Ghostgirl: Homecoming by Tonya Hurley has a good storyline. But there’s a flaw in the presentation. Hurley mentions snippets of the past, but fails to explain them with enough detail for readers who haven’t read the first Ghostgirl book to follow along. If you plan on reading Ghostgirl, start with book one.

The concept is similiar to Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold and Elsewhere by Gabriel Zeven in that it’s told, at least partly, from the perspective of the deceased.

When Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight knocked Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince out of it’s November 2008 release slot, it was a devastating blow. But I must admit, the film was worth the wait. Harry Potter 6 was unlike all the other movies…in a very good way. It didn’t feel rushed, squeeze, condensed or compounded. It was pure perfection. The teenage-turned-20-something cast has evolved, especially the terrific trio. And best of all, love is in the air.

Looking for some awesome teen and kid books to read this summer? Look no furthur. Kidzworld has reviewed some of today’s top kids books for you viewing pleasure. Here’s a few books you can enjoy around the pool, in your treehouse or around the campfire.

Bonechillers for those hot summer nights:

• The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong
• The Devouring by Simon Holt
• Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell

Books about Summer Jobs:

• Killer Pizza by Greg Taylor
• 3 Willows by Ann Brashares

Venus Williams said auvoir to the clay courts of Roland Garros and the French Open today. She lost to the 29^th-ranked player in the world Agnes Szavay of Hungary.

Truth is the contest wasn’t even close and it appeared Venus was quite tired after nearly losing in three sets in her second round match. Szavay moved on to the fourth round with a tidy 6-0, 6-4 victory.

It was the third straight year that Williams has lost in the third round of the French Open. After the loss Venus will have to settle for sitting and watching her sister Serena Williams before she starts preparation for the grass court championships at Wimbledon.

Do you like Tennis? Why not chat about it with other kids on the web’s best online chat room for kids at Kidzworld.com.

New York City. It’s a place of busy streets and crazy cab drivers. It’s a place of big billboards and flashing lights. It’s a place of cafes and 24 hour pharmacies.

But what’s it like to live in such a tourist-filled city? Once you overcome the crowds and settle in to the hustle and bustle, you’ll see how everything is right at your fingertips. There are restaurants and cafes on every corner, pharmacies and grocery stores, libraries and book stores, electronic and clothing stores, cinemas and theaters, zoos and museums, arcades and toy stores! There’s a zero to ten minute walk in every direction leading you to everything you could possibly want or need. And with so many icons calling New York City their home, you’ll always be the first to know the latest news on celebs. Who knows, maybe you’ll even meet a few!

And the best part of all? If you’re the lazy type (or the type of plans to work from home), you don’t even need to leave your apartment. Everything you need–groceries, movies, dinner reservations–can be yours at the click of a button. Literally. Nearly everything can be ordered online and delivered straight to your door.

But easy access to life’s little neccessities comes at a price. In Manhattan, the monthly rent for one bedroom apartments range from about $1500 to $4500! But with nearly 50 million visitors to NYC annually and a population of well over 8 million people, it’s no wonder a good, central location costs so much.

There are three types of well-written books: good books that satisfy the need to escape, great books that make you laugh or cry or smile, and unforgettable books that leave a lasting impression on your life. These unforgettable books are different for every person. But they all have one thing in common—they have the power to fill a void or spark inspiration for those who need it most.

Only four books in my lifetime have left a mark on me, and to the authors of these books, I’m forever grateful. The following are my four top kids books:

I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak (age 13+)

Ed Kennedy is an 18-year-old illegal cabdriver who’s missing substance in his life. After involuntarily stopping a bank robbery, he starts receiving aces (playing cards) in the mail. Each card has addresses written on them. Ed goes to each house where he finds a person or family in need. With just a small gesture of kindness, Ed helps each person. And in turn, he discovers the piece of his life he’s been missing.

This book is a powerful force and a piece of pure inspiration. It motivated me to find happiness in selfless deeds. If you’re feeling depressed or bored with life, give this book a read.  

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (ages 9+)

Hugo Cabret lives in the walls of a Paris train station, operating the clockwork for his missing uncle. He has a broken automaton (wind-up figure) that he’s determined to fix. But when a cranky old toy vendor steals his notebook containing Hugo’s father’s instructions on how to fix the automaton, Hugo must use his logic and fix it on his own. In restoring the automaton, Hugo discovers a shocking secret about the toy vendor’s past, something magical, haunting and truly inspirational.

This book is a beautiful story, written like a classic. Most of the 533 pages are pictures drawn by the author. Selznick’s book offers a magical taste of history, one that you’ll read again and again.

The Neverending Story by Michael Ende (ages 10+)

Balthazar Bastian Bux hates his life. He’s bullied at school and his father doesn’t pay attention to him. One day he steals a magical book called The Neverending Story from a used bookstore and (literally) dives into the world’s most magical adventure.

Only Harry Potter could compete with a book as magical as this. Each of the 26 chapters is almost a story on its own, complete with adventure, climaxes and the most magical and inventive creatures you’ll ever meet.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo (all ages)

Edward Tulane is an arrogant china rabbit who thinks nothing of love. That is, until the day he’s tossed overboard on a ship and sinks to the bottom of the ocean. Edward spends years been passed from one owner to the next, learning to love and appreciate each of them along the way.

This book is a masterpiece. Short and sweet. Heartbreaking and heartwarming. The moment I closed this book, with tears running down my cheeks, I opened it to the beginning and started over. Perhaps one of the most well-written children’s stories, this book will leave a life-long impression on your heart. Kate DiCamillo, the author of The Tale of Despereaux, is a true storyteller.

Attention all Libba Bray fans!

It’s been a long year and a half since her December 2007 release of A Sweet Far Thing, the third and final book in the Gemma Doyle Trilogy. But I’m happy to announce that the wait is finally over.

Libba Bray has revealed the release date of her next project titled Going Bovine. Although it’s not coming out as soon as we’d hoped–September 22, 2009–there are still tons of great teen and kid‘s books to read for the summer season. Check out Kidzworld’s bookshelf for some recent book reviews.

But if you simply can’t wait until September to get your Libba fix, then try reading one of the four short story collections that she, along many other popular teen authors, has contributed to:

• 21 Proms
  (also including stories from Holly Black, John Green, Rachel Cohn, Cecily Von Ziegesar, Melissa de la Cruz, David Levithan, and more!)
• Vacations from Hell
  (Cassandra Clare, Claudia Gray, Sarah Mlynowski, and Maureen Johnson)
• Up All Night
  (Peter Abrahams, David Levithan, Patricia McCormick, Sarah Weeks and Gene Luen Yang)
• The Restless Dead
  (M.T. Anderson, Holly Black, Marcus Sedgwick, Chris Wooding, Herbie Brennan, Annette Curtis Klause, Nancy Etchemendy)

School work can be such a drag; page after page of math problems, tedious essays, boring novel studies…it never ends!

But school work doesn’t have to be boring. I know, I know. There’s nothing I, your parents or your teachers can do to make it more interesting. And you’re probably right. But there are some things you can do. The following tips sound simple and obvious. But trust me, I tried them and they work!

Do your work in class.

Sometimes having friends around makes it impossible to get any work done. You end up pushing it aside and socializing, leaving you bogged down with homework after school.

I found that by finishing that page of math problems, starting my essays by hand, and brainstorming project ideas in class saved me hours of homework after school. I could hang out with friends, and I avoided confrontation with my parents. In fact, doing my work in class put me in a better mood for the rest of the day knowing that I’d be free to spend the evening however I pleased.

Pay attention during class.

I was the ultimate doodler/napper. I slept through most classes, planning to read the textbook later. But I never completely understood the homework, and I never retained anything I read in the textbook. I scanned for answers, jotted them down and then tossed my homework aside.

But then I tried paying attention in class. I visualized what the teachers were saying and discovered that some of the information was actually interesting. After school I still remembered the lecture and I could tell my parents all about it. Being able to prove that I learned something gave me a rush and a sense of accomplishment that I didn’t know I needed. And best of all, it made the assignments a snap! I hardly even cracked the textbook.

Participate in class.

I always took the slacker route when it came to participating. I never asked a question or volunteered an answer. When it came to group work, I never offered my opinion or took a leading role.

But after I started paying attention in class, I found that I had opinions on the topics and I usually knew the answers. I started taking part in discussions. And I felt confident presenting my work to the class. And you know what? The classes were actually fun! I was so engaged that I didn’t watch the clock drag by. And class ended before I knew it!

For more school advice for kids or info on other kids issues, check out the Me section at Kidzworld.com.

Bookworms are not boring people. They like adventure just as much as the next guy. But most of the time bookworms find adventure in the form of an action-packed novel instead of leaving the house and creating an adventure of their own. If you’re one of these bookworms, it’s not a bad thing. But you need to embrace the sun rather than the ink every once and a while. As soon as you experience the thrill of a real life adventure, you’ll realize that there’s a whole world of possibilities.

I was one of those seeking-an-adventure-in-a-book type of bookworms. That is, until I traveled to Australia and New Zealand. There, I tried things I swore I would never do. I went Skydiving, White Water Rafting, Jet Boating, Zorbing, and the scariest of all, Black Water Rafting. It wasn’t until I returned home that I realized what I was missing…real life adventure. Sure, books are a great escape. But it sure doesn’t beat jumping out of a plan at 14,000 feet.

So what’s my advice for kids and teens? Try new things. Experience new thrills. Travel new places. And hey, you can always bring a good book along with you.