What are Freedom Teens Reading?
Book reviews submitted Summer 2008
 
In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson

Reviewed by Ellie Rhymer

     Witty informative fascinating account of a trip through the beautiful country of

Australia.  Fun to read even if you don’t plan on making the journey!

 
The Carnivorous Carnival by Lemony Snicket
Reviewed by Meghan Davis
    I find this series entertaining, but very, very unrealistic. The adults are all dumb and irresponsible. 
 
The Ersatz Elevator by Lemony Snicket
Reviewed by Meghan Davis
    I wish their unfortunate circumstances would just END!
 
London Calling by Edward Bloor
Reviewed by Meghan Davis
    I loved it!  I agree. somewhat predictable, yet fantastic historical fiction,  (My fav genre!)
 
The Miserable Mill by Lemony Snicket
Reviewed by Meghan Davis
    No comment!
 
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Raold Dahl
Reviewed by Juliana Naso
    I thought that this book was inteesting.  The author should make more books this fun and colorful!  If  the author did I would love to read it!  I'm so happy I read this book!
 
The Amulet of Sanarkand by Jonathan Stroud
 
    I can't wait to read the next one.
 
Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan
 
    Not action packed, but exciting the entire time.
 
White Fang by Jack London
Reviewed by Josh Hayden
    Great book.  I enjoyed how the characters developed throughout the book.
 
The Call of the Wild by Jack London
Reviewed by Josh Hayden
    Very good.  I liked how it was from the dogs point of view.  It was a good read.
 
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
Reviewed by Maureens Brooks
    Very, very good.  Could not put the book down.  Recommend this book to everyone.  Can't wait to read the next book.
 
The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson
Reviewed by Ellie Rhymer
    Entertaining autobiography of a young boy growing up in the '50s.  Moments of  laugh aloud hilarity and nostalgia.
 
Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson
Reviewed by Ellie Rhymer
    Not as good as theother Bill Bryson travel books.  Maybe England just isn't a very interesting country to visit.  Not as funny as his other works but very interesting travel book all the same.
 
Double Identity by Margaret Haddix
Reviewed by Lily Mercer-Paiva
    I read it as fast as I could, just to find out the ending.
 
Chew on This by Eric Schlasser and Charles Wilson
Reviewed by Lily Mercer-Paiva
    Makes you never want to never eat fast food again!
 
Just in Case by Meg Rosoff
Reviewed by Christina Gambon
    Meg Rosoff presents a compellling novel about a boy named Justin Case who is doomed. Fate is watching him, playing a game with him.  Justin's journey is one that will either have you in tears or reevaluating your life.  Consider yourself warned.
 
Green Jasper by K.M. Grant
Reviewed by Christina Gambon
    Set in the time of the Crusades, two brothers are back home in this second book in the trilogy.  Gavin de Granville is about to marry Eleanor when the constable barges in.  He says Richard, the king, is dead and now John reigns.  The constable runs away, kidnapping Eleanor.  William de Granville runs off with Hosanna, the blood red horse, in hopes to find her.  The ending was sad, but in all a gripping tale.
 
Blood and Menory by Fiona McIntosh
Reviewed by Christina Gambon
    I love the Quickening series.  Fiona McIntosh is one of the greatest writers of this time. Her books are always unpredictable.  The ending is always a scene you don't want to happpen, but the story wouldn't end up awesome if it was different.  Myrveyn's gift, as Wyl calls it, adds more misfortune for everyone, especially Wyl and Ylena Thirsh.  King Celimus is a tyrant that needs to be assassinated.  I hope in the next and final installment in the series he will be.
 
I Was a Teenage Fairy by Francesca Lia Block
Reviewed by Christina Gambon
    I love books about fairies.  This one showed Queen Mab as a loving friend to Barbie and Griffin later on Damian.  In most stories she's not so kind, like she was portrayed here, but she was fun and care-free.  Francesca Lia Block is a fascinating writer with an intoxicating imagination.
 
Becoming Me (Diary of a Teenage Girl, Caitlin: Book 1) by Melody Carlson
Reviewed by Amanda Breen
    Very interesting and intriguing book.  Describes challenges most teenagers face. Like boys, friends, parents, and finding God.  I encourage every teenager to read this is their free time.
 
Sang Spell by Phyllis Naylor
Reviewed by Lily Mercer-Paiva
     I've never read anything like it before.
 
Inventing Elliot by Graham Gardner
Reviewed by Josh Hayden
    It was o.k.  I liked the ending.  Overall it was a good book.
 
The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman
Reviewed by Christina Gambon
    Alice Hoffman is the queen of tragic stories.  This story is full of tragedy, lightning, and a love obsession.  A woman throughout her life has frozen emotionally and can't see the color red, due to the lightning that struck her when she was a child.  She moved to Florida to live with her brother, Ned.  There she searched for Lazarus Jones, a man who had been struck by lightning, dead for forty minutes, and came back to life.  From there  on she discovers secrets she never thought possible.
 
Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Reviewed by Christina Gambon
    I've never heard of this book. Nor did I know what it is about.  Well, that goes without saying.  Thank you Elizabeth for putting it in my hands.  I'd never read a book about a girl on a football team.  I've always wanted to and see how it turned out.  Catherine Gilbert Murdock played it out beautifully.  D. J. is a hilarious character who analyzes everything.  Even though he seldom spoke, I liked Curtis most of all.  This is one of the books where you know there won't be  a sequel but you can't help but hope for one.  I can't wait to read Mrs. Murdock's next novel. 
 
TheOther by David Guterson
Reviewed by Lee Allison
    I was enthralled by the tale of these two boys, friends at 16, and how their lives played out.  Kept me up past midnight several nights.  Tales of mountain adventures were gripping. 
 
 
 
 
 
It's My Life (Diary of a Teenage Girl: Caitlin, Book 2) by Melody Carlson
Reviewed by Amanda Breen
    This is the second book in the five book series of the diary of a teenage girl.  This book, just like the first, follows the life of a teenage girl.  One of the best I've ever read.
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
Angus, Thongs, and Full-frontal Snogging  by Louise Rennison 
Reviewed by Ellie Rhymer

     Embarassingly laugh out loud. Read for the comedy pleasure if not plot…

 

The Hitchhikers’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Reviewed by Ellie Rhymer

     Tongue-in-cheek, sarcastic, playful.  Wonderfully British sci-fi.

 

Septimus Heap: Queste by Angie Sage

  • Funnyish
  • Interesting   

Runemarks by Joanne Harris

Reviewed by Lily Mercer-Paiva

     Exciting, with an ending you wouldn’t expect

 

Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor

Reviewed by Lily Mercer-Paiva

     Well-written but un-realistic.

 

King of Cards by Makoto Tateno

Reviewed by Mary Rhymer

     Exciting, but not as good as the Fruit Basket series.

 

Knights of the Hill Country by Tim Tharp

Reviewed by Jes Wheeler

     This book is a really good football book!  Excellent.

 

Deadline by Chris Crutcher

Reviewed by Jes Wheeler

     A good way to end your life

 

Rainbow Six by Tom Clancy

Reviewed by Ryan Spodick

     Interesting & action packed

 

The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

Reviewed by Ryan Spodick

     Learned 3/4th of Greek Mythology that I know from this series

 

Nick of Time by Ted Bell

Reviewed by Lily Mercer-Paiva

     It took a while to get exciting, but ended up being right up my alley!

 

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Treton Lee Stewart

Reviewed by Lily Mercer-Paiva

     A little young but over all, pretty good.

 

Raven Rise by DJ MacHale

Reviewed by Lily Mercer-Paiva

     The 9th in the series, it was the best one yet! I love the Pendragon series.

 

A Mango Shaped Space by Wendy Mass

     It was an interesting book about a problem I didn’t even know existed. It was a sad and intriguing book.

 

Blood Fever by Charles Higson

Reviewed by Philip Mathieu

     Very exciting. Lots of surprises and puzzling twists and turns. It is a great addition to the Young Bond series.

 

Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Reviewed by Philip Mathieu

     Amazingly realistic. I loved it.

 

Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdoch

Reviewed by Philip Mathieu
   A little too much description of the main character’s thoughts. Also I predicted how the book would end from early on. Not enough action.

 

Ender’s Game  by Orson Scott Card
Reviewed by Philip Mathieu

     An awesome book.  Just as good the second time I read it as the first.