Double Identity

Double Identity
By: Margaret Peterson Haddix
Pages: 218
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Genre: Mystery
Rating: A+
Recommended to: Boys and Girls 10-14




      Twelve-year-old Bethany is a normal girl with two normal parents, although they are very protective about her safety and have an uncanny knack for predicting the things she'll need right when she needs them - such as glasses. She doesn't think anything is wrong until she approaches her thirteenth birthday. Her mother cries all the time and her father is acting oddly. One day he packs the whole family in the car and drives to somewhere unknown, across many states, and leaves Bethany with Myrlie, an aunt she never knew she had. She hears him tell her "She doesn't know anything about Elizabeth." But Myrlie won't tell her who Elizabeth is, or why everyone in town seems to recognize her. Then she gets a package from her dad with four different birth certificates for her - all with different last names, coming from four different states, and thousands of dollars. A strange man shows up at the house asking odd questions, and Myrlie knows all of Bethany's favorite foods. The mystery gets stranger and stranger, and Bethany is desperate to find out the secrets of her past everyone is holding from her.
      This book is exciting, thrilling, tragic, and a bit creepy. It will keep you up all night waiting for an answer to the strange happenings going on - I think the first time I read this I read it in one sitting. Bethany is a great main character. The twists that this book throws at you are incredible, and well thought, out, for the end is nothing you would expect, even though Margaret Peterson Haddix writes clues along the way. The ending is a bit quick, but the characters are realistic and interesting, and it is a fantastic read for anyone looking for a great mysterious mystery!!

The Golden Compass

The Golden Compass
By: Phillip Pullman
Pages: 399
Publisher: Yearling
Genre: Fantasy, Coming-of-Age
Rating: A
Recommended to: Ages 11+




      Lyra Belacqua roams the halls of Jordan College, her home, and rampages through the streets of Oxford with the other children and her daemon, Pantalaimon, or Pan. But when her uncle Lord Asriel arrives bringing the news of the mysterious, strange particle found in the Arctic, Dust, Lyra sets of on a journey filled with new friends, mystery, danger, Gobblers, witches, polar bears, dust, children, and daemons. With the remarkable ability to read the alethiometer, a device used for knowledge, Lyra is prepared, but will it be enough? For she is the one in the prophency destined to end this battle.
      This book has a mysterious, other-worldy vibe to it that pulls you in and doesn't let go. Lyra is everything in a heroine; brave, kind, sweet, fearless, along with being innocent, oblivious and youthful. Her daemon, Pan, tries to lead Lyra to do what is right, but his youthfulness shows through. The villains are perfect; always changing and unknown. This is a truly remarkable book and left me clamoring for the sequel.

Janey's Girl

Janey's Girl
By: Gayle Friesen
Pages: 224
Publisher: Kids Can Press, August 1998
Genre: Coming-of-Age, Contemporary Fiction
Rating: A+
Recommended to: Girls 11-14




      Clarissa (nicknamed Claire) is fourteen the summer she and her single mom take a road trip to visit the town her mom grew up in, and her grandma. She hasn't been there since she was a young, young, girl, not even when her grandfather died. Claire doesn't know her father or her grandfather, and she tries to unravel her past and the mysteries surrounding it. Complications arouse such as the cute boy helping out around her grandma's farm, the sweet little boy Jamie who loves to play knights and dragons, and her mom's stubbornness to revisit the past.
      I first discovered Janey's Girl on the shelf of the school library a few years ago. I read it in a matter of hours, and was devastated when I turned the last page, because I didn't want it to be over. I have since re-read this book 6 or 7 times (not kidding). I can truly say that this is one of my favorite reads. I love Clarissa's character, and how she is determined to find out about her family. Her grandma is one of my favorite characters - warm, friendly, cheerful, and bursting with happiness and love. The character development of Janey, Clarissa's mom, is beautifully crafted, and Jamie is so sweet, you will fall in love with his cuteness over and over! I would recommend this to every girl ages 11-14. It is a short, sweet read.

