Novel Teen’s Top Ten Books of 2010

It’s that time of year again. If you are looking for a book to give to a friend or family member, we hope this list will give you some inspiration. Click on the title or picture to view each book on Amazon.com. Merry Christmas! 

Click on the cover to read more reviews on Amazon.com.

1. Asking for Trouble (Book one in the London Confidential series) by Sandra Byrd
(A contemporary series for girls. All four books in the series are now available.)

Review by Jill Williamson:
Savvy Smith and her family recently moved to England to live. Savvy misses her best friend from Seattle. She’s trying to make new friends in London, but it seems no one has room for a new friend in their life, especially a weird American.

An opportunity arises for Savvy to work at the school newspaper. She has always wanted to be a journalist and she hopes this might be a way to make some friends. She applies for the position, but her lack of experience makes her a paperboy instead of columnist. If only she could find a way to prove that she is a good writer. But how?

Sandra Byrd always tells a good story. I love her Friends for a Season books, so I was excited to read her new series. Asking for Trouble did not disappoint. I enjoyed Savvy’s character, how she thought things out and how she struggled to understand all the differences in British culture and language. Sandra did a great job with her British accents and lingo in the other character’s dialogue. It was fun to read. I also liked Savvy’s determination and drive to make her own future, rather than mope about what she didn’t have or try to follow someone else. This was a fun read that made you think and I highly recommend it.

Age Range: 12 and up
Genre: Contemporary
Part of a Series: London Confidential, book one
Pages: 216
Publisher: Tyndale

Click on the cover to read more reviews on Amazon.com.

2. Final Touch (Rayne Tour, book three) by Brandilyn Collins
(Great for girls who love mystery and suspense. All three books in the trilogy are now available.)

Review by Jill Williamson:
It’s wedding day for Rayne O’Connor and Shaley’s father, Gary Donovon. Shaley couldn’t be happier. She has longed for this day all her life. But minutes before the ceremony begins, Shaley is kidnapped! She tries to do all she can to leave a trail, in hopes that the police will find her, but Shaley’s kidnapper is always one step ahead. Will Shaley’s life as she knows it end forever?

Just when we thought it was happily ever after for the O’Connor family. Here is every mother’s nightmare in book form! Shaley is taken by a man who intends to keep her. This whole thing reminded me of the Elizabeth Smart story. I was terrified for Shaley and thrilled with how wise she was about trying to leave a trail of evidence. This book plugs right along and you won’t be able to put it down until the end. Well done, Brandilyn and Amberly! Highly recommended.

Age Range: 12-16
Genre: suspense
Part of a Series: Book three in the Rayne Tour
Pages: 224
Publisher: Zondervan

Click on the cover to read more reviews of Melanie's book on Amazon.com.

3. The Healer’s Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson
(A medieval, fairy tale romance.)

Review by Jill Williamson:
Rose has begun her training as the healer’s apprentice. She hopes to learn the job well so that someday she can be the healer of Hagenheim Castle and not have to marry any aging bachelors. But the mere sight of blood makes Rose swoon. Still, she is determined to make this life work for herself.

One day, when the master healer is away, Lord Hamlin, heir to Hagenheim Castle, is brought in with a grievous wound. Rose is the only one who can help. As she struggles to do a good job, she cannot help but notice how handsome and kind Lord Hamlin is. But she is a mere peasant, and Lord Hamlin is betrothed to another. Rose must fight against her attraction and focus on becoming a healer. For that is her destiny, is it not?

Melanie Dickerson writes a wonderful fairy tale romance. Her characters are noble and good, yet struggle with doing the right thing and sometimes fail. She paints a realistic medieval world from the beauty of Hagenheim Castle to the laws that governed society then. I was drawn in from page one and read the whole book in one day. If you love medieval stories, fairy tales, and romance, you must read this book. I’m so excited about Melanie Dickerson’s writing. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next. Highly recommended.

Age Range: 12 and up
Genre: Historical romance
Part of a Series: No
Pages: 257
Publisher: Zondervan

Click on the cover to read more reviews on Amazon.com.

4. Kestrel’s Midnight Song by J.R. Parker
(Fantasy adventure. Great for boys, girls, and adults, too.)

Review by Jill Williamson:
Slave girl, Robbyn, is nearly burned to death in a fire set by the Marauder King. Drift, a giant, rescues her. Together they set off to warn King Darius that the Marauder King plans to attack the land of Gable. But will they get there in time? And even if they do, will anyone believe the claims of a slave girl and a giant?

Shepherd boy, Micah, embarks on a journey. He must deliver a herd of sheep to the Gable Kingdom Castle. King Darius has requested that the sheep’s wool be sheared for his wardrobe. Many dangers await Micah on this long journey. And little does he know that the fate of the kingdom rests on his shoulders.

Kestrel’s Midnight Song is a solid addition to the fantasy genre. Jacob Parker started this story when he was fifteen years old! This young author writes an imaginative tale, filled with adventure, mystery, and unique characters. The storylines intertwine and keep the reader turning the pages, desperate to see how it will all work out. There are several plot twists that surprised me. I can’t wait to see if there will be a sequel. Highly recommended.

Age Range: 12 and up
Genre: fantasy
Part of a Series: No
Pages: 256
Publisher: Flaming Pen Press

Click on the cover to read more reviews on Amazon.com.

5. Manga (Scenarios for Girls, book three) by Nicole O’Dell
(A contemporary, choose-your-own-ending book. There are four books available in this series so far.)

Review by Jill Williamson:
Molly and her friends want to find a part time job to earn extra cash and a discount on great clothes. But Molly is the only one of her trio that gets hired at Manga, the coolest clothing store ever. At first everything is going great. Molly is really good at her job and quickly gets more responsibility. But some girls at school try to bully her into giving her special deals and then her best friends ask her to do something she knows is wrong. What will Molly do?

You decide.

That’s right. This is a Choose Your Own Scenario book, where you read all about Molly’s life and then choose what she will do next. Then the book has two alternate endings, one for each choice Molly could make.

What an awesome idea for a series of books! And the author handled this in such a wonderful way. Whether Molly chose to break the law or stand against her friends, she was still Molly. There were consequences to both choices, and some consequences were harder to live through than others, but this wasn’t preachy. This was honest. So even in the ending where Molly chose to break the law, there was still redemption, and it was neat to read how she dealt with such humbling circumstances.

So I highly recommend this series to all girls. It’s a fun story to read for entertainment and a neat opportunity to see two sides of one choice.

Age Range: 8 and up
Genre: Contemporary
Part of a Series: Scenarios for Girls, book three
Pages: 190
Publisher: Barbour

Click on the cover to read more reviews on Amazon.com.

6. Secrets Under the Midnight Sun by Elisa Maria Crites
(A historical story that deals with complex family issues.)

Review by Jill Williamson:
It’s 1967 in Fairbanks, Alaska. Twelve-year-old Fredricka O’Reilly has a secret that she doesn’t want anyone to know about. Her brother is gone off in the Air Force, so the only one she can turn to his her mother. But if she tells her mother the truth, it could rip her family apart. What’s a girl to do?

This is a story about a girl who just wants to enjoy life. Her daddy makes that hard, especially when he cuts her off from her best friends. For the most part, the story is lighthearted, filled with the fun things in Freddie’s life. Freddie’s hopes and dreams are heartwarming and I yearned that she would have the freedom she craved. Having been to Fairbanks , Alaska , I also enjoyed the history of the town and the visits to AlaskaLand. In the end, I wanted to read more about Freddie to see what she would do next.

Age Range: 12 and up
Genre: historical/contemporary
Part of a Series: no
Pages: 108
Publisher: Westbow Press (A Division of Thomas Nelson)

Click on the cover to read more reviews on Amazon.com.

7. So Over It (Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt, book three) by Stephanie Morrill
(A contemporary story for girls. All three books in the trilogy are available.)

Review:
After all the drama that went down at the end of her senior year, Skylar is ready to move on. She jumps at the chance to visit her grandparents in Hawaii. She only plans to stay a few weeks, but perhaps Hawaii would be a good place for a fresh start, where she won’t run into her old friends everywhere she goes. But will she be strong enough to be who God is calling her to be?

Whew! I am thrilled with how everything came together in this third and final installment of the Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series. There is still some drama going on in Skylar’s life, even though she tried to get away from it. But she’s finally learning that no one is perfect and that true forgiveness is an awesome, freeing experience. I loved how everything came together, and certain characters matured and were able to do the right thing, even when they wanted to do the selfish thing. I’m being vague because I don’t want to spoil it. J

This is a great series for teen girls. There is romance drama, friend drama, and what do to with my life drama, but it’s fun, realistic, and entertaining. You won’t be able to put them down until you’ve read all three. I highly recommend!

Age Range: 12-16
Genre: contemporary
Part of a Series: Book three in the Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series
Pages: 262
Publisher: Revell

Click on the cover to read more reviews on Amazon.com

8. So Over My Head (A Charmed Life, book three) by Jenny B. Jones
(A hysterical contemporary mystery story for girls. All three books in the trilogy are available.)

Review by Gretchen Hoffman:
What’s better than a circus with clowns, a unicycle ballet (a skill I’ve been meaning to take up), and a bearded lady? Aside from a good waxing (for the bearded lady, of course), nothing! Ms. Jenny B. Jones writes yet another knee-slapping, laugh out loud, hysterical book that is a must, must, must read!

Our favorite accidental detective, Bella Kirkwood, finds herself in over her head when she stumbles across the dead body of the Fritz Family Carnival’s fat (and also bearded) lady. Although another carnival member is arrested, Bella doubts his culpability, and decides to find the real murderer. Even though Bella doubts this man’s guilt, there are a few things she doesn’t doubt. For one, she’s certain Luke’s ex-girlfriend’s is interested in nothing other than stealing Luke back. Bella also knows her dad’s fiancée is up to no good. All she needs now is to prove it!

Expect nothing short of crazy schemes, a ride on a Ferris wheel, a creeper, and an undercover operation for Bella to bring a murderer to justice, figure out what to do with Luke’s ex, and stop her dad’s wedding. All in a day’s work, right? Bella’s friends and family are a whole cast of characters, and I love Ruthie (a kooky, crack-up), her stepbrother Budge (who works at the Weiner Palace—that alone is hilarious), her step-dad’s crazy wrestler friends, and a 13-year-old trapeze artist. If you’ve read books one and two, book three is a requirement. And if you have yet to pick up a book by Ms. Jones, definitely check this series out!

Age Range: 12-16
Genre: Contemporary
Part of a Series: A Charmed Life, book 3
Pages: 326
Publisher: Thomas Nelson|

Click on the cover to view on Amazon.com.

9. To Darkness Fled (Book two in the Blood of Kings trilogy) by Jill Williamson
(Fantasy, adventure, and a bit of romance for all ages. Books one and two in the trilogy are available.)

Review by Christian Miles:
The second installment of the Blood of Kings series will thrill, surprise, and delight readers just as much as the first. With stellar craftsmanship, the author continues to thrust her characters into a myriad of plot-driven obstacles that will have readers biting their nails late into the night.

The story picks up right where By Darkness Hid left off, with Achan, Vrell, and the Kingsguard knights fleeing into Darkness to escape the wrath of their former prince. They head north toward Ice Island in the hopes that they can free the wrongly accused men imprisoned there. Vrell continues to masquerade as a boy, but she knows it’s only a matter of time before she’ll either have to reveal her true identity, or abandon the party of questers. Achan, who has only ever known the life of a Stray, wrestles with the decor and responsibilities that come with his newfound authority. As they flee across Er’rets, their bloodvoicing talents and swordcraft excel, but in a world of ever-growing Darkness, how can two teens stay in the Light?

This is the best novel I’ve read since By Darkness Hid came out, and I’m a fairly voracious reader. I’d recommend it to anyone I know, young or old, male or female, fantasy lover or not. It’s just that good.

“Williamson pens an action-packed, imaginative second installment in the Blood of Kings trilogy. All the familiar epic elements and emotions are freshly rendered, with Vrell and Achan especially memorable. The pace gallops along, leaving readers hungry for the concluding book.” -Publishers Weekly

Age Range: 14 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Part of a Series: Book 2 in the Blood of Kings trilogy
Pages: 681
Publisher: Marcher Lord Press

Click on the cover to view on Amazon.com.

10. To Save a Life by Jim and Rachel Britts
(A contemporary story based on the feature film.)

Review by Jill Williamson:
Jake and Roger were once best friends. They did everything together. Roger even stepped in front of a car to save Jake. But when they got to high school, and Jake got better at basketball, things started to change. Jake started hanging out with the popular crowd. Before he knew it, he didn’t have time for Roger at all.

And now Roger is dead. None of Jake’s new friends even know that he and Roger were once friends. They don’t understand what this loss means. Jake wonders what’s the point of it all? And if he had done things in his life differently, could he have saved Roger?

As Jake searches for answers and tries to find meaning in life, his friends just don’t get it. But Jake can’t go back, even if it costs him his reputation.

I’d wanted to see this movie, but it never came to a theater near me, not that any theater is near me…So I bought the book to tide me over. I’m totally glad I did. This book was powerful. It threw me into Jake’s life, the life most every guy wishes he had: star athlete with a full ride scholarship to play for his dream school, the perfect girlfriend, fun best friends, and popularity. Then tragedy strikes and Jake starts to ask important questions. And he won’t give up until he finds the answer.

This book gets into faith in an honest and ugly way. Sometimes that’s what we need to see. There are a lot of “Christians” out there making Christians look bad, loving themselves more than they love others. This book shows one guy struggling to do it the right way, no matter what anyone thinks. What an inspiring story. Now I want to see the movie more than ever! I highly recommend this to all high school and college students.

Age Range: 14 and up
Genre: contemporary fiction
Part of a Series: No
Pages: 315
Publisher: Outreach

Review: So Over It by Stephanie Morrill

Review by Jill Williamson

After all the drama that went down at the end of her senior year, Skylar is ready to move on. She jumps at the chance to visit her grandparents in Hawaii. She only plans to stay a few weeks, but perhaps Hawaii would be a good place for a fresh start, where she won’t run into her old friends everywhere she goes. But will she be strong enough to be who God is calling her to be?

Whew! I am thrilled with how everything came together in this third and final installment of the Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series. There is still some drama going on in Skylar’s life, even though she tried to get away from it. But she’s finally learning that no one is perfect and that true forgiveness is an awesome, freeing experience. I loved how everything came together, and certain characters matured and were able to do the right thing, even when they wanted to do the selfish thing. I’m being vague because I don’t want to spoil it. J

This is a great series for teen girls. There is romance drama, friend drama, and what do to with my life drama, but it’s fun, realistic, and entertaining. You won’t be able to put them down until you’ve read all three. I highly recommend!

Age Range: 12-16
Genre: contemporary
Part of a Series: Book three in the Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series
Pages: 262
Publisher: Revell
Released: 2010

Interview with author Stephanie Morrill

We’re talking with Stephanie Morrill today, author of The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series. Watch for your chance to win a copy of her latest release Out With the In Crowd at the end of the interview.

Hi, Stephanie! Tell us about your book, Out With the In Crowd.
Out With the In Crowd is book two in The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series. In book one, Me, Just Different, 17-year-old Skylar Hoyt decide to give up her partying ways and popularity to pursue a more Godly life. Out With the In Crowd picks up where the first book left off. While Skylar may have vowed to change her lifestyle, she learns it’s not so easy to change her friends. She’s trying hard to live a new life, but her old one is constantly staring her in the face. Add to that two parents battling for her loyalty, a younger sister struggling with a crisis pregnancy, and a new boyfriend wishing for more of her time, and Skylar feels like she can’t win.

How did you come up with the idea for this series?
The idea started with Skylar. I wanted to explore what it would be like to have a life that many teenage girls would imagine perfect—Skylar’s exotically beautiful, wealthy, and confident—and yet to still thirst for something more. So I did a lot of thinking about what it would take to turn away from all that luxury and pursue God instead. The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt was born.

Are you going to write more books about Skylar?
The third and final book in the series, So Over It, releases in July. 

What inspired you to become a writer?
That I wasn’t good at anything else. Seriously. My talents are writing, reading, and drinking coffee. Only so much you can do with that. What inspired me to keep writing is how much I love it.

What’s your favorite thing about writing?
Used to be I would have said writing the first couple chapters. I love those initial stages—naming characters, working out their stories. But more and more I find I love the whole process. Some parts are certainly harder than others, like somewhere past the midway point of the first draft when I’m usually like, “Okay …. now what?” but I’ve come to love something about each stage.

What is the hardest part about writing?
Getting as much time to do it as I’d like. I have a 2-year-old daughter, and we’re expecting a little boy in July. That alone keeps me busy, but I blog daily at www.StephanieMorrillBooks.com and www.GoTeenWriters.com, and keep busy with promoting Me, Just Different and Out with the In Crowd. Plus, unfortunately, the laundry doesn’t do itself. My writing time tends to get squeezed.

