Mrs. Hollingsworth's Men Review

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(More customer reviews)Thank heaven's for Padgett Powell and thank heaven's for Mrs. Hollingsworth's Men. This book is a treat. Powell has created a woman who is smart AND funny. I had to read her lists several times in order to implant them in my brain forever. You will too. I loved Edisto and consider it one of the best books of the past fifty years, so naturally I bought Mrs Hollingsworth's Men immediately. It is funny and romantic and altogether wonderful. Mrs Hollingsworth is a delight . I think you'll like her too.

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Home Is Beyond the Mountains Review

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(More customer reviews)Celia Barker Lottridge's novel, Home is Beyond the Mountains, tells the story of Samira and her family who must leave their village in 1918 because of the war that is happening around them. While on their journey to safety Samira and her mother are separated from the rest of her family, and by the time they reach a home for refugees, only Samira is still alive. She is excited to find her older brother Benjamin who has made it there as well, but who must tell her that their father is no longer living, either. The two children spend several years in an orphanage with many other children who have been affected by the Turks attacking their people. At the orphanage they are taken care of by Susan Shedd, an amazing woman who has the goal of helping these children return to their villages in what will be a long and arduous journey.
While this book is a novel, it felt like a true story to me. Much of it is based on facts, and Lottridge's own aunt, Susan Shedd, is a central character in this novel. Much of this story is based on recollections Lottridge collected from her aunt about this period in time and her role in history.
As the orphans make their way home, organized in small units that work as a family, they are forced to determine where "home" really is and what constitutes a family.
This was an amazing book, full of suspense as I waited and hoped for these children to find happiness and family when they returned home. The struggles Samira and Benjamin went through nearly a hundred years ago are still challenges faced by many countries at war with displaced families and children.
Although I did not know anything about the Turkish invasion of Persia, Lottridge was able to write about this time period in such a way that previous knowledge was not a necessity.
This is a hopeful story, highly recommended for YA readers or history lovers.


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Runs With Horses Review

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(More customer reviews)Runs With Horses had always dreamed of becoming an Apache warrior, but knew of the numerous trials he would have to pass before he became one. Ever since he could walk, Runs With Horses had trained to become a warrior, and fight the Mexicans and White Eyes that tried to put his people into reservations, like his father, Red Knife, and his tribe leader, Geronimo. To prove him self he had to pass many tests to go on a raid. After completing four raids he would be considered a warrior, and eligible to smoke, drink, and marry. His tests ranged from running to the most distant mountains and back without being seen to dodging rocks slung at him by his father. Shortly after Runs With Horses went on his third raid, with had failed, Geronimo decided to surrender to the White Eyes and go to the reservations to be with his people. Runs With Horses never became a warrior, and was now trained to live like a white. Although this book had plenty of action, it was too close together in the story line to keep my attention. It was worth reading because of everything I learned from it, but it could have been better.
Many of Runs With Horses' quests were very exciting, and fun to read. On one of his missions, Runs With Horses had to sneak into the distant mountains to get information from a scout, and return back to his tribe undetected. While on his trip he spotted a small group of Mexicans camping in the valleys. He waited for them to fall asleep and planned to steal their three mules, donkey, food, and two of their rifles. After untied the animals and grabbing one rifle, one of the men woke up. He shot at the boy and scared of the animals in the process. Runs With Horses had to run all night before he knew he was a safe distance from the Mexicans. Exciting scenes like this are what kept me reading this book.
Another thing I liked was Runs With Horses' desire to succeed. When Red Knife told Runs With Horses that a lot of the tribe was surrendering, Runs With Horses replied, "Geronimo is not a coward! He will not give up. He will fight until the end." Runs with Horses had a lot of faith in his tribes ability and believed that they could defeat the Mexicans and White Eyes that "are more than the stars."
This book's biggest downfall is the amount of action it tries to shove into its pages. Good suspense stories have action then rest then have action again, but not this book. From cover to cover this book was action. If the author would have written about the time in between Runs With Horses' trials then it probably wouldn't have been as bad, but instead they went straight from trial to trial. The action was great but I would have enjoyed it more in moderation than all at one time.
Runs With Horses is a good book because of its educational value, excitement, and the characters. I would like to see a sequel so that I know what happens to Runs With Horses after he is trained to live like the whites, but it is unlikely that will happen. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Native Americans or just wants an exciting book to read.
-R. Martin

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Sass & Serendipity Review

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(More customer reviews)Sass & Serendipity possess a cute and eye-catching cover, but what is inside is where the gold lies. It contains family as well as sister drama, unpredictable romantic subplots, and best of all two realistic main characters you cannot help but adore and root for.
Sass & Serendipity begins the story of two sisters- Daphne and Gabby- who could not be any more different. Gabby has always been the girl most likely to succeed, the girl that makes her decisions with her head not her heart. She does not let love get in the way, because the last time she did it ended horribly. Daphne, on the other hand, remains a romantic to the bone. She believes in true love, and most often than not, she lets herself be caught up in it all, though everything changes when Cole enters the scene. He seems to be the perfect match for her. However, after a surprising development in their home life, the girls and their mother are left homeless. Left to salvage what remains, Daphne and Gabby are left to rely on each, switching everything up once again. They will find love, heartbreak, and will begin to see what it truly means to have and be a sister in this new fantastic addition to contemporary YA.
Daphne and Gabby are my favorite type of characters. Not only because of the way they are flawed and realistic but also in the way they evolve as the novel progress. I especially loved the way in which Sass & Serendipity allows the reader to get a view into each of their heads through switching third person narratives.
My favorite aspect of this novel would have to be the bound between Daphne and Gabby, though. I always love reading stories about sisters, especially ones in which the girls are incredibly different, and this one was no different. At the start of the book, the relationship between Daphne and Gabby is tense and full of hate in some ways, but as the novel progress and the characters evolve, the more the two begin to see eye-to-eye on situations they couldn't have before. Secondly, this novel is one about family as a whole as well. Gabby and Daphne come from a broken family so it was also interesting to see how the girls come to understand why it is the way it is and begin to come to terms with it as well.
I also enjoyed the romantic subplots in this as well. They never went exactly as I thought they would- in a good way of course. I really enjoyed reading about Mule, Gabby's best friend, as well as Prentiss, the boy Gabby loved to hate, because not only where both boys sweet and adorable, but they ended up surprising me in more ways than one.
Ziegler's writing was also fantastic. She seamlessly switched between Gabby and Daphne point of views, and she doled out plenty of sad moments as well as heartwarming and funny ones. She truly wrote a novel that shows sisters at their best, and more importantly a kind of family that is often found in today's world.
Romantic, sweet, and witty, Jennifer Ziegler's Sass & Serendipity is the perfect summer read to say the least. Moreover, I have to say that while this was my first book by Ziegler, it's certainly not going to be my last. I have How to be Popular, her previous YA, in my TBR pile, and I cannot wait to get started on it.
Grade: A+

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Four Seasons Review

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(More customer reviews)Young adult fiction readers will find this powerful pick filled with intrigue, packing in high drama and strong characterization. Jane Breskin Zalben's FOUR SEASONS tells of four seasons in the life of an aspiring young pianist, where strict practices, music classes, and regular school leave her little time for a personal life. Her professional musician parents don't know she's thinking of quitting piano, and Allegra needs to find out if she really loves the piano and why she plays so avidly. Her intense story springs to life in this engrossing novel.

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The Stolen One Review

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(More customer reviews)Katherine Bab takes her one chance to get out of her country village to go to London when her adoptive mother passes away. She wants, no, needs, to find out who she really is. Soon, Kat becomes a favorite of Queen Elizabeth herself. Rumors are everywhere, since they have matching hair - could she be the Virgin Queen's secret daughter?
She stitches for hours, creating a masterpiece of a dress for the Queen. Two men at court, Rafael and Nicholas, are trying to win her heart, but Kat can't help but think of Christian, her childhood best friend, and the man at her village that wants to marry her.
Who will she choose? And will she find out who her mother is?
I was so impressed by this novel. I loved all of the characters. It was mysterious, and it made me want to find out who Kat's mother was. I was just as curious as she was! I'm a big fan of historical fiction, especially during the time of Elizabeth as Queen. And here is another one that I really enjoyed. There was nothing I was disappointed in during the novel, except a little at the end, only because I didn't want the story to end!
When THE STOLEN ONE hits bookshelves, I recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. Or read it if it just sounds interesting!
Reviewed by: Ashley B

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Radical Reflections: Passionate Opinions on Teaching, Learning, and Living Review

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(More customer reviews)"Those who write well have more power and therefore have more control over their lives" (p.21). If this is indeed true then Mem Fox is a very powerful woman! In the midst of the phonics vs. whole language war being raged in the media, this book is a call for reading and writing teachers to examine their practices and strive for truly purposeful, artful teaching. Fox's insights into her life as a writer, teacher and mother make this a truly inspiring and intensely challenging read. I have always believed that to be an effective reading teacher, I must be a reader, able to share my passion for books with my students, but Mem Fox points out that unless I am a writer as well, I will be unable to know the difficulties, fears, hopes and needs of my students as writers. I plan to thoughtfully explore the forms of writing I use, examine the writing process I go through and share my writing with my students on a more regular basis. I am convinced that we will all grow from the experience!!

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Prom and Prejudice Review

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(More customer reviews)This was a fun read, and a cute retelling of the Jane Austen classic, Pride and Prejudice. Although I did enjoy it, it fell a little flat for me. Obviously the story was bound to be a little predictable, if you've read Pride and Prejudice, but I felt that it was just a little too predictable. It went beyond just a general parallel and became more like an exact duplicate. I really felt the author could have done a little bit more with this and brought something new into the mix.
Although I liked the Lizzie character in this story, there was strength to the original Lizzie that I missed in this one. This Lizzie seemed to let herself be bothered too much by the things around her, whereas the original Lizzie held herself rather above it and was able to keep it more in perspective, until the very last large event occurs that disrupts her entire family.
Similarly, Will Darcy seemed a little lifeless to me. I would have liked to have known a little bit more about this character, his life, and his feelings. I wanted to see some emotional reaction or get to know his inner workings a little bit better and see him more as a three dimensional character.
My favorite character in this retelling was Jane. She seemed to fit the original Jane rather well, but the author actually improved on her a little bit and gave her a littie of her own strength that the original Jane didn't have. I found this change refreshing and unique. I felt the author brought something new into the character that was very appealing, while still holding true to the original.
I did enjoy reading this story, as it was cute and light-hearted. I love this author and think she's enormously talented. I can't wait until her next book comes out. I would recommend this book to others, especially if they haven't read Pride and Prejudice before. Overall, a very fun read.


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The Lacey Chronicles #1: The Other Countess Review

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(More customer reviews)"The Other Countess" is a wonderful historical romance. One of the things I dislike most about many "historical" romances is the history. This may sound strange, but many authors (particularly of YA historical romance, in my experience) treat their chosen historical period as nothing more than wallpaper to be slapped on to render their tale "exotic" or "historical". This book, however, is not one of those "history as a thin veneer" novels. The research the author did shows in the descriptions of the activities, clothing, and actions of the characters.
I found "The Other Countess" to be a fun, quick read, and is definitely suitable for a wide range of ages. I'm a thirty something mother with an MA in History, and my daughter is 12, and not terribly interested in the subject. She found the novel as enjoyable as I did, and stayed up late in order to finish in one sitting (thank heavens she's on summer break).
I will definitely seek out the other two books that have been published, even if I have to order from overseas, as I cannot wait until Spring 2012 for the US release of the second book.

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England, 1582Ellie—Lady Eleanor Rodriguez, Countess of San Jaime—possesses a worthless title, but her feisty spirit captivates the elite of the Queen's court—especially the dashing new Earl of Dorset.William Lacey, Earl of Dorset, has inherited his father's title—and his financial ruin. Now Will must seek a wealthy bride and restore his family's fortune. If only he hadn't fallen for the beautiful but penniless Ellie . . .Sparks fly whenever Ellie and Will are together, but circumstances—and the conniving interference of others—threaten to keep them apart.

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Tempestuous (Wondrous Strange) Review

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(More customer reviews)The final installment in Lesley Livingston's "Wondrous Strange" trilogy picks up where its predecessor, DARKLIGHT, left off. Young actress Kelley Winslow, a faerie royal raised among humans, has found love with Sonny Flannery, a human changeling part of the Janus Guard, a group of changelings who protect the mortal realm from rogue faeries. But there's trouble in the faerie world: Kelley's father, Auberon the Winter King, is dying. Sonny's orgins turn out to be more powerful than imagined. The Janus Guard are attacking fae stragglers on Earth without logical reason. And Kelley, trying to Sonny from his unknown power, says she doesn't love him.
Kelley spirals into a depression after Sonny leaves after her lie; Sonny, in the meantime, is taken in by a group of lost fae. They both struggle with their feelings toward the other. In the meantime, rogue Janus are continuing their assault on lost faeries; Auberon is still dying; Kelley must also juggle getting a hold of her powers and trying to set things right. The Fennrys Wolf, fierce Janus Guard, has also been slowly creeping up into her life.
TEMPESTUOUS should NOT be taken lightly. There are battles. Some are gruesome, and the descriptions are more disturbing compared to the first two books. The writing still flows romantically, even when describing the fights. The intrigue of who's behind the Janus attacks and Auberon's illness is well paced; the realization definitely left me speechless.
The relationship between Kelley and the Fennrys Wolf was bittersweet. Starting with DARKLIGHT, the Wolf's thaw from raging warrior to Kelley's unrequited protector was a nice transition. With the publishing world's obsession with love triangles, I didn't mind this one, because Kelley's heart was with Sonny, which the Wolf knew. There is a Big Misunderstanding thrown in between them, but they cared about each other regardless. Very poignant. Call me crazy, but it works for me.
The world of faerie is described as a beautiful yet treacherous place, populated by equally beautiful and treacherous creatures, from water spirits to ogres, leprechauns and goat-footed women, ruled by power hungry royals. You're instantly pulled into the deceit of the dair folk.
Some of the weak parts include the first third of the book. It drags a bit because both Kelley and Sonny spend a lot of time feeling sorry for themselves because of their Big Misunderstanding. Too much moping, not enough acting. Fortunately when things pick up, they're able to pull themselves out of their funks and act. As I mentioned before, the results aren't always neat and tidy. I like Kelley and Sonny as a couple. Beginning with WONDROUS STRANGE, the first book in the series, they compliment each other well. They fall in love too quickly, but I believe their feelings are real.
There's a lot of unwarranted bickering during some scenes. Why are you going to argue NOW when there's a murderous fae coming at you?
Of course, there is Shakespeare. THE TEMPEST is the play in the book, which is appropriate because of the storm brewing between the human and faerie worlds. An okay compliment to the fantastical tale.
All in all, a vivid conclusion to a fun, entertaining series. This is a faerie tale with action, drama, and touching romance. I'm sad to leave, but this is one journey I'll go back to often.

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Life of Black Hawk, or Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak: Dictated by Himself (Penguin Classics) Review

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(More customer reviews)This book, or a 1908 or so reprint of the same is available on the public domain as pdf or kindle version. So I wonder why amazon has it here as a $12-ish book.
But I've started reading this book, and it looks like a really amazing, and touching one.

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Johnny Swanson Review

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(More customer reviews)Eleanor Updale, the award-winning author of the popular Montmerancy series, takes us to England in 1929 in her newest historical mystery novel for young people. Our hero, Johnny Swanson, is an engaging young boy who finds himself mixed up in a murder mystery--and his own mother is the suspected murderer! Johnny's sure as can be that she's not guilty, but no one will believe him and the police seem to have already made up their mind. Can Johnny save her before it's too late?
There seem to be three interrelated stories going on in this novel--the above-mentioned murder mystery, the tuberculosis epidemic in England, and Johnny's many schemes to make money to help out his mother. Johnny is enticed by a newspaper advertisement promising the "secret of instant height," just what he needs to stop the bullying at school because of his small stature. When he discovers the ad is a hoax, he decides he can play that game also, and soon is concocting schemes to put advertisements in various publications and collecting small sums of money for bogus answers to problems. As you might imagine, Johnny becomes hopelessly entangled in a comical web of lies around his business, this part of the story very much reminded me of the classic Great Brain series by John D. Fitzgerald that I enjoyed as a child.
At the same time, a TB outbreak is plaguing England, and Johnny's neighbor, Dr. Langford, just might be working on a secret vaccine for the disease. This work turns out to be dangerous, indeed--for Dr. Langford and maybe for Johnny too, as he learns more than he should know about the undercover work.
Johnny makes an appealing boy detective--a character who's far from perfect, but whose good intentions shine through as he works to help his mother, first through his financial schemes, and then to save her from the hangman's noose. The author combines humor and suspense--a winning combination for young mystery fans. Perhaps we will see more adventures of Johnny Swanson in the future!

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Father of Lies Review

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(More customer reviews)Lidda lives in Salem Village with her family. She is different; she knows this, and so does everyone around her. She wishes of doing things that others have never dreamt of. She wants to dance and sing and fly with the birds. Her family just thinks she is crazy - maybe she will grow out of it.
And then there is talk around the village that the Devil has come. Witch fever.
Lidda doesn't believe any of it. And she has prove that these girls and their accusations are false. But if she speaks out, who knows what would happen to her.
I find the Salem Witch Trials to be a very interesting subject. I really enjoyed FATHER OF LIES because that was the topic. Though it was a little slow throughout, it kept a spark of interest for me, which made me continue reading. Lidda was a very interesting character, though very strange, as well.
After the end of the book, Ann Turner writes about Bipolar Disorder, along with a few other things pertaining to the story, which I thought made the tale seem way more "real" after reading.
Reviewed by: Ashley B

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Truth or Lies?

Lidda knew, with a clarity that was like a candle in a dark room, that all had changed; something was loosed in the village-Devil or not-and they would pay for it, every last man, woman, and child.

Fourteen-year-old Lidda has always known she was different. She longs to escape Salem Village and its stifling rules-to be free to dance, to sing, to live as she chooses. But when a plague of accusations descends on the village and witch fever erupts, L idda begins to realize that she feels and sees things that others can't, or won't. But how will she expose the truth without being hung as a witch herself?

Gripping and emotional, Ann Turner's retelling of the Salem witch trials captures one girl's brave soul-searching amidst a backdrop of fear and blame.

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The Trust: A Secret Society Novel Review

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(More customer reviews)Reviewed by Avni Gupta (age 17) for Reader Views (4/11)
When I received "The Trust," I was a little apprehensive about reading it at the beginning, because of the fact that I had heard that sequels are never as good as the originals (and really though, it is very true with some of the books I've read and movies that I have seen). As soon as I began to read this book, I was hooked into it, just like I was with the first book in this series. The trials that Nick, Patch, Phoebe, Lauren, and Thad had to go through in this book so that they could leave the Society were riveting, and I definitely was unable to ever put the book down!

This book began with Alejandro's funeral, during which, Nick's grandfather has a stroke. When Nick and Phoebe get to the hospital to see Nick's grandfather, he gives them some exciting news; there is a way for them to get out of the Society! Nick and Phoebe are overjoyed and they rush to tell the others that there is a way out! Of course, the way out is harder than it seems. First they must solve a riddle that was told to them by a man who wasn't too aware of the things that he was saying, and then they have to be able to convince the elders in the society itself to let them go. Will they ever be able to get free from the clutches of the society that holds them so tightly in its grasp?
This book was so much fun to read! After I began, I couldn't put it down, which was slightly bad because I began it before school one day, and therefore was almost late to school because I was so keen on finishing it (which, in case you're wondering, I did end up doing right before I got to school). The way that the necklace, the amulet of Isis, was tied into the storyline, through all three generations of the Bells and the people close to them was really interesting to me as was *spoiler alert* the fact that Patch and Nick were brothers. That came out of nowhere! I was so surprised, which is rather hard for an author to do to me, seeing as I've read so many books, that many a times I can predict how the book is going to end. All in all, "The Trust" was really amazing and I honestly think that anyone will be able to pick up this series and start reading them and end up loving them!

Book received at no charge.

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Who can you trust when everything is secrets and lies?

It's a new semester at the Chadwick School, and even with the ankh tattoos that brand them, Phoebe, Nick, Lauren, and Patch are hoping for a fresh start. Each day, however, they are reminded of their membership as new Conscripts in the Society. The secret group that promised to help them achieve their every dream has instead turned their lives into a nightmare.

Exclusive membership lost its luster as the Society revealed its agenda to them and two of their classmates were found dead. Now they can't help but wonder: Who's next? While they search for the elusive truth about the Society, the Conscripts are forced to face their darkest fear-that they truly can't get out.

Will Nick and Phoebe's new relationship endure this strain? Can Patch and Nick's longtime friendship survive the truth that will come to light? The deceptions of the group's leaders, once trusted friends, and family will test these four as they fight to leave the Society behind.

The Trust, Tom Dolby's sequel to secret society, is an alluring glimpse behind the facade of a life of entitlement, where secrets aren't merely fun-they're deadly.

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Badd Review

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(More customer reviews)Ceejay has always been close to her older brother. It's been them against the rest of the world, or at least the rest of their family. Unfortunately, when Bobby's mischievous ways lead to the point of a joyride in a stolen car, a choice must be made. Their parents chose the military over jail for their errant son.
With the exception of leave time, it's been years since Ceejay and Bobby have been together. He is expected home soon, and Ceejay can't wait to pick up where they left off. Surely after returning from Iraq, Bobby will be ready to party and enjoy his time with now sixteen-year-old Ceejay.
The summer starts with Ceejay's parents announcing that she will be working for her Uncle Jimmy. She'll be slapping paint on whatever project he assigns, but that's better than the job her little sister, Lacy, gets. Lacy will be living with their grandmother several hours away. She'll be taking care of the ungrateful woman while she undergoes chemotherapy. At least, while working for Uncle Jimmy, Ceejay will be at home and able to hang out with Bobby when he gets back.
Ceejay is shocked when she sees someone that looks like Bobby cruising by with an old flame. It takes some investigation, but she learns that he has returned from Iraq early but hasn't seen fit to show up and greet his family. When Ceejay discovers where he is staying, she confronts him and discovers that something about him has changed.
Bobby's first meeting with family is filled with tension, and a BBQ party planned in his honor turns to chaos when he announces that he was asked to leave the military and earned only a general discharge. Ceejay doesn't care about that. She is just frustrated that he is choosing to hang out and live with Captain Crazy, an old Vietnam protester who lives on a nearby, rundown farm. When a friend suggests that Bobby may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Ceejay is quick to defend her brother and deny the possibility, but as time passes, she realizes there might be some truth to the suggestion.
Tim Tharp, author of THE SPECTACULAR NOW, has used his unique talent to create a novel focused on a topic becoming increasingly more common as our soldiers return from war in the Middle East. Families like Ceejay's are facing the return of sons and daughters who aren't the sons and daughters they remember. By including the Vietnam issue, Tharp lets his young readers know this is not the first war to have a profound effect on soldiers and the families left behind. I appreciated the depth of character development and the depiction of the varied emotional impact caused by Bobby's return, as well as the
other problems faced by this typical American family.
Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

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Ceejay has never been pretty or popular, but she knows who she is: she's younger sister to Bobby, the most charming bad boy in town. Bobby's a bit wild, but with his big heart and sense of fun, everybody loves him. And nobody understands Ceejay like Bobby.Now, Ceejay can't wait for Bobby to return home from his tour in Iraq. But then he turns up unannounced and seems to be avoiding his family. And he's so different. His wild streak has become reckless. His sense of fun has become desperate. And seeing this, Ceejay's own tough shell begins to crack. How can she believe in being strong when her hero is broken?As she tries to get Bobby back, Ceejay begins to reexamine her family, her community, and everyone in her life. What she finds is that true strength is not quite what she thought it was.

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Genius Squad Review

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(More customer reviews)Cadel Piggott returns in this action-filled sequel to EVIL GENIUS, but he's not the same teen. The Cadel readers knew in the first book loved to create havoc just for the fun of it. However, after his life-threatening experiences at the Axis Institute with his father, Prosper English, he just wants to be a good person --- and even happy. He is helped in this change of conscience by his best friend, the paraplegic math genius, Sonja. In GENIUS SQUAD, other allies help fight Prosper and his evil, but he also finds more layers of enemies and surprises.
Cadel has an earnest social worker named Fiona who tries to protect him in a new foster home. He can go nowhere without police protection, though, as authorities are aware that Prosper once tried to kill him. He is now a key witness to the evils that went on at the Axis Institute and to Prosper's many illegal activities. Prosper is behind bars, though Cadel knows that barrier is nothing to another genius like himself and has seen the lengths to which Prosper will go. But he still feels that he's safe; after all, Prosper did not kill him when he had the chance before.
Prosper is always good at making trouble, and he is now denying that he's Cadel's father. This means that Cadel has no father on record, and with a dead mother, no citizenship in any country. So he cannot leave Australia, though the country will not recognize him. He is not allowed to take classes of any kind and is desperately bored. The foster home is run by well-meaning parents, but they are also the caretakers for a couple of other children, including the bully Mace. While Cadel tries hard to stay on the path of good, Mace pushes his buttons too far, and he develops a strategy to hurt him while still looking innocent. Mace promises revenge.
In the meantime, the very smart and stubborn Detective Saul Greeniaus has been assigned to Cadel's case and stops by frequently to give him updates on Prosper's situation and how it may affect him. When visiting Sonja one day, Cadel is approached by some adults who run the new Clearview House, a cover for Genius Squad, a group of gifted teens who will work to bring down GenonMe, a company linked to the deceased P. Drakkon and his minions, which included Prosper. They offer Sonja and Cadel $50,000 each and a home while they work on the computer hacking and coding with the other teens to find out what happens at GenonMe and who is behind it. The money and offer of living with Sonja are too good to pass up; the cash would buy Sonja good care well into the future. The problem is that they cannot tell Fiona or the detective. So Cadel begins a secret life again, but this time he seems to be working for good.
As the team works to bring down GenonMe, Prosper gets more active, even from prison. Cadel has to stay on his guard and trust his new allies to keep himself and Sonja safe.
GENIUS SQUAD is even more fun than EVIL GENIUS as Cadel Piggott is more likable when he is working for good. His new allies and friends add another layer of good guys to root for as well. The evil of Prosper English knows no bounds, even with the Axis Institute demolished. Without that school, it is harder to identify his helpers, despite clues throughout the book. The spy games and suspense are complicated at times, but the surprises will inspire readers to keep turning pages right until the end, when the next installment in the series is unveiled.
--- Reviewed by Amy Alessio


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The Broken Blade Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm a teacher and a parent who is always looking for books which are appropriate and interesting to middle grade students. THE BROKEN BLADE is one of those rare titles that I enjoyed just as much as my students did. The 2,400 mile canoe journey of the main character, Pierre, is described in such a way that the reader actually feels he/she is paddling along with the crew. The landscape, the river, the interaction with the Lake Superior Ojibwe, and Pierre's fellow voyageurs, who are a rowdy and a very real bunch, are vividly depicted, and they all help bring this nineteenth century story to life. My students and I have decided that we want to read more about the voyageur period, and the first book on our list is WINTERING, the companion to this story.

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