Secrets of My Hollywood Life: On Location

Secrets of My Hollywood Life: On Location
By: Jen Calonita
Pages: 240
Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Chick-lit
Rating: B-
Recommended to: Girls 12-14

      Kaitlin Burke returns in the sequel to Secrets of My Hollywood Life, On Location. She has finally gotten the part to The Untitled Hutch Adam’s Project, a dream job with a dream director (or so she thought). After getting cast over Sky Mackenzie, jealous co-star, Sky shows up on set with the news that she was cast to play the next big role. Sky’s assistant keeps messing up Kaitlin’s schedule, and the director of the movie isn’t all she thought he is. The movie’s publicist has plans to make Kaitlin and co-star/ex-boyfriend Drew seem to be dating, and things between her and Austin are a little rocky. Will Kaitlin come through at last, or will the pressure break both her and her career?

      This book lived up to the expectations brought upon by the first novel, though by no means exceeded it. I felt that Kaitlin seemed weaker in this book that in the previous one, and that Sky was a little too manipulative and mean than was realistic. I loved Laney, Kaitlin’s publicist, and Hank, the crazy director. Kaitlin’s brother, Matty, seemed too young for his age, and Liz, Kaitlin’s BFF was uncharacteristically irresponsible with her new job. On the other hand, I loved the plotline involving Austin and Drew, and the movie’s publicist’s schemes. Austin was always described as the perfect guy, and Drew was everything you would expect from a Hollywood guy with a big ego. The brand names and outfit descriptions were too much and made the book have a cheesy, fake shell. I loved the amusing Hollywood Secrets, and the fun writing made me keep reading, although it’s somewhat shallow. It is a fun chick-lit, and I was happily waiting for the sequel.

Secrets of My Hollywood Life

Secrets of My Hollywood Life
By: Jen Calonita
Pages: 256
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: A
Recommended to: girls 11-14





      Sixteen year-old Kaitlin Burke is the star on hit TV show Family Affair, where she has been working since the age of four. She is famous around the globe, and is in movies, on magazine covers, in countless articles and pictures (thanks to the paparazzi), and always invited to the most exclusive Hollywood events and parties. She has the life that so many teenage girls would die for, but Kaitlin isn't happy with being America's sweetheart. She is tired of being followed by the paparazzi and missing out on normal teenage things, such as high school and dances. With the help of best friend Liz, Kaitlin hatches a plan to attend Liz's high school, disguised as British exchange student Rachel Rogers. After convincing her momager (mom-turned-manager), publicist, assistant, and dad that this is what she needs, Kaitlin has to take on the biggest risk of her career.
      I think that this book is the best in the series. I loved the excitement, drama, and Kaitlin's anything-but-perfect personality. The writing style is spunky and spirited, and Kaitlin's voice shines through. My biggest problem about this series is that every character's outfit must be described in over-the-top detail with designer names every time. Detail is good, and I like hearing what they might wear to a party, but not what everyone wears every time Kaitlin crosses paths with them! It gets extremely tedious I get very jealous :). I love the struggles at school that Kaitlin encounters, they seem very realistic to someone in her pretend situation. The character development was good. Kaitlin was a changed person at the end, although Liz stayed exactly the same. I loved Sky, Kaitlin's jealous co-star who has it out for Kaitlin. All in all, this book was very good, and made me read the rest in the series.

Last School Year's Reads

Books From Last School Year

Last school year (2011-12), I read 104 books. Crazy, right!?! I am NOT up for reviewing them all ;), but will hopefully review some. Here is a list of most of the books, along with a quick rating from 1-10 (10=best, 1=worst), along with recommended ages of interest. They are all different genres, reading levels, and lengths. Keep in mind: I read all these books when I was eleven and twelve, so I rated some down because I was too old for them, but younger readers might enjoy           them more. Hope you get some suggestions of good novels, and look for reviews on some of the books coming soon!

