Uglies

Uglies by, Scott Westerfield

ISBN: 978-0-329-85924-4

Living in a world where beauty means everything, Tally Youngblood will learn just how far she will go to protect her changes of becoming pretty. The pretties of Tally's world live a thrilling life filled with parties, excitement, and never-ending thrills. Yet Tally's new friend, Shay, is willing to give it all up-- risking her life to find out about what life is like outside of the city. Tally will be forced to make many difficult choices, but along the way the she will discover something she never intended to find-- herself. Join Tally Youngblood as she begins her journey in Uglies, the first book in a four book series.

The Thirteenth Child

Thirteenth Child by, Patricia Wrede

ISBN: 978-0-545-20026-4

Imagine Little House on the Prairie with a splash of magic and you will find you are reading the Thirteenth Child by, Patricia Wrede. The story is a little slow. It about a family that has thriteen children-- which is considered to be very unlucky. The thirteenth child is a twin and her brother is the seventh son of a seventh son-- which means that he is incredibly powerful. The numerical set-up for this book made me expect there would be more drama, but this is a story about a family moving out west in a time the west was still wild and dangerous. It's good if you like westerns, but certainly not the next Rick Riordon book.

W.I.T.C.H. Book 7: The Light of Meridian

The Light of Meridian by, Julie Komorn. ISBN-10: 0-7868-1796-8

Sandwiched between fourteen pages of a graphic novel lies the heart of the story that is The Light of Meridian. The W.I.T.C.H. series, which originated as an Italian comic book created by Elisabetta Gnone, has since become a series of comic books, chapter books, and an animated television show. The series focuses on five girls who live seemingly ordinary lives in a town called Heatherford. However, they are secretly the Guardians of the Veil and are responsible for protecting Earth form evil creatures that could enter through one of twelve portals from the dark world of Metamoor. The girls suffer with classic teenage fashion and boy problems, which helps make the characters easy to relate to. Each girl has two basic personality traits and almost all of their actions and dialogue could be predicted by these two traits. Will, the leader of the group struggles with feelings about the boy she likes, Matt; Taranee goes on a date with Nigel, the boy she likes, and Cornelia deals with dreams about her unknown soul mate and memories of her old best friend-turned-enemy, Elyon. Cornelia, who sets off for the other world of Meridian in hopes of saving Elyon, happens to meet the boy of her dreams and learns that he is the leader of a rebel movement set on destroying the evil Prince Phobos, who is Elyon's brother. Far more of the book is filled with descriptions of boy dramas than with the fantasy parts of the story or the major battle that gets fought between Phobos' army and the rebels. The battle takes place without much violence-- it is definitely geared towards a female audience. Nonetheless, the story moved quickly, the action was exciting, and the friendships felt real. The story does not come to a true ending, but leaves readers hanging so that they will want to read the eighth book in the W.I.T.C.H. series, Out of the Dark. This book follows the current trend in modern fantasy books like the Percy Jackson or Alcatraz Smedry series of taking modern, normal kids, giving them special powers, and still having them behave like modern, normal kids. Ultimately, this is a girly book that will appeal to fans of the Candy Apple series.

Scerets of Dripping Fang Book One: The Onts

The Onts by, Dan Greenburg. ISBN-13: 978-0152054571

With the worst allergies and stinkiest feet ever known, Cheyenne and Wally Shluffmuffin should have been glad that Hedy and Dagmar Mandible chose to bring them home from the orphanage. But Wally, ever the pessimist, sensed trouble-- even though dinner consisted of Belgian chocolate cake, chocolate dinner mints, and double-chocolate sundaes. Besides, their new home was smack in the middle of a creepy place called Dripping Fang Forest. The two women seemed nice enough, but their strange rules led Wally to explore the forbidden cellar-- only to discover that some secrets really are better left unknown. Cheyenne and Wally will have to try to escape with their lives. Even if they can get past the evil Mandible sisters, how will they be able to survive the countless horrors lurking deep within the Dripping Fang Forest.

This is a quick read, a light read, a perfect book for reluctant readers. It will appeal to tweens who appreciate the Edgar and Ellen series by, Charles Ogden. The plot is loaded with disgusting twists and turns and some seriously bizarre villains. The main characters aren't that well developed, but character development isn't really what this book is about. It is the first book in a series that follows a familiar formula: add together a set of siblings, something spooky, something gross, something chasing after them, and a cliffhanger. Do this a few times and suddenly we have a series of high interest, easy to read chapter books that will get reluctant boys to pick up a book and read.

Lucy the Diamond Fairy

Lucy the Diamond Fairy by, Daisy Meadows. ISBN-13: 978-0439935340

Though the Rainbow Magic series is probably best suited to a second or third grade reading level, the subject matter of the stories appeals to younger tweens who are often found crowding around this section in the library. Lucy the Diamond Fairy, which is one of the seven Jewel Fairy stories from the Rainbow Magic collection has a plot that is about as complex as the reading level it was created for. The cover art, though cartoon, contains rainbows and sparkles and an outfit that screams teen fashion.

Our heroines, Kristy and Rachel, are summoned by the glowing of the lockets presented to them by the King and Queen of the fairies. They travel, using the magic of fairy dust, to Fairyland to help the fairies. Though Kristy and Rachel have already saved many of the magic jewels that were stolen from the Fairy Queen's crown, the magic diamond is still missing-- and without it the fairies have lost their ability to fly! Kristy and Rachel must find where the evil Jack Frost has hidden the diamond and get it back to the King and Queen of the Fairies.

The story is light, easy to follow, and perfectly suited to younger readers. Simple black and white cartoon sketches are dispersed throughout the book. It is a bit too basic for the majority of tweens, but this is a really good series for female English language learners. The themes follow along similar lines as the popular books for tweens, but it is done at a level that will encourage understanding.

Beck and the Great Berry Battle

Beck and the Great Berry Battle by, Laura Driscoll. ISBN-10: 0-736423737

Disney, more than just about any corporation ever, knows what kids like. This story, of the Disney Fairies series, is one of a multitude of Disney Fairies products that include books, music, clothing, jewelry, toys, school supplies, movies, and a website. The stories take place in and around Pixie Hollow, the secret heart of Never Land. Though we are most familiar with the second star on the right from Peter Pan, he is not a character in the series, which centers around various fairies and animals that live in or nearby the Home Tree. In this story Beck, one of the best animal-talent fairies in Pixie Hollow, is challenged to find a way to end a berry battle that has erupted between the hummingbirds and the chipmunks due to a misunderstanding over a lost nest. The fairies can barely go outside for fear of getting hit with berries! As tension in the forest builds to a fervor, the animals encounter a terrible, though slightly contrived, danger that could only be safely navigated if the two sides would call a truce and work together. Will they be able to do it?

The story is light, easy to read, and has no real depth. It has a nice message about getting along with others, which adds value to the story in a very typically Disney sort of way. Beyond that, it's a fairy book with scattered color illustrations in that very classic Disney style that appeals to young girls. The reason there are over 40 Disney fairy books is because young tween girls still love fairies. This book bridges the genres of animal books with fairy books to create a book that has a lot of appeal to tween girls.

Eragon

Eragon by, Christopher Paolini. ISBN-13: 978-0375826689

Filled with rich descriptions and fascinating characters, this thick story is begging to be read. The plot moves slowly, building gradually to an intensely epic saga fashioned after The Lord of the Rings trilogy by, J.R. Tolken. The author, a 15 year old who felt disappointed in the modern fantasy novel, set off to create a masterpiece and eight years later he is working on the fourth and final book in the Eragon series.

The book begins in the town of Caravall, a small village near the Spine, an ominous mountain range where a teenage boy named Eragon finds a mysterious, blue stone. Eragon cares for the stone, which is actually a dragon's egg, and eventually from the egg hatches the dragon, Saphira. The two must flee the village after evil servants for King Galbritox named the Ra'zac come to find and take Saphira's egg. Eragon and Saphira are accompanied by Brom, a storyteller from the village who eventually reveals himself to be one of the famous dragon riders. Brom teaches Eragon many skills to begin his training as a dragon rider. Eragon will need to use these skills and many new ones if he will be able to battle all of the challenges he faces. He will fight alongside elves, dwarves and the Varden rebels to bring peace to the land of Alagaesia.

This book follows along a number of traditional patterns-- from the classic fantasy pattern to the orphan who wonders about his parents. The major theme is similar to the Star Wars epic saga, a small band of constantly roving rebels attempts to take down the evil empire. All of the big reveals in the story seem related to the titular theme of the series-- The Inheritance Cycle. Ultimately, the complex and intricately woven story contains rich plot development, exciting battles, spine-tingling adventure, and believable characters, which combine together to make this saga one that will be enjoyed for generations to come.