“New audio book reviews - Olympian” plus 2 more

New audio book reviews - Olympian
Interesting Reader Society - Book Reviews by Young Adults - School Library Journal
Picture Gift Book Roundup - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Posted: 02 Dec 2009 05:11 AM PST

By OLINE H. COGDILL | The Orlando Sentinel • Published December 02, 2009

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"Road Dogs" by Elmore Leonard, read by Peter Francis James; Harper Audio. Unabridged, 6 CDs, 6 3/4 hours, $34.99. In print: Morrow. $26.99. 272 pp.

Elmore Leonard has often been quoted that he tries to remove from his novels "the parts that readers tend to skip."

That rule - from Leonard's "Rules of Writing" - is in full force in "Road Dog," a lean, mean, action-packed novel that features three characters from previous novels. On the surface, "Road Dogs" seems like a simple novel, an uncomplicated look at three disparate people. But, like most of Elmore's novels, so much sturm und drang simmers under the surface as the author's trademark exquisite dialogue lays bare everyone's inner thoughts.

Cundo Rey (LaBrava) helps get his new friend Jack Foley's 30-year sentence knocked down to about 30 months. This is no small feat because Foley's status as a celebrity bank robber demands a long prison sentence. Foley was last seen in "Out of Sight" and readers can't help but picture George Clooney, who played Foley in the movie. Well, that's all right. Cundo takes Foley home to Venice, Calif., and installs the bank robber in one of his mansions where his wife, fortune-teller Dawn Navarro ("Riding the Rap"), supposedly has been "being pure," his phrase for her faithfulness, in anticipation of his return.

Cundo's brutal nature is matched by his naivete. Dawn immediately seduces Foley and tries to get him to help her steal Cundo's fortune. But there is a code among criminals; Foley will steal from a bank - heck, he's addicted to it - but a betraying a friend is another matter.

Elmore keeps the energetic plot moving at a brisk pace, aided by Peter Francis James' exact performance of each character. Elmore's dialogue is always a joy and James makes the most of it.

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Interesting Reader Society - Book Reviews by Young Adults - School Library Journal

Posted: 02 Dec 2009 07:20 AM PST

Interesting Reader Society -- School Library Journal, 12/2/2009

Garcia, Kamie and Margaret Stohl. Beautiful Creatures. Little, Brown. January 2010. ISBN: 978-0-316-04267-3. Gr 7 and up.

Ethan Wate can't stand living in Gatlin, South Carolina, and he's counting down the days until he can leave. But then Lena Duchannes—a mysterious girl now living with the town's "shut-in"—arrives and Ethan recognizes her from his dreams. It's obvious that something draws them together, but their connection has barely been explored when something else begins to pull Lena away from him.

This is excellent storytelling, written by two women from a first-person male point of view, to boot—pretty impressive. The magical world fits very nicely into the real world, and a sense of mystery and danger is built throughout the book. It's engaging, entertaining, exciting, and a good blend of romance and intrigue that stands a solid chance of appealing to guys as well as girls. The cover was eye-catching and shiny, which I loved. The raised lettering and peculiar shape of the font made it interesting to look at and the shadowy silver trees in the background hint at the mystery of the book itself.

Lena's Caster world was fantastic (a caster is a powerful supernatural), but the best part of the story by far was Macon Ravenwood, her uncle. Not only is he utterly powerful, mysterious, and haughty, but I felt like cheering out loud when he and Marion the librarian completely out-argued the meeting trying to expel Lena from school. His personality was extremely interesting; it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to say that he was the best character in the book.

The ending demands a sequel, now! I give this book my absolute highest rating.—Lisa M., age 16

Jones, Carrie. Captivate. Bloomsbury. January 2010. ISBN: 978-1-59990-342-2. Gr 7 and up.

In this great sequel to Need (Bloomsbury, 2008), Zara is back and the pixie problem is worse than ever. Pixies seem to be flocking to the area, and all seem bent on capturing the house where Zara and her friends trapped her father and his pixies. One pixie, Astley, seems different though. And something about him tends to make Zara kind of blue, literally. When he predicts an end to her and Nick's relationship and that she will be his queen, Zara tries to prevent it as best she can.

