Prey by Lurlene McDaniel

Lurlene McDaniel, who normally write novels about children with severe illness, changes her direction in Prey, which is about a student/teacher relationship. Told through different perspectives, this novel does a good job of illustrating the dangerous predator/prey interaction.

Ryan is a freshman who, on the first day of school, discovers that his world history teacher, Lori Settles, is beyond attractive. As a freshman boy he is turned on and, when she asks him for help after school moving furniture in her apartment, he sees a chance to get a little closer to her. Her invitation, though, isn't as innocent as it seems to him. Lori had her eyes set on him from the first day, too, knowing that with a little encouragement, they could have the relationship she longs for with him. True to her hopes, after a few meetings at a coffee shop, their relationship turns into something physical and Ryan is soon sneaking around his father and friends to connect with her. Meanwhile, Ryan's friend Honey, who has a crush on him, starts to notice that he's not the same person he was. He's not showing up for their plans and rarely hangs out with his friends anymore. Since secrets can't stay hidden forever, it's only a matter of time before the truth comes out and everyone's lives are changed. The only problem is, though, what happens when the supposed victim doesn't feel like one?

This book did a good job of making Lori seem like a predator. From the very beginning she honed in on her prey and meticulously set things in motion to have him come to her. When they were together, then, she sucked him into her secrets and turned him into something else. She became controlling and made Ryan feel guilty for wanting to have his normal life to the point that he even starts to lie to her. The book really made her look like the enemy. As for Ryan, he was genuinely torn due to the mind control of Lori, but, at the same time, he decided his own fate when he got with her, so can you really feel bad for him? The novel wraps up nicely with a jump three years in the future to discover how Ryan really feels about the situation and how truly sick and twisted the whole mess was.

I thought the novel delivered nicely. At first it felt a little choppy, but once the entanglement began, you wanted to know how it all played out because you knew they'd get caught. I don't know if loyal Lurlene McDaniel fans will go for the book because it isn't her typical, although an author's note does state that it has similar themes. There may be some similarities and connections, but I can't compare. As an outsider reading this book, I enjoyed it and would recommend picking it up.
MMK

Bad Kitty by Michele Jaffe

Bad Kitty is a quirky mystery that in no way should be taken seriously. The characters are completely out there, as are the situations they find themselves in. Overall this book is just a fun distraction.

Jas is on vacation in Las Vegas on the annual family trip with her obnoxious cousin Alyson and Alyson's best friend Veronique. Jas has a history of finding trouble and this trip is no exception when a cat jumps on her lap and somehow results in the destruction of a wedding and her family being kicked out of the hotel. That is, of course, until the Hollywood star cat owner intervenes and allows them to stay. When Jas becomes friends with the Hollywood star's son (Fred), a mystery develops in her attempts to protect the boy from someone sent to possibly kill him in connection to his father who is an escaped murderer. It becomes a little more complicated when the boy of her dreams, Jack, shows up and might be the one trying to hurt Fred. Soon someone's trying to kill Jas and her best friends show up and try to help her solve the mystery.

This novel, like I said, is a little over the top. Alyson and Veronique are the typical ditz, spouting such lines as "That was so Mastercard," meaning priceless, and wearing outfits that match their bubblegum. When her best friends (Tom, Roxy, and Polly) show up, you have a character obsessed with aliens (Roxy) and a fashionista who loves to Bedazzle and destroy Jas' wardrobe(Polly). Jas is a whole extreme character in herself, making a homemade fingerprinting kit and stealing a limo among her many escapades. Sometimes the situations are a little much to swallow and other times they're fun. One thing that got annoying were the footnotes, or side conversations between the characters. Sometimes they had useful information, but other times they were just dramatic tangents that became irritating as they kept appearing. True, they sound like a regular conversation between teenage girls (the conversations are realistic) but they were a distraction that we could have done without.

This is a story that cannot be taken seriously. If you want a true mystery thriller, this is not it. This is a humorous mystery that involves plenty of eye rolls, "yeah-right" moments, and laughs. The characters may be fun and quirky, but some of the situations and reactions might get on your nerves if you're looking for something with more depth. Give it a shot, though, if you want something amusing. For another review on this novel, see July 12, 2007.
MMK

How to Hook a Hottie by Tina Ferraro

Do not be deceived, this novel is not a how-to manual on snagging the hottest boy in school. While it might provide some tips, it is not a step-by-step guide and is purely fiction. It is, in fact, just a sweet novel about setting priorities and realizing what you really want in life.

Kate DelVecchio has a dream of becoming a millionaire by the age of twenty. She has a deal with her parents that if she can raise $5,000 by graduation they'll give her the college fund and she can start her own business. During her senior year, the hottest boy in school, who just happens to be her chem lab partner, asks her out and she suddenly has a new found popularity that she doesn't want since she has no feelings for the guy. Soon, though, people start coming to her for tips on how to snag a hottie and she sees an "Ideal Opportunity" to make the rest of her money. With the help of her best friend Dal, Kate pretends to play matchmaker while racking up the money. That, though, is not the only drama in her life. For one, her mother is off in Germany pursuing for higher education dreams while Kate is left with the responsibility of taking care of things at home while bitterly resenting her mother. Also, in efforts to raising money for her own dream, Kate drives around the young Lexie, an aspiring ice skater whose mother couldn't care less about her daughter's dreams. While trying to deal with those problems and the love needs of her schoolmates, Kate begins to see her best friend in a completely different light, but he already has a girlfriend, so she's out of luck. Will everything work out, or will it all blow up in Kate's face?

This is a nice and light read. What's good about the novel is that there's some good advice in it, and I'm not just talking in terms of hooking a hottie. Kate sees her mother as selfish and through that, she explores what it means to have dreams and aspirations and what to do when those take over your life. This novel was enjoyable.
MMK

Gossip Girl the Carlyles by Cecily von Ziegesar

Gossip Girl is a sensation that has moved from the page to the small screen with the hit TV show. Never having read any of the books, I decided to see what they were all about. The Carlyles is the newest book from the Gossip Girl series, and I was a bit hesitant picking it up not having read any of the others. For others new to the series, have no fear, this is actually the first book in a new set of characters with Gossip Girl still dishing out the latest info on the characters.

The characters at the center of the drama are the Carlyle triplets - Avery, Owen, and Baby - who just moved to Manhattan from Nantucket. Avery wants nothing more than to fit into the world of the all girl school and be popular. It doesn't help, though, that she makes enemies with the top dog - Jack Laurent - before school even begins. Now she has even more work cut out for her, but she's not giving up. Owen, her very attractive swimming obsessed brother, has his own problems when he realizes his summer love is actually the girlfriend of his new best friend. When she (Kat to Owen or Kelsey to the rest of the world) dumps her boyfriend (Rhys Sterling) for "someone else" Rhys is devastated and Owen is put between a rock and a hard place since he can't betray his new friend for a girl. And then there's Baby who walks to a beat of a different drummer. She doesn't fit in and she doesn't care. All she wants to do is return to Nantucket and the stoner boyfriend she left behind. When she runs into J.P. Cashman and his dogs, she realizes there might be something worthwhile in New York when he offers her a job walking the dogs she falls in love with. Things might not be so bad for Baby and Avery if it weren't for Jack, who just happens to be J.P.'s demanding girlfriend. Not to mention the fact that her father just cut off all of her expenses, Jack just might prove to be their worst enemy.

All of the drama in the novel just might be a little too much to swallow, as are all of the fashion references. True that's the world of the rich and soon to be famous, but I don't really care what designer Avery's wearing and I don't know that what makes one thing totally hot versus so last season. It all seemed too shallow for me. The only character I really liked was Baby and that was because she didn't give into that world. It was nice to see someone not get sucked in. Owen was also a good character due his loyalty for Rhys but that's not to say that he doesn't have his own ulterior motives. Avery, you can sympathize with her desire to fit in, but, at the same time, you can't help but wonder why she wants to go through all that trouble to be like Jack who has no soul. All of the male characters are likable. The women, on the other hand, you just want to smack, except, like I said, Baby.

Does that make the novel good or bad, I can't really decide. Maybe this is exactly like the original Gossip Girl, but I can't compare due to not having read the others. I'm sure there are parallels, why deviate too much from a working patter, but I don't know. I'm sure that loyal fans will love this new addition. For me, if there's nothing else to read I might pick up the next book coming out in October, but, for now, I prefer books with a little more depth to them.
MMK

Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad by Sakuishi

This is manga. This is intended for older teens. Like most manga the suggested age range is on the book. It is a good thing when parents(especially of younger teens and of children) take an interest in the books their kids are reading and perhaps nudge. The language is as rude and crude as teens (especially guys) get. The story is an absolute hoot and very age appropriate. Which means funny. The guys are in a garage band of sorts and practice a lot and think of names for their band a lot. The girls are fantastic swimmers on a swim team. There are no rules that those guys in the band couldn't be on the team too. Fun right. There are no rules girls can't be involved in the band. Beck is the dog on the cover - rescued if you look at him you can see he has been through quite a lot!
JDW 7/23/08

My Sister's Bones by Cathi Hanauer

Cassie goes off to college, for the first time, fearful of going and of her ability to be good enough for her demanding father and slides into anorexia. Billie, left behind finds herself becoming stronger even as Cassie weakens. She stands up to her father and starts thinking about her future on her terms not her father. Cassie was always the strong sassy one and Billie always the quiet cooperative one. What happens to change these two sisters, how and why is explored in this touching story. The girls remain close throughout and while there is hope for both girls the story ends without a certain final outcome.
JDW 7/22/08

"La Ciudad de la Oscuridad" By Jeanne Duprau

This novel was quite unusual to me, being that the story was all about a town called Las Ascuas. This town was in the dark after 7pm. To me the town was fictitious.

The town had few stores that were limited in merchandise. The canned vegetables, and canned
fruit were the same over, and over. In other words, there was no variety in anybody foods. People of the town felt they were in a routine with no way out.

One day, Doon, who was a main chacter in the novel, and Lina a female charracter in the book,
were on an adventure in the huge plumbing pipes. They discovered a door that opened into a
beautiful room that stashed away exotic foods that they had not seen in five years. For example.
pineapple, and applesauce. It turned out the mayor of Las Ascuas, had this room full of goodies
for himself. The mayor was hoarding the goodies, and used the room for his Apartment.

Towards the end of the novel, Lina, Poppy, and Doon plan to escape the surroundings of their village, and end up in a Lake, and a new place.

Throughout the novel, the author is so descriptive of nature, and the places delt with in the novel. It makes you feel your living throughout the novel.

This novel is meant for a High School reader, who enjoys adventure.

LRD/7/20/08

The Last of the High Kings - Kate Thompson

This sequel set 25 years after The New Policeman has J.J. grown up and having his own family. His daugher Jenny though, is not human, she is a fairy child from T'ir na n'Og. Jenny doesn't have any idea who she really is at first. She skips school because its so boring, and she goes up on to the mountain and spends her time conversing with the ghost who guards the hatchet there. From a Puka she learns about T'ir na n'Og and why the ghost guards the mountain. Jenny learns that she isn't human and is from T'ir na n'Og. J.J. made a deal so that Jenny could grow up here while his own daugher stay young until Jenny went back to T'ir na n'Og and his daughter come back to him to raise with his wife. Jenny does go back to T'ir na n'Og after helping Mikey, The Last of the High Kings, go up the mountain one last time even though the Puka don't want him to.

It was an ok book. By the title I was thinking that Mikey was going to be a central part of the story, but it turns out that it was about Jenny for most of the book. Mikey pops up here and there and is part of the ending but thats about it. Both The New Policeman and The Last of the High Kings have a good story to be told, but the way it was told didn't really work for me. I'm not saying they aren't good, I guess I expected more from the story than what was in the book.

T.B. 7/17/08