Do you write any other genres or series?
The Skylar series is my only published series. One of these days, I may venture into writing adult novels, but my passion is definitely for young adults.

What’s the best book you’ve read recently? Why?
A Distant Melody by Sarah Sundin. It’s her debut novel and absolutely amazing. The characters are well drawn, the spiritual message naturally woven, and the balance of action and emotion is absolutely perfect.

What do you do in your free time when you aren’t writing?
Play with my daughter, watch The Office, read… That’s about it. I used to have these things called hobbies, but I lost them around the time my daughter was born and Revell bought The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series. But someday I’ll get back to cooking really complicated meals.

Where can fans find you online?
My web site is www.StephanieMorrillBooks.com. There you can read the first chapters of my books, download discussion questions, and follow my journey as a young author. For those who are teens aspiring to be authors, check out www.GoTeenWriters.com where I answer questions about the writing industry and give tips geared toward middle and high school students.

What are you working on next?
I’m just putting the finishing touches on So Over It, and then I’ll be moving onto an undetermined project. I’ve had a slew of new ideas for young adult books in the last couple months, so I’ll sit down and try to flesh a few of those out.

Thanks for stopping by, Stephanie!
Thank you so much for having me!
 

We’re giving away a free copy of Out With the In Crowd. To win, silmply leave a comment with your email address. This is for people who live in the USA only, please. Thanks and good luck!
 

Books by Stephanie:
The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series
      Me, Just Different
      Out With the In Crowd 

 

DON’T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A COPY OF OUT WITH THE IN CROWD!

Out With the In Crowd by Stephanie Morrill

Click on the cover to read more reviews on Amazon.com.

Review by Gretchen Hoffman

Drama, drama, drama! That’s what’s in store for Skylar in Stephanie Morrill’s latest book, Out With the In Crowd. With her younger sister’s pregnancy, her parent’s rocky relationship, and her boyfriend’s ex popping up all over the place, what’s a girl to do? Skylar works hard to leave the old her behind and step into what God has for her, but it’s not as easy as she thought it’d be. Love and forgiveness turns out to be way harder than she imagined.

I really enjoyed this book. The issues and struggles that Skylar faces are realistic. Sometimes it seemed like she was dealing with too much at once, but then again, that’s what real life is like. The book leaves off on both happy and sad notes, and I can’t wait until book three comes out to find out how things end up. A good read!

Age Range: 12-16
Genre: Contemporary
Part of a Series: The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt, book 2
Pages: 252
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Released: 2010

Novel Teen Book Review’s Top Ten Books of 2009

In celebration of great books and the gift-giving season, we decided to make Novel Teen Book Review’s Top Ten Books of 2009, a list to help you with your shopping, if you’re looking for the perfect book for that voracious reader in your life. You can click on the title or picture to view each book on Amazon.com. Congrats to all the authors on our list, and Merry Christmas!

Always Watching (Rayne Tour, book 1) by Brandilyn and Amberly Collins
(Great for girls who love mystery and suspense.)

As her mother’s concert wraps up, Shaley O’Connor gathers her things backstage to head off to the airport to pick up her best friend. Shaley is so excited that Brittany’s mother granted her permission to come on the tour for a few days. As fun as the band and crew are to hang out with, Shaley misses her home and friends. Brittany’s visit will be just the thing she needs.

But before Shaely makes it to the limo, she stumbles upon the dead body of her friend Tom. Everything falls apart. Shaley struggles to understand secrets she never knew about Tom while the paparazzi watches her every move, hoping to snap a picture of the mourning teen. Brittany’s mom threatens to send her home, and Shaley gets a few mysterious, anonymous gifts.

If the killer is a member of the band or crew, he’s still out there, and, as the messages in Shaley’s gifts say, he’s always watching.

Brandilyn Collins is a master of the murder mystery. She crafts a story that makes it nearly impossible to guess who the murderer might be. How exciting to have her storytelling in the young adult genre. Brandilyn and her daughter cowrite this series and create a smart and realistic character in Shaley. I’m looking forward to Rayne Tour, book 2 to discover more about Shaley and her past. Recommended.

If you’re thinking about this book as a gift, be sure to get book two, Last Breath. Click on the title for Novel Teen’s review.

Age Range: 12-16
Genre: Suspense
Part of a Series: Rayne Tour, book 1
Pages: 215
Publisher: Zondervan
Released: 2009
4 Stars

North! Or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson
(Fantasy adventure. Great for boys, girls, and adults, too.)

This story starts out where the first book left off: in Peet the Sock Man’s tree house. Janner, Tink, Leeli, Podo, and Nia are about to set off for the Ice Prairies, but they don’t get going soon enough and end up on the run from the Fangs of Dang. It’s a long, long journey to the Ice Prairies, and the Igby children are waylaid by some pretty horrifying setbacks. Will all in their party survive the trip? Will they get caught before they make it?

Oh, I likes me this book a way bunch! It makes me wanna talk like Podo, which I probably don’t do as well as the old coot, but still I give it me best shot.

I liked this one better than the first, which is such a great thing. The characters were even better this time. I love the parallels with Janner and Peet. Two Throne Wardens struggling to do what they must even when it is nearly impossible. Andrew Peterson’s style is funny and clever while telling a dangerous tale of woe. That’s what makes his writing so unique. He’s a wonderful writer and storyteller. I highly recommend this series. I cannot wait for book three. And I love the illustrations in the book. The Snickbuzzard with the belly button, especially.

If you’re thinking about this book as a gift, be sure to get book one to go with it. On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson came out last year and is fabulous. Click on the title for my review.

Age Range: 8-12
Genre: Fantasy
Part of a Series: book two in The Wingfeather Saga
Pages: 323
Publisher: Waterbrook
Released: 2009
5 Stars

Touched by a Vampire by Beth Felker Jones
(A non fiction book for Christian fans of Twilight.)

As half the world has read the Twilight Saga, including myself, I was very excited to find a book that talks about some of the stuff that makes Twilight so appealing and why. If you love God and the Twilight Saga, I encourage you to pick up this book. Read it yourself. Do a little book club with your friends. Ask your youth pastor to do a group at church. Or ask your mom to read it with you. When something becomes as popular as Twilight, it’s a good idea to step back and ask yourself why. You want to be able to think for yourself and know what you like or dislike about it and not just follow mob mentality on the issues.

Beth Felker Jones explains in this book why Twilight hooks girls so desperately. She talks about love, sex, marriage, purpose, family, and desire in relationship to Twilight and the Bible in a way that gets you thinking about what God has to say on these subjects. Many Christians have applauded this series for the premarital abstinence between Bella and Edward. But does Twilight’s redemptive qualities outshine its darkness? This book is written for fans, parents, teachers, and youth workers. Use this book to take a closer look inside Twilight and see what you find.

Age Range: 12 and up
Genre: Non Fiction
Part of a Series: No
Pages: 180
Publisher: Multnomah
Released: 2009
5 Stars

The Firstborn by Conlan Brown
(Action adventure. Great for boys and dads. Compare it to: Clive Cussler, James Bond)

The Firstborn starts out with a rescue mission. Devin Bathurst is having visions of a kidnapped woman. He uses this sight to try and rescue her before she is killed. The scenes volley back and forth between Devin, the woman, and the kidnappers. Then we discover that the woman, Hannah, has a similar gift. She can see where a man has been, his past deeds. This leads us to the clever premise of the Firstborn, descendants of those who were raised from the dead when Christ died on the cross. The Firstborn fall into three orders: Prima, Ora, and Domani. Those that can see the past, present, and future.

But the Firstborn has grown paranoid over the years, each order fearing the other, and one man is trying to take over. Can Devin manage to follow God’s will or his own to fight against what lies ahead?

I thought this premise was brilliant. It’s like, what if there were Christian mobsters? How would they act? What choices might they make? The story is fast-paced, action-packed, and gripping. The writing style was a bit jolting at first. Brown uses sentence fragments a lot and jumps from one point of view to another. But once it got going, I was hooked. I really liked Brown’s characters, especially the play between Devin and John. If you’re looking for a new suspense read, look no further. I’m excited to see what Conlan Brown comes up with next.

Age Range: 16 and up
Genre: Suspense
Part of a Series: I hope so!
Pages: 311
Publisher: Realms (A Strang Company)
Released: 2009
4 Stars

Me, Just Different by Stephanie Morrill
(A contemporary book for girls. Compare it to: Meg Cabot, Sarah Dessen.)

When Eli rescues eighteen-year-old Skylar from a bad situation at a summer party, she is so relieved that she agrees to start dating him. But she is also making some life changes. No more parties, and she’s going to start going to church. But her friends and family aren’t making that an easy thing to do. Eli is always jealous and won’t come to church with her, her little sister has a secret that Skylar is forced to keep, and her parents’ marriage is falling apart. The last thing she needs is for Connor, the guy down the street, to start butting his nose in where it doesn’t belong.

This was an engrossing read. Stephanie Morrill writes a story as addicting as any TV teen drama. I got sucked into Skylar’s circle of friends, with all their issues and cattiness, and was rooting for Skylar to ditch the wrong people and stick with the right ones. I loved how the whole story came together. It’s a sweet teen romance that doesn’t skimp on the backstabbing girlfriends and clueless boys. I liked it a great deal. Looking forward to the next book in the series. Highly recommended.

Age Range: 14 and up
Genre: Contemporary
Part of a Series: The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt, book one
Pages: 245
Publisher: Revell (a division of Baker Publishing Group)
Released: 2009
4.5 Stars

By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson
(Fantasy adventure for boys, girls, and adults. Compare to Eragon, Lord of the Rings.)

This book really surprised me. I am a person who loves to read. I read everything I can get my hands on. From romance to science fiction, there really isn’t a book I won’t pick up. So I think I know a good book when I read one, and this is a good book. From the first chapter I was interested and entertained, and the end was fabulous! Now there are times when most avid readers find themselves becoming bored, and feeling the need to skim some of the slower parts. I find myself doing this at least a handful of times per book. In this book though, I wasn’t bored. The story really kept me entertained all the way through, and that is a rarity indeed.
I think this author is going to be huge one day. I can see movies in her future. Hey, if Twilight can be a movie, so can By Darkness Hid. So I look forward to her next book with anticipation, and want to commend her for a truly wonderful first work of fiction!

Review by B. Britton

Age Range: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Part of a Series: Book one in the Blood of Kings series
Pages: 480
Publisher: Marcher Lord Press
Released: 2009
5 Stars

Blaggard’s Moon by George Bryan Polivka
(A pirate fantasy adventure. Great for older boys, girls, and adults who love pirate stories.)

The story opens with a man named Delaney sitting on a post in the middle of a jungle lake that is infested with piranah and horrible mermonkeys. As Delaney ponders how he came to be in such a predicament, the reader drifts with his memory and into a wonderful adventure. We come to know the story of a girl named Jenta who was low born but brought up as a lady. We learn of a young man named Damrick who stands up to defend the common folk from pirates by forming the Hell’s Gatemen. As Damrick and his men take to the seas, we meet many pirates such as Sharkbit Sutter, Conch Imbry, Dancer Clang, Skeel Baris, and Belisar the Whale. All of these ingreedients combine to form a very interesting and extremely entertaining adventure.

This book was engaging. It took a few chapters to get me into the author’s style, though. It was interesting to experience a story through one man’s memory of another man’s tale, but it worked very well with this pirate novel. Polivka’s characters were dynamic. I could see them and hear them. I could relate to how they got to where they were in life and why they did the things they did. I really liked one of the themes of how the love and encouragement and prayer of one person can change another’s life. I’ll be thinking of this one for a while.

This book not only had wonderful characters, the plot was smart and I couldn’t guess how the author was going to pull all his story threads together. That in itself makes it so satisfying in the end, though it’s not the happiest of tales. I highly recommend this one to just about everyone.

Age Range: 16 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Part of a Series: no
Pages: 373
Publisher: Harvest House
Released: 2009
5 Stars

So Not Happening by Jenny B. Jones
(A hysterical contemporary story of girls.)

Bella Kirkwood’s mother is getting remarried, whether Bella likes it or not. But that’s not the worst thing that could happen to this Manhattan girl. Bella’s new stepfather lives in Truman, Oklahoma, and, since Bella’s dad is going through a selfish phase, she has no choice to move from her fast-paced uptown life to Cow Town, USA.

Bella start out okay, but a harsh venting session about small town life on her old Ask Miss Hillard blog gets the wrong kind of attention: the Truman kind. She quickly becomes a social outcast in Truman and must start over if she is going to survive at all. She joins the school paper. While sitting in a dumpster on the lowest assignment ever, she overhears something more rotten than the banana peel stuck to her arm: a real story!

This could be Bella’s chance to move from social outcast to acceptable human being. She chases the story of a lifetime, despite the fact that her super hot—but extremely bossy and annoying—editor tells her it’s too dangerous. But as usual, Bella gets more than she bargained for.

Having absolutely loved the Katie Parker books, I was not at all surprised that Jenny B. Jones’ new series would have me laughing out loud. Jones has a knack for wonderfully sarcastic characters and books you can’t put down. Her characters are true to life in the best ways. I highly recommend this new series and am anxiously awaiting Bella’s next adventure.

If you’re thinking about this book as a gift, be sure to get book two, also, which is just as hysterical. I’m So Sure by Jenny B. Jones came out just a few months ago and is hysterical. Click on the title for Novel Teen’s review.

Age Range: 12-16
Genre: Contemporary
Part of a Series: A Charmed Life, book one
Pages: 326
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Released: 2009
5 Stars

City of the Dead by T. L. Higley
(An awesome historical mystery. Great for older boys, girls, and adults who love books that read like movies.)

Hemiunu, architect for the Great Pyramid of Giza, struggles to stay on schedule and in the good graces of his cousin, Pharaoh of Egypt. When a sadistic killer is taking the lives of Hemiunu’s closest friends, he does all he can to discover who the killer is and to keep a dark secret from coming to light.

Wish I’d read this one a long time ago! What a great story. T.L. Higley completely sucked me into ancient Egypt and her character Hemiunu. He was a deep and interesting character to follow. I liked how she wrote her book in his first person point of view. It made it easy to connect with him.

The storyworld was intriguing as was the relationships she built between the royal members of Pharaoh’s court. Murder, love, betrayal. My heart ached for these people as they lived in their strange belief system and I love where she went with it. Plus, it was a good who-done-it. Another book I couldn’t put down. I am glad there are seven wonders of the ancient world and hope I get to read every book in this series.

Age Range: 16 and up
Genre: Historical Fiction
Part of a Series: A Seventh Wonders Novel
Pages: 380
Publisher: B&H Books
Released: 2009
5 Stars

Taking Tuscany by Renée Riva
(A 1970s coming-of-age book that will make you laugh out loud. Compare to Anne of Green Gables.)

A few years have gone by since Saving Sailor. A few tortuous years where poor A.J. Degulio has been forced to live in Tuscany, a half a world away from her beloved dog, Sailor, her friend Danny, and the beauty of Indian Island, Idaho. Sigh! Sure, one might think that living in Italy would be wonderful. Not A.J. In Italy, she is a blond, Yankee Barbie doll, the punch line of every joke at school. To make matters worse, her family is crazy, as usual.

Love, love, love Renée Riva. It’s rare that a book makes me laugh out loud. During this one, my husband kept shooting me weird looks, wondering if I was loosing my mind. Nope. Just reading Taking Tuscany and loving it! The whole time I’m reading it, I’m dying that I don’t have Heading Home waiting on my bedside table. Ug! Renée, please don’t make us wait too long for book three. I need to read the real-life-fiction version of Moon over Milan.

If you’re thinking about this book as a gift, be sure to get book one, Saving Sailor. Click on the title for Novel Teen’s review.

Age Range: 12 and up
Genre: Historical fiction
Part of a Series: Sequel to Saving Sailor
Pages: 266
Publisher: David C. Cook
Released: 2009
5 Stars

Review: Me, Just Different by Stephanie Morrill

Review by Jill Williamson

When Eli rescues eighteen-year-old Skylar from a bad situation at a summer party, she is so relieved that she agrees to start dating him. But she is also making some life changes. No more parties, and she’s going to start going to church. But her friends and family aren’t making that an easy thing to do. Eli is always jealous and won’t come to church with her, her little sister has a secret that Skylar is forced to keep, and her parents’ marriage is falling apart. The last thing she needs is for Connor, the guy down the street, to start butting his nose in where it doesn’t belong.

This was an engrossing read. Stephanie Morrill writes a story as addicting as any TV teen drama. I got sucked into Skylar’s circle of friends, with all their issues and cattiness, and was rooting for Skylar to ditch the wrong people and stick with the right ones. I loved how the whole story came together. It’s a sweet teen romance that doesn’t skimp on the backstabbing girlfriends and clueless boys. I liked it a great deal. Looking forward to the next book in the series. Highly recommended.

Age Range: 14 and up
Genre: Contemporary
Part of a Series: The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt, book one
Pages: 245
Publisher: Revell (a division of Baker Publishing Group)
Released: 2009