This week I read two young adult sequels: Song of the Wanderer by Bruce Coville (book two in The Unicorn Chronicles) and Timothy and the Dragon’s Gate by Adrienne Kress (sequel to Alex and the Ironic Gentleman).

While both books contain fantastical adventures and dangerous journeys, they appeal to different audiences. Song of the Wanderer would primarily appeal to girls, while Timothy and the Dragon’s Gate is a great adventure for both genders, specifically boys.

In Song of the Wanderer, Cara travels through the land of Luster, home of the unicorns, in order to find the portal that will take her home. Following the Queen’s orders, she must return to Earth, retrieve her grandmother (known as the Wanderer) and bring her back to Luster. But there are unfriendly forces at work that add a strain to Cara’s adventures. This story is magical and heart-warming. Fantasy lovers will definitely enjoy this book.

In Timothy and the Dragon’s Gate, Timothy meets a mysterious man name Mr. Shen, who is actually a dragon trapped in a human’s body. Mr. Shen needs Timothy’s help to break the curse so that he can live in his true form. Timothy and Mr. Shen travel to China, pursued by ninjas and relentless black taxicabs. This book is okay, but chances are you won’t be craving the next installment.

This week I had the pleasure of reading two books in the same series: Tunnels and Deeper by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams.

They have the kind of covers that make you judge a book: they’re bold and striking, they’re thick and juicy. Well then, they must be good! But more and more lately, I’ve learned that you really shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Not that Tunnels and Deeper were bad books, but Tunnels in particularly felt a little too long. (Even though Deeper was about the size of Tunnels and a half). It just dragged a some areas and could have been shorter.

The books follow Will, a budding archeologist, who follows an underground tunnel looking for his missing father. He and his friend Chester happen upon a dangerous underground world ruled by the Styx who immediately capture them. Will is released soon after, and discovers a shocking secret about his family. Chester, however, is held captive with the threat of being sent deeper into the earth, where the chance of survival is slim to none.

I definitely recommend these books to kids, especially boys, who aren’t afraid of a long read. The stories have wonderful characters, so as long as you can skim through the unnecessary description, you’ll definitely enjoy them.

This week I read Ranger’s Apprentice #6: The Siege of Macindaw by John Flanagan and Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars #3: In Search of Watson by Tracy Mack and Michael Citrin. Both books are very engaging and will leave you craving the other books in the series.

Having never read the first five books in the series, Ranger’s Apprentice #6: The Siege of Macindaw was a little bit hard to follow at first. But the characters soon showed their quirky personalities, and the story took shape. It’s hilarious and action-packed–the perfect combination.

Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars #3: In Search of Watson is an excellent mystery. It follows a team of kid detectives who aid Sherlock Holmes in his investigations. What’s great about this series is that the books are short, to the point and really easy to follow. They’re great fpr kids aged 9 to 12 who love a good mystery/adventure.

This week, I read two adventure novels: Tentacles by Roland Smith and Charlie Bone and the Red Knight by Jenny Nimmo. Both books delivered on their promising plotlines.

Tentacles, the sequel to Cryptid Hunters, went above and beyond my expectations. It was rich with sneaky, slimy villains (not to mention creatures!), quirky characters and of course action. Tentacles followed Marty and Grace, two kids who recently learned that they’re cousins, not twins! They and the crew of their big ship embark on a high-seas adventure in search of the legendary giant squid. But Grace’s grandfather has snuck on informant on the ship, hoping to ruin their expedition while making himself out to be the hero.

Charlie Bone and the Red Knight is the eighth and final book in the Charlie Bone series. Without reading the previous seven novels, you’d definitely be confused. There are so many characters and loose ends left over from the previous book, that an unfamilar reader would be lost. But if you have followed the series, you’ll absolutely love it! In this fantastic conclusion Charlie and his friends must put a stop to the evil Bloor family once and for all, especially now that a will, hidden by Charlie’s father, states that Billy Raven is to inherit Bloor’s Academy. Way to go, Jenny Nimmo! You ended strong.

There’s nothing like non-stop, adrenaline-pumping, bite-your-nails-to-the-bone action. This week I read Act of Dedemption by C.C. Cole and Amulet#1: Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi. While both were action-packed, the books were as different as they come.

Act of Redemption targets an older teen and adult audience. It tells the story of a city being taken over by demons from Hell, and a teenage girl named Shevata, whose stength and fearlessness are a match for the most ruthless demons. I’ll warn you…it’s violent and gory, definitely not for kids. But it is an absorbing read. If it peaks your interest, check out an interview with C.C. Cole to learn more about the author.

Amulet#1: The Stonekeeper has the kind of action that’s appropriate for young adults. It’s a graphic novel with clear, vivid pictures and a fun storyline. Emily, Navin and their mother move into an old, haunted-looking mansion that their great-grandfather Silas used to live in – that is, before he disappeared. On their first night, they hear a sound coming from the basement. When their mother goes to investigate, a massive, slimy monster steals her away. Emily and Navin chase them into another world where Emily learns that she has been chosen as the next Stonekeeper.

This week was all about the fantasy books. Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke and The Wizard of Rondo by Emily Rodda each offer a great assortment of fantastical creatures–everything from dragons, brownies and humunculus’s to dots, talking pigs and terlamaines.

Dragon Rider is a fantastic adventure novel by one of today’s most popular young adult authors–Cornelia Funke, author of the Inkheart Trilogy. Dragon Rider follows a dragon named Firedrake, a brownie named Sorrell and a human boy named Ben on their quest to find a legendary Himalayan mountain range known as the Rim of Heaven. But trouble is hot on their trail. An evil, manmade dragon named Nettlebrand wants nothing more than to locate the Rim of Heaven and eat all the dragons who reside there. Somehow Firedrake must find the legendary mountain range without leading Nettlebrand to the world’s only dragon sancturary.

The Wizard of Rondo is the sequel to The Key to Rondo by Emily Rodda. The first novel in the series was a little easier to follow and had a more magical feel. The Wizard of Rondo is more like a murder mystery. When cousins Leo and Mimi return to the world of Rondo, they find their friends have deemed themselves a Quest Team. They recieve a letter from a distraught resident in the Hobnob and set out on their first investigation. Wizard Bing has disappeared, and his apprentice, who has been transformed into a giant mushroom, is now in custody of Officer Begood. Someone his behind these mysterious events and it’s up to the Quest Team, along with Leo and Mimi, to uncover the culprit.

There’s nothing better than a good series. And this week I reviewed installments in two different wonderful series’: The Key to Rondo by Emily Rodda and Catching Fire (book two of The Hunger Games) by Suzanne Collins.

The Key to Rondo has that perfect blend of magic and reality. It was exciting and fast-paced with a wide variety of magical and relatable characters. The story follows Leo Langlander and his impulsive cousin Mimi as they discover the secret about a family heirloom–a music box depicting magic land. They soon discover that there’s a whole lot more to the music box than just nice paintings and a pretty tune. It’s actually a gateway into the world of Rondo. After an evil blue queen steals Mimi’s dog, Leo and Mimi follow her into the music box and discover the life and strife inside of Rondo.

What can I say about Catching Fire? Amazing. Intense. Gripping. I didn’t think Suzanne Collins could outdo her first novel, The Hunger Games, but she certainly did. After surviving the Hunger Games–a brutal televised fight-to-the-death–Katniss is just trying to live a normal life. But the stunt she pulled in the arena that kept both her and her District 12 partner Peeta alive is coming back to haunt her. Her survival instinct may have unintentionally sparked a rebellion against the Capital, and President Snow is furious. He’ll do anything to prove that he is in control, even if it means threatening the lives of Katniss and all her family and friends.

Both of these books are fantastic reads. The Key to Rondo appeals to a younger audience (9-12 year olds) and Catching Fire will suit a teenage audience. Happy reading!

The Hole in the Sky is the debut novel by Barbara A. Mahler. This young-adult fantasy story is the first in trilogy.

The novel follows Kaela and her cousin Shawn as they travel to a magical world by way of “the hole in the sky.” In Muratenland, Kaela learns about the royal family’s strife: their baby has been kidnapped by Gulig, an evil man who seeks control of the land. Kaela must break the family curse and rescue the baby before Gulig causes him any harm.

This week was all about the spooky, the terrifying and the ghostly. I’ve read tons of books about ghosts, and most aren’t worth remembering. It’s a typical topic, making it hard for authors to put a new spin on it. The Haunting of Derek Stone #4: The Ghost Road by Tony Abbott and Rebel Stone and the Ghost Whisperers by Walter Rouzer were just that–typical. The Ghost Road was decent, assuming you start by reading the other books in the series. It was high-action, but in my opinion it’s a story that is more interesting for boys than girls.

Rebel Stone and the Ghost Whisperers mixed ghosts and aliens, which I’ve never seen before. But the writing sounded amateur. The constant flaws and overuse of metaphors made it hard to read.

Malice, on the other hand, was fantastic. While it wasn’t about ghosts, it was definitely spooky. The story was about a comic book called Malice. Kids who perform a ritual and summon Tall Jake (like Bloody Mary), are stolen from their homes and brought to the dangerous world of Malice–the world inside the comic book. The writing is easy to follow, the characters are relatable and the concept of part-novel, part-comic book is very unique.

As a book reviewer, I read over 100 books each year. I come across many decent novels and many good novels. But only once in a blue moon do I find a story that really blows me away. This year, The Legend of Vinny Whiskers by Gregory Kemp was that story.

It follows a set of characters you rarely see in young-adult fiction, or any fiction for that matter–black-tailed prairie dogs. Some people immediately dismiss a story that is writing solely about animals, unless of course it’s a children’s picture book. But The Legend of Vinny Whiskers isn’t silly or unrealistic. It’s mature, deep and adventureous–great for kids and adults alike. It’s the story of an underdog proving that he’s strong, courageous and capable.

It’s a fabulous accomplishment for a debut novel. The Legend of Vinny Whiskers is the kind of story you’ll remember forever, the kind you’ll want your kids to read one day.

Unfortunately the book isn’t sold in stores. But it is available at most online book retailers. Trust me when I say that this is the type of book you can purchase in blind faith. It won’t disappoint you.