• The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman, 9, ages 11+
• The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman (sequel to The Golden Compass), 8, ages 11+
• Tangerine by Edward Bloor, 4, boys ages 10-13
• Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata, 8, girls ages 9-13
• Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, 9.9, ages 11+
• Ophelia by Lisa Klein, 9, girls ages 11-15
• Shipwreck, Survival, and Escape by Gordon Korman, 7.5, ages 9-12
• Airborn by Kenneth Oppel, 8, ages 11-14
• The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick, 6.5, girls ages 9-10
• Janey's Girl by Gayle Friesen, 9.5, girls ages 10-13
• Double Identity by Margaret Peterson Haddix, 9.5, ages 10-14
• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, 10, ages 11+ (see review)
• Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, 10, ages 11+
• Torn by Margaret Peterson Haddix, 9, ages 10-14
• Call Me Hope by Gretchen Olson, 3.5, girls 10-12
• The Mystery of the Third Lucretia by Susan Runholt, 9, girls 11-14
• Uglies by Scott Westerfield, 8, ages 11-14
• Moon Over Manifest  by Claire Vanderpool, 7.5, girls 10-13
• Come Juneteenth by Ann Rinaldi, 8.5, girls 12-14
• The Demon King by Cinda Williams, 9.5, ages 12-16
• The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke, 7, ages 11-13
• Matched by Ally Condie, 9, girls 11-16
• Crossed by Ally Condie (sequel to Matched), 8, girls 11-16
• The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams (sequel to The Demon King), 9.5, ages 12-16
• The Grey Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams (sequel to The Exiled Queen), 9.5, ages 12-16
• Pretties by Scott Westerfield (sequel to Uglies), 7, girls 11-14
• Specials by Scott Westerfield (sequel to Pretties), 4, girls 11-14
• Extras by Scott Westerfield (sequel to Specials), 7, girls 11-14
• Gateway by Sharon Shinn, 7, girls 12-15
• On the Other Side of the Island by Allegra Goodman, girls 11-14
• The Amber Spyglass by Phillip Pullman (sequel to The Subtle Knife), 7.5, ages 12+
• Thirteen Days To Midnight by Patrick Carman, 6, ages 12+
• Kingdom Keepers books 1-4 by Ridley Pearson, 8, ages 8-12
• Cold Cereal by Adam Rex, 7, ages 9-12
• Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer, 8.5, girls 11-13
• Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott, 7.5, girls 11-14
• Prophency of the Sisters by Michelle Zink, 6.5, girls 12-15
• The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly, 4.5, girls 9-11
• The Dragonfly Pool by Eva Ibbotson, 5, girls 8-11
• Miss Penegrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, 8, ages 12-15
• Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George, 9, girls 11-14
• The Miles Between by Mary E. Pearson, 7.5, girls 12-16
• Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson, 6, ages 9-12
• Fever Crumb by Phillip Reeve, 8, ages 10-14
• When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, 8.5, ages 9-12
• The Year of Goodbyes by Debbie Levy, 8, girls 10-14
• Incarceron by Catherine Fisher, 8.5, ages 11-14
• Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, 8.5, ages 10-15
• Enola Holmes: The Case of the Left-Handed Lady by Nancy Springer, 7, girls 8-11
• Enola Holmes Mysteries (series) by Nancy Springer, 7, girls 8-11
• Sand Dollar Summer by Kimberly Jones, 7.5, girls 10-13
• Beswitched by Kate Saunders, 8.5, girls 10-13
• Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George (sequel to Princess of the Midnight Ball), 9, girls 11-14
• Harris and Me by Gary Paulson, 2, boys 8-10
• The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, 7.5, ages 11-14
• No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman, 6, ages 9-11
• The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis, 8, girls 10-14
• Night of the Howling Dogs by Graham Sailsbury, 7.5, ages 10-13
• How Angel Peterson Got His Name by Gary Paulson (had to read for a school project), 1, not recommended
• Cecile: Gates of Gold by Mary Casanova, 7.5, girls 9-12
• Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce, 9, girls 11-14
• The Falconer's Knot by Mary Hoffman, 9, ages 11-14
• Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson, 9, girls 10+
• Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, 8.5, girls 10+
• Aurelia by Anne Osterlund, 9, girls 11-14
• Switched by Amanda Hocking, 8.5, girls 12-16
• Radiant Girl by Andrea White, 4, girls 11-13
• Torn by Amanda Hocking (sequel to Switched), 9, girls 12-16
• Divergent by Veronica Roth, 9.5, ages 12+
• Legacy by Cayla Kluver, 9.5, girls 12-16
• Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce, 9, ages 11-15
• Wolf-Speaker by Tamora Pierce (sequel to Wild Magic), 7.5, ages 11-15
• Allegiance by Cayla Kluver (sequel to Legacy), 9.5, girls 12-16
• A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray, 8, girls 12-16
• The Season by Sarah MacLean, 9, girls 11-15
• Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock, 8, girls 11-15
• The Maze Runner by James Dashner, 9, ages 11-15
• And Only To Decieve by Tasha Alexander, 7.5, ages 12+
• Ever by Gail Carson Levine, 8, girls 12-14
• Sapphique by Catherine Fisher (sequel to Incarceron), 9, ages 12-14