Then, future faerie explorer, you shall need a specialized journal, like this one.
Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi come together once again with this handsome hardcover, just in time for the launching of the International Sprite League.
Split SecondBook Review - Aug 30, 2004 - By Scott Juba
Split Second's storyline machinery manipulates readers with a complete disregard for their ability to see through its paper-thin plot.
When a local boy goes missing, Jocelyn is forced to examine her life and her relationships with the missing teen, her boyfriend Benny, and the priest who stands between them in different ways.
The crew is home--but the adventures are far from over as Janeway battles to save the lives of her Borg and holographic crewmembers from Starfleet itself.
A tour de force of Star Trek lore, DeWeese connects the dots between already established Star Trek adventures, lifting the veil to reveal a behind-the-scenes epic.
Reviewing a book several days before the release of the movie it adapts is a difficult task. In fact, without spoiling the plot, it's damned near impossible. So let that serve as your official warning--Here Be Spoilers! Proceed at your own risk.
Rachel and Kirsty are back for another mini-adventure on their quest to help the Weather Fairies recover their magical feathers from Jack Frost's goblins.
Storm ThiefBook Review - Aug 12, 2006 - By R.J. Carter
Chris Wooding just gets better with each and every novel. Storm Thief is a multi-layered tale filled with intriguing and imaginative characters who all arrive at the core of the story with competing motivations. But the city of Orokos has secrets that none of them have considered.
The first day of school can be a bad day. The first day of school at a new school can be an even worse day. But the first day of school at a new school when you have to wear the clothes your mother put out for you--bright green plaid pants and a blue shirt with little cowboys all over it--is likely to be the very worst day, ever!
If you can get past the idea that the entire story throws out, spits on, and sets fire to the entire Superman mythos, then you have to admit that Wolfman did the best he could in putting lipstick on a pig.
Volume number eleven in the junior novel series based on the hit Disney Channel show features plots involving payback -- one with Miley as the deliverer, and one that finds her as the recipient.
Table For OneBook Review - Feb 26, 2004 - By R.J. Carter
If Will Eisner were going to do a graphic novel about a night in a restaurant, "Table For One" is the graphic novel he would have done.
J.K. Rowling returns with just enough of that old Potter feeling to take the edge off for those suffering withdrawals -- and benefits a great charity at the same time!
Tea for RubyBook Review - Sep 23, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, continues her string of delicately charming children's books with Tea for Ruby, a fun romp through little Ruby's topsy-turvy childhood world that doubles as an instructional guide to good manners.
When the Puppet King captures all the male Teen Titans, it's up to Starfire and Raven to save them. One problem: they're trapped in each other's bodies!
Holly Black and Ted Naifeh return to the world of Rue Silver, a teenager who has enough trouble without having to save her town from her creepy Faerie uncle and his magical minions.
The LabBook Review - Jan 25, 2010 - By Paulette Suhr
Written by a teenage boy for teenage boys, the action in this spy thriller literally never stops.
Jane Kemp and Clare Walters turn in a delightful picture storybook that follows a day in the life of a mother and her young daughter, each looking for the perfect time to say the perfect thing.
The day-and-night tap-tap-tapping of leprechaun shoemakers is keeping the town of Dingle from getting any sleep. It's up to sharp-witted Finn O'Finnegan to outsmart the little people and help his townsfolk.
Too Many ToysBook Review - Sep 20, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
Too many toys? But that's impossible! How can Spencer's mom expect him to pick any to get rid of?
Touch the ArtBook Review - Oct 13, 2006 - By R.J. Carter
Julie Appel and Amy Guglielmo have paired up to create an absolutely innovative approach to introducing classic artwork to young children.
Zilpha Keatley Snyder promises in her foreward that this story will be "the big, old house story to end all big, old house stories." Which sets some high expectations from this multiple award winning author. Would that they had been met.
A drug-filled idyll that blends the works of Hunter S. Thompson with Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman, tossing in the myths of Orpheus and Odin, whipped into a froth of teenaged angst and nihilism. Sounds like a road trip to me.
Mark Kneece has more than succeeded in adapting The Twilight Zone with reverence, and one hopes that this new lease on life will introduce another generation of readers to Serling's genius.
The radio play is almost a lost art, barely remembered through cassette tape collections of The Shadow or The Life of Reilly sold at Cracker Barrel's or interstate truck stops. Two Plays For Voices will, unfortunately, not resurrect the art. But it's a damned good start.
While it's far from a college course on Middle Eastern studies, it's an education that's a far sight more than what the average American possesses in regards to Israel and the past and present conflicts that plague the region.
The UnspokenBook Review - May 6, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
Thomas Fahy's somewhat formulaic teen horror novel scores high with tension, terror and turmoil, but leaves the reader ultimately unfulfilled with a surfeit of unanswered questions.
In Neal Shusterman's world, abortion is illegal and abandoned babies are mandatorily protected. But if you're between the ages of 13 through 18, all bets are off!
When a young girl runs away into the wilds of New York, she discovers a whole new world of creatures -- faeries -- who live in exile in the modern world of man.
Well, if pirates are bad, and vampires are worse... Imagination and adventure run wild in this fantastic seafaring tale of two twins, separated at sea: one rescued by pirates, and the other by something far more dangerous!
Vampire LovesBook Review - Apr 22, 2006 - By R.J. Carter
The creator of the The Little Vampire and The Rabbi's Cat has his stories of a neurotic shy vampire collected in this graphic volume.
Parents may find the concepts of this book wandering uncomfortably close to the occult in its talk of positive and negative energies, the properties of plants and crystals, and -- certainly not the least of all -- the actual wand, crystals, and feathers enclosed for the would-be apprentice.
The irrepressible Bailey School Kids are back in a brand new adventure geared to introduce young readers to the political process just in time for this year's elections.
What a Trip!Book Review - Sep 19, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
When Mel trips over a rock, he falls headfirst into an alternate dimension where everything is pointy. But who's going to believe him?
Kids can sometimes ask the hardest questions about things that grownups take for granted. Get this book before your child exposes your lack of knowledge!
In an age where most grade school students cannot name more than a handful of U.S. presidents (let alone the current one), it seems unlikely that any would remember a president's child, nor show any interest in learning about one. If that's the case, then more's the pity, because Alice Roosevelt, the wild-child daughter of Rough Rider Teddy Roosevelt, is quite the character worth learning about.
In early December, a caravan pulled by a single reindeer named Twinklestar ran into a thunderstorm. The lightning frightened the reindeer, who ran off, leaving the caravan wagon to tumble through the sky and land with a crash on the neighborhood of Misty Close.
This twelfth entry in the junior novel series based on the hit Disney Channel show finds Miley utilizing her celebrity counterpart to triumph in the face of adversity.
Theodore Beale gives the spiritual a physical presence in his teen series, Eternal Warriors. The demons are real. The angels are real. And the world is real as well.
The plot of the story is a superhero adventure, but the themes are far weightier than that, and astute readers will be left thinking. During the late eighties and early nineties, the parallels were clearly drawn between the anti-mutant hysteria in X-Men and the real-life issues of racism and assaults on gays. It's a new decade now, and America faces a new problem, but one that still creates the same old "us" and "them" divisions: terrorism.
Set in 1960s South Africa, where apartheid still held sway, Emily lives with her 15-year-old perfect sister and her parents: an unsatisfied mother who's too busy with her appearances and her affair with her tennis instructor, and a father who's too wrapped up in his chocolate business to notice there's anything amiss.
