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This week I had a couple of quick and exciting reads. Guardians of Ga’Hoole: The Lost Tales of Ga’Hoole by Kathryn Lasky is a fantastic companion book to the popular owl series. It describes the lives of six guardians before they came to the great Ga’Hoole tree. In a sense, it is a short story collection, but the book comes together nicely with Otulissa, the tree’s historian, providing commentary at the beginning of each piece. Even if you didn’t read the series, you’ll enjoy this book.

The second book, Gecko & Sticky: Sinister Substitute, is fast-paced and it kept me on the edge of my seat. The villainous Damien Black has disguised himself as Dave’s substitute in order to find out who Dave, a.k.a the Gecko, is and to retrieve his powerband. But where is Dave’s real teacher, the scarastic and hated Mrs. Krockle? Is she really sick? Or has Damien Black kidnapped her? It’s up to Dave to find out.

I’d recommend both books, but for different audiences. If you’re the type of kid who likes a classicly-written story or a tale with animal characters, then The Lost Tales of Ga’Hoole is your cup of tea. If you’re more into the modern, fast-paced stories with quirky characters and funny illustrations, then Gecko & Sticky is right up your alley.

This week was all about snarling, drooling, howling, prowling wolves! And I’ll bet you’ll be surprised to hear that neither one was a story of werewolves, especially with the whole “Jacob Black” craze going on. Instead, these two books took a different approach. Wolven by Di Toft is about a whole new brand of superpowered wolves called, you guessed it, Wolven! Whereas Wolves of the Beyond: Lone Wolf by Kathryn Lasky is about wolves in the traditional sense of the word.

Wolven follows Nat Carver and his new “dog” Woody. Only Woody isn’t exactly the dog that Nat was expecting. He’s huge, mangy, and Nat was sure Woody sent him a telepathic message. There’s something different about that dog. Nat and Woody develop a close friendship and Nat discovers Woody’s secret: he’s a wolven–a.k.a the opposite of a werewolf. He is a wolf that transforms into a human instead of the other way around. If that isn’t troublesome enough, there is a top secret government organization who is experimenting on wolven…and they’re after Woody.

Wolves of the Beyond: Lone Wolf, a new series by the author of Guardians of Ga’Hoole,  follows Faolan, a wolf pup who is abandoned by his pack because of a slight deformity in his paw. A grizzly bear finds him and decides to raise him as her own. But the grizzly doesn’t know the ways of wolves. And come winter she’ll have to hibernate. And Faolan will be left on his own.

Both books target young adults, ages 9-13. If you like books with a little bit of magic and a whole lot of fast-paced excitement, then definitely check out Wolven. If you’re more into realistic stories about how animals live in the wild, then Wolves of the Beyond is the one for you!

This week I visited two of the most imaginative worlds in young adult fiction–Luster and Middlemost! First I traveled through Luster, the land of unicorns, found inside Bruce Coville’s The Unicorn Chronicles. In book #1, Into the Land of Unicorns, Cara discovers the stunning and magical land for the very first time. But she’s on a mission. Her grandmother has sent her to seek the Queen of Unicorns and relay a message: The wanderer is weary. Cara has no time to ponder the strange message. A man is after her. Somehow she and her new mystical friends must find the Queen before her pursuer tracks her down.

Second a ventured to the planet known as Middlemost, located in the center of the constellation Orion’s Belt. Middlemost is where imaginary friends, a.k.a abstract companions, are born. They’re designed using kids’ ideas that have floated up from Earth. In Scurvy Goonda by Chris McCoy, we follow 14 year old Ted Merritt, who still has an imaginary friend. His pirate pal, Scurvy, hasn’t left his side for 7 years. And Scurvy is starting to cause problems in his social life. Talking to imaginary friends isn’t so cute at 14. All the kids at school think Ted is insane. When Ted uses drastic measures to get rid of Scurvy once and for all, he learns that his actions have caused the entire population of imaginary friends to disappear!

Both books offer an interesting plot, but only Scurvy Goonda will appeal to both boys and girls. The cover of Scurvy Goonda looks so ridiculous that chances are you’d see it on the shelf, laugh and walk right past. But believe me…pick it up! This book is so well written. The whole “imaginary friend” concept does not make this book for little kids. It’ll appeal to young adults and teens!

Into the Land of Unicorns is great for young adult girls. It’s a short book, and gives you a little taste of what’s to come in the much longer sequels.

This week I read four books: Alcatraz versus the Scrivener’s Bone (book 2) and Alcatraz versus the Knights of Crystallia (book 3) by Brandon Sanderson, as well as Cyberia (book 1) and Cyberia: Monkey See, Monkey Don’t by Chris Lynch. What can I say? Both authors are amazing.

The Cyberia series follows Zane, a boy who lives in a world of techonology, high-tech computers and talking animals. But you see, Zane is the only one who can hear the animals, courtesy of his trusty ear-noodle. He discovers that the evil Vetrinarian, Dr. Gristle, is developing chips that, when inserted into animals, allow him to control them. Zane can hear the animals’ pleads for help. But how can a boy match up against a powerful, influential pet doctor?

Alcatraz took my breath away. The cover wasn’t appealing, and I naturally judge books based on that. But once again, I was wrong. Alcatraz Smedry is a 13-year-old boy who has recently discovered that the world we call home is actually run by evil Librarians. He’s part of a famous family, whose home is located in a place called Nalhalla. The story claims to be a memoir of Alcratraz’s real life experinces. He begins almost every chapter with funny, random topics that have absolutely nothing to do with the story. They let you see how quirky and hilarious Alcatraz really is. And he’ll have you laughing your pants off.

The thing that makes both these series’ so special is that they’re hilarious. The narrators are quirky and clever, and they actually make you laugh out loud. They both look and sound a little sci-fi-ish, but don’t worry. The characters are completely normal, except that they have a better sense of humor than just about anyone you’ve ever met. Please give these books a read, especially Alcatraz.

Just because vampire books are popular doesn’t mean they’re good. That’s what I learned from Blood Sinister by Celia Rees. This book was more like a modern-day Dracula than the girl-can’t-resist-the-mysterious-and-handsome-vampire type of books like Twilight and Vampire Diaries. It follows a teenager named Ellen who is fatally ill. Too pass the time, she reads her great-grandmother’s and learns that vampires exist. Soon, in her dreams, Ellen becomes her great-grandmother, living her life, fearing her fears. And the vampires quickly become all too real.

The second book I read this week was Raiders’ Ransom by Emily Diamond. I was shocked to discover that this was Emily Diamond’s first book; Raiders’ Ransom read like it was written by a seasoned author. It really is a fabulous adventure story,  not too mention the striking cover art. The story follows two characters: Lilly and Zeph. About 150 years in the future there has been a “Collapse” or some sort of apocolyptic disaster. And many lands have returned to the olden-days way of life — no technology, no cars, travel by boat. Even the old societal pressures, like marrying for money or status instead of love, have returned. When the only two important people in Lilly’s life are gone, she decides to take action. The Prime Minister’s daughter has been kidnapped by raiders, the same raiders that killed her granny. Disguised as a boy, Lilly sails to London in hopes of trading a treasure for the girls release. In London, she meets Zeph — son of the raider’s boss. As a war brews, the two sides become intertwined and true emotions and values are revealed.

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 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.

Wow, what a wonderful week of books! The two sequels to The Book of Time by Guillaume Prevost are even better than the first. In The Gate of Days, Sam finally rescues his father from his six month lockdown in the dungeons of dracula’s castle. But his trip through time left him in a coma. In The Circle of Gold, Sam knows that in order to wake his dad up from his coma, his must once again travel back in time and save his mother from dying. But evil forces are at work. Sam’s crush, Alicia, is kidnapped and trapped somewhere in history. Before Sam can even think of altering the past, he needs to deal with more pressing issues…like getting Alicia back!

Last but absolutely, 100% not least — The Hunger Games. Wow. That pretty much sums it up. Suzanne Collins is unbelievable. When I first learned the plot of this book — a sci-fi novel about mandatory competition forcing teenagers to fight to the death — I really wasn’t interested in reading it. But boy, am I glad I did. I was reassured by Stephenie Meyer‘s quote on the cover calling the book “amazing.” And she was definitely right. The Hunger Games was risky, edgy, barbaric, and so gripping I just couldn’t put it down. Could this series become the next Twilight? Quite possibly.