With exciting new characters and great plot development, Captivate truly brings the reader into the action. This is a great book, and while it offers some original characters, some aspects of the plot tend to be less than original. It does have some unique twists and a great mythic basis that makes its semi-clichéd plot seem new and refreshing.

The cover totally fits this book. The continuing of the gold dust from the previous book combined with the tear show that this book is full of heartache and tough decisions.

The most compelling aspect of the book has to be the fact that it isn't afraid to venture into the gray areas of what everyone is doing. The author knows that everything her characters do affects so much more than just themselves, and Jones lets her characters share that awareness as well. Her characters are quite complex in the many decisions they have to make and the reasons they make them.—Rachel M., age 16

Sonnenblick, Jordan. After Ever After. Scholastic, February 2010. ISBN: 978-0-439-83706-4. Gr 5-8.

Jeffrey had cancer but he's better now, having passed his five-year remission anniversary, and he is starting eighth grade. The school year would be going a lot better if it weren't for the fact that his brother has dropped everything and run off to Africa; his best friend, Tad, is avoiding him (and the truth about his own cancer); he has to deal with the very real chance that he might actually have a girlfriend; and, of course, the fact that due to a test, he might not be going on to high school next year.

The cover is very reflective of the content. Much of the story is Jeffrey on his bike, so the cover fits. The characters are whole people, and the author handles the effects of cancer both on the person and those around them with a sense of grace, but also reveals the nitty-gritty truth behind it.

This is not a good "stand alone" book. Though Sonnenblick hasn't written a series, he has written books that connect to this book. To understand much of this new book, it helps to have read Drums, Girls, & Dangerous Pie (Scholastic, 2005), his title that first introduced Tad and Jeffrey.—Maisie I., age 15

Ellsworth, Loretta. In a Heartbeat. Walker. February 2010. ISBN: 978-0-8027-2068-9. Gr 7-12.

When 16-year-old ice-skater Eagen makes a small mistake in a routine, the result is fatal. Soon her heart is transplanted to 14-year-old Amelia's body—and Amelia's life begins to change in ways she never could have imagined. Meanwhile, Eagen reflects on her own life. Soon Amelia begins a quest to discover more about the girl who gave her the gift of her heart.

The cover is very nice and fits with the feel of the book. It shows a girl lying down, her fingers fitted together to form the shape of a heart. The author succeeds where many have failed in having two people tell the story in distinct voices. Her use of character development is fantastic. However, the storyline was very clichéd—I've read other books with the same story, almost exactly, many, many times. That doesn't make this book bad, but I wish the author could have made it a bit more original.—Maisie I., age 15

Hawkins, Rachel. Hex Hall. Disney Press. March 2010. ISBN: 978-1-4231-2130-5. Gr 6-9.

Sophie Mercer has been a witch for three years. When a love spell at prom works a little too well, her long-absent father sends her to Hecate Hall, the equivalent of juvenile detention for Prodigium. What are Prodigium, you ask? Witches and faeries and shifters, of course! In Hawkins's novel, Sophie finds herself making new friends and enemies and having new crushes at "Hex" Hall, while finding out who she really is and what that means. Add to that a spree of attacks on students and the fact that her roommate is being blamed, and you have a very entertaining read.

Sophie's narration in the book was priceless. I love all the adjectives she uses, like "fugly," and her originality. The author's use of self-deprecating humor really makes Sophie come alive. Some of the plot was a bit clichéd, like having the pretty popular girls be the "enemies" and having the crush on the super hot guy. It still worked, but it took away from the other unique plot points.—Rachel M., age 16

The Interesting Reader Society (IRS--"teens, not taxes!"), is a library teen advisory and reading group for kids in grades 6-12 from the Poudre River Public Library District in Fort Collins, CO. Currently, there are about 40 members with an average of 25 teens per monthly meeting. IRS is also one of the 15 2009-2010 national teen reading group appointees for the Teens' Top Ten/YA Galley project of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA).