Luminous by Dawn Metcalf - OPTIONAL

Metcalf, Dawn Luminous, 367 pgs. Dutton, 2011. Language - PG-13 (43 swears, 1 "f"), Sexual Content - PG-13; Violence - PG-13; After an embarrassing episode at the store, Consuela is relaxing in the tub when she finds out she can take off her skin. She enjoys the feeling of being a free skeleton for a moment before discovering she can make a replacement skin of air, water, and more. Consuela finds herself in a whole new world and takes a role in saving other peoples' lives, but there is a killer in this world, too. Will any of them survive his wrath? 

When Consuela first took off her skin, it freaked me out and I almost jumped out of my own it scared me so much. After that first time, though, it was easy to accept it as part of her and continue on with the story. However, there were some more frightening parts throughout the book. I do not recommend this to the faint of heart. Luminous isn't all horror, there were some very funny and heart-warming scenes as well. Overall, it was a very good read. 

HS - OPTIONAL. Reviewer: CCH

The Other Felix by Keir Graff - ESSENTIAL

Graff, Keir The Other Felix, 169 pgs. Roaring Brook Press, 2011. $16.99. Language: G; Mature Content-G; Violence: PG ; Everynight when Felix goes to sleep he discovers himself in dreamland. Dreamland is where he meets a boy that becomes his friend and where monsters roam freely. With the fear of his father losing his job and the bully, Felix can't wait till' he goes to sleep where he helps fights monsters with his new friend. While his life when he's awake gets more stressful, the same happens with Dreamland. Soon, he realizes his friend might not be who he thinks. 

I believe this book has a very interesting plot. I also belive that many readers can relate to having vivid dreams which probably seems more happier than when we're awake. I would recommend it because it would be a fun book to read with parents and children. EL- ESSENTIAL. Student Reviewer: HF

Storybound by Marissa Burt - ADVISABLE

Burt, Marissa Storybound, 416 p. HarperCollins, APRIL 2012.  $17.  Content: G.  Una has been shuffled from foster home to foster home since she was a baby.  When she finds a hidden book in the local library, she literally finds herself transported to another world.  There she finds the land of Story, a place where the inhabitants lives used to be scripted by the Muses, but with their defeat many years earlier, the characters are supposedly free – at least that’s what the Tale Masters have told them for all of these years.  With Una’s arrival, events have been set in motion that will change Una and Story forever.  Lies will be uncovered – enemies may even be friends.  

The back cover compares this book to Inkheart or the Neverending Story – but since I personally didn’t like either book, I think this is much better.  Interesting without being confusing, dangerous and enlightening.  I am ready for number two already!  EL – ESSENTIAL, MS – ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher

The Blackhope Enigma by Teresa Flavin - OPTIONAL

Flavin, Teresa The Blackhope Enigma, 281 pgs. Candlewick Press, 2011. $15.99. Language: G (no swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG.  Blackhope Tower is the location of unexplained happenings. This is a place where skeletons have been known to inexplicably appear in the Mariner’s Chamber, a room where the famous painting of a renowned Renaissance painter, Fausto Corvo, is hung. The mystery deepens when Sunni Forrest and her brother Dean Rivers disappear into the painting. What waits for them in this painted world created by Corvo? Will they return?

This book has an intriguing premise, but fails to follow through. It is as though the author had a unique idea for a plot, but was unable to find the end. The book is mostly about setting up a story that has an exceptionally hurried resolution that was most unsatisfying. Add to this, vaguely draw supporting characters, subplots that go nowhere or are never resolved, and characters with absurd names and you have a most disappointing read.  Upper EL—MS—OPTIONAL. AEB, Social Studies Teacher

Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay - ADVISABLE

Jay, Stacey Juliet Immortal  306 pages  Random House Children’s Books, 2011. $17.99 Language: PG-13 (23 swears; no “F”); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13.  A dark twist on the story of Romeo and Juliet, narrated mostly by Juliet.  Juliet after dying in the tomb starts to work for the Ambassadors of Light to help soulmates connect throughout time.  She has come to earth 30 times in the bodies of other people to help others find their soulmates, and each time she comes she has to fight against the Mercenaries of the Dark, who feed off the deaths of unrequited soulmates.  Every time, she has to fight against Romeo.  This book is about her latest trip to earth where she unexpectedly falls in love with a boy who changes how she sees everything and changes her mission on earth. 

I enjoyed this twist on the Shakespearean story and the ending has many twists that leave the reader satisfied.  HS-ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Darwen Arkwright and the Peregrine Pact by A.J. Hartley - ADVISABLE

Hartley, A.J.  Darwen Arkwright and the Peregrine Pact, 438 pgs. Razorbill (Penguin Group), 2011. $16.99. Language-G (no American swears; one "bloody"); Violence-PG; Sexual Content-G.  Darwen Arkwright is from England, but he has to move to Atlanta, Georgia with his aunt when something happens to his parents.  He receives a mirror that is a portal to another world, and then the next day he goes to a private school with a bunch of snotty rich kids who love to bully him.  Therefore, Darwen must adjust to a new culture, spend his days dealing with mean classmates, and his evenings traveling into a new world.  But when that world turns out to be falling apart, he tries desperately to help.  This was an enjoyable book.  I have to admit that I am a little tired of books that are too similar to Harry Potter, but this book at least made it easy to overlook the comparison (Darwen's parents died, he has special powers, and his best friends are a boy and a girl).  I found myself really wanting to find out what happened next.  I definitely believe that students will enjoy these books, and there were even a few twists that caught me off guard (I love it when that happens).  EL, MS – ADVISABLE.  Brent Smith, Reading Teacher.

The Celestial Globe by Marie Ruthkoski - ADVISABLE

Ruthkoski, Marie The Celestial Globe, 290 pgs. D&M Publishers, Inc., 2010. Language – G, Sexual Content – PG, Violence – PG; Petra is “safe” in London with the new task of uncovering a murder mystery to get home. Unfortunately, not everything goes according to plan. Friendship, frustration, and betrayal are only a few of the challenges that Petra finds in London, but can she handle all of them? Wow; there isn’t much more to say. The Celestial Globe was more enrapturing than the first one and any other book I can think of. The suspense killed me and the sad truth of the Kronos’ made my heart swell with sorrow. If the third one doesn’t come soon, I don’t know what I’ll do. MS, HS – ADVISABLE. Reviewer: CCH

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz illustrated by Robert Ingpen - ADVISABLE

Baum, L. Frank The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, illustrated by Robert Ingpen.  192 p. Sterling, 2011.  $20.  Content: G.  Visit the Land of Oz and be transported through Ingpen’s gorgeous illustrations into a wonderful, but different world from the movie or any other illustrated version you’ve seen before.  At $20, you can’t beat this as a gift, or a purchase for your library if you need one.  EL, MS, GIFT – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher

Winterling by Sarah Prineas - ADVISABLE

Prineas, Sarah Winterling, 256 p. HarperCollins, JANUARY 2012. $17.  Content: G.  Fer (Jennifer) has always felt outside of all of the kids at her school and in her community.  When she meets a boy, Rook, who is obviously not from her world, she also learns the truth about her mother’s and father’s disappearance.  When she decides to go through The Way herself, the Lady she meets is beautiful, but dark secrets will cause problems not only for this world, but also for Fer’s home world if Fer doesn’t figure out who the real enemy is.  Prinaes’ novel is a prime piece of elementary fantasy.  A great choice for younger students who are not ready for long series fantasy.  EL, ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher

Don't You Wish by Roxanne St. Claire - ADVISABLE

St. Claire, Roxanne Don't You Wish, 368 pgs. Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2012. $17.99. Language: PG, Violence: PG, Sexual Content: PG-13.

Plain, unpopular Annie Nutter longs to be like the popular crowd, and never more so than when she finds out her mother almost married millionaire Jim Monroe instead of her kooky father. When one of her father's inventions accidentally sends her to an alternate universe, Annie wakes up in a new body, a new city - and a new life. She is suddenly Ayla Monroe, the daughter Jim and her mother would have had if they had married. Gorgeous, popular, rich, and glamorous, Ayla has the kind of life Annie always dreamed of. But she will soon discover that even the beautiful people have their problems.

Fans of teen romance will enjoy this tale, as will girls who feel invisible and wish that they, too could be popular. Several surprising twists, especially in the second half, keep readers on edge. Book contains a strong sexual scene, as well as references to drugs, but neither of these behaviors is ultimately condoned by the main character.

HS - ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Caryn.

Flecks of Gold by Alicia Buck - ADVISABLE

Buck, Alicia Flecks of Gold, 282 pgs. Bonneville Books, 2010. Language - G, Sexual Content - PG; Violence - PG; Mary can see gold patterns in the edges of her vision. However, she doesn't realize their purpose until her mom is kidnapped by a strange boy and she tries to follow him. Mary ends up in a new world without cars, electricity, or chocolate! Will she ever save her mom? I  found this book very refreshing. It had a mostly predictable general plot line, but all the details and action among that entranced me. I found myself wishing it wouldn't end, but also felt that if it had been dragged out any longer I would have died from suspense. Flecks of Gold is an exciting new addition to my library. HS - ADVISABLE. Reviewer